What is Jainism?

What is Jainism? • At least 2500+ years old • Followed by 3 - 4 million people mostly in India • Life affirming but world-denying • Seeks to release the soul from the round of rebirth, to liberate spirit from matter • Ahimsa – non-violence – is the hallmark of this spiritual discipline • No creator god • Spiritual life is primarily moral rather than ritualistic

The founders of Jainism 24 Tirthankaras(“ford maker”): great teachers • Going back countless thousands of years before recorded history • Mahavira(“great hero”) – the 24th and final Tirthankara – reformer of ancient Jainism • Nataputta Vardhamana • Lived 599 - 527 BCE in northeast India • 30 years as student (never married) • 12 years as ascetic renunciant • 30 years as spiritual teacher (tirthankara)

Jain Monastics: Two major sects • Digambara (“sky clad”) • Wear no clothes • Live alone or in smallgroups in the forests • Admit only men

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

The 3 Basic Principles, or The 3 Ratnas • Right faith • Right knowledge • Right action

5 Principles of Living (Vows) • Ahimsa: non violence • Satya: Only speak the truth • Asteya: Do not steal • Brahma-charya: Sexually monogamous • Aparigraha: Detach from material things, people, and places.

Basic Practices • A vegetarian diet is followed, to prevent harm to any animal. • Sacred texts are often read daily. • The 4 stages of life are followed.

Groups of Jains • Shvetambaras-known for monks that wear white robes. • Digambaras-known for monks that do not wear anything. • Sadhu is a monk. Sadhvi is a nun.

Cosmology • The universe goes through time cycles, called Kalchakra. Each Kalchakra consists of a Utsarpini and an Avsarpini. Each Utsarpini and Avsarapini is divided into 6 periods called Aras. • It is believed we are in our 5thAra of the Avarpini period. There are about 18,500 until the next Ara.

Six Universal Substances • According to Jain Science, the universe is comprised of six substances • Soul (Jiva) • Matter (Ajiva) • Space (Akash) • Time (Kal) • Dynamic medium (Dharmastikay) • Stationary medium (Adharmastikay)

JAINA REALITY: • JIVA (souls) • AJIVA (material atoms) • EACH LIVING THING IS A COMBINATION OF JIVA AND AJIVA • THEIR MOVEMENTS CAUSE THE CREATION AND DESTRUCTION OF EVERYTHING AROUND US

JIVA • In its PURE state, not associated with matter • Consciousness its essence • All are alike Main characteristics: • KNOWLEDGE: omniscient • BLISS: utterly pure • ENERGY: unlimited

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

QUALITIES OF SOUL • QUALITIES Omniscience Utterly pure unlimited

Why the soul, which possesses infinite faith, infinite bliss and infinite power, seems limited & differ? Obstacles of Karma

WHAT DEFILES SOUL? KARMA KARMA: MATTER • Obstructs knowledge • Defiles bliss • Limits energy • MATTER IS SEEN AS A SHACKLE BINDING THE SOUL

WHY DOES KARMA OCCUR? If soul is inherently pure, why embodied in matter? • No answer/no real question • THE CONDITION IS THE BEGINNING POINT

FOR JAINS, THE ORIGIN OF KARMIC MATTER IS NOT IMPORTANT BUT ITS REMOVAL

What is Karma? • Karma is a matter(Pudgal) determining the fate of the soul in rebirths • It is composed of very fine karmic particles = karmons • Entire Universe is filled with Karmic Particles

Jain Karma Theory • Law of Cause and Effect • Law of Action and Reaction • What one sows, one reaps • Our intention behind our actions of mind, speech and body binds us with Karma

Empowering Theory • While the Law of Karma dictates what we are experiencing now to be the result of our own past action. • Only WE are responsible for our past, present and future and only WE can alter it. No one else can!

Jiva (Soul) Extended substance Many bodies there are many souls. Soul Liberated(Mukta) Bound(Baddha)

Bound soul Mobile(trasa) 2. Immobile(sthavana) Lives in atoms and vegetable kingdom • Mobile Soul • Having two senses(worms) • Three senses(ants) • Four senses(wasps) • Five senses(higher animals)

Six Universal Substances • According to Jain Science, the universe is comprised of six substances • Soul (Jiva) • Matter (Ajiva) • Space (Akash) • Time (Kal) • Dynamic medium (Dharmastikay) • Stationary medium (Adharmastikay)

BASIC DOCTRINES • BONDAGE (KARMA) • LIBERATION (REMOVAL OF KARMIC MATTER)

CAUSES OF BONDAGE: • IGNORANCE • Responsibility? Ourselves! • Through thought, speech, action – CREATE OUR OWN BONDAGE

KARMA • EACH PRESENT MOMENT OF EXISTENCE IS ‘EARNED’ BY OUR PAST ACTIONS • EACH FUTURE LIFE IS ‘EARNED’ BY OUR PRESENT LIFE • CONDUCT OF THOUGHTS, SPEECH, ACTIONS CAUSES BONDAGE

THE ULTIMATE GOAL To free our soul from its bondage of Karma Through (ThreeJewels:tri-ratna) 1.Samyak Darshan (Rational Perception) 2.Samyak Gnyan (Rational Knowledge) 3.Samyak Charitra (Rational Conduct)

Fivefold spiritual discipline Maha vrata anu vrata Great vows lesser vows 1.Non-Injury (ahimsa) 2.Non-uttering of falsehood (satya) 3.Non-stealing (asetya) 4.Abstention from sensuality (brahmacharya) 5.Non-possession (aparigraha)

Ahimsa (Non violence) • Ahimsa is disciplined behavior towards every living being - Dashvaikalika Sutra (6/9) • Absence of violence of any sort towards all beings at all times is Ahimsa. - Yogasutra • In its absolute definition, ‘Ahimsa is the absence of evil thoughts, feelings or attitude’

Ahimsa (Non violence) • Ahimsa is not to be practised at the physical level only but at a mental one as well. In other words, it is stated that there should be no Himsa by ‘ Man ‘ (mind), ‘Vachan’ (speech), or ‘Kaya” (body). • Even hurting feelings is himsa.

TOOLS OF AHIMSA VOW: MONKS AND NUNS • Whisk broom utilized when walking • Straining water for organisms • Face cloth • Strict vegetarianism, OR, fruitarianism, the practice of only eating that which will not kill the plant or animal from which it is taken. e.g. milk, fruit, nuts. • Never lighting a lamp at night, never walking in the dark, never put out a fire • Bathing is forbidden, as it harms the water and the vermin on the body.

TRUTHFULNESS (SATYA) • Great care must be taken that speech is always positive • Closely related to ahimsa – speech resulting in ‘hurting’ must be avoided • THUS, AT THE END OF A MONK’S LIFE, HE OR SHE MAY REFRAIN FROM SPEAKING AT ALL • Honesty characteristic of Jain business people

SEXUAL PURITY (BRAHMACARYA) • Ascetics – no sexual activity – no THOUGHT of sex • Laypeople – no sexual activities or thoughts outside of marriage

NONATTACHMENT (APARIGRAHA) • More than simple non-possession • GOAL = completely ridding the self of thoughts and attitudes that are vehicles of desire

LAST STAGE • MOKSHA (COMPLETE LIBERATION) • CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY ARHANT IN A MOMENT PRIOR TO DEATH • WHERE ALL KARMIC ACTIONS AND THOUGHT ARE COMPLETED GOTTEN RID OF • UNLIKE BUDDHISTS AND HINDHUS • TOTAL PERFECTION IS NOT POSSIBLE DURING LIFE • COMES ONLY UPON THE FINAL DEATH

Unique Teachings of Jainism • God is not a Creator, Preserver or Destroyer of the Universe • Every living being has a potential to become God • Path of liberation is to follow rational perception, rational Knowledge and rational conduct • Conquer your desire by your own effort to attain liberation