JAINISM 101 A Scientific Approach
!!Jai Jinedra !! (Greetings) Hemendra Mehta
Original by Sudhir M. Shah nmae Airh 1. Hinduism is an ancient religion 2. Jainism is an off-shoot of Hinduism 3. Mahavir and Buddha started their religions as a protest to Vedic practices Two Beliefs 2. Jain Belief 1. Jainism is millions of year old 2. Jain religion has cycles of 24 Tirthankaras 1st Rishabhdev 24th Mahavirswami 3. Rishabhdev established agriculture, family system, moral standards, law, & religion Time Chart ARYANS ARRIVE RIKHAVDEV PERIOD MAHAVIR / BUDDHA INDUS VALLEY PERIOD CHRIST 6500 BCE 500 CE 1000 BCE 000 8,500 Yrs. ago 1500 Yrs. ago 3000 Yrs. ago 2000 Yrs. ago 2500 BCE 1500 BCE 500 BCE 4500 Yrs. ago 3500 Yrs. ago 2500 Yrs. ago Jain Religion Basic Information: • 10 million followers • Two major branches ¾ Digambar ¾ Shwetamber What is Religion? According to Mahavir swami “The true nature of a substance is a religion” Religion reveals • the true nature of our soul, and • the inherent qualities of our soul Inherent Qualities of our Soul Infinite Knowledge Infinite Perception Infinite Energy Infinite Bliss What is Jainism? A Philosophy of Living – Jains: Follow JINA, the conqueror of Inner Enemies – Inner Enemies (Kashays): • Anger (Krodh) • Greed (lobh) • Ego (maan) • Deceit (maya) – Causes: Attachment (Raag) and Aversion (Dwesh) THE ULTIMATE GOAL Free our soul from its bondage of Karma through Samyak Darshan (Rational Perception) Samyak Gnan (Rational Knowledge) Samyak Charitra (Rational Conduct) Unique Teachings of Jainism Ahimsa (Non-Violence or Universal love ) Anekant (Non-absolutism) Aparigraha (Non-attachment) Ahimsa (Non violence) Ahimsa practiced at 3 Levels: Kaya (body) Vachan (speech) Man (mind) Anekant ( Non-absolutism) See an entity from all directions • Expression of Truth is Relative or Non-absolute • Truth is expressed in many ways • One cannot make definite statement about Truth • Each statement is true in its own limited sense • Example: Story of 9 blind men seeing an Elephant Aparigraha (Non-attachment) • Attachment with People or Objects leads to Possession • Jain Sadhus (Monks) and Jain Sadhvis exemplify Aparigraha Jain Karma Theory • Law of cause and effect (action and reaction) • What one sows, one reaps • Our intention behind our actions of mind, speech and body is 2nd dimension of our karmas What is Karma? • Karma is a matter(Pudgal) determining the fate of the soul in rebirths • It is composed of very fine karmic particles = karmons • Entire universe is filled with karmic particles An Analogy - Magnetism Empowering Theory • While the law of karma dictates what we are experiencing now to be the result of our own past action, the law - by clearly defining the principle of cause and effect - also lays before us positive future direction of our own choice and making • Only WE are responsible for our past, present and future and only WE can alter it. No one else can! Jain Cosmology • According to Jain metaphysics the universe is an uncreated entity which has always been in existence and shall always be there. • There was neither any beginning of the universe nor is there going to be any end. Six Universal Substances • According to Jain Science, the universe is comprised of six substances – Soul (Jiva) – Matter (Ajiva) – Space (Akash) – Time (Kal) – Dynamic medium (Dharmastikay) – Stationary medium (Adharmastikay) Six Universal Substances • In standard physics one deals with matter in time and space coordinate system • In contrast, in Jain science it is the soul which is to be studied in terms of time, space and matter Jain Literature • Digambar View – All Agams are Extinct • Purva Agams (12th Ang) by 356 BC • 11 Ang and 14 Ang-bahya by 157 AD – Agam substitute literature • Satkhand Agam • Kashay-pahud • Four Anuyogs Jain Literature • Shwetamber Murti-pujak View – Purva Agams Extinct - 474 AD – 11 Ang-pravishta Agams Survived – 34 Ang-bahya Agams Survived Jain Literature • Ang-pravista Agams – Direct teachings of lord Mahavir – Composed by Ganadhars – 12 Ang-pravista Agams – Acharang sutra - being the oldest of all Paryushana Parva A Religious festival ¾ To come together from all directions ¾ To bring all external thoughts inward to reflect upon your soul ¾ To seek Forgiveness from all living beings Kalpa Sutra Author:Author: AcharyaAcharya Bhadrabahu_swamiBhadrabahu_swami AA scripturescripture whichwhich describesdescribes howhow toto enhanceenhance ReligiousReligious knowledgeknowledge ((GnanGnan)) ConductConduct (Charitra,(Charitra, Shila)Shila) SelfSelf controlcontrol (Penance(Penance oror Tap)Tap) Social Structure OrganizationOrganization :: JainJain SanghSangh –– 44 pillarspillars ShravakShravak (Jain(Jain Gentleman)Gentleman) ShravikaShravika (Jain(Jain Lady)Lady) SadhuSadhu (Jain(Jain Monk)Monk) SadhviSadhvi (( JainJain Nun)Nun) Jain Sadhus Jain Sadhvis Jain Pilgrimage Places Jain Temples Rankpur, Rajasthan, India Rankpur Temple, Rajasthan, India Rankpur, Rajasthan, India Architecture in Delwala Jain Temple, Mt. Abu, Rajasthan, India Architecture in Delwala Jain Temple, Mt. Abu, Rajasthan, India Mahavir, New Delhi, India Reference • Jain Associations in North America (JAINA) Websites - http://www.jaina.org/and http://www.jainism.org/ • Jain Society of Metro-Chicago, Bartlett, IL Websites - http://www.jsmconline.org/ JAINA Web Site JSMCONLINE Chicago website