JAINISM 101A Scientific Approach

!!Jai Jinedra !! (Greetings)

Hemendra Mehta

Original by Sudhir M. Shah

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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 Beliefs1. Taught in Indian Schools

Two Beliefs2. 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

RIKHAVDEV PERIOD

INDUS VALLEY PERIOD

ARYANS ARRIVE MAHAVIR /BUDDHA

6500 BCE

8,500 Yrs. ago

2500 BCE

4500 Yrs. ago1500 BCE

3500 Yrs. ago

CHRIST

1000 BCE

3000 Yrs. ago

500 BCE

2500 Yrs. ago

000

2000 Yrs. ago

500 CE

1500 Yrs. ago

Time Chart

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 KnowledgeInfinite PerceptionInfinite EnergyInfinite 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 Karmathrough

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

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: Author: Acharya Bhadrabahu_swami Acharya Bhadrabahu_swami

A scripture which describes how to enhanceA scripture which describes how to enhance

Religious knowledge (Religious knowledge (GnanGnan))

Conduct (Charitra, Shila) Conduct (Charitra, Shila)

Self control (Penance or Tap)Self control (Penance or Tap)

Social Structure

Organization : Jain Sangh Organization : Jain Sangh –– 4 pillars4 pillars

Shravak (Jain Gentleman)Shravak (Jain Gentleman)

Shravika (Jain Lady)Shravika (Jain Lady)

Sadhu (Jain Monk)Sadhu (Jain Monk)

Sadhvi ( Jain Nun) 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