Chapter 5: Jainism

1. Chapter 5: Jainism RELS 110: World Religions

2. These two are anti-Brahmanic: rites are of no effect. Time Line: The “axial age” in India A variety of traditions, some Brahmanic, some non-Brahmanic • 1500 BCE: Rig Veda • 1000-500: Upanishads • 6th Century: Jainism • 5th Century: Buddhism • 400BCE-200CE: Ramayana • The “axial age” wasn’t just in India, but also Greece, Israel, Persia, China.

3. Jainism: Topics • The Tirthankaras and ascetic orders • Freeing the soul: the ethical pillars • Spiritual practices • World Jainism

4. Jainism Overview • Indian religion not grounded in the Vedas • does not officially acknowledge the caste system. • an ascetic path, Jainism is practiced in its fullest by (celibate) monks and nuns.

5. 3 basic Jain assumptions about the universe • 1. law of karma applies to all living things • 2. ahimsa (non-violence) is the only escape from samsara • 3. can’t depend on priestly caste, ritual sacrifice, fate, or deities.

6. Key terms • ahimsa • anekantwad • aparigraha • Digambara • jiva • muni • Svetambara • Tirthankaras

7. Timeline Time Event Series of 23 Tirthankaras Life of Mahavira Digambaras and Svetambaras diverge AcharyaTulsi Jain monks establish Jain centers outside India • before c. 777 BCE • 599-527 BCE • from 3rd century BCE • 1914-1997 CE • 1970s-1980s CE

8. Mahavira • Mahavira (“great hero”) • given name was Vardhamana, • born a kshatriya, • Teacher of Jainism in the 6th century BCE. • twenty-fourth of the Tirthankaras, or “fordmakers” • Implication: Jainism began long before Mahavira.

9. Akaranga Sutra • Once when he [sat in meditation], his body unmoving, they cut his flesh, tore his hair, and covered him with dirt. They picked him up and then dropped him, disturbing his meditational postures. Abandoning concern for his body, free from desire, the Venerable One humbled himself and bore the pain.

10. Two ascetic orders the Digambaras, • wear no clothes; • Women can’t be naked, so one must be born a male to attain liberation TheSvetambaras, • wear white robes; • both males and females are capable of liberation.

11. Deeksha ceremony - joining the Jain monkhoodhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zei_s3cFKg

12. Freeing the soul: the ethical pillars • Like Hinduism, Jainism maintains belief in samsara. • One who attains the highest purity in their being is called Jina, winner. • Jainism is a religion of hope, believing the Jiva, soul, has the capacity to save itself.

13. Karma • shares concept of karma with Hinduism and Buddhism • karma is subtle matter that accumulates and clings to us as we think and act. • all karma must be eliminated to attain kevala, the highest state of perfection. • three principles to avoid karma: • Ahimsa • Aparigraha, • Anekantwad.

14. Ahimsa Non-Violence http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J7S44nIvhs

15. Questions: • To what extent was Gandhi influenced by Jainism rather than Hinduism? • Hinduism rather than Jainism? • What do we admire about Gandhi? Jainism’s influence on Gandhi (36:29-43:25=7min)

16. Ahimsa: Non-violence. • All life should not be injured. • Our ultimate aim should be to cause as little harm as possible to other creatures • What are some of the hazards Jains must avoid in order to practice nonviolence? • All breathing, existing, living, sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away. This is the pure, unchangeable, eternal law....Correctly understanding the law, one should arrive at indifference for the impressions of the senses, and not act on the motives of the world. (AkangaraSutra 1.)

17. Aparigraha: non-attachment • non-acquisitiveness is the way to inner liberation, and is valuable for the world. • relate Jainism to modern ecological theories and environmental crises.

18. Anekantvad: “manifold aspects.” • remain open-minded and avoid judgmentalism. • issues can be seen from many different angles because truth has many facets.

19. Spiritual practices • Jain monks and nuns are celibate, practice physical penance and fasting, and have few possessions. • Jain laypeople lead simple lives. • homes are kept clean • vegetarians • successful at work • philanthropists

20. Spiritual practices • 12 “limited” vows, 5 most important: • non-violence • Truthfulness • not taking anything that has not been given • renouncing any sexual activity outside marriage • limiting one’s possessions.

21. Jain Worship • May or may not worship at temples • temples have images of the Tirthankaras • Worship does not include supplication or many priestly activities • Ideally Jains worship without expecting personal response or help.

22. Festivals and pilgrimages • holy days celebrated with • Meditation • Renunciation • Fasting • scriptural study • Hymns • Divali (a Hindu celebration), celebrated with a three-day fast and an entire night reciting hymns and meditating on Mahavir. • ParyushanMahaparva: an annual festival of atonement. • an eight-day fast, followed by a final Forgiveness Day • pilgrimages to sacred sites, many in state of Bihar.

23. World Jainism • Jainism remained within India for most of its history • AcharyaTulsi initiated new orders of semi-monks and nuns and carried it to the world. • started the Anuvrat (“small vow”) Movement to encourage people of all faiths to cultivate strong moral standards. • avoid willful killing ofany innocent creature, • refrain from attacks and aggression and to work insteadfor world peace and disarmament, • avoid discrimination on the basis of caste or race, • eschew religious intolerance, • avoid false business and political practices, • limit acquisition of possessions, • eschew addictive substances, • avoid wasting water or cutting down trees.

24. Jainism and Modern Western Culture • What in Jainism is relevant to modern issues? • Ahimsa? • Aparigraha? • Anekantwad? • What is good about Jainism? • In a Materialist perspective? • In a Functional perspective? • In a Belief perspective? • Could you be a Jain? • What would be the obstacles?