Answer

According to Bhagwan Mahavir Swami, there is no creator-God who created the universe.

In Jain Dharma, the universe is considered beginningless and endless. It was never created at one point in time, and it will never be destroyed completely. It exists according to its own eternal nature.

The purpose of human life, according to Mahavir Swami, is not to serve a creator, but to purify the soul, destroy karma, end suffering, and attain moksha — complete liberation.

Explanation

Jain Dharma teaches that reality is made of eternal substances, especially:

• Jiva — living souls
• Ajiva — non-living substances such as matter, space, time, motion, and rest

These were not created by anyone. They are eternal.

Mahavir Swami taught that each soul is naturally full of:

• infinite knowledge
• infinite perception
• infinite bliss
• infinite energy

But the soul is bound by karma because of passions such as:

• anger
• ego
• deceit
• greed
• attachment
• aversion

Because of karma, the soul wanders through birth and death. Human life is precious because it gives the soul a rare opportunity to practice right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct, and move toward liberation.

Why does existence exist?

Mahavir Swami did not teach that existence exists because someone desired it, planned it, or created it.

In Jain understanding, existence exists because reality is eternal. The universe has no first beginning. Therefore, Jain Dharma does not ask, “Who created existence?” Instead, it asks:

• What is the nature of reality?
• Why is the soul suffering?
• How can the soul become free?

From the Jain perspective, suffering is not caused by existence itself. Suffering is caused by karma, ignorance, attachment, and passions.

So the solution is not the destruction of existence, but the purification and liberation of the soul.

About the feeling that non-existence would be better

Jain Dharma recognizes that worldly life is full of suffering, uncertainty, birth, death, separation, and dissatisfaction. This is why Mahavir Swami described worldly existence as bondage when the soul is trapped by karma.

But Jain Dharma does not teach hatred toward existence. It teaches freedom from bondage.

The liberated soul does not become nothing. It exists in its pure state as a Siddha — free from birth, death, pain, fear, desire, and karma.

In moksha, there is:

• no suffering
• no body
• no rebirth
• no attachment
• no fear
• perfect knowledge and bliss

So Mahavir Swami’s answer to suffering is not “nothing should exist,” but:

The soul should awaken from ignorance, remove karma, and realize its pure, blissful nature.

Spiritual Understanding

The pain behind the thought “it would be better if nothing existed” comes from experiencing the burden of worldly life. Jain Dharma would treat this seriously and compassionately.

Mahavir Swami’s path says:

• You are not merely this body.
• You are not your pain.
• You are an eternal soul.
• Your suffering has a cause.
• That cause can be removed.
• Liberation is possible.

The aim is not to destroy the self, but to free the self from bondage.

Takeaway

According to Mahavir Swami:

• The universe has no creator.
• Existence is eternal, not created.
• Suffering comes from karma and ignorance.
• Human life is meant for self-purification and liberation.
• The highest goal is moksha — eternal freedom, knowledge, and bliss.

In Jain Dharma, the deepest answer to suffering is not non-existence, but liberation from suffering.