I work in a organisation having multicultural environment and I get to learn a lot from other cultures. One such culture is Jainism which I experienced in last few months. I believe that in India, there is nothing as religion but there is a lot of different cultures, to me it is "Art of living". North has its own art of living, south has its own. Similarly, in west India there exist a beautiful culture - Jainism. Although, it's seen in entire India, but the epicentre that I have seen is Rajasthan. I want to share certain philosophies from Jainism which one can easily inculcate in themselves.

Jainism is an ancient Indian religion that emphasizes non-violence, self-control, and spiritual development. The Jain philosophy is based on the teachings of a series of 24 Jinas (conquerors), who attained enlightenment through meditation and self-discipline. Jains believe in the concept of karma and that all living beings have a soul (jiva) which is capable of attaining liberation through spiritual development.

One of the core principles of Jain philosophy is the concept of non-violence (ahimsa). Jains believe that all living beings have a soul and should be treated with respect and compassion. This includes not causing harm to any living creature, including animals, plants, and even microorganisms. This principle is reflected in Jain dietary practices, which involve strict vegetarianism and avoidance of root vegetables like onion, garlic, and potatoes.

Another important Jain philosophy is the concept of anekantavada, which means "many-sidedness." This principle acknowledges that reality is complex and multifaceted, and that different people may have different perspectives on the same thing. This principle encourages Jains to be open-minded and considerate of others' perspectives.

Jainism also emphasizes the importance of self-control (samyama) and self-discipline. Jains believe that the mind and body are interconnected, and that spiritual development requires self-control and self-discipline in all aspects of life. This includes practices such as fasting, meditation, and yoga, which are believed to help control the mind and purify the soul.

Jainism also teaches the concept of spiritual development (samsara) through the three jewels of right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct. Right faith involves having a deep understanding and belief in the principles of Jainism, right knowledge involves gaining knowledge and understanding of the principles and teachings of Jainism, and right conduct involves living in accordance with these principles and teachings.

Jainism also emphasizes the concept of detachment (vairagya) from material possessions and desires. Jains believe that attachment to material things and desires is the root cause of all suffering, and that spiritual development requires detachment from these things.

Jainism is an ancient Indian religion that emphasizes non-violence, self-control, and spiritual development. The Jain philosophy is based on the teachings of a series of 24 Jinas, who attained enlightenment through meditation and self-discipline. Jainism emphasizes the concepts of non-violence, anekantavada, self-control, spiritual development, and detachment from material possessions and desires. Jainism is an ancient Indian religion that is still practiced today, it has a rich history and teachings that can be applied in today's world to live a more harmonious and peaceful life.