<tr><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica">The <br/>universe exists as a series of layers, both heavens and hells. It had no <br/>beginning and will have no ending. It consists of: <!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--><br/><table cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0"><!--msthemelist--><br/><tbody><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul2d.gif" hspace="15" height="12" width="12" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica"><strong>The supreme abode</strong>: This is <br/>located at the top of the universe and is where Siddha, the liberated souls, <br/>live.<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul2d.gif" hspace="15" height="12" width="12" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica"><strong>The upper world</strong>: 30 heavens <br/>where celestial beings live.<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul2d.gif" hspace="15" height="12" width="12" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica"><strong>Middle world</strong>: the earth and <br/>the rest of the universe.<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul2d.gif" hspace="15" height="12" width="12" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica"><strong>Nether world</strong>: 7 hells with <br/>various levels of misery and <br/>punishments<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul2d.gif" hspace="15" height="12" width="12" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica"><strong>The Nigoda</strong>, or base: where <br/>the lowest forms of life reside<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul2d.gif" hspace="15" height="12" width="12" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica"><strong>Universe space</strong>: layers of <br/>clouds which surround the upper <br/>world<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul2d.gif" hspace="15" height="12" width="12" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica"><strong>Space beyond</strong>: an infinite <br/>volume without soul, matter, time, medium of motion or medium of rest.<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--></tbody></table><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica"><!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul1d.gif" hspace="13" height="15" width="15" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica">Everyone is bound within the universe by <br/>one's <b>karma</b> (the accumulated good and evil that one has done).<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul1d.gif" hspace="13" height="15" width="15" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica"><b>Moksha</b> (liberation from an endless <br/>succession of lives through reincarnation) is achieved by enlightenment, which <br/>can be attained only through <br/>asceticism.<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul1d.gif" hspace="13" height="15" width="15" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica">They are expected to follow five principles <br/>of living: <!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--><br/><table cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0"><!--msthemelist--><br/><tbody><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul2d.gif" hspace="15" height="12" width="12" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica"><strong>Ahimsa:</strong> "<em>non violence <br/>in all parts of a person -- mental, verbal and physical.</em>" <br/><sub><strong>3</strong> </sub>Committing an act of violence against a human, <br/><br/>animal, or even vegetable generates<br/> <br/>negative karma which in turn adversely affects one's next <br/>life.<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul2d.gif" hspace="15" height="12" width="12" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica"><strong>Satya:</strong> speaking truth; <br/>avoiding falsehood<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul2d.gif" hspace="15" height="12" width="12" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica"><strong>Asteya:</strong> to not steal from <br/>others<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul2d.gif" hspace="15" height="12" width="12" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica"><strong>Brahma-charya:</strong> (soul <br/>conduct); remaining sexually monogamous to one's spouse <br/>only<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul2d.gif" hspace="15" height="12" width="12" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica"><strong>Aparigraha:</strong> detach from <br/>people, places and material things. Avoiding the collection of excessive <br/>material possessions, abstaining from over-indulgence, restricting one's needs, <br/>etc.<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--></tbody></table><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica"><!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul1d.gif" hspace="13" height="15" width="15" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica">Jains follow a <br/>vegetarian diet. (At least one<br/> <br/>information source incorrectly states that <br/>they follow a frutarian diet<br/> <br/>-- the <br/>practice of only eating that which will not kill the<br/> <br/>plant or animal from which it is taken. e.g. <br/>milk, fruit, nuts.)<br/><!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul1d.gif" hspace="13" height="15" width="15" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica">They often read their sacred texts daily.<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul1d.gif" hspace="13" height="15" width="15" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica">Jains are recommended to pass through four <br/>stages during their lifetime: <!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--><br/><table cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0"><!--msthemelist--><br/><tbody><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul2d.gif" hspace="15" height="12" width="12" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica">Brahmacharya-ashrama: the life of a student<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul2d.gif" hspace="15" height="12" width="12" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica">Gruhasth-ashrama: family <br/>life<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul2d.gif" hspace="15" height="12" width="12" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica">Vanaprasth-ashrama: family and social <br/>services<!--mstheme--></font><!--msthemelist--></td></tr><!--msthemelist--><br/><tr><br/><td valign="baseline" width="42"><img src="http://www.religioustolerance.org/_themes/topo/topbul2d.gif" hspace="15" height="12" width="12" alt="bullet"></td><br/><td valign="top" width="100%"><!--mstheme--><font face="trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica">Sanyast-ashrama: life as a monk; a period of <br/>renunciation</font></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr>