Jainism

Fourfold Community

1. monks (very strict cows, cant cook food - bc of total nonviolence) 2. nuns ^ 3. male laity (vows, cook food for monks,nuns) 4. female laity ^

Digambaras

A highly ascetic Jain sect whose monks go about without any clothes except the environment. "Sky Clad"

Agriculture

A profession avoided by Jains because digging injures the earth. In Jainism professions such as banking, education, law, and publishing are acceptable because they are seen as harmless for other living things.

Bahubali

According to Jain Scriptures, Bahubali was the son of the first Tirthankara of this cycle. At the point of victory in a war with his half-brother, Bharat, he suddenly surrendered and became a renunciate. He stood meditating for 12 years but was unable to achieve enlightenment because of the single thought, "I am standing on my brother's land." He was released when Bharat prayed to him, "This land is universal, not yours or mine."

gods and demons

According to Jainism, living beings more highly evolved than humans, but still subject to natural principles and ignoble passions and therefore in need of kevala.

Lay Jainism

Although Jainism is primarily a monastic ethical system, lay persons can take 12 "limited" vows as a way of limited purification, the most important 5 being: 1. non-violence, 2. truthfulness, 3. no theft, 4. no sexual activity outside of marriage, and 5. limiting one's possessions.

Jainism

An ethical system of enlightenment practiced by about 6-million people worldwide, mostly in India. It is non-theistic, and non-supernatural. Jainism is also referred to as shramana dharma (the way of self-reliance). It is an ancient non-Vedic indigenous Indian religion.

Mahavira

Founder of modern Jainism. Lived from 599 to 527 BC. Considered the last of the 24 Tirthankaras of the current cycle.

Karma

In Jainism, minute particles of matter we accumulate as we act and think. The accumulation of this matter forces reincarnation the instant one dies. The clearing of karma produces kevala. deeds and the negative result of deeds; small matter that attaches to the soul and causes it to be reborn after death.

Jina

Jain religious heroes who have attained enlightenment by conquering samsara. Synonymous with Tirthankara. The term from which "Jain" is derived. "Conquerer"

nontheism

Jainism doesn't have gods

Lay Jain Worship

Lay Jains are divided into those who worship at temples and those who do not. Ornate temples have been built by Jain laity to show reverence to the Tirthankaras. There is no priesthood. Laity carry out worship services alone or in groups. Ritual is secondary. Daily purification, usually after work and a meal, occurs in a quiet, solitary place where the individual sits cross-legged and chants formulas to cleanse and purify the mind.

Place of women in Jainism (Digambaras)

The Digambaras believe women are inferior to men and cannot achieve liberation until they are reborn as men.

Aparigaha

Non-attachment to things or people; possessions possess us; we are to live helpfully and consciously within the world, but not be drawn into its snares;cut one's living requirements to the bare minimum. One of the three basic principles of Jainism.

Ahimsa

Nonviolence; both the avoidance of violence toward other life-forms and an active sense of compassion toward them. This extends to avoidance of abusive words and negative thoughts about others. One of the three basic principles of Jainism.

Bhadrabahu

Predicted a famine and led 12,000 monks away for 12 years; those who remained became the Svetambaras and those who went with Bhadrabahu and then returned became the Digambaras.

Anekantwad

Relativity or open-mindedness; avoidance of anger or judgmentalism; all viewpoints are partially true. "Manifold aspects" One of the three basic principles of Jainism.

Asceticism

Renunciation of physical pleasures and worldly attachments for the sake of spiritual advancement. Monk= Sadhus Nuns= Sadhvis

Shramana Movements

Sramana was an ancient Indian religious movement with origins in the Vedic religion. ... Sramanas were those who practiced an ascetic, or strict and self-denying, lifestyle in pursuit of spiritual liberation. They are commonly known as monks. The Sramana movement gave rise to Jainism and Buddhism. Wandering holy men searching for enlightenment and performing austerities such as fasting

Fire-bodies

The "one-sensed" living beings that are in fires and lightning.

Water-bodies

The "one-sensed" living beings that are in the rivers and lakes.

Earth-bodies

The "one-sensed" living beings that are in the soil, earth, minerals, and stones. To kick a stone while walking is to cause harm to a living being.

Wind-bodies

The "one-sensed" living beings that are in winds and gasses.

Tirthankaras

The 24 Jain spiritual leaders (of this cycle) who have achieved enlightenment and represent models of salvation. During their life they created religion in order to steer people away from the growing evil in the world. At death they were elevated beyond the human plane to a place of omniscience, righteousness, strength, perfect bliss, and formless existence in a mass-less body. "Ford-makers". Led the way across fords in the rivers of constant reincarnation

Universal life

The Jain belief that life is abundant everywhere in the universe; the smallest portion teems with living beings all of whom want to live. Humans have no more right to life or supremacy than the least life form.

Place of women in Jainism (Svetambaras)

The Svetambaras teach that women are capable of the same spiritual achievement as men and that one of the Tirthankara was a woman. In practices, Jain nuns are still considered inferior, although they outnumber Jain monks by more than 3 to 1.

Birth

The highest stage of Jain life (except kevala) because at the point of birth one has not yet accumulated more karma in this life.

Jiva

The individual life or soul found in all living things.

Shvetambaras

The largest and less ascetic of the two Jain sects. During the 12 year absence of Bhadrabahu, they relaxed the rules of asceticism and edited the canon of Jain sacred texts. Shvetambaras monks and nuns wear white robes. "White Clad"

Paryushan Mahaparava

The most important Jain festival; a festival of atonement including eight days of fasting, attending scripture readings and lectures on ethics. The last day, "Forgiveness Day" is spent seeking forgiveness from anyone toward whom they have had negative feelings, attitudes, or actions.

Kevala

The perfect and complete knowledge that is Jain enlightenment; marks the point at which one is free from the damaging effects of karma and is liberated from samsara

God

There is no personal God in Jainism. The world operates by the power of nature according to natural principles. (Natural evolution has become an important explanatory concept for many Jains.)

Blind Men and the Elephant

Traditional Jain fable illustrating the principle of anekantwad.

Bihar

a state of northeastern India where the 24 Tirthankaras were said to have lived and 20 found enlightenment. For most of its history Jainism was found only in and around Bihar.

holy death

deliberately and voluntarily starving oneself to death as an act of devotion

Five Cardinal Virtues

i. Ahimsa: do no harm to any other living being, whether human, animal, plant, or microscopic organism ii. One must speak the truth and never deceive others; however, if speaking the truth will lead to another person's harm iii. Do not steal iv. Do not be possessive v. Be chaste

5 marks of stupid, witless men

i. Authority of Vedas ii. World Creator iii. Ritual Bathings iv. Castes v. Mortification to Atone for Sin

Three Jewels of Jainism

i. Right Belief ii. Right Knowledge iii. Right Conduct

nirvana

in jainism, the self-realization, happiness, and freedom of the soul

ajiva

not a soul, an inanimate substance

moksha

release from reincarnation

Parshvanatha

religious reformer who lived in the 600s BCE regarded by Jains as the twenty-third Tirthankara

kalpa

saskrit for 'eon', one whole rotation of the wheel of time

Samsara

the eternal wheel of rebirth or reincarnation; the this-worldly uncreated and unending material universe

reincarnation

unhappy passage of the soul at death from one body to another