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Generation Jain: Jainism Your Way2008 YJA Convention

Chicago, IllinoisPresenter: Ameet Shah

YJA 2008 - Generation Jain: Jainism Your Way Jainism

What is Jainism?What is Jainism?

• ‘Jina’ ‘Spiritual Victor’ over inner enemies

• Distinct and independent of other Indian traditions such as Hinduism and Buddhism

• Way of life based on ahimsa (non-violence) and compassion

• Believe in philosophy of karma, reincarnation, heaven/hell, and liberation (moksha)

• Soul is ignorant of its true nature and bounded by karma since eternity

• To overcome suffering, you need (1) Right Faith, (2) Right Knowledge, and (3) Right Conduct

• Whole truth cannot be realized from single viewpoint- Anekantavada (non-absolutism)


Namo ArihantanamI bow to all Arihants (Tirthankars) who have destroyed all 4 Ghati karmas

Namo ArihantanamI bow to all Arihants (Tirthankars) who have destroyed all 4 Ghati karmas

Namokkar MantraNamokkar Mantra

Namo SiddhanamI bow to all Siddhas (liberated souls) who possess no karma

Namo SiddhanamI bow to all Siddhas (liberated souls) who possess no karma

Namo AyariyanamI bow to all the Acharyas, the heads of various Jain congregations

Namo AyariyanamI bow to all the Acharyas, the heads of various Jain congregations

Namo UvajjhayanamI bow to all Upadhyays, learned scholars and teachers of Jain scriptures

Namo UvajjhayanamI bow to all Upadhyays, learned scholars and teachers of Jain scriptures

Namo Loe Savva SahunamI bow to all Sadhus/Sadhvis (ascetics) who strictly follow 5 great vows of conduct

Namo Loe Savva SahunamI bow to all Sadhus/Sadhvis (ascetics) who strictly follow 5 great vows of conduct

Esa Pancha NamukkaroTo these 5 types of great souls, I offer my prayers

Esa Pancha NamukkaroTo these 5 types of great souls, I offer my prayers

Savva Pava PanasanoMay such prayer help diminish all my negative vibrations and sins

Savva Pava PanasanoMay such prayer help diminish all my negative vibrations and sins

Mangalanam cha SavvesimPadhamam Havai Mangalam

Offering this prayer is the foremost amongst all auspicious benedictions

Mangalanam cha SavvesimPadhamam Havai Mangalam

Offering this prayer is the foremost amongst all auspicious benedictions

• Most revered prayer

• Rosary has 108 beads representing 108 qualities of these 5 supreme beings


Concept of GodConcept of God

FOUNDER•Jainism – eternal philosophy•Tirthankars continually modify code of conduct/practices based on their time in history•Tirthankar Mahavir, 24th tirthankar established a religious order based on Jain philosophy

CONCEPT OF GOD•Not a creator, protector, destroyer of universe•Various “gods” – all have conquered inner enemies and achieved ultimate goal of liberation•At death, arihants become siddhas

FOUNDER•Jainism – eternal philosophy•Tirthankars continually modify code of conduct/practices based on their time in history•Tirthankar Mahavir, 24th tirthankar established a religious order based on Jain philosophy

CONCEPT OF GOD•Not a creator, protector, destroyer of universe•Various “gods” – all have conquered inner enemies and achieved ultimate goal of liberation•At death, arihants become siddhas

LORD MAHAVIR•Prince raised as Vardhaman•Left family/royal household at 30•Emphasized celibacy and six daily observances for followers•At age 72, attained Nirvana (final death) – Diwali is celebrated to honor this achievement•Preached universal love, reduction of wants/desires•True nature of reality is timeless•Jain scriptures: Agams (12 books)

LORD MAHAVIR•Prince raised as Vardhaman•Left family/royal household at 30•Emphasized celibacy and six daily observances for followers•At age 72, attained Nirvana (final death) – Diwali is celebrated to honor this achievement•Preached universal love, reduction of wants/desires•True nature of reality is timeless•Jain scriptures: Agams (12 books)


Three Cardinal Principles of ConductThree Cardinal Principles of Conduct

Ahimsa(Non-Violence)

Ahimsa(Non-Violence)

Anekantavada(Multiplicity of Views)

Anekantavada(Multiplicity of Views)

Aparigraha(Non-Possessiveness)

Aparigraha(Non-Possessiveness)


Five Great VowsFive Great Vows

• Ahimsa (Nonviolence/Compassion)

• Satya (Truth)

• Asteya (Non-Stealing)

• Brahmacharya (Chastity)

• Aparigraha (Non-Possession/Non-Attachment)

Laypeople have 12 vows (“Anuvrats”) that include the above 5 (to a limited extent) plus 7 related to merit (3) and discipline (4)

Laypeople have 12 vows (“Anuvrats”) that include the above 5 (to a limited extent) plus 7 related to merit (3) and discipline (4)


Jiva (Soul/Consciousness)Jiva (Soul/Consciousness)

Six Universal SubstancesSix Universal Substances

Pudgal (Matter)Pudgal (Matter)

Dharma (Medium of Motion)Dharma (Medium of Motion)

Adharma (Medium of Rest)Adharma (Medium of Rest)

Akasha (Space)Akasha (Space)

Kal (Time)Kal (Time)

• Only living substance – conscious and possesses knowledge• Invisible, infinite numbers in universe

• Nonliving substance – visible and nonvisible• Many types – soul interacts with 8 types of matter

• Helps the soul and matter migrate from one place to another in the universe – not cause, but helper

• Helps the soul and matter rest, not cause, but helper

• Lokakash (universe) – occupied by 5 substances; finite• Alokakash – limitless space surrounding Lokakash; empty/void

• Two views: time – imaginary thing with no real existence or it has real existence made up of innumerable time atoms


Space and TimeSpace and Time

Moksha

Upper World

Middle World

Lower World

Lokakash

Alokakash

SpaceSpace Time CycleTime Cycle

11

11

22

22

33

33 44

44

55

55

66

66

Progressive Half Cycle

Regressive Half Cycle

1. Very Happy

2. Happy

3. Happy-Unhappy

4. Unhappy-Happy

5. Unhappy6. Very Unhappy

6. Very Happy

5. Happy

4. Happy-Unhappy

3. Unhappy-Happy

2. Unhappy

1. Very Unhappy


Karma Philosophy: Nine Fundamentals (Tattvas)Karma Philosophy: Nine Fundamentals (Tattvas)Karma that bind to our soul are due not only to our actions of body, mind, and soul,

but more importantly to the intentions behind our actions

Jiva(Soul/Consciousness)

Jiva(Soul/Consciousness)

Ajiva(Non-living Substances –

Karmic Matter)

Ajiva(Non-living Substances –

Karmic Matter)

Asrava(Causes of Bondage)

Asrava(Causes of Bondage)

Bandha(Characteristics of Bondage)

Bandha(Characteristics of Bondage)

Punya*(Merit of Good Deeds)

Punya*(Merit of Good Deeds)

Pap*(Sin of Bad Deeds)

Pap*(Sin of Bad Deeds)

Samvar(Stoppage of Attachment)

Samvar(Stoppage of Attachment)

Nirjara(Exhaustion of Accumulated

Karma)

Nirjara(Exhaustion of Accumulated

Karma)

Moksha(Total Liberation from all

Karma)

Moksha(Total Liberation from all

Karma)

* Sometimes included in Asrava, since they are the result of Asrava


Four PassionsFour PassionsWrong faith/perception of reality, lack of self-restraint, spiritual laziness, passions

and activities of body, speech, and mind, lead to the attachment of karma

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Types of KarmasTypes of KarmasAsrava causes karma particles to attach to the soul – once attached, karma’s bondage

is explained in 4 forms: type, duration, intensity, and quantity of karma particles

Mohaniya(Deluding Karma)

Mohaniya(Deluding Karma)

Jnanavaraniya(Knowledge Obscuring Karma)

Jnanavaraniya(Knowledge Obscuring Karma)

Darshanavaraniya(Perception Obscuring Karma)

Darshanavaraniya(Perception Obscuring Karma)

Ayusha(Life Span Determining Karma)

Ayusha(Life Span Determining Karma)

Antaraya(Obstructing Karma)

Antaraya(Obstructing Karma)

Vedaniya(Feeling Pertaining Karma)

Vedaniya(Feeling Pertaining Karma)

Nam(Body/Physique Determining Karma)

Nam(Body/Physique Determining Karma)

Gotra(Status Determining Karma)

Gotra(Status Determining Karma)

Ghati Karmas (Destructive Karma) Aghati Karmas (Non-destructive Karma)


Path of LiberationPath of LiberationOne can detach from one’s karma and attain liberation by understanding the true

nature of the soul

Samyak Darshan(Right Conviction/Faith)

Samyak Darshan(Right Conviction/Faith)

Samyak Gnan(Right Knowledge)Samyak Gnan

(Right Knowledge)Samyak Charitra

(Right Conduct)Samyak Charitra

(Right Conduct)

Three Jewels of Jainism


Questions?Questions?

[email protected]

Michchhami Dukkadam!