By Myrtle Langley
For a religion of only 3 million people,
almost all of whom live in India, Jainism has wielded an influence out of
all proportion to its size and its distribution. This influence has been
felt most keenly in the modern world through Mahatma Gandhi. Although not
himself a Jain, he grew up among Jains and embraced their most distinctive
doctrine; non-violence to living beings (Ahimsa). But the influence of
Jainism has also been felt in the Jain contribution to India�s banking and
commercial life.
As Buddhists are followers of the Buddha
(the enlightened one), so Jains are the followers of the Jina (the
conqueror), a title applied to Vardhamana, last of the great Jain
teachers. It is applied also to those men and women who, having conquered
their passions and emotions, have achieved liberation and attained
perfection. And so the very name Jainism indicates the predominantly
ethical character of this religion.
