Diversity of World Religious Expression Diversity of World Religious Expression

Eastern (Indian) , , and

Pravin K. Shah JAINA Education Committee Federation of Jain Associations in North America 509 Carriage Woods Circle, Cary NC 27513-6469 E-mail: [email protected] www.jainelibrary.org 919-859-4994

Eastern (Indian) Religions Topics Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism

 System – Hinduism Common Features: • Goal of Life - Liberation () Eternal Samana System • Human Suffering - Soul's Ignorance • Philosophy of •Buddhism • Continuity of Life (Reincarnation) • Mystical (Human Experience) •Jainism • Self Realization (Direct contact with God/Self) • Scripture has no authority over Realized Person • Individual

1 Eastern (Indian) Religion Brahmana System - Hinduism Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism  God – • Creator, Preserver, Destroyer (Cyclic) Common Features (continued): • God is universe and universe is God • Freedom to choose God(s)/no-God (synonymous) • No Judgment Day  At liberation, soul merges with God or Universe • No Eternal Hell/Heaven • Soul becomes infinity • Worshipping - All Day • Universe Exists in Endless Cycle  Highly Ritualistic (elaborate and fancy) • Religious Symbols (, , Lotus)  Animal Sacrifices in the past • Cremation  Scriptures have certain authority in the initial Systems of Philosophy Developed stage of Spiritual progress • Brahmana System (Hinduism) • , , Geeta, • Samana System (Jainism, Buddhism) • Scriptures are in

Systems of Philosophy - Hinduism Systems of Philosophy - Hinduism

 Vaisesika  • The atomist School - Extension of logics • Path of Meditation and Self-effort • The atomists theorized that nature consists of two • Sage Pantanjali fundamental principles: atom and void  • Sage • Path of pure understanding and Comtemplation  Earlier Mimasa • Sage Kapil • The tradition of Vedic interpretation, with emphasis  Nyaya on Vedic ritual • School of Logic based on Nyaya  Later Mimasa (popularly known as Hinduism) • Aksapada Gautam • - the Upanishadic tradition, with emphasis on Vedic philosophy Saivism, Saktism, Vaisnavism, Liberalism

2 Primary Paths - Hinduism: Hinduism Duties of Individuals (Caste Systems) Path of Devotion or Surrender ( Yoga)  Enjoyment of Supreme Love and Bliss Priests-intellectuals () Path of Knowledge (Jnan Yoga) • Establish and preserve the national ideas and  Realization of unique and supreme Self through philosophy contemplation Rulers and warriors () Path of Action (Karma Yoga) • Protect the state from external aggression and establish internal order  Dedication of every human activity to Supreme Will Merchants and artisans () Path of Self Control/Meditation (Raj Yoga) • Production of national wealth  Liberation through the perfection of body, Sudras thought, emotion and consciousness • To do the menial work

Samana System Hinduism : () Duties at various Stages of Life  No Creator God  Humans are capable to achieve the highest spiritual state Student life (Brahmcharya Ashram)  Scriptures have no authority (they are only guide) • Preparatory period  Human experience or Self Realization is the ultimate life (Gruhastha Ashram) authority • Worldly success: wealth, fame and power  Primary Path Retirement life (Vanpastha Ashram) • Path of Knowledge (Jnan Yoga) • • Service to community and fellow man Realization of unique and supreme self through knowledge Renunciation life (Sanyas Ashram)  Nonviolence, self control, penance, and meditation • Renunciation of possessions and family for  Revolt against Hindu caste distinction, fancy rituals, realization of true self and animal sacrifice

3 Buddhism: Buddhism: (continued)

The Supreme Man's true nature is divine and eternal Supreme is completely transcendent and can be described as: Preaching - Sunya (zero), a void, an emptiness, state of non-being • The greatness of self giving love and towards all creatures At • Middle path consist of living moderately and The future vanishes, the past vanishes, and one lives at the avoiding extremes present moment Being looses its identity and becomes nothing Being turns into a state of non-being, emptiness void, or Scriptures - Sunya • Tripitika for Theravad sect, • Sutras for Mahayan sect In Samsar (world) Being is a combination of physical and mental forces/energies Written in language (vernacular)

Four Noble Truth - Buddhism: Four Noble Truth - Buddhism: 1. Suffering Exist 4. Eight-fold Path to End Suffering Being born, Growing old, Sickness, and Death; all are Right Belief Sufferings 2. Cause of Suffering Right Thought or Aim Desire "thirst" to be and to become is the root cause of all Right Speech sufferings and Right Action 3. Cessation of Suffering Right Livelihood or Occupation Complete elemination of Desire and Craving, which is a state of Nirvana: Right Effort or Endeavor passionless peace, perfect insight, enlightenment, perfect Right knowledge, immortality Right Meditation

4 Jainism - Basic Belief Jainism - Basic Belief (continued)

God, Universe and Life Life Sufferings God is not a Creator, Preserver or Destroyer of the Universe • Liberated Souls are Jain Gods, who are only knower and Ignorance (Mithyatva) is the root cause of all Observer but not Doer Sufferings Universe is made up of Two Eternal and Self Existed • Soul is Ignorant from eternity Elements • Karma is attached to the Soul from eternity Living beings (Souls) Non-living Substances (Matters, Space, mediums of Ultimate Goal of Life Motion and Rest, Time) • Removal of Soul's Ignorance hence free from all The Principles governing the successions of life cycles karma (Birth, Life, and Death) is Karma particles which are • Liberated Soul is all Knower and Observer but attached to the Soul from eternity. not a Doer (an Ideal State of a Living-being)

Jain Religion Features Jain Religion Features (continued)

Every living being is Eternal, Individual, and has a •Proper knowledge of the six Universal substances and potential to become Liberated or God nine fundamental truths (), are essential for Right Perception, Knowledge and Conduct. At liberation the soul remains finite, lives in Moksha •Desire is the root cause of all sufferings forever, and never loses its identity •Elimination of your desire by your own effort in order The Principles governing the successions of life cycles to attain liberation. (Birth, Life, and Death) is Karma •Self purification, penance, austerity, and meditation are essential to eliminate the desire (Right Conduct). Our ignorance and/or intention behind our actions of body, mind, and speech bind us with Karma •Nonviolence is the highest principle to be followed in thought, speech, and action. Path of liberation is to follow Right Conviction, Right •One must cease injuring sentient creatures, large and Knowledge, and Right Conduct small.

5 Jain Religion Features (continued)

Since human life cannot exist without some form of violence, one must live a life with minimum violence to one sense beings. Karma philosophy applies to ourselves, Compassion applies to all

Scriptures - Agam Sutras written in Ardha-magdhi language (vernacular) Scriptures guide moral and spiritual life to ultimately attain liberation

6