Jainism

24 Tirthankaras (ford-makers)

- Mahavira is considered the last of 24 savior beings called Tirthankaras by Jains. Tirthankaras (ford-makers) are those who have made a path or a ford and thus escaped the cycle of rebirth. - he did not leave any writings.

Five Great Vows

- non violence (ahimsa) - non lying - non stealing - chastity - non attachment

Impact of Jainism on the history of religion

- the Jain principle of non-violence (ahimsa) was embraced by Gandhi. - Jainism's attitude toward nature has contributed to the global environmental and animal rights movements. Sometimes at an auction market a wealthy Jain will buy up an entire truckload of sheep or chickens and liberate them in the countryside.

Where are Jains located? How many are they?

4-6 million mainly in bombay

Jiva (soul) and ajiva (non-soul)

Jain Cosmology In the Jain worldview, every living being has a spiritual soul called jiva. These souls are by nature perfect and all-knowing. Ajiva is the opposite of jiva. Ajiva = body, matter, lifeless things, evil in the universe. The problem is that these jivas are "weighed down" by actions (karma). Karma is a glue that sticks the jiva to the ajiva. When attached to karma the jivas are limited in knowledge by their particular situations. Therefore no point of view can claim to be comprehensive. That is why Jains see scriptures only as guides to the right path, but not complete truth. What causes karma? The cause is not just desire as it is in Buddhism. Jains believe that all actions, well intentioned or not, produce karma and burden the jiva. Is there a solution? Only a commitment to inactivity or to activity that focuses on liberating the jiva will be effective in stopping the further accumulation of karmic matter.

Differences and commonalities between Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism

Like Buddhism, Jainism - originated in India as a response to this question, during the Axis Age (6th c. BCE) - looked toward liberation of the self from the suffering entailed in living in the world - sprang from the Kshatriya caste (warrior-chieftain class; the second-ranking group in the varna-caste system). Many in the ranks of the nobility resented the priestly class's claims to spiritual and social ascendancy. The founder of Jainism (Nataputta Vardhamana, better known as Mahavira, "Great man," "Hero") belonged to the Kshatriya caste. - came to deny the saving efficacy of the Vedas (Hindu sacred scriptures) and of the ritual observances based upon them - challenged the claim of the Brahmin priesthood to prescriptive rights in showing the way to salvation - rejected the belief in a Creator God. If God is perfect, why did God create a universe that is imperfect and full of sufferings? Unlike Buddhism, Jainism - won adherents mainly in India. It has 4 to 6 million adherents, mainly concentrated in Bombay (Mumbai) or other large urban centers. Generally Jains avoid farming because plowing destroys life forms. They turn to urban commercial activity and do quite well financially. - affirms the substantiality of individual selves, as jivas (the individual's higher consciousness or soul). The jiva can save itself by discovering its own perfect, unchanging nature and thus transcend the miseries of earthly life. Jainism differs from Hinduism on the following points: - Jainism is a religion of self-reliance. *The gods cannot help, for they too are working out their own liberation. In that sense it is close to Theravada Buddhism. * Priests cannot invoke any special powers * Jainism does not accept the Vedas. The Vedas (any scriptures) have no ultimate authority. - in Brahmanic Hindu tradition, women were never allowed to be mendicants and marriage was obligatory. In Jainism, women can be nuns.

Mahavira (ca. 599-527 BCE) = "Great hero"

The Founder: Mahavira - he was a contemporary of the Buddha - died in ca. 527 BCE - was the prince of a kshatriya clan - renounced his position and wealth at the age of 30 to wander as a spiritual seeker - meditated and wandered naked -he practiced ahimsa (non-injury) to any living beings - reached liberation after 12 years of meditation, silence, and extreme fasting - taught the path. His followers came from all castes. - Mahavira is considered the last of 24 savior beings called Tirthankaras by Jains. Tirthankaras (ford-makers) are those who have made a path or a ford and thus escaped the cycle of rebirth. - he did not leave any writings.

Agamas

The Jain texts are the Agamas ("tradition"). They contain the teachings of sages such as the sermons of Mahavira.

Jainism

The name jain denotes those who follow a jina. A jina (from Sanskrit, "conqueror") is one who has been victorious over the obstacles to liberation. Jainism calls for a life of discipline, self-denial, and renunciation, leading to liberation.

What kind of jobs do they have?

They turn to urban commercial activity and do quite well financially.

Sallekhana

death of the wise; ritual starvation on a bed of thorny grasses, thought of time that one has recongized life has served its purpose