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The Tenth Lesson: The Religions of India. Part II1331
symbols, resembling the Puritans in that respect, and forming a contrast to
the majority of the other Hindu sects or cults who revel in imagery and
symbols. The Sikhs, however, are inclined to make a Sacred Thing of the Holy
Writings of Nanak, which are their Scriptures, and which they regard as “The
Word of God,” placing it upon their altars, and paying it sacred honors. Their
teaching shows the influence of both the Vedanta and Mahommedism—
they holding to the existence of One Supreme Being or God, which they
hold to be formless, and in many ways akin to the Allah of Mahommedism.
Their Scripture inculcates a high order of religious and moral doctrine, and
a broad tolerance and kindliness, and a high ideal of purity and godliness.
The followers of this religion rank very favorably among the other Hindus of
the better sects, and with the better class of the Mahommedans.
The Jains.
There are also about 1,500,000 followers of the religion of the Jains in India,
principally in Marwar, Bombay Presidency, and Mysore, drawing its numbers
from the respectable middle-classes and small merchants, etc. It stands well
among students of Oriental religions, although a minor religion, and its
literature is generally of a high order, and its people orderly, and manifested
a morality and ethics which compare favorably with the other sects and cults.
The Jain teaching is similar to that of the Buddhists, but the orthodox Hindus
consider them agnostic rather than atheistic. The Jain doctrine is dualistic,
consisting of a belief in Soul and Non-Soul or Matter. Their conception of
God is that He is but little more than the Totality of Cosmic Energy. They
have a number of revered prophets, or teachers, called Tirthankaras, who
have passed on to higher planes, and to whom, and Mahavira, the founder
of their cult, they pay homage and intense devotion and reverence, akin
to Saint-Worship. The Jains are great respecters of life, even outdoing the
Buddhist in that respect, and go to absurd lengths to avoid the destruction
of life, even in seeds, etc. At the same time they look forward to Death with
pleasure and delight, as a release, and some fanatics among them have