{"id":118,"date":"2021-01-27T17:40:11","date_gmt":"2021-01-27T17:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/understandingreligion\/chapter\/jainism\/"},"modified":"2024-08-20T21:24:10","modified_gmt":"2024-08-20T21:24:10","slug":"jainism","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu\/understandingreligion\/chapter\/jainism\/","title":{"rendered":"4.6 Jainism"},"content":{"raw":"
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\r\n\r\n\"Kalpasutra\"<\/a>\r\n

We begin looking at the Jain faith tradition with help from Nadini Balbir[footnote]Nalini Balbir is a Professor of Indology at Sorbonne Nouvelle University Paris, where she teaches Sanskrit. She has specialized in research on various aspects of the Jain tradition. Her publications include a Catalogue of the British Library Jain manuscripts (2006, with co-authors K V Sheth, K K Sheth and C B Tripathi). She has also contributed to the JAINpedia website which includes digitized Jain manuscripts from various London collections.[\/footnote], from the British Library Sacred Texts website.\u00a0 If you would like to read the full text in the original, with illustrations, you would enjoy reading here:<\/p>\r\n

An Introduction to the Jain Faith<\/a><\/p>\r\n\"The Jain faith is one of the oldest faiths in India. Its presence is attested since the 6th\u20135th century BCE. This was the time when Mahavira preached in the eastern part of India, then known as Magadha. Since then the faith has been present on the Indian subcontinent, without any break. There is no way to historically pinpoint when it began; virtually no archaeological Jain ruins predate this time in India, but the earliest\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_684\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"272\"]\"District<\/a> District wise Jain population percentage India census 2011[\/caption]\r\n\r\nevidence there is suggests that Jainism was already a well-established faith. Today the Jains form a significant minority in Indian society, even though they make up hardly one percent of the total population, and have important diaspora communities in the UK, North America, Singapore, Belgium, etc.\r\n\r\n \r\n

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Who do the Jains worship?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nThe Jain faith does not believe in a creator god like Hinduism or the Abrahamic faiths. In a way similar to Buddhists, the Jains venerate perfect ascetics who have been provided with valid authority on account of their career and abilities. They are named Jinas (\u2018Conquerors\u2019) or Tirtha\u1e43karas (\u2018ford-makers\u2019, because they have crossed to liberation) who provide ultimate models to the followers, the Jains. Mahavira was the twenty-fourth Jina. His predecessors are not historical figures, but this does not affect their place in respect and worship. Their existence lays emphasis on the idea of lineage which is at the center of Jainism. Mahavira is thus a continuator and a reformer rather than a founder, which he is often said to be.\r\n\r\n \r\n
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An interesting perspective<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/www.ted.com\/talks\/anjali_kumar_my_failed_mission_to_find_god_and_what_i_found_instead\/transcript?language=en\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n

What is a Jina?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nAll Jinas led similar lives. They were born as princes in royal families and withdrew from society in order to take up religious initiation, either before or after marriage, depending on the case.\r\n\r\nThe first stage of their ascetic life was full of tests that they had to overcome, showing their perseverance when faced with challenges. This spiritual evolution finally led to full enlightenment, known in Jainism as omniscience (kevalaj\u00f1\u0101na<\/em>). When a Jina reaches this state they are then able to grasp everything everywhere whether it relates to past, present or future. They can then teach others the principles of the doctrine. This takes place during a general assembly where the Jina sits at the center, heard and seen by all beings wherever they are.\r\n\r\nHe then utters the divine sound which results in teaching expanded by him and his direct disciples, and builds around him a community of monks, nuns and lay followers. When his lifespan comes to an end and he has attained full perfection, the Jina leaves the human body for good and attains liberation from the cycle of rebirths.\r\n\r\n \r\n

What are the main features of the Jain worldview?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nThe Jain faith can be best labelled as a path to liberation or a path of purification. This is defined as consisting of correct faith, correct understanding and correct conduct. The Jain teaching in its multiple shapes is an expansion of these \u2018three jewels\u2019, the sequence of which is significant and emphasizes a concern for rationality as one leads to the other: one can have a proper conduct only if one is aware of the proper way to analyze what exists.\r\n\r\nCorrect faith means recognizing the existence of nine verities or principles.<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThey are:\r\n
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  1. the fact that there are sentient souls or living beings (j\u012bva<\/em>)<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. the fact that there are non-sentient or material things (aj\u012bva<\/em>) such as time or space<\/li>\r\n \t
  3. the fact that karma flows in the soul (\u0101srava<\/em>)<\/li>\r\n \t
  4. the fact that once in the soul karma is attached to it (bandha<\/em>)<\/li>\r\n \t
  5. the fact that there are forms of activity that are good (pu\u1e47ya<\/em>)<\/li>\r\n \t
  6. the fact that there are forms of activity that are bad (p\u0101pa<\/em>)<\/li>\r\n \t
  7. the fact that flowing of karma should be blocked (sa\u1e43vara<\/em>)<\/li>\r\n \t
  8. the fact that karma that has flowed in should be annihilated (nirjar\u0101<\/em>)<\/li>\r\n \t
  9. the fact that once all karmas have been eliminated final liberation from the cycle of rebirths takes place (mok\u1e63a<\/em>)<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n \r\n\r\nThis systematic worldview forms the basis for the Jains way of life and their religious practices.\r\n\r\n \r\n

    What is Karma ?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
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    Example: Karma and how we create it<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n

    \r\n\r\nMost of us think of karma as something like \"what goes around come around\".\u00a0 This is not quite so accurate, at least not for the Jains.\u00a0 Listen to this young man speak about his understanding of Karma and how it is created.\u00a0 We don't WANT karma. That's the point.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/syWt9HQgUPE\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n
    \u00a0<\/header>The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word Karma is deeds, including thoughts and words. However, according to Jainism, Karmas are thought to be invisible, and yet are fine particles of matter that exists all around us just like air particles. Our souls attract these karmas through activities involving mind, body and speech. This means every time we get annoyed, we attract karmas, every time we insult someone, we attract karmas, every time we lie or become steal or cheat, we attract karmas. These karmas form layers over our souls and keep us from realizing our true potential.\r\n\r\nAs the theory goes, the true nature of soul is clean, clear and full of knowledge. The karmas separate the soul from the truth and the soul goes through the cycles of birth and death.\r\n\r\nThe strength and duration of karmic bonds are very much dependent on the intensity of our intent. Our motives at the time of performing any act determines the strength and duration of the karma. Motive, intent, and purpose count in Jainism: two people performing similar activities could acquire karma quite differently. For example, a person killing an animal to eat, intentionally, is producing a karmic bond much stronger than a person killing insects unintentionally while walking or driving. Both involve an act of killing but the karma acquired will be different in these two situations.\r\n\r\n \r\n
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    Types of Karmas: From Harvard's Jainism Literature Center<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n

    There are 8 different types of Karmas in Jain belief :<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n1.Knowledge-obscuring<\/strong> (Gyanavaraniya) Karma:\r\n\r\nGyan means knowledge. Varaniya means stoppage. This karma prevents the soul from acquiring true knowledge and keeps us ignorant just as a blindfold keeps us from seeing. How can we improve our lot unless we know what we are?\r\n\r\n2. Perception-obscuring<\/strong> (Darshanavarniya) Karma:\r\n\r\nDarshan means faith or perception. This karma prevents us from having a rational, common-sense approach towards our lives and surroundings.\r\n\r\n3. Feeling-producing<\/strong> (Vedaniya) Karma:\r\n\r\nThis karma makes us experience either the sweetness of physical happiness or the bitterness of misery.\r\n\r\n4. Deluding<\/strong> (Mohaneeya) Karma:\r\n\r\nThis karma, like too much alcohol, confuses all the human faculties and makes us forget what is right and what is wrong. It makes the souls bewildered and perplexed.\r\n\r\n5. Life-span-determining<\/strong> (Ayu) Karma:\r\n\r\nThis karma determines the life spans of all living beings.\r\n\r\n6. Physique-determining<\/strong> (Nam) Karma:\r\n\r\nThis karma determines the looks, skin, form etc. of the bodies of living beings.\r\n\r\n7. Status-determining<\/strong> (Gotra) Karma:\r\n\r\nThis karma determines the family and status of our birth.\r\n\r\n8. Obstructing<\/strong> (Antaraya) Karma:\r\n\r\nThis karma prevents us from doing a good deed or undoing a bad action when there is a desire to do it. For example, we may want to give donation to a charity but this karma might put obstacles in our path and stop us from doing so.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n

    The Jain faith in practice<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_661\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"256\"]\"A<\/a> A mural depicting Ganeshprasad Varni at a Jain temple in Katni, MP, India.[\/caption]\r\n\r\nSince the beginning, the Jain society has taken account of the fact there are two ways of life, a stricter one for ascetics and a milder one for non-ascetics, who live in the world engaged in professional and family life and are often called lay followers. Male and female mendicants, on the one hand, male and female lay followers, on the other hand, form the fourfold Jain community.\r\n\r\nMonastic life is regarded as an ideal aim but Jainism has devised a lot of possibilities for lay people to live their faith earnestly in daily practice.\r\n\r\nJain mendicants are people who have become monks or nuns after the official initiation ceremony called\u00a0d\u012bk\u1e63\u0101<\/em>. They renounce ordinary life, receive a new name and the monastic equipment in accordance with the monastic order to which they will belong. Then they lead a life of itinerancy, walking long distances and not using any mode of transportation as a general rule.\r\n\r\nThey conform to the \u2018five great vows\u2019<\/strong> (mah\u0101vratas<\/em>) which provide a broad frame of behaviour.\r\n