Living Religions A Brief Introduction 3 rd Edition

1. Living ReligionsA Brief Introduction3rd Edition Mary Pat Fisher

2. Chapter 4 Jainism The Tirthankaras and ascetic orders Freeing the soul: the ethical pillars Spiritual practices World Jainism

3. Key terms ahimsa anekantwad aparigraha Digambara Jina kevala Svetambara Tirthankaras

4. “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. Akangara Sutra

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

6. The Tirthankaras and Ascetic Orders Mahavira, “The Great Hero,” is Jainism’s major teacher, a contemporary of the Buddha Mahavira is the twenty-fourth of the Tirthankaras, or “fordmakers,” considered by Jains to be great teachers An ascetic path, Jainism is practiced in its fullest by monks and nuns Some adherents will carry the principle of nonviolence to wearing a gauze mask to avoid inhaling insects

7. The Tirthankaras and Ascetic Orders (cont.) Jain nuns and monks are celibate; they fast, do penance, and learn to endure hardships with indifference Digambaras Svetambaras Jainism, an ancient religion of India, holds a modern relevance in its gentle warnings of the importance of caring for all life

8. Freeing the Soul: The Ethical Pillars Karma Considered to be subtle matter that accumulates and clings to us as we think and act Distinguish between destructive and nondestructive types Must be eliminated to attain kevala; three principles Ahimsa: nonviolence Aparigraha: nonattachment Anekantwad: nonabsolutism

9. Spiritual Practices Jainism is practiced in its fullest by monks and nuns Laypeople seek to lead simple lives Their homes are scrupulously clean They are strict vegetarians Medicines are prepared without cruel testing on animals

10. Spiritual Practices (cont.) 12 “limited” vows Jain laypeople are to undertake The first 5 are most important Nonviolence Truthfulness Not taking anything that has not been given Renouncing sexual activity outside of marriage Limiting one’s possessions

11. Festivals and Pilgrimages Holy days are celebrated with meditation, renunciation, fasting, scriptural study, and hymns Celebrate Divali but with a 3-day fast and an entire night of reciting hymns and meditating on Mahavira Most important festival is Paryushan Mahaparva, an annual festival of atonement Individuals, families, and groups may also go on pilgrimages to sacred sites

12. World Jainism Has survived as a minority religion in India for most of its history Has been carried out of India by several teachers Acharya Tulsi initiated new orders of semi-monks and nuns Also started the Anuvrat (small vow) Movement