Jainism

1. Jainism By: Lily Wang

2. Brief Timeline • 5th century BCE - Life of Mahavira, last Tirthankaras • c. 4th-5th century CE - Umasvati codifies Jain texts in the Tattvartha Sutra. • 5th century - Schism occurs, forming the Svetambara and Digambara sects. • 9th-11th century - Digambara Jainism is frequently supported by south Indian royalty. • 12th century - Hemacandra, a Svetambara monk, is tutor to the rulers Siddharaja and his nephew Kumarapala. • 17th century - The iconoclastic Sthanakvasis sect emerges. • 18th-19th century - Decline of image-worshipping ascetic communities.

3. Origin and Distribution • 3rd century BCE - A Jain community forms in the trading center of Mathura. • 21st century Revival of asceticism and development of mystical sects. Many Jains emigrate to East Africa, the United Kingdom and North America.

4. Similarities with Buddhism • Tolerant other religions • Karma • India • Around the same time • Same backgound story for founder or prophet • Social equality • Nirvana • Liberation • Non-violvence • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cASZK6Qgp3g

5. Fundamental Principles The Three Jewels of Jainism • The aim of Jain life is to achieve liberation of the soul. • This is done by following the Jain ethical code, or to put it simply, living rightly by following the three jewels of Jain ethics. • There are three parts to this: right faith, right knowledge and right conduct. The first two are very closely connected.

6. Fundamental Principles Right faith - Samyak darshana • seeing things properly • You can't achieve this unless you are determined to find the truth, and distinguish it from untruth. Right knowledge - Samyak jnana • accurate and sufficient knowledge of the real universe • proper knowledge of the Jain scriptures. • pure soul; a soul that is free from attachment and desire • naturally free themselves from attachment and desire Right conduct - Samyak charitra • Avoid doing harmto living things and freeing yourself from attachment and other impure attitudes and thoughts. • motivated and able to achieve right conduct.

7. The Five Principles (Vows): Non-violence (Ahimsa): • complete avoidance of harm • All living beings are equal Truthfulness (Satya): • to always speak the truth in a harmless manner Non-stealing (Asteya): • this also includes avoidance of greed and exploitation Chastity (Brahmacharya): • monogamy and faithfulness are important Detachment from material things (Aparigraha): • to detach from people, places, and material things.

8. Holidays Mahavira Jayanti • Mar 28 • The birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankar and the "founder" of modern Jainism Paryushana • Sep 5 • The most important Jain festival, it consists of eight (Swetambara) or ten (Digambara) days of intensive fasting and repentance. A time of reflection. Diwali • Nov 5 • Diwali, the festival of lights, is the most popular of all the festivals from South Asia. It is an occasion for celebrations by Hindus as well as Jains and Sikhs.

9. No Founder • The truth has been revealed at different times by a tirthankara • Tirthankaras accomplished the highest spiritual goal of existence and then teach others how to achieve it. • In what Jains call the "present age" there have been 24 tirthankaras - although there is little evidence for the existence of most of these.

10. Tirthankaras • appears in the world to teach the way to moksha, or liberation. • not an incarnation of the God. • great omniscient teachers who lived at various times in man's cultural history. • accomplished the highest spiritual goal of existence Each new tirthankara preaches the same basic Jain philosophy • 24 tirthankaras during this present age • Svetambara Jains believe that tirthankaras can be men or women, but Digamber Jains believe that women can't be tirthankaras

11. Tirthankaras Parshva: • four of the five Jain principles Mahavira • Not the founder of Jainism • world's most recent tirthankara (and will be the last one in this age). • born as Vardhamana in north east India in 599 BCE • a prince, the son of King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala • live the life of an ascetic, or a sadhana • extremely long, arduous periods of fasting and meditation. • attained Kevalnyan, enlightenment • taught the path he had discovered to other seekers. • Mahavira added the principle of chastity • established a community of 14,000 monks and 36,000 nuns before he died.

12. Political Influence Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi • a Jain • some of his ideas on politics come from Jainism (from the 5 principles) • pioneered satyagraha(truthfulness). • defined as resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience, a philosophy firmly founded upon ahimsa or total nonviolence. • helped India to gain independence • inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.

13. Economic Influence • set a limit to one’s own needs and whatever surplus one may accumulate beyond these needs should be donated to charities. • keeps in check the concentration of wealth and paves the way for its wide and more even distribution. • the growing gulf between the rich and the poor can be peacefully bridged. • the fair distribution of wealth is essential. • business dealings must be conducted in the non-acquisitive spirit of aparigraha.

14. Literature Agamas • based on Mahavira teachings. • orally compiled by his disciples into various Sutras (texts) • orally passed on from teachers (acaryas or gurus) to the disciples for several centuries. • The scholars date the composition of Jain agamas at around 6th to 3rd century BCE.

15. Symbols • symbol of the seventh Tirthankara. In the Svetambar Jain tradition, it is also one of the symbols of the ashra-mangalas (Eight Auspicious Signs). • a wheel on the palm of a hand, symbolizing Ahimsa (non-violence). • Triratna signify the three jewels of Jainism

16. Women • religion of religious equality, devoted to recognising the rights of all living creatures The sectarian divide • The Difambara Jain sect believes that women cannot achieve liberation without being reborn as men first. The Svetambara sect disagrees. Nakedness • nakedness is an essential element of the road to liberation. • Mahavira himself, set an example of total nudity that Digambaras believe monks should follow. • This ban on female nakedness is partly intended to protect both men and women: • cause men to experience sexual • feel ashamed of being naked. • prevent the disruptive consequences of allowing women to walk around naked.

17. Women Ahimsa and women • Digambaras also believe that women are inherently himsic (harmful). • menstrual blood kills micro-organisms living in the female body. • female body is less non-violent than a male body Impurity • menstrual blood is a sign of impurity. Attachment • nature is to care for children and other dependants

18. Science • universe is uncreated, real, eternal, and infinite with no beginning and end. • the matter is never destroyed; it only undergoes changes into different states or modes. This is the law of nature. • taking meals before sunset in defense of the vow of non-violence. • after sunset many tiny living beings come into existence in the atmosphere.

19. Bibliography • BBC - Religion - Jainism. Web. 22 Oct. 2010. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/jainism/>. • Breuilly, Elizabeth, Joanne O'Brien, and Martin Palmer. "Jain Life:Beliefs and Practices." Religion of the World. Ed. Martin E. Marty. New York: Transedition Limited and Fernleigh, 1997. 124-25. Print. • Google Images. Web. 26 Oct. 2010. <http://www.google.ca/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi>. • Jainism - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 26 Oct. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism>. • Jainism. Web. 20 Oct. 2010. <http://www.pujas.com/Jainism-History.html>. • Jainism. Web. 26 Oct. 2010. <http://www.jainworld.com/jainbooks/Books/Jainism.htm>. • Timeline of Jainism - Religion Facts. Web. 19 Oct. 2010. <http://www.religionfacts.com/jainism/timeline.htm>.