Jain is a religion And its Importance

JainismJainism • What is Jainism?What is Jainism?

• Founder Of jainism.Founder Of jainism.

• Jain Way Of LIFEJain Way Of LIFE

• Non ViolenceNon Violence

• VegetarianismVegetarianism

• YogaYoga

• EqualityEquality

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

The founders of JainismThe founders of Jainism

24 24 TirthankarasTirthankaras (“ford maker”)(“ford maker”): great : great teachersteachers

• Going back countless thousands of years Going back countless thousands of years before recorded historybefore recorded history

• MahaviraMahavira (“great hero”) – the 24(“great hero”) – the 24thth and and final final TirthankaraTirthankara – reformer of ancient – reformer of ancient JainismJainism– Nataputta Vardhamana Nataputta Vardhamana – Lived 599 - 527 BCE in northeast IndiaLived 599 - 527 BCE in northeast India

•30 years as student (never married)30 years as student (never married)•12 years as ascetic renunciant12 years as ascetic renunciant•30 years as spiritual teacher (30 years as spiritual teacher (tirthankaratirthankara))

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

By: Rahul Jain

(rahu.tarun@gmail.com)

•Non-Violence (Ahimsa)Non-Violence (Ahimsa)

•Non-One-Sidedness Non-One-Sidedness (Anekantavad)(Anekantavad)

•Non-Possessiveness Non-Possessiveness (Aparigraha)(Aparigraha)

Live a Jain Way of Live a Jain Way of LifeLife

Jainism is a Jainism is a Religion Religion and a and a Way of LifeWay of Life

Non-Violence

(Ahimsa)

Vegetarianism Meditation/Yoga/Mind Environmentalism

Animal CompassionAnekantvadNon-Violence

Vegetarianism Meditation/Yoga/Mind Environmentalism

Animal CompassionAnekantvadNon-Violence

Animal Compassion

For thousands of years,Jains have been practicingvegetarianism

Vegetarianism

Meditation & Yoga

For thousands of years,Jains have been practicing

Meditation and Yoga

Meditation

Non-Violence

For thousands of years,Jains have been practicing

Equality

Equality

Non-Violence

Environmentalism

For thousands of years,Jains have been

Environmentalist

Non-Violence

Anekantvad

For thousands of years,Jains have been practicing

Non-Absolutism(Respect other views)(Truth has many perspectives)

Non-Violence

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

Jain FundamentalsJain Fundamentals

• Who Created the Universe: Who Created the Universe: – No one; Matter changesNo one; Matter changes

• Purpose of Life:Purpose of Life:– Help each other; Realize one’s own full Help each other; Realize one’s own full

potential; To manage one’s passions; potential; To manage one’s passions;

• Who controls your actionsWho controls your actions– We are responsible for our own actionsWe are responsible for our own actions

• How do we become happyHow do we become happy– By managing our passions (anger, greed, ego, By managing our passions (anger, greed, ego,

pride)pride)

Jain Fundamentals (cont.)Jain Fundamentals (cont.)

• Human Suffering is due to: Human Suffering is due to: – We are unable to understand our true We are unable to understand our true

naturenature

• Is there reincarnation: Is there reincarnation: – Yes – until we reach full realizationYes – until we reach full realization

• Is there a Jain “bible”Is there a Jain “bible”– Yes. Yes.

• Tolerance for other religions: Tolerance for other religions: – Yes. Respect and understand other faithsYes. Respect and understand other faiths

Jain Fundamentals (cont.) ?Jain Fundamentals (cont.) ?

• Why do we pray?Why do we pray?– To celebrate the qualities of perfect SoulTo celebrate the qualities of perfect Soul

• ScienceScience– Strong correlation with other religionsStrong correlation with other religions

• Non-Violence (Ahimsa)Non-Violence (Ahimsa)– Strengthens the autonomy of life of Strengthens the autonomy of life of

every being; Ahimsa - diet, fellow every being; Ahimsa - diet, fellow being, environment, thoughts and being, environment, thoughts and actions actions

• Non-One-Sidedness Non-One-Sidedness (Anekantavad)(Anekantavad)– Strengthens the autonomy of thought of Strengthens the autonomy of thought of

every individualevery individual

• Non-Possession (Aparigraha)Non-Possession (Aparigraha)– Strengthens the interdependence of all and Strengthens the interdependence of all and

share limited resourcesshare limited resources

Essence of JainismEssence of Jainismin Thoughts/Speech/Action …in Thoughts/Speech/Action …

Non-Violence

TimelineTimeline

571ADMohammed

Judaism

Christianity

Jainism

Hinduism

Islam

2600BCAbraham

2200BCExodus from Egypt

30BCChrist

Beginningless/Endless

Beginningless/Endless 557BC, Mahavir

483BCGautam Buddha

1940sAD Israel

Buddhism

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)

Jain Way of Life is Jain Way of Life is Universal Irrespective of Universal Irrespective of your Religionyour Religion

““Validated” Treasure in Validated” Treasure in JainismJainism

• Non-ViolenceNon-Violence• Filtered/boiled waterFiltered/boiled water• Jain mathematicsJain mathematics• Plant life & Plant life &

Environmentalism Environmentalism • Equality towards womenEquality towards women• Animal ProtectionAnimal Protection• Molecules and atomsMolecules and atoms• Compassionate diet/Compassionate diet/

VegetarianismVegetarianism• Meditation and Yoga – mindMeditation and Yoga – mind

“More than 2500 Years old…”

____

Jainsim Soul

Western Schools:Soul

Internal God/Soul versus External God

QUALITIES OF SOULQUALITIES OF SOUL

• QUALITIESQUALITIES

EverlastingEverlasting

SentienceSentience

Omniscience

Omniscience

LiberationLiberationLiberationLiberationLiberation

Omniscience

Knowledge Covering

Intuition Covering

View DeludingSensation

Body

Status

Obstructive

Life span

Choice: Circle of Life Choice: Circle of Life or Mokshaor Moksha

Circle of Life

Moksha

and “Death”

eastern schools:cycle of life/death - nirvana

western schools:linearity of life cycle

enlightenment

Karma & Reincarnation

birth: pure state

death

heaven

hell

cycle of life/death

elimination of karmic bondage

nirvana

A profound truth for all A profound truth for all timestimes

““One who neglects or disregards the One who neglects or disregards the existence of earth, air, fire, water and existence of earth, air, fire, water and vegetation, disregards his own existence vegetation, disregards his own existence which is entwined with them”which is entwined with them”

- - Lord Mahavir (599-527 BC)Lord Mahavir (599-527 BC)

Help Each OtherHelp Each Other

• Parasparopgraho Jivänäm – Parasparopgraho Jivänäm – – Tattvärtha SutraTattvärtha Sutra

All life is bound together by mutual All life is bound together by mutual support and interdependence (If support and interdependence (If one does not care for nature one one does not care for nature one does not care for oneself)does not care for oneself)– Refreshingly contemporary in its Refreshingly contemporary in its

premise and in its promise. premise and in its promise. – Forms the basis of the modern day Forms the basis of the modern day

science of ecology.science of ecology.

Why are Jains vegetarians?Why are Jains vegetarians?

Non-vegetarian Living - Cruelty to Non-vegetarian Living - Cruelty to Animals:Animals:

• Animals Killed per Day in USAAnimals Killed per Day in USA

Cattle Cattle - 130,000- 130,000

Calves Calves - 7,000- 7,000

HogsHogs - 360,000- 360,000

Chickens Chickens - 24,000,000- 24,000,000

Why are Jains Vegetarians Why are Jains Vegetarians (cont.)?(cont.)?

Non-vegetarian Living - Impact on EcologyNon-vegetarian Living - Impact on Ecology

• Greenhouse effect Greenhouse effect – World's 1.3 billion cows annually produce 100 World's 1.3 billion cows annually produce 100

million tons of methane million tons of methane – Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas which Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas which

traps 25 times as much solar heat as CO2traps 25 times as much solar heat as CO2

• Water ConsumptionWater Consumption– Livestock (Cattle, Calves, Hogs, Pigs) Livestock (Cattle, Calves, Hogs, Pigs)

production accounts for more than half of all production accounts for more than half of all the water consumed in USA.the water consumed in USA.

Why are Jains Vegetarians ?Why are Jains Vegetarians ?

Non-vegetarian Living - Impact on Non-vegetarian Living - Impact on EcologyEcology

• Land UsageLand Usage– A third of the surface of North America is A third of the surface of North America is

devoted to grazingdevoted to grazing– Half of American croplands grow livestock Half of American croplands grow livestock

feed for meat and dairy productsfeed for meat and dairy products– 220 million acres of land in the USA have 220 million acres of land in the USA have

been deforested for livestock productionbeen deforested for livestock production– 25 million acres in Brazil, and half the 25 million acres in Brazil, and half the

forests in Central Americaforests in Central America

Non-PossessionNon-Possession

• Non-Possession/Self-restraint is the Non-Possession/Self-restraint is the second most important Jain principle second most important Jain principle – Reduce one’s needs and wants as far as Reduce one’s needs and wants as far as

possible.possible.– Not to waste the gifts of natureNot to waste the gifts of nature– Nature provides enough for our NEED Nature provides enough for our NEED

not enough for our GREEDnot enough for our GREED

• ““Aparigraha seve attai karanti Aparigraha seve attai karanti prananam behanam” prananam behanam”

– Lord MahavirLord Mahavir

• We kill other lives because of We kill other lives because of our greed and possessiveness. our greed and possessiveness.

• This is the primary cause of all This is the primary cause of all violence as well as imbalance violence as well as imbalance in the environment. in the environment.

The ancient Jain scriptural aphorism

Jainism on web:Jainism on web:

• www.jainsite.comwww.jainsite.com

• www.jainpeople.comwww.jainpeople.com

• www.jainstavans.comwww.jainstavans.com

• www.jyt.yolasite.comwww.jyt.yolasite.com