Jainism

"(He thinks) I have to provide for a mother, for a father, for a sister, for a wife, for sons, for daughters, for a daughter-in-law, for my friends, for near and remote relations, for my acquaintances, for different kinds of property, profit, meals, and clothes. Longing for these objects, people are careless, suffer day and night, work in the right and the wrong time, desire wealth and treasures, commit injuries and violent acts, direct the mind, again and again, upon these injurious doings."

"All beings are fond of life, like pleasure, hate pain, shun destruction, like life, long to live. To all life is dear."

"There is nothing mightier in the world than karma; karma tramples down all powers, as an elephant a clump of lotuses."

"Discipline is the root of religious practice."

"A rise of Jain fundamentalism would endanger no one. In fact, the uncontrollable spread of Jainism throughout the world would improve our situation immensely. We would lose more of our crops to pests, perhaps (observant Jains generally will not kill anything, including insects), but we would not find ourselves surrounded by suicidal terrorists or by a civilization that widely condones their actions."

"According to Jaina tradition nine of the eleven disciples attained the highest knowledge of kevala during Mahaviras lifetime."

"The balance between karma and akarma gives holistic vision. Lots of discussions regarding Karmayoga. No work can be completed without karma. That is the truth. Everybody accepts this truth. Our world is one of incompleteness. Where there is incompleteness, there is relativity. Both karma and akarma are relative. No work is completed without akarma."

"If one does not wish to destroy one’s soul, then one should not destroy living creatures."

"Understanding and faith and conduct and asceticism: this is the path taught by the Jinas who have perfect knowledge. Understanding and faith and conduct and asceticism: those souls who follow this path go to liberation."

"I have a special respect for Jainism, one of the ancient religions of India. Last month I visited in Delhi the Shri Parshwanath Digambar Jain Temple, which has beautiful pictures depicting the Jain teaching of . This can be translated as “non-absolutism,” or the idea that Jains should love all human beings and respect all beliefs (while cherishing their own), since humans are limited, none of them can grasp the whole truth, and a peaceful world is one where we all honor the different perspectives on truth others may have. Those who advocate world citizenship understand that these noble ideals are not often realized in practice. They believe, however, that individuals, groups, and countries that fall must find ways to get back up again."

"In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self, and should therefore refrain from inflicting upon others such injury as would appear undesirable to us if inflicted upon ourselves. This is the quintessence of wisdom; not to kill anything. All breathing, existing, living sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away. This is the pure unchangeable Law. Therefore, cease to injure living things. All living things love their life, desire pleasure and do not like pain; they dislike any injury to themselves; everybody is desirous of life and to every being, his life is very dear."

"Some slay (animals) for sacrificial purposes, some kill (animals) for the sake of their skin, some kill (them) for the sake of their flesh, some kill them for the sake of their blood; thus for the sake of their heart, their bile, the feathers of their tail, their tail, their big or small horns, their teeth, their tusks, their nails, their sinews, their bones; with a purpose or without a purpose. Some kill animals because they have been wounded by them, or are wounded, or will be wounded. He who injures these (animals) does not comprehend and renounce the sinful acts; he who does not injure these, comprehends and renounces the sinful acts. Knowing them, a wise man should not act sinfully towards animals, nor cause others to act so, nor allow others to act so. He who knows these causes of sin relating to animals, is called a reward-knowing sage."