Transcript 9 - Homework Market

RELIGIONS OF INDIA:
JAINISM
THE RELIGIONS OF INDIA
1. HINDUISM (1500/1200 B.C)
 2. BUDDHISM(6thcentury B.C)
 3. JAINISM (6th century B.C)
 4. SIKHISM(15/16th century A.D)
 (5. ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY)
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=>ISLAM+HINDUISM = SIKHISM
Jains and Sikhs are not Hindu because:
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1. They do not accept the authority of the Vedas,
2. They reject the authority of the Brahmin priesthood
3. They do not worship the Hindu Pantheon
=>However, they share many other religious concepts, values and
beliefs with Hinduism.
Jains share with Hindus the belief in
 1. Karma
 2. Samsara
 3. Reincarnation
 4. Moksha
 5. Yoga (meditation)
Like Hinduism, Jainism considers Karma and
Reincarnation to be important religious concepts
But unlike Hinduism, Jainism pays little attention to
deities. In this it is close to Buddhism
But unlike Buddhism, Jainism focused on extreme
asceticism.
And unlike Sikhism and Islam, Jainism focused on radical
non-violence.
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The founder of Jainism was roughly a contemporary of the
Buddha
Jainism appeared in the 6th century B.C., in northeastern India
in reaction to changing conditions of Indian life and religious
systems. This was a time of ferment, the era of the Buddha, the
Upanishads, and new religions emerging to satisfy new
religious needs.
This time was characterized by the growth of cities and their
merchant class, and a decline in Vedic ritualism.
The Vedic religion of the ruling class was in crisis, because of
its own contradictions, its structural injustice, its support for
inequality and class oppression.
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In the panorama of Hindu thought, Jainism turned away
from the religion of the Brahmins, and rejected the
hereditary priesthood, along with its bloody sacrifices,
rituals, and caste system.
Jainism was constituted from non-Brahmanic, lay, and
unorthodox themes.
Jainism also returned back to the religion of original
Dravidian people of India, and integrated their pre-Aryan
religious traditions.
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The name JAIN means “follower of the victor.”
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After 12 years of austere and disciplined life of
meditation and asceticism, Mahavira, the founder
of Jainism became “victor over his body and his
passions” and gained enlightenment and Moksha.
While the Buddha called his path
the “Middle Way,”
a calm spot of equilibrium between the
polarities of asceticism and hedonism,
While Mahavira taught a way of
stern denial and control,
Jainism exemplifies, in the extreme, what in India is called
KARMAMARGA, The Way of Works.
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Attaining Liberation through
 rigorous personal
discipline
 Fasting for long periods
 Meditating in the hot sun
 Enduring discomfort
 Control of the emotions
 (going naked): following the example of Mahavira, the
founder of Jainism, went about naked for many years!
 And many other ascetic techniques
* Thus, the denial of the body (mortification)
is taken to the extreme and made a key part of the faith.
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Two fundamental Characteristics of Jainism
Jainism
 1.
 2.
The religion of “Naked Saints.”
The Religion of
 asceticism
and
CHARACTERISTICS OF JAINISM
 1. * Urban Religion
 2. * Religion of Merchants and bankers
 3. Religion of Non-violence par excellence
(Radical Ahimsa)
 4. Vegetarianism
 5. “Animal rights”
 6. Religion of “Naked Saints”
 7. Religion of rigorous Asceticism.
AHIMSA
Since they believe that every living thing has a soul, they avoid injuring not only humans but every
living creature:
1. A Jain monk covers his face with a gauze
mask or handkerchief to guard against
breathing in (and thus killing) insects.
 2. He carries a broom to sweep the path ahead
of him to avoid stepping on any living beings.
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3. At night Jains refrain from drinking
water for fear of unintentionally swallowing
a gnat.
 4. Jains put screens around lamps to keep
insects from flying into them.
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5. Many Jain temples maintain homes for
unwanted animals and hospitals for injured
birds.
6. Jains are strict vegetarians:
They refuse not only to eat meat but also to
use leather.
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JAIN ETHICS
In principle, Jains are forbidden
 1. To have any occupation that involves the
destruction of living beings (Ahimsa).
 2. To eat meat or eggs (Jains are Vegetarians)
 3. To farm the land:
Even farming is taboo, since operations like tilling
the soil and weeding the crops may harm living
creatures.
Jain Ethics: The 12 Vows (oaths)
Whereas monastics take only five vows, laymen affirm a
longer list of 12 oaths, expanding those of the monastics:
 1.
Never intentionally take a life or
destroy a jiva (soul or unit of life);
 2. Never lie or exaggerate;
 3. Never steal;
 4.
Never be unfaithful to one’s spouse or
think unchaste thoughts;
 5.
Limit oneself in the accumulation of
wealth and give away all extra possessions for example, contribute to the maintenance
of animal hospitals or temples;
 6.
Limit chances of committing transgressions,
for example - impose limits on travel;
 7.
Limit the number of personal possessions;
 8.
 9.
Guard against unnecessary evils;
Observe periods of sinless
meditation;
 10.
Observe special periods of personal
(ascetic) limitation;
 11.
 12.
Spend some time living as a monastic;
And give alms to a monastic
community.
2 TYPES OF JAINISM
< The DIGAMBARAS
JAINISM = < The SVETAMBARAS
< The STHANAKAVASI
The STHANAKAVASI
Distinguished by its opposition to
Temples and Idols
 Sacred Scripture: Accepts only 33 Agamas as
authoritative (while other Jains accept as many as
84).
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Started in 1473
A splinter group from Svetambara
Two types of Jainism
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Jain monks are divided into two different orders:
1. The DIGAMBARAS, who are “sky-clad” or naked
in many settings,
2. The SVETAMBARAS, who wear a thin white robe.
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1. The DIGAMBARAS
 conservative
 small group
 Sexist
 Refuse to believe
that Mahavira was ever married
 With NAKED Monks
 live mainly in Southern India
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2. The SHVETAMBARAS
 Liberals
 The
largest group, the most popular.
 Open to women
 With monks who wear a thin white robe.
 live mainly in northern India
1. DIGAMBARAS
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This is the conservative branch of Jainism.
They constitute a small group of radical “naked saints.”
They are involved in a radical asceticism and detachment
from the material world.
The Digambaras believe that
 1. A true monk is “sky clad”
(= without clothing)
 2. Women can be enlightened and liberated
only when they are reborn as men.
2. SHVETAMBARAS
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This is the group of liberal monks and nuns.
They are the more numerous Jains.
They
are clothed in white garments
And believe that women can obtain
liberation without being reborn as
men.
Like Hinduism, Jainism considers Karma and
Reincarnation to be important religious concepts
But unlike Hinduism, Jainism pays little attention to
deities. In this it is close to Buddhism.
But unlike Buddhism, Jainism focused on extreme
asceticism.
And unlike Sikhism and Islam, Jainism focused on radical
non-violence.
 Jain
asceticism is closely linked to a
second principle, the doctrine of AHIMSA:
noninjury of any living being.
Characteristics of Jainism:
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1. Jainism is the religion of asceticism par excellence.
2. Virtually all Jains are strict Vegetarians.
3. They were the first advocates of “animal rights,” that
have become popular in the West only in recent years.
Many Jain temples maintain homes for unwanted animals
and hospitals for injured birds.
4. Jains are famous for their emphasis on radical nonviolence: Ahimsa is the essence of spirituality and the sine
qua non condition for liberation (Kaivalya)
GREAT ASCETICISM AND STRUGGLE
The ideal of conquering through great struggle is
pervasive in Jain literature.
The very word JAIN is derived from JINAS meaning
“conquerors” or “victors.”
Jains believe that their founder Mahavira was the last
in a series of TIRTHANKARAS (“Crossing-Makers”)
who attained full liberation from the material
predicament and taught the way to it. These men
are honored as the greatest of JINAS.
Thus the Jain’s notion of conquest or victory
is not a triumph over a human enemy. Here
the foe is oneself and one’s own material
nature, which can be defeated by
perseverance in asceticism or self-denial.
This Jain’s focus on the theme of spiritual
struggle is reflected in the religious art.
While Hinduism has dancing and fluteplaying deities, Jainism portrays the
Tirthankaras as heroically rigid immobile
figures over which vines have extended
their tendrils.
a
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religion of Asceticism par excellence.
Jains practice austerity in order to purify the self, and
then attain KAIVALYA (Liberation of the soul from the
material predicament)
 AHIMSA,
VEGETARIANISM,
AND CARE FOR ANIMALS:
Jain asceticism is closely linked to
a second principle,
 the doctrine of AHIMSA:
harmlessness or noninjury of any living being.
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Foundation of Ahimsa
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Jain’s doctrine of Ahimsa and Vegetarianism is
founded in its cosmology and anthropology which
are summarized in the notion of “Jiva”
Jainism teaches that sentient, feeling life dwells in
all that exists - gods, humans, animals, plants,
even stones, dust, and air.
These “ Jivas ” (souls or particles of life) are
entrapped in the material shells of these
substances as a result of Karma.