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Jainism was founded by Mahavira who was born about 580 B.C. in
Northern India. It has 4 million followers in India. He preached
atheism or the absence of god. Jainism also believes that one can
achieve salvation (freedom from wheel of life i.e. rebirth). Jains
use the word Karma to mean a substance that binds the soul to physical
world. By causing sins you keep accumulating Karma whereas meditation
and fasting burns the Karma. One can get freedom from rebirth (Salvation)
only after burning the Karma
accumulated in past lives.
Mahavira laid down five ways to get rid of wheel of life:
- Do not destroy life
- Speak the truth
- Be celibate
- Own nothing
- Accept nothing that is not freely given
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