Jainism

Ashli, Jocelyn, Jaycie

BK Quiz (4 pts)

1. From what country does Jainism find its origins? 2. T/F? Jains believe in reincarnation. 3. Name two foods Jains do not support eating. 4. T/F? Jains perform worship.

Answers

1. India

2. True

3. meat and potatoes and any previously living food

that was harmed before being ready to eat

4. True and false

Beginnings ● 6th Cen. BCE in India ● Jinas (Conquerors)

o title given to the 24 great teachers who created the faith

● Sanskrit is their religious language ● Mahavira: founder of the religion ● Two Sects- disagree on scripture, women,

details of life of Mahavira, rituals o Svetambara o Digambra

● Goal is ultimate liberation from self o Found through:

Elimination of Karma Control of knowledge Control of desire/passions When successful → Jina “conqueror”

Basic Beliefs ● Concern for the welfare of every being in the universe, and

for the health of the universe, itself. o Animals, plants, and human beings all contain living souls. o Each of the souls is of equal value (no caste system), and should be

treated with respect and compassion. The masks are worn so that they don’t harm/breath in any small organisms or

flies ● The “Three Jewels” (or guiding principles)

o Right belief o Right knowledge o Right conduct

● The supreme principle of Jain living is non-violence (ahimsa)

Basic Beliefs: Vows taken by Jains 12 total: Jains scriptures expect these to be followed ● The 5 Anuvratas (Lesser/Limited) The 4 Siksavratas (instruction/discipline)

o Non-violence - Meditation - one place, 48 mins/day Vegetarianism - Limited duration of activities

o Truthfulness - Adopt life of monk for 1 day, regularly o Non-stealing - Give money to monks, nuns, and poor o Chastity o Non-possession

● The 3 Gunavratas (Subsidary)

o Limited area of activity - reduce areas of doing harm o Limited use of resources - only have what they need o Avoidance of pointless sins - immoral media, gossip, bad thoughts

Texts ● Mahavir’s disciples compiled his teaching into text

o From there orally translated for 1,000 years, never kept original text ● In 500 A.D Jain acharyas decided to write down their

knowledge of Jainism o Literature is split into two different categories Agam Literature

● Original scripture of Gandharas, and Skrut-kevalis- written in Prakrit

Non-Agam Literature ● Collections of commentary and explanations for Jainism

from nuns, and monks

Deities ● Do not believe in “Almighty Creator God” ● Believe that one can achieve godliness by reaching

absolute bliss or enlightenment ● Gods can come in forms of:

o Arihants: gods in embodied states, ultimately become Siddhas; a soul who has destroyed all passions/desires; can achieve omniscience

o Tirthankaras: Teachers and revivers of Jain philosophy; a focus of reverence and worship among Jains

o Siddha: A soul perfected, permanently liberated from cycle of birth and death; free from all Karma and embodiment, living forever in Moksha

Symbols ● Contrary to the hindu swastika, the

Jain swastika represents the four states the soul may live in o Heaven, Hell, Animal, Human

● The hand represents fearlessness ● The wheel represents the desire to

stop reincarnation through non-violence o the word inside is “Ahimsa”

● The three dots represent the “three jewels” ● The semicircle represents the zone beyond

the three realms… the place for the liberated soul.

● The bottom writing is sanskrit for “mutual assistance of all beings”

Symbols cont’d

● The flag of jainism was first mentioned in a holy text dating back to the 5th century BCE. Sometimes the black is dark blue.

Worship How do they worship? ● Jains do not worship to please or honor a god or gods ● Cultural influences have lead Jain temples to look very similar to Hindu

temples → some very ornate, some completely bland. o Tirthankaras are displayed, which offerings are made to

● Although the jains will appear to be worshipping the tirthankaras as people, they are really worshipping the ideals of perfection which they have achieved.

What is the purpose then? ● Provides individuals with the discipline to concentrate on Jain ideals, and

cultivate detachment. ● By focusing on the virtues of tirthankaras and other pure souls, Jains hope

to follow in their perfect footsteps

Worship cont’d Purpose of prayer? ● Prayers only focusing on the great acts of tirthankaras and to remind

oneself of Mahavira’s teachings. ● Karma, which sets the quality of life for a person, is automatic and cannot

be changed through prayer. ● Any beings that would be prayed to cannot be reached and are out of

human contact → they have been liberated from all desires and passions and so they cannot be pleased by any acts of worship

Why do Jains worship then? ● Improves spiritual state of worshipper ● like going to the gym strengthens the body, worshipping brings purification ● It can destroy bad karma attached to the soul ● It provides focus ● It reminds worshippers of the examples they are to follow

Namaskara Sutra The Namaskara Sutra is one of the most important prayers in Jainism because it praises the five great beings’ acts: “I bow down to those who have reached omniscience in the flesh and teach the road to everlasting life in the

liberated state. I bow down to those who have attained perfect knowledge and liberated their souls of all karma.

I bow down to those who have experienced self-realisation of their souls through self-control and self-sacrifice.

I bow down to those who understand the true nature of soul and teach the importance of the spiritual over the material.

I bow down to those who strictly follow the five great vows of conduct and inspire us to live a virtuous life. To these five types of great souls I offer my praise.

Such praise will help diminish my sins. Giving this praise is most auspicious.

So auspicious as to bring happiness and bliss.”

Daily Duties There are 6 daily duties, not mandatory, but recommended for spiritual development ● meditation and prayer ● honor the Tirthankara ● respect for spiritual leaders ● repentance for things one has done wrong ● control of one’s self by holding a fixed position during meditation ● renunciation of certain pleasures for a period of time. Pleasures such as:

food, and activities

Pilgrimages ● Pilgrimage is considered important to Jains,

but is not mandated... ● When on Pilgrimages

o Take on an attitude of an Jain ascetic (much like a nun or a munk) o Visit temples and or locations that may be associated with the lives

and deeds of Tirthankaras o Most famous, holy site for Jains is in Shatrunjaya in Gujarat

Shatrunjaya is one of the five holy mountains and contains many temples

Rites of Passage ● Birth

○ Pre- birth rituals ■ Values of mother and hereditary values given predominance ■ aim to improve child before and after birth

○ Post- birth rituals ■ Jatakarma rituals

● give ghee and honey to child (ghee should be 3 times the amount of honey); Om written on tongue

● Father whispers “Vedosi” into child’s ear which means “you are a knowledgeable person”

Rites of Passage cont’d ● Marriage

o Pre- Marriage Small puja at brides house - priest decides date and time of wedding Given to groom, groom’s brother puts tika on groom’s forehead, gives

gifts (ex. small gold chain, clothes, sweets, etc.) o Marriage

Father of bride performs Kanyadaan ritual ● places 1 rupee and 25 paice and rice in right hand and hands

her to groom Priest chants mantras, pours holy water 3 times on couple’s hands Bride ties knot between her sari and groom’s shawl 7 vows then exchange garlands between the couple

Rites of Passage cont’d ● Death

○ Santhara- fasting to death ■ Jain stops eating with the intention of preparing for death ■ Only do this when body is no longer capable of serving as an

instrument of spirituality and death is inevitable ○ Burial

■ Cremated in specific place, cannot have organisms (grass, insects) where they’re burned

■ Not put in river (could pollute), instead dig hole and put remains in

Holidays ● Paryushana (to stay in one place)

o Celebrated in August or September for 8-10 days o Festival of receptance and forgiveness, old Karma cleansed o Many Jains fast, regular rituals at their temple

Teachings of Kalpa Sutra given by monks ● Kalpa Sutra is the teachings of three of the 24 original teachers,

including Mahavira o On last day Jains ask for forgiveness from everybody whom

they may have hurt in the previous year

Holidays cont’d ● Diwali

o One of most important festivals o Day of Nirvana for Lord Mahavira o Falls on last day of the month of Ashvina according to the Jain

calendar (Our October or November) o It is believed that the 18 kings of Northern India lit lights symbolizing

the knowledge of Mahavira o Celebrate with sweets, light lamps, fast last 2 days

● New Years o After Diwali at the end of Ashvina, Jains celebrate New Years at the

beginning of the next month, Kartika o Ritual of Snatra Puja performed at temple o Mahavira’s chief disciple Gautam Swami attained Kevala Jnana

(omniscience) on this day

The End