Living Religions A Brief Introduction 3 rd Edition

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Living ReligionsA Brief Introduction

3rd Edition

Mary Pat Fisher


The Tirthankaras and ascetic orders

Freeing the soul: the ethical pillars

Spiritual practices

World Jainism

Chapter 4 Jainism


ahimsaanekantwadaparigrahaDigambaraJinakevalaSvetambaraTirthankaras

Key terms


“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


before c. 777 BCE

599-527 BCE

from 3rd century BCE

1914-1997 CE

1970s-1980s CE

Timeline

Series of 23 Tirthankaras

Life of Mahavira

Digambaras and Svetambaras diverge

Acharya Tulsi

Jain monks establish Jain centers outside India


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


The Tirthankaras and Ascetic Orders (cont.)

Jain nuns and monks are celibate; they fast, do penance, and learn to endure hardships with indifference

DigambarasSvetambaras

Jainism, an ancient religion of India, holds a modern relevance in its gentle warnings of the importance of caring for all life


Freeing the Soul: The Ethical Pillars

KarmaConsidered 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


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


Spiritual Practices (cont.)

12 “limited” vows Jain laypeople are to undertake

The first 5 are most importantNonviolenceTruthfulnessNot taking anything that has not been givenRenouncing sexual activity outside of marriageLimiting one’s possessions


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


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 nunsAlso started the Anuvrat (small vow) Movement

Documents

Living Religions A Brief Introduction 3 rd Edition