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Jainism and Jain Way of Life (Philosophy, Religion, and a Way of Life) By:

Jainism and Jain Way of Life (Philosophy, Religion, and a Way of Life) By: Yogendra Jain (yokjain@yahoo.com) Jain Center of Greater Boston. Non-Violence. Jainism is a Religion and a Way of Life. (Ahimsa). http://youtube.com/watch?v=N9NcGAE4WOU. Vegetarianism. Animal Compassion.

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Jainism and Jain Way of Life (Philosophy, Religion, and a Way of Life) By:

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  1. Jainism and Jain Way of Life (Philosophy, Religion, and a Way of Life) By: Yogendra Jain (yokjain@yahoo.com) Jain Center of Greater Boston

  2. Non-Violence Jainism is a Religion and a Way of Life (Ahimsa) http://youtube.com/watch?v=N9NcGAE4WOU

  3. Vegetarianism Animal Compassion For thousands of years, Jains have been practicing vegetarianism

  4. Non-Violence Meditation For thousands of years, Jains have been practicing Meditation and Yoga Meditation & Yoga

  5. Non-Violence For thousands of years, Jains have been practicing Equality Equality

  6. Non-Violence Environmentalism For thousands of years, Jains have been Environmentalist

  7. Non-Violence Anekantvad For thousands of years, Jains have been practicing Non-Absolutism (Respect other views) (Truth has many perspectives)

  8. “Soul - God” – Each living being has a Soul; God is a fully enlightened Soul. Each Soul is capable of becoming God.

  9. Jain Fundamentals • Who Created the Universe: • No one; Matter changes • Purpose of Life: • Help each other; Realize one’s own full potential; To manage one’s passions; • Who controls your actions • We are responsible for our own actions • How do we become happy • By managing our passions (anger, greed, ego, pride)

  10. Jain Fundamentals (cont.) • Human Suffering is due to: • We are unable to understand our true nature • Is there reincarnation: • Yes – until we reach full realization • Is there a Jain “bible” • Yes. • Tolerance for other religions: • Yes. Respect and understand other faiths

  11. Jain Fundamentals (cont.) ? • Why do we pray? • To celebrate the qualities of perfect Soul • Science • Strong correlation with other religions

  12. Jain Festivals • Mahavir’s Birthday: • Mahavir’s Nirvan Celebration: • Diwali, New year • Paryshan Parv: • Remembering and Practicing the qualities of the Soul

  13. Essence of Jainismin Thoughts/Speech/Action … Non-Violence • Non-Violence (Ahimsa) • Strengthens the autonomy of life of every being; Ahimsa - diet, fellow being, environment, thoughts and actions • Non-One-Sidedness (Anekantavad) • Strengthens the autonomy of thought of every individual • Non-Possession (Aparigraha) • Strengthens the interdependence of all and share limited resources

  14. Timeline Judaism 2600BCAbraham 2200BCExodus from Egypt 1940sAD Israel Christianity 30BCChrist Islam 571ADMohammed Jainism 557BC, Mahavir Beginningless/Endless Buddhism 483BCGautam Buddha Beginningless/Endless Hinduism

  15. Mahavira ca. 599-527 BCE • Parallels Buddha’s life • Family wealth vs. poverty • Joined ascetics • Became far more extremein practice of Non-Violence • Ahimsa yields true release • Ahimsa produces Jina (release from this life or conqueror over attachment, hence the name Jain)

  16. Palitana, Gujarat

  17. Jain Monastics: Digambara(“sky clad male monks”) • Given up all belongings • Live alone or in smallgroups in the forests • Teach Jainism • Spend 3 months during rainy season in one location (to minimize killing insects on the ground from excessive walking)

  18. Jain Monastics: Two major sects • Svetambara (“white clad”) • Wear white robes • Live in community • Admit both men and women • Some wear face masks to protect minute life forms from harm

  19. Jain Way of Life is Universal Irrespective of your Religion

  20. “Validated” Treasure in Jainism • Non-Violence • Filtered/boiled water • Jain mathematics • Plant life & Environmentalism • Equality towards women • Animal Protection • Molecules and atoms • Compassionate diet/Vegetarianism • Meditation and Yoga – mind “More than 2500 Years old…”

  21. Internal God/Soul versus External God Jainsim Soul Western Schools:Soul __

  22. QUALITIES OF SOUL • QUALITIES Omniscience Sentience Everlasting

  23. Life span Status Body Obstructive View Deluding Knowledge Covering Sensation Intuition Covering Liberation • Liberation Omniscience

  24. Choice: Circle of Life or Moksha Moksha Circle of Life and “Death”

  25. Karma & Reincarnation western schools:linearity of life cycle eastern schools:cycle of life/death - nirvana heaven nirvana cycle of life/death birth: pure state enlightenment death elimination of karmic bondage hell

  26. Different Core Western Schools: Eastern Schools: External god controls you God is the soul – within you Religion and philosophy are intertwined Religion/philosophy/scienceseparate Cyclic nature of life/death - nirvana Linear nature of life/death Karma determine your next life As you sow so you reap onjudgement day

  27. A profound truth for all times “One who neglects or disregards the existence of earth, air, fire, water and vegetation, disregards his own existence which is entwined with them” - Lord Mahavir (599-527 BC)

  28. Help Each Other • Parasparopgraho Jivänäm – • Tattvärtha Sutra All life is bound together by mutual support and interdependence (If one does not care for nature one does not care for oneself) • Refreshingly contemporary in its premise and in its promise. • Forms the basis of the modern day science of ecology.

  29. Non-violence and Compassion(in Jain Scriptures) • Ahimsä is disciplined behavior towards every living being - • Dashvaikalika Sutra (6/9) • Absence of violence of any sort towards all beings at all times is Ahimsä. • Yogasutra • In its absolute definition: ‘Ahimsä is the absence of destructive thoughts, feelings or attitude’

  30. Why are Jains vegetarians? Non-vegetarian Living - Cruelty to Animals: • Animals Killed per Day in USA Cattle - 130,000 Calves - 7,000 Hogs - 360,000 Chickens - 24,000,000

  31. Why are Jains Vegetarians (cont.)? Non-vegetarian Living - Impact on Ecology • Greenhouse effect • World's 1.3 billion cows annually produce 100 million tons of methane • Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas which traps 25 times as much solar heat as CO2 • Water Consumption • Livestock (Cattle, Calves, Hogs, Pigs) production accounts for more than half of all the water consumed in USA.

  32. Why are Jains Vegetarians ? Non-vegetarian Living - Impact on Ecology • Land Usage • A third of the surface of North America is devoted to grazing • Half of American croplands grow livestock feed for meat and dairy products • 220 million acres of land in the USA have been deforested for livestock production • 25 million acres in Brazil, and half the forests in Central America

  33. Non-Possession • Non-Possession/Self-restraint is the second most important Jain principle • Reduce one’s needs and wants as far as possible. • Not to waste the gifts of nature • Nature provides enough for our NEED not enough for our GREED

  34. The ancient Jain scriptural aphorism • “Aparigraha seve attai karanti prananam behanam” • Lord Mahavir • We kill other lives because of our greed and possessiveness. • This is the primary cause of all violence as well as imbalance in the environment.

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