World Religions

CHAPTER 5

Jainism

Fundamental questions

1. What is the human condition?– Jains believe humans are caught in samsara: the endless cycle of life, death

and rebirth, characterized by– ignorance and suffering. The jiva (soul) is condemned to samsara and, as a

result of the collecting of karma,– Is weighed down within ajiva (the world of matter).

2. Where are we going?– To a favorable or unfavorable rebirth after death

• To moksha (liberation) of the jiva from the ajiva

3. How do we get there?– We achieve liberation by:

• following the teachings of Mahavira, and the Five Great Vows (including ahimsa: not harming any living being)

– practicing asceticism– attaining kevala (a pure, omniscient consciousness)– practicing the Twelve Great Vows (for monks and nuns).

Learning Objectives

• Learn about the Jain concept of ahimsa, or non-violence.

• Learn about the life of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism.

• Explore Jain religious teachings and sects.• Examine the position of the Jain community in

contemporary India.

Key Names, Concepts, and Terms

1. Tirthankaras

2. Moksha

3. Jiva

4. Ajiva

5. Svetambara

6. Digambara 

 

• ahimsa• anekantwad• aparigraha• muni• samsara

before c. 777 BCE

599-527 BCE

from 3rd century BCE

1914-1997 CE

1970s-1980s CE

TimelineSeries of 23 Tirthankaras

Life of Mahavira

Digambaras and Svetambaras diverge

Acharya Tulsi

Jain monks establish Jain centers outside India

I) Introduction

A. Sixth Century B.C.E. Protest against Hinduism1. Jainism and Buddhism

• Reject Vedic Literature as Inspired Scripture as taught by the Brahmins

• Reject religious implications of Caste System

2. Jainism is Probably Earlier than Buddhism

mrl Jainism: Soul in the World

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II) The Life of Mahavira

A. The Founders of Jainism1. Orthodox Jainism sees multiple founders

1. The Tirthankaras: 24 figures identified with founding of Jainism

2. The Tirthankaras are “crossing builders” who forge ideal bridge between this life and nirvana

2. Nataputta Vardhamana, known to followers as Mahavira (“Great Hero”)

1. Considered the twenty-fourth Tirthankara by Orthodox Jainism

2. Considered the founder by his followers

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II) The Life of Mahavira

B. The Life of Mahavira (circa 599-527 B.C.E.)1. Contemporary of Siddhartha Gautama, Confucius,

Lao-tzu, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and School of Isaiah chapters 40-66

2. Details of life and teaching – Surrounded by legend, difficult to identify pure details from

Buddhist-influenced details– Mahavira born into wealthy family of a ruler (Kshatriya) caste in

north India– He was the second of two sons, resided in Vaisali in Northern

India– Married at a proper age and had a daughter

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II) The Life of Mahavira

B. The Life of Mahavira (circa 599-527 B.C.E.)2. Details of life and teaching

– Dissatisfied with wealth, joins ascetics after parents death and brother takes over business

– Tore out his hair and bread and joined visiting asetics– Dissatisfied with ascetics’ moderation, advocates more extreme

asceticism and doctrine of ahimsa (non-injury to life) to find release of soul from life (moksha)

» Avoided killing anything, even insects» Sought detachment through extreme privations

– Known to followers as Conqueror (Jina) for conquering forces of life and escaping cycle of birth, death, rebirth

III) The Teachings of Jainism

A. The Problem of Perpetual Reincarnation at Core of Jainism1. People trapped in cycle of births because of karma of

previous lives

2. Considered to be subtle matter that accumulates and clings to us as we think and act

3. Distinguish between destructive and nondestructive types

4. Negative karma minimized by avoiding activity1. Must be eliminated to attain kevala; three principles

» Ahimsa: nonviolence» Aparigraha: nonattachment» Anekantwad: nonabsolutism

“All breathing, existing, living, sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away. This is the pure, unchangeable, eternal law....Correctly understanding the law, one should arrive at indifference for the impressions of the senses, and not act on the motives of the world.

Akangara Sutra

The new Jain symbol has ahimsa, “nonviolence,” written in the open palm. The swastika, used worldwide long before Hitler, symbolizes samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth.

Jains and India's Sacred Monkeys

III) The Teachings of Jainism

B. Jainism’s Dualism1. Universe composed of matter (ajiva) and soul

(jiva)– Soul is life, it is eternal and valuable– Matter is lifeless, material and evil

2. Souls enmeshed in evil matter/flesh are trapped in cycles of lives – Women considered too fleshly for liberation– Mahavira consider women great religious danger

3. The liberation of the soul requires tormenting the flesh to release the soul

“Once when he [sat in meditation], his body unmoving, they cut his flesh, tore his hair, and covered him with dirt. They picked him up and then dropped him, disturbing his meditational postures. Abandoning concern for his body, free from desire, the Venerable One humbled himself and bore the pain.”

Akaranga Sutra

III) The Teachings of Jainism B. Jainism’s Dualism

4. Only the individual can accomplish the release of his/her soul from the flesh– The gods might exist but are no use to individual – Prayer, worship, ritual, sacrifice are useless– Only some individuals have the ability to undertake severe

asceticism (monks)– Jain monks take five vows

» Non-injury to life (ahimsa), implying avoidance of leather, farming, walking on insects, and thus necessitating vegetarianism and urban living

» Always speak the truth» Take only what is given» Renounce sexual pleasure» Renounce all attachments, including family and all

possessions

III) The Teachings of Jainism • B. Jainism’s Dualism

5. Laypeople seek to lead simple lives– Jain laypersons follow only first three vows, with all the risks for

soul this entails – Their homes are scrupulously clean– They are strict vegetarians– Medicines are prepared without cruel testing on animals

C. Jainism’s Scriptures1. Jain scriptures called Agamas (“precepts”) or

Siddhantas (“treatises”)– The Agamas: sermons preached by Mahavira– Jain sects disagree on number of genuine Agamas– Many of the lesser-known Agamas have not been translated into

English

IV Jain Sects A. Two Main Jain Sects Emerge by 80 C.E.

1. The Svetambara (“the white clad”) sect in northern India– Most popular Jain sect– Liberal in reading of Agamas – Allow monks to wear white, reject necessity of nudity– Allow women in the religion, monasteries, and teach that women can find

release

2. The Digambara (“the sky clad”) sect in southern India– Conservative in reading of Agamas – Require near nudity for monks– Women have no chance of achieving release, are great danger to religious purity

of men

B. The Sthanakavasi Arises in 1473 C.E.1. Splinter group from the Svetambara sect

2. Rejects temples and idols

3. Accepts only 3 Agamas as authentic, as opposed to the 84 accepted by other two sects

V) Jain Festivals

A. Festivals Celebrate Events in the Life of Each Tirthankaras

B. Paijusana1. Most popular festival

2. Held at end of Jain year (August-September)

3. Eight day festival in which all Jain laity are encouraged to live as monks for at least one 24 hour period

4. Ends with processions and almsgiving to poor

V) Jain Festivals

C. Divali1. Jainism’s appropriation of Hindu holy day for worship of

goddess Kali

2. Jains light lamps to remember release of Mahavira

D. Holy days are celebrated with meditation, renunciation, fasting, scriptural study, and hymns

E. Individuals, families, and groups may also go on pilgrimages to sacred sites

VI) Jainism Today

A. Minority Religion 1. Over 40,000 temples in India to venerate

Tirthankaras– Many of theses temples are renowned for their

beauty– the temple on Mount Abu is considered one of the

seven wonders of India

2. Minority in India1. doctrines of ahimsa and emphasis on asceticism

appropriated by mainstream Hinduism

2. Jains are strict vegetarians, some even refuse to eat in restaurants that serve meat

VI) Jainism Today

A. Minority Religion 3. Estimated four million Jains worldwide

– Most live in urban areas in Western India– Fewer than 6000 monks– Practice rituals in home

» May recite names of the Jinas, bathing idols, offer flowers and perfumes to them.

– Practice individual meditation– Observance of vows during their meditation

B. Jain Occupations1. Doctrine of ahimsa leads Jains to refuse careers as soldiers,

butchers, leather workers, exterminators, farmers

2. Jains tend to work in commercial professions, respected for honesty in business

VI) Jainism Today C. Acharya Tulsi initiated new orders of semi-monks

and nuns1. Also started the Anuvrat (small vow) Movement

– based on the five Jain principles Truth, Nonviolence, Non-possession, Non-stealing and Celibacy as applied in their limited version for the lay people.

– The movement encouraged people to apply the Anuvratas in their their personal lives, even when dealing with non-religious aspects of the society.

– The movement also held that Dharma is not for ensuring happiness in the future lives but also for achieving happiness in the present life.

– The movement has continued under the leadership of his disciple Yuvacharya Mahapragya.

Fundamental questions

1. What is the human condition?– Jains believe humans are caught in samsara: the endless cycle of life, death

and rebirth, characterized by– ignorance and suffering. The jiva (soul) is condemned to samsara and, as a

result of the collecting of karma,– Is weighed down within ajiva (the world of matter).

2. Where are we going?– To a favorable or unfavorable rebirth after death

• To moksha (liberation) of the jiva from the ajiva

3. How do we get there?– We achieve liberation by:

• following the teachings of Mahavira, and the Five Great Vows (including ahimsa: not harming any living being)

– practicing asceticism– attaining kevala (a pure, omniscient consciousness)– practicing the Twelve Great Vows (for monks and nuns).