Jainism is an ancient dharmic religion from India that prescribes a path of non-violence for all forms of living beings in this world.

Its philosophy and practice relies mainly on self effort in progressing the soul on the spiritual ladder to divine consciousness.

Any soul which has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state of supreme being is called jina (Conqueror or Victor). Jainism is the path to achieve this state.

Jainism is often referred to as Jain Dharma or Shraman Dharma or the religion of Nirgantha by ancient texts. Jainism was revived by a lineage of 24 enlightened ascetics called tirthankaras culminating with Parsva (9th century BCE) and Mahavira (6th century BCE).

In the modern world, it is a small but influential religious minority with as many as 49 million followers in India, and successful growing immigrant communities in North America, Western Europe, the Far East, Australia and elsewhere.

Jains have sustained the ancient Shraman or ascetic religion and have significantly influenced other religious, ethical, political and economic spheres in India. Jains have an ancient tradition of scholarship and have the highest degree of literacy in India. Jain libraries are the oldest in the country.

Jain meditation is called Samayika. The word Samayika means being in the moment of continuous real-time.

This act of being conscious of the continual renewal of the universe in general and one's own renewal of the individual Jiva in particular is the critical first step in the journey towards identification with one's true nature, called the Atman.

It is also a method by which one can develop an attitude of harmony and respect towards other humans and Mother Nature.

One begins by achieving a balance in time. The act of being conscious of the continual renewal of the universe in general and one's own renewal of the individual Jiva is the critical first step towards identifying with the Atman.

By being fully aware, alert and conscious of the constantly moving present, one will experience their true nature, Atman.

Extracted in part from wikipedia.org.