Is there a difference between religious requirements and morality?
In general, religious requirements foster morality. From a realistic viewpoint (NISHCHAYA NAYA), the only requirement Jainism regards is belief in reality – belief in nature of substances ascertained through experimentation (PRAMAAN) and logical thinking (NAYA). Experimentation means information and evidence obtained through the study of scriptures, observation of nature and experience. Evidently, our view of reality evolves with time. Through our experiences, we realize that vices such as violence, untruth, stealing, unchastity and possessiveness coupled with passions of anger, pride, intrigue and greed make us lose peace of mind. They also lead to conflicts in society. So we should eschew them. This is how the religious requirement of belief in reality leads to morality – a sense of right and wrong coupled with self-restraint and discipline of inculcating the virtues of nonviolence, truth, non-stealing, chastity and non-possessiveness. From the experiential viewpoint (VYAVAHAAR NAYA)
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