Jainism

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Jainism
Comparative Religion Glen Avantaggio
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Jainism

• Indigenous, Pre-Vedic
• Minority Religion, 3.5 mill.
• Through strict control of our senses and thoughts
  one can attain perfection, freedom, and happiness

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Tirthankaras

• Tirthankaras
• 24 Fordmakers each world cycle
• Human teachers
• Teach true practice and understanding
• Models for practice
• 24th Mahavira
• Nataputta Vardamana

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Mahavira

• Mahavira 6th c. BCE
• Contemporary of the Buddha
• Renounced family life as prince
• Extreme asceticism, 12 years
• Achieved liberation
• Wandering teacher for 30 years

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Ascetic Orders

• Digambaras Sky clad
• Monks wear nothing
• Innocence of shame non-attachment
• Two possessions
• Peacock broom
• Drinking gourd
• Mahavira did not marry

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Ascetic Orders

• Svetambaras White clad
• Wear white cloth
• Mahavira married
• Asceticism of Mahavira not possible in Kaliyuga

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Ascetic Orders and Women

• Digambaras
• Women cannot
• be liberated
• renounce clothes
• become as skillful debaters as men
• Svetambaras
• Gender irrelevant to spiritual achievement
• 19th Tirthankara was a woman
• Of approximately 6,000 Jain nuns, all but 100 are
  Svetambaras

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Basic Teachings

• Universe eternal
• 2 kinds of beings
• Jiva, life, soul, atma
• Ajiva, nonlife, matter
• Karma binds the jiva
• Moksha, liberation
• Jina the conquerer, purifies jiva, defeats
  samsara

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Ethical Principles

• 5 basic vows
• Ahimsa
• Non-lying
• Non-stealing
• Chastity
• Non-attachment

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Ethical Principles

• Ahimsanon-violence
• Aparigrahanon-attachment
• Anekantwadnon-absolutism, open-mindedness

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Ahimsa

• Minimize harm to Jiva
• Diligence not to cause harm
• Filter water, sweep seat, etc.
• Vegetarians
• No leather
• Liberation of animals
• Choice of non-harming professions

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Ahimsa

• Additional prohibitions
• Digging in ground
• Extinguishing or lighting fires
• Using fans
• Disturbing living plants
• Wishing harm
• Self Defense

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Aparigraha

• Non-attachment
• Minimize possessions
• Minimize requirements

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Anekantwad

• Relativity
• Many-sidedness
• Knowledge limited by perspective
• Elephant and the blind men

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Karma

• Material
• Many types
• Goal of purification
• Depends on ones efforts

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Jain symbol

• Ahimsa
• 4 qualities of soul
• Knowledge, Perception, Bliss, Will
• 4 Realms
• Human, angels, hell-beings,
• 3 points
• Right View, knowledge, conduct

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Spiritual Practices

• Seek to control mind and passions by own efforts
• Lay spiritual life usually consists of six duties
• Equanimity of mind
• Praise of Tirthankaras
• Veneration of teachers
• Acknowledging faults
• Indifference to body
• Dietary discipline
• Sallekhana

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World Jainism

• Approximately 6 million Jains today
• Jain meditation centers in the U.S., Brazil,
  Canada, Kenya, the U.K., and in India
• New orders spread Jain teachings
• Samans (semi-monks)
• Samanis (semi-nuns)