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JAINISM. Jain is a religion And its Importance. Jainism. What is Jainism? Founder Of jainism. Jain Way Of LIFE Non Violence Vegetarianism Yoga Equality. What is Jainism ?. At least 2500+ years old Followed by 3 - 4 million people mostly in India Life affirming but world-denying
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JAINISM Jain is a religion And its Importance
Jainism • What is Jainism? • Founder Of jainism. • Jain Way Of LIFE • Non Violence • Vegetarianism • Yoga • Equality
What is Jainism? • At least 2500+ years old • Followed by 3 - 4 million people mostly in India • Life affirming but world-denying • Seeks to release the soul from the round of rebirth, to liberate spirit from matter • Ahimsa – non-violence – is the hallmark of this spiritual discipline • No creator god • Spiritual life is primarily moral rather than ritualistic
The founders of Jainism 24 Tirthankaras(“ford maker”): great teachers • Going back countless thousands of years before recorded history • Mahavira(“great hero”) – the 24th and final Tirthankara – reformer of ancient Jainism • Nataputta Vardhamana • Lived 599 - 527 BCE in northeast India • 30 years as student (never married) • 12 years as ascetic renunciant • 30 years as spiritual teacher (tirthankara)
Jainism and Jain Way of Life (Philosophy, Religion, and a Way of Life) By: Rahul Jain (rahu.tarun@gmail.com)
Live a Jain Way of Life • Non-Violence (Ahimsa) • Non-One-Sidedness (Anekantavad) • Non-Possessiveness (Aparigraha)
Non-Violence Jainism is a Religion and a Way of Life (Ahimsa)
Anekantvad Non-Violence Non-Violence Anekantvad Animal Compassion Animal Compassion Vegetarianism Vegetarianism Meditation/Yoga/Mind Meditation/Yoga/Mind Environmentalism Environmentalism
Vegetarianism Animal Compassion For thousands of years, Jains have been practicing vegetarianism
Non-Violence Meditation For thousands of years, Jains have been practicing Meditation and Yoga Meditation & Yoga
Non-Violence For thousands of years, Jains have been practicing Equality Equality
Non-Violence Environmentalism For thousands of years, Jains have been Environmentalist
Non-Violence Anekantvad For thousands of years, Jains have been practicing Non-Absolutism (Respect other views) (Truth has many perspectives)
“Soul - God” – Each living being has a Soul; God is a fully enlightened Soul. Each Soul is capable of becoming God.
Jain Fundamentals • Who Created the Universe: • No one; Matter changes • Purpose of Life: • Help each other; Realize one’s own full potential; To manage one’s passions; • Who controls your actions • We are responsible for our own actions • How do we become happy • By managing our passions (anger, greed, ego, pride)
Jain Fundamentals (cont.) • Human Suffering is due to: • We are unable to understand our true nature • Is there reincarnation: • Yes – until we reach full realization • Is there a Jain “bible” • Yes. • Tolerance for other religions: • Yes. Respect and understand other faiths
Jain Fundamentals (cont.) ? • Why do we pray? • To celebrate the qualities of perfect Soul • Science • Strong correlation with other religions
Essence of Jainismin Thoughts/Speech/Action … Non-Violence • Non-Violence (Ahimsa) • Strengthens the autonomy of life of every being; Ahimsa - diet, fellow being, environment, thoughts and actions • Non-One-Sidedness (Anekantavad) • Strengthens the autonomy of thought of every individual • Non-Possession (Aparigraha) • Strengthens the interdependence of all and share limited resources
Timeline Judaism 2600BCAbraham 2200BCExodus from Egypt 1940sAD Israel Christianity 30BCChrist Islam 571ADMohammed Jainism 557BC, Mahavir Beginningless/Endless Buddhism 483BCGautam Buddha Beginningless/Endless Hinduism
Mahavira ca. 599-527 BCE • Parallels Buddha’s life • Family wealth vs. poverty • Joined ascetics • Became far more extremein practice of Non-Violence • Ahimsa yields true release • Ahimsa produces Jina (release from this life or conqueror over attachment, hence the name Jain)
“Validated” Treasure in Jainism • Non-Violence • Filtered/boiled water • Jain mathematics • Plant life & Environmentalism • Equality towards women • Animal Protection • Molecules and atoms • Compassionate diet/Vegetarianism • Meditation and Yoga – mind “More than 2500 Years old…”
Internal God/Soul versus External God Jainsim Soul Western Schools:Soul __
QUALITIES OF SOUL • QUALITIES Omniscience Sentience Everlasting
Life span Status Body Obstructive View Deluding Knowledge Covering Sensation Intuition Covering Liberation • Liberation Omniscience
Choice: Circle of Life or Moksha Moksha Circle of Life and “Death”
Karma & Reincarnation western schools:linearity of life cycle eastern schools:cycle of life/death - nirvana heaven nirvana cycle of life/death birth: pure state enlightenment death elimination of karmic bondage hell
A profound truth for all times “One who neglects or disregards the existence of earth, air, fire, water and vegetation, disregards his own existence which is entwined with them” - Lord Mahavir (599-527 BC)
Help Each Other • Parasparopgraho Jivänäm – • Tattvärtha Sutra All life is bound together by mutual support and interdependence (If one does not care for nature one does not care for oneself) • Refreshingly contemporary in its premise and in its promise. • Forms the basis of the modern day science of ecology.
Why are Jains vegetarians? Non-vegetarian Living - Cruelty to Animals: • Animals Killed per Day in USA Cattle - 130,000 Calves - 7,000 Hogs - 360,000 Chickens - 24,000,000
Why are Jains Vegetarians (cont.)? Non-vegetarian Living - Impact on Ecology • Greenhouse effect • World's 1.3 billion cows annually produce 100 million tons of methane • Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas which traps 25 times as much solar heat as CO2 • Water Consumption • Livestock (Cattle, Calves, Hogs, Pigs) production accounts for more than half of all the water consumed in USA.
Why are Jains Vegetarians ? Non-vegetarian Living - Impact on Ecology • Land Usage • A third of the surface of North America is devoted to grazing • Half of American croplands grow livestock feed for meat and dairy products • 220 million acres of land in the USA have been deforested for livestock production • 25 million acres in Brazil, and half the forests in Central America
Non-Possession • Non-Possession/Self-restraint is the second most important Jain principle • Reduce one’s needs and wants as far as possible. • Not to waste the gifts of nature • Nature provides enough for our NEED not enough for our GREED
The ancient Jain scriptural aphorism • “Aparigraha seve attai karanti prananam behanam” • Lord Mahavir • We kill other lives because of our greed and possessiveness. • This is the primary cause of all violence as well as imbalance in the environment.
Jainism on web: • www.jainsite.com • www.jainpeople.com • www.jainstavans.com • www.jyt.yolasite.com