Jainism By Bradley Glover Rachel Patterson Cece Zepeda Corey Bruemmer

1. Jainism By Bradley Glover Rachel Patterson Cece Zepeda Corey Bruemmer

2. Essential Questions • What is the Human Condition? • According to Jainism, people are caught in an endless death-rebirth cycle called Samsara, which is laden with ignorance and suffering. The Jiva (soul) is trapped in Samsara and is anchored to the world of Ajiva (the world of matter) by our Karma. • Where are we going? • After death, we will experience either a favorable or unfavorable rebirth based on our collective Karma, or we can achieve Moksha (liberation) of the Jiva from the Ajiva and be freed from the cycle of Samsara. • How do we get there? • Leading an ascetic life • Attaining Kevala (a pure, omniscient consciousness) • Following the teachings of the Mahavira and the Five Great Vows

3. Doctrines & Beliefs • Twenty-three figures preceded Mahavira; known as Tirthankaras • Forged this life and Nirvana • Mahavira, 24th and last Tirthankara • Severe asceticism required to release soul in life • Ahimsa (non-injury to life) • Life is endless reincarnation • Karma: result of the buildup of an individual's activity • To escape: Do as little as possible • Dualistic Nature: • Matter (ajiva): lifeless, material, evil • Soul (jiva): eternal, valuable

4. Doctrines & Beliefs • Severe asceticism: torturing the “evil flesh” is the only way to Moksha (release) • Gods are acknowledged, but not relied upon • Five Great Vows: • Ahimsa (non-injury to life) • To always speak the truth • Refrain from taking anything not given to them • Renounce sexual pleasures • Renounce all attachments

5. Doctrines & Beliefs • By 80 BCE, Jains were severely divided over the true meaning of Jainism, thus split into two sects • Svetambara (“the white-clad”) • Northern part of India • Liberal in interpretation • “white-clad” because they reject the necessity of nudity • Digambara (“sky-clad”) • Southern India • Adhere to old ideals • Require their monks to go about nearly nude; nudity reserved for those of greatest holiness • In 1473, Sthanakavasi group arose out of Svetambara • Reject temples and idols

6. Religious Experience • Two distinct groups • Majority: the laity • Minority: the monks and nuns • 40,000 temples in India to worship Tirthankaras • Many rituals in the home • Reciting the names of the Jinas (saints from the past) • Bathing idols • Offering flowers and perfumes • Meditation and observance of vows during their worship • The Five Great Vows: • Generally, all Jains follow the first three; monks keep all five • Basic principle of Jainism, all other aspects are secondary

7. Religious Experience • Laity may marry and have a family and possessions – may not expect release • Conversion: there is no ritual; one becomes a Jain by adopting the vows • Views towards women: • Mahavira - “women are the greatest temptation in the world” • Svetambara – very accepting of women (monasteries, release) • Digambara – aligned with Mahavira • No chance of release • Greatest temptation to man • Prohibited from entering monasteries and temples • Refuse Mahavira's marriage

8. Sacred Texts • Tattvartha Sutra • Acharya Umaswati - 2nd century BCE • Bring together the elements of the Jain path • Regarded as most authoritative text in Jainism • Agamas • Based on Mahavira's teachings • Composed around 6th to 3rd century BCE • Consists of many sutras • Written in various languages • Kalpa Sutra • Biographies of Jain Tirthankaras • Bhadrabahu I - ~377 BCE • Read during Paryushan

9. Rituals • The Navkar Mantra is the fundamental prayer • Gesture of respect to spiritually advanced beings • Purpose of worship is to break worldly attachments and desires • Avashyakas (six obligatory duties) • Smayika (practicing serenity) • Chaturvimshati (praising the Tirthankara) • Vandn (respecting teachers and monks) • Pratikramana (introspection) • Kayotsarga (stillness) • Pratyakhayana (renunciation)

10. Rituals • Paryushana • One of the most important festivals for Jains • Lasts 8-10 days • Comes at the time when wandering monks take up temporary residence for four months of monsoon • The laity take on vows of study and fasting similar to monasticism • Reading of the Kalpa Sutra • Mahavira Jayanti • Birthday of Mahavira (the last Tirthankara) • Celebrated the thirteenth day in the month of Chaitra (late March or early April) • Diwali • Takes place during Kartik around the full moon day (Oct. or Nov.) • Celebrates the enlightenment of Lord Mahavira

11. Rituals • Fasting • Fasting is done with most festivals • Sallekhana: holy fast to death • Meditation • Samayika: achieve a feeling of perfect calmness and understand one's self • Assists in managing and balancing one's passions • Emphasis on internal control of thought • Monasticism • Encouraged and respected • Wander from place to place barefoot • Don't use phones or electricity or other basic things

12. Ethics and Moral Conduct • Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill 2006 • Gujarat State Assembly passed Gujarat Freedom of Religion Bill to amend anti-conversion act • Mandates Jainism and Buddhism as denominations of Hinduism • Allows conversion between different sects of the same faith as well as between Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism • Discredits Jainism as a religion • Met with protest from the Jain community

13. Ethics and Moral Conduct • Jain monk Mitranadsagar: • “Jainism is an independent religion and the bill passed by the Gujarat government is against the constitution of the country” • “Jainism has been accorded the status of an independent religion by the Constitution. The Jain religion has no relation with Hinduism. Jainism existed even before the term Hinduism was coined in the history of Aryavrat” • Bill was withdrawn March 10, 2008 • Gujarat Governor Sharma found it to be violative of the Constitution • The motion to withdraw the bill was put to vote and passed unanimously