JAINISM 101 A Scientific Approach!!Jai Jinedra!! (Greetings) Hemendra Mehta Original by Sudhir M. Shah
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Two Beliefs 1. Taught in Indian Schools 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 1 st Rishabhdev 24 th Mahavirswami 3. Rishabhdev established agriculture, family system, moral standards, law, & religion
Time Chart RIKHAVDEV PERIOD ARYANS ARRIVE MAHAVIR / BUDDHA INDUS VALLEY PERIOD CHRIST 6500 BCE 8,500 Yrs. ago 2500 BCE 4500 Yrs. ago 1500 BCE 3500 Yrs. ago 1000 BCE 3000 Yrs. ago 500 BCE 2500 Yrs. ago 000 2000 Yrs. ago 500 CE 1500 Yrs. ago
Jain Religion Basic Information: 10 million followers Two major branches Digambar 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 2 nd 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 To come together from all directions To bring all external thoughts inward to reflect upon your soul To seek Forgiveness from all living beings
Kalpa Sutra Author: Acharya Bhadrabahu_swami A scripture which describes how to enhance Religious knowledge (Gnan( Gnan) Conduct (Charitra, Shila) Self control (Penance or Tap)
Social Structure Organization : Jain Sangh 4 pillars Shravak (Jain Gentleman) Shravika (Jain Lady) Sadhu (Jain Monk) Sadhvi ( Jain 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