Comparing Jainism In The Middle East And India

There is no doubting that the events early in ones life will cultivate character. A person can inherit a set of talents, but what they utilize those talents for is based on their set of beliefs. This ideology is passed down and absorbed through the lessons that daily life offers. It is this ideology that is the source of any beings perception and motivation. Within the Middle East and India a key factor that would’ve shaped an individuals ideology would’ve been their theistic beliefs. Theism directly effects an individuals sense of morality. Their sense of inspiration to change things immediate to them and what they want to change is a question of their morality. For Ambar, there was no doubt that random chance gave him opportunities, but it was also random chance that enslaved him. Ambar had less

Banarasidas was born in India where many religions thrived and witnessed many conflicts. Unlike Ambar, Banarasidas immediately ascribed to his ancestral religion of Jainism. Jainism is similar in spiritual structure to Hinduism but differs mainly in that it refutes the class system. Therefore, a Jainist does not believe that any being is born to a class but rather that all are equal. This means that Banarasidas would’ve seen someone of higher political class or lower political class as equal. This explains his lack of motivation in climbing the social hierarchy. Unlike Ambar, who believed in a single, all-powerful, God (Allah) and this brings an understanding of hierarchy for Ambar, and coupled with being oppressed by a powerful force, it would have fed Ambar’s lust for power. Banarasidas does not clearly seek to better his social class, as he is born of a middle-class jeweling family, and dies of middle class. Banarasidas simply has no interest for the worldly pursuits. This is best shown when the Jaunpur elders offer him this advice for his foolish