Leanne Konowal

Jainism Theory Leanne Konowal

Jainism is an ancient religion from India that teaches that the way to liberation and bliss is to live lives of harmlessness and renunciation. The three guiding principles of Jainism, the 'three jewels', are right belief, right knowledge and right conduct. The supreme principle of Jain living is non-violence (ahimsa). This is the story of how Jainism has shaped the life of a teenager who strives to understand the world and make it a better place. From cultivating and nurturing his beliefs to altering his perceptions, from instilling in him greater sensibility and sensitivity to influencing his actions and hobbies, the author's faith has been the anchor in his life, providing him with a holistic prism through which to view the world. As he narrates how and why his religion matters to him, the readers are led on a journey that explores the fundamental tenets as well as the little-known aspects of the Jain way of life, with reason showing the way to faith and the need for Jainism in today's world. Enriched by the author's simple yet sharp analyses and punctuated by his humorous anecdotes, this is a documentation of Jainism not from the ivory towers of scholastic wisdom but through the mundane and momentous incidents that make up everyday reality.