The religious thoughts are shaped by its philosophy. The philosophy cannot last unless it has the support of conduct. Conduct is the reflection of the immaculate soul within. The human body is a blessing but only when it leads to blissfulness. It is given to man to rise high or fall below. The seminal thing is ever to remain human and humane.
Each religion has its codes of conduct. Most religions enforce moral behavior through positive and negative reinforcement by infusing ‘god-fearing’ elements in scriptures, such as the concept of karma and reincarnation in Hinduism, heaven-hell and salvation in Christianity, paradise, and hell in Islamism, peaceful afterlife and reincarnation in indigenous Chinese folk religions, and release from the cycle of reincarnations and reaching enlightenment in Buddhism. The approach of Jainism is never superstitious but always scientific. Jainas do not believe that any higher authority hands down a ‘system of laws’ or commandments. Jainas are expected to study the scriptures and grasp the concepts of rational perception, rational knowledge, and rational conduct. The Jainas ‘Charitra’, the Vedas ‘Aachar’, and the Buddhists ‘Vinaya’ are Synonymous but their ways differ.
Jainism is a very practical religion, which helps us in everyday affairs of life. Jainism must be practiced and lived. Jain ethics is meant for all men and women in every walk of life. The Jainas emphasized that knowledge could be perfected by the right conduct. Knowledge without the right conduct was mere futile and conduct without the right knowledge was blind.