The universe is without a beginning or an end, and is everlasting and eternal. No one has created it and no one can destroy
it.• Six fundamental substances or entities known as Dravya constitute the universe. Six substances are Soul (Jiva), Matter (Pudgal), Principle of Motion (Dharma), Principle of Rest (Adharma), Space (Äkäsha), and Time (Käl).• All six entities are eternal. Although they continuously undergo countless changes, they do not transform from one substance to another and retain their inherent qualities.• The soul is the only living substance, which is consciousness. Every living being is a soul. An infinite number of souls exist in the universe and they are all unique souls.• A soul in its pure form (a soul without attached karma particles) possesses infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite energy and power, unobstructed bliss, and no physical body.• In its impure form (a soul with attached karma particles), each soul possesses limited knowledge, limited perception, limited energy, physical body and its limitations, and experiences pleasure and pain.• From eternity, every soul is ignorant of its true nature and is bounded by karma. The ignorant soul, while remaining in bondage, continues to attract and bind new karma. It is due to karma that the soul migrates from one life cycle to another, and passes through many pleasure and painful situations and suffers.• The ultimate goal is for the soul to achieve
liberation from suffering through understanding and realization of its pure nature. Jainism believes that the proper Knowledge of reality, when combined with total Faith and proper Conduct leads the worldly soul to break the continual binding process of karma to the soul and attain liberation from karma.• Jains believe that each living being is a master of his/her own destiny. They rely a great deal on self-effort and self-initiative for both their worldly requirements and their salvation or liberation.• The whole truth cannot be observed from a single viewpoint. To understand the true nature of reality, it is essential to acknowledge and accept the positive nature of the multiple perspectives of each situation or idea. This concept is called Anekäntaväda (non-absolutism).• Jains do not believe that there is a supernatural power that does favors for us if we please him or creates hurdles if he is displeased.• The supreme ideals of Jain religion are nonviolence, equal kindness, reverence for all forms of life, non-possessiveness, and the
philosophy of non-absolutism (Anekäntaväda).