Jainism SikhismDaoism Confucianism

Shinto

Jainism – the Way of MahavriaIndia – the original country and largest population of JainismThe founder is unknown, but it is clearly influenced by the

surrounding Indian religionsShares Concepts with Hinduism and Buddhism

Hinduism – karma, reincarnation Buddhism – non-attachment, non-harm, no ritual

History: Tirthankaras – 24 ancient saints who achieved perfection (role models) The 23rd lived in 800 BC Last tirthankara lived in 600 BC (Mahavria)

Likely, a contemporary of Buddha Contemporary – one who lives at the same time as another Left home at 30 years old Practiced strict detachment (attacked by dogs, mocked during meditation,

pulled out his own hair, and lived naked) At 42, the had a moment of liberation in which nothing hurt and his

senses ended (becomes called a jina – “conqueror”; origin of “Jainism”) He taught his doctrines until he was 72

Jainism Images

Jainism Theology and Practice Theology:

Atheistic Religion – Jainism rejects the idea of a Creator Jain poems claim that it is “foolish” to believe in a Creator God

The universe is eternal, constantly changing, and goes through regular cycles of rise and fall

Hylozoism – Jain worldview (the world is full of life and suffering) Matter cannot feel; Souls can feel A Human Being is made of both Matter and Soul

Like Hinduism, karma determines the direction of rebirth Superhuman beings (called “gods”) live above creation until their karma

runs out, and they are then reborn on earth Goal: reach a state of total freedom like the tirthankaras

Scriptures: Purvas – ancient scriptures that no longer exist in full test (only in quotes) Angas – teaching of Mahavira Upangas – a collection of laws and rituals

Practices: Ritual Purification – tradition of puja at homes Devotional acts to statues (mostly of tirthankaras) Fasting during New Moons and Full Moons

Jainism Ethics Non-violence (ahimsa) – the foundation of Jain ethics

“Gentleness” or “Harmlessness” Monks will often brush in front of them in order to not kill an ant Hospitals are established to care for humans and sick animals Strict vegitarians

Non-lying – Jainism avoids telling falsehood or exaggerations “Absolute Truth” (idea that truth is always true for everyone)–

impossible to find or express Jains believe in “Relative Truth” (truth is only true for one’s experience)

Non-stealing – stealing brings pain to others Chastity – sex is seen as a danger that increases passions to harm

others For monks and nuns, complete celibacy is required

Celibacy – the practice of not having sex For married people, sex can only occur with one’s spouse

Non-attachment Attachments form bonds that take control of a person Therefore, one should cultivate a spirit of generosity and limit

possessions

Branches of JainismDigambaras

“Clothes in Sky” – nice way of saying that the monks walk around naked

“Everything must be renounced” – including clothing No women are allowed in monastic life

Shvetambras “Clothed in White” – monks dress in white robes Allow women in monastic life

Sthanakavasis Influenced by various religion entered into India Adopted puja, worshipping at statues, and tirthankaras as

holy saints to be prayedTerapanthis

“Thirteen” – based on the 13 moral principles Rejection of statues Formed a hierarchy of monks (Acharya – the top guru) Most evangelistic of all of the branches

Evangelistic – the practice of attempting to spread a belief to others

Sikhism – the Peaceful PathBegan in northwestern India (an area called Punjab)

This area was known as a site of conflict between Muslims and Hindus

Sikhism attempted to give common ground to both Although very different, it seemed that Hindus and Muslims

agreed in regards to mystic religious experiencesNanak – founder of Sikhism; born in 1469 AD

Born into a Hindu family in Pakistan Befriended a man named Mardana (a Muslim) One day, after bathing, he felt drawn to the woods and stayed

there for 3 days (said to “experience the One God” – called the True Name)

The True Name of God cannot be taught; it must be experienced He and Mardana went seeking sikhs – disciples They combined clothing elements of both Hindu and Muslim

Dhoti – cloth drawn up between the legs to make pants Orange Muslim coat and cap

Known as Guru Nanak (the first Sikh guru/”teacher”)

Sikh Worldview and TeachingsBelief in Karma and ReincarnationBody/Soul Dualism – a human is made up of a bad

body and an eternal, good soulOne must overcome the bodily limitations to become

truly alive and freeRejection of Ritual and Polytheism and Worship of

ImagesAcceptance of eating meat (animals were created to

bless human beings)God – beyond personhood, has personal

characteristics, ultimate guru, and can be connected by the individual

True Religion focuses on social responsibility

Sikh DevelopmentAt first, Sikhism was merely a peaceful coexistence

movement Hymns were written, communities organized

The second movement was pushed by Guru Arjan The Golden Temple was built in Amristar

Gurdwaras – Sikh temples Created the Adi Granth (collection of hymns that is

considered the holy book) Theology and Boundaries develop because of Arjan’s torture

and death by the Muslim emperor at the timeThe final movement, Sikhs turned into a military force

employed by the British soldiers Sikhs lived in northern India and hoped to gain independence

at their own state Unrest boiled over in 1984. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi

was assassinated by Sikhs in India Sikhs are not very evangelistic

Chinese Religious OriginsEarly Chinese Beliefs:

Spirits – spirits are in everything in nature and humanity Bad spirits cause accidents and disease Disturbances in nature are due to human failings; harmony is

restored through ritual and sacrifice Tian – “heaven”, impersonal divine force that controls

events on earth and is the cosmic morality determiner Ancestor Veneration – spirits are in control, and ancestors

often control the family Patterns in Nature – seasons, moon paths, star positions,

the ripple of water and the mountains Yin and Yang – the universe expresses itself through

opposite but complementary forces (hot/cold, light/dark, sky/earth) This is not a concept of good verses evil Neither force will “win” The dot in the opposite side suggests that both side will eventually

become the opposite Divination – determining the mystical will of the universe

Daoism – The Effortless WayLao Tzu – legendary founder whose name means

“old master” or “old child”Actual information is unknownLegend says he was born in 600 BC from virgin

conception, and he was born with an “old soul”He became a librarian in the royal city discussing

philosophy until he tired of the job and left (on the back of an ox)

He was considered an esteemed scholoar and was forced to write down his teachings Daodejing – a short book of teachings

Legend says he traveled to India, returned to China, and ascended into the sky

Soon, he was treated as deity (Lord Lao)

Daoism Books Daodejing (or Tao Te Ching) – generally seen as one of the world’s

greatest books (mostly coy and coded poetry) The book has been dated to the 350 BC (common usage) It has 81 chapters It is very repetitive, and it has no clear order Purpose: political handbook, religious guidebook, or a practical

guide to universal harmony The Dao – many references in the Daodejing

A concept that is beyond definition The Dao is nameless, formless, and eternal

Any Dao that is spoken of is not the eternal Dao The Dao can be experienced and followed

But, it does not have personality and it is not God Experience of the Dao requires leaving desire for individual things

The Dao is the origin of everything, and all things are a manifestation of the Dao

The Dao controls nature, so it can be called the “way or rhythm of nature”

Images of experiencing the Dao in the Daodejing: Water, Woman, Child, Valley, and Darkness

Daoism ProgressionZhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) – 300 BC Daoist

Wrote the Zhuangzi – containing whimsical stories Includes many previous Daoistic theories (harmony, suffering, balance) It adds the desire of the Dao for humor Story of the Butterfly Dream (question of reality and identity)

Basic Early Teachings: Dao – mysterious, unexplainable reality that is the nature and

progression of all things Wu Wei – effortlessness – Daoism offers a recommendation of

how to live, but it does not command anything The ideal implies avoidance of unnecessary action

Simplicity – eliminate whatever is unnecessary Gentleness – “a wise person does not regard weapons as lovely

things. For, to think of them lovely means to delight in them, and to delight in them means to delight in the slaughter of men”

Relativity – recognizing that you cannot and do not know everything

Daoist Practice“Yoga” – not merely meditation, but also arm, leg, and

body movementsTaiji – series of bodies moves that cause balance

Internal Alchemy – spiritualizing the qi/chi insideQi/Chi – the person life forceSome believe that complete practice of internal alchemy

would cause a person to become immortalPhysical Alchemy – in ancient China, Daoist would take

“not destroying” metals and melt them to liquid and then drinkMany people died from this process as the metal hardened

inside the person’s stomachExorcism – the ability to remove evil, harmful, or bad

spirits

Daoist DivisionsWay of the Heavenly Masters

Head of this organization passes from father to sonOrganized as a hierarchy system

Way of Complete PerfectionBasically, this is the monastic form of DaoismMorning and Evening prayer services

Combination with Buddhism and Ritualized DaoismDeveloped hundreds of deitiesHousehold gods protect various aspects of the home

Daoism is strong in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and SingaporeCommunism repressed Daoism at first, but it has now

become a major, acceptable religion Also, Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism often are

mixed together (they all support one another)

Confucianism – Wisdom of the AgeConfucius – born 551 BC in China

Legends says he was born into a noble family, his father died before his birth, and his mother raised him into an educated gentleman

His mother died when he was in his late teens, and he became a teacher after his period of mourning

He became a government minister, married, and had a son and daughter

Confucius’ goals: Create “excellent” individuals and Create a harmonious societyEvery human being is capable of goodOne cannot achieve goodness in isolationThe difference between a “normal” human and an

“excellent” human is “more” effort “More”: Education, Respect, Social Responsibility of ALL

Social Responsibility expressed in the 5 Great Relationships

Confucian 5 Relationships1. Father and Son

Family is the foundation of society Parents are responsible for education and upbringing, and children

are to be respectful and obedient Parents help select career and spouse, and Children continue to honor

the parents after death2. Elder Brother and Younger Brother

The oldest brother assumes responsibility for raising the younger brother

Parental responsibility shifts to the older brother upon the father’s death

3. Husband and Wife Husband is protector, and Wife is protected housekeeper Less romance in relationship, wives become motherly to husbands

often4. Elders and Youths

System of youth mentoring by all older people Chinese character for “teacher” means “earlier born” SOME VERSIONS: “Friend and Friend” is listed as the 4th relationship

5. Ruler and Subject A ruler must act as a father, and the son must act like the child The government must act like the family

Confucian Books and VirtuesThe Five Classics and The Four Books

Classics: History, Poetry, Changes, Rites, and RecordsBooks: Confucian Quotes, Character Discussion, Mystical

Elements, and Mencius QuotesThe Virtues

Ren (jen) – sympathy, empathy, consideration, thoughtfulness “If you want to be kind, be polite”

Li – doing what is appropriate (proper words and action for social life)

Shu – reciprocity Silver Rule: “Do not do to others what you would not wish done

to yourself.”Parental Devotion – care for one’s family is criticalCulture – love for the artsSincerity – “to do naturally and automatically that which is

correct for society” In our Western society – sincerity means to “do something from

the heart” or to “practiced something without coercion”

Confucius QuotesHe who merely knows right principles is not equal to

him who loves them.It is not possible for one to teach others who cannot

teach his own family.We don’t know yet about life, how can we know about

death?Mankind differs from the animals only by a little, and

most people throw that away.If you enjoy what you do, you will never work another

day in your life.Don’t worry that other people don’t know about you.

Worry that you do not know other people.Ideal people are universal and not clannish. Small-

minded people are clannish and not universal.If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is

called a mistake.

Confucian SchoolsMencius – held a view, like Daoists, that humans can reach

their full potential with effort and practiceThe focus became about opening the innate goodness within all

peopleMohist– with laws, society is unequal. Without laws, people

will become predatorsHe advocated equality expressed to all people

Legalists – humans are fundamentally lazy and selfishEducation should be about rewards and punishment, society

should function the same way (because, adults are merely older children)

Neo-Confucianism – the development of ritual, deification of Confucius, and combination with Buddhism and Daoism

Persecuted Confucianism – Communism felt that Confucianism was part of the problem that must be destroyed in China Later, Communism realized that Confucianism valued respect

and obedience. With the only addition being acceptance of groups of people and importance of individual needs

Shinto – the Power of Nature Shinto – means “way of the gods”

There is no known founder or founding date Based largely off of early Japan’s animism

Spirits of family and nature are sought to be appeased Japanese Creation Myth

In the beginning, there was chaos Two Kami (gods) – a male (Izanagi) and female (Izanami) – created the

islands of Japan They were given a jeweled spear, which was dipped into the ocean, the brine

that dripped off the spear became Japan From these ritual washing of Izanagi, the spirit of the Sun, the Moon,

and Wind are created The Sun Goddess, Amterasu, sent his grandson to bring order to

Japan The grandson is Jimmu - the first emperor of Japan Thus, all future emperors are seen as from divine origin

Foci of the Creation Narrative: The Sun is female, and the Moon is male There is an aspect of co-creation Japan is seen as a “this-worldly” heaven Purity and Washing become central to Shinto

Shinto “Theology”Sensitivity to the Mysterious Powers of Nature

Kami are meant to be understood as very present realities within this world

Kami are personalized and given namesAncestors become Kami and “check in” on the family

There is no sense of “guilt”Humans, the world, and the universe is goodThere is no code of morals or ethics. There is no Moral God

Focus becomes on Life rather than DeathBodies, as well as everything, can be cleansed and purifiedPurity is restored by “making right” any wrong done to

othersShrines to Kami are built and expected to be visited in

order to appease their willNature and all its processes are meant to be respected,

honored, and learned

Shinto PracticesShinto Shrines often have a Priest (often wearing white to

symbolize purity; The Emperor is considered the High Priest) In these shrines, followers ask for blessings (home, car, etc) Worshippers bow to the Kami’s shrine, donate a coin, ring

and bell or clap to get the Kami’s attention, pray, bow, and leave

On festival days, outside the shrine becomes a market in which amulets (which carry blessings) are sold

“7-5-3” – families bring children for special blessings (Guys at 5; Girls at 3 and 7)

The New Year Celebration – the house is fully cleaned in order to invite the Kami in Ozoni – rice and veggie soup to promote health On New Year’s Day, men dress in kimono to take offerings to

the shrineMisogi – standing near a waterfall to experience purificationMountain Climbing to gain union with the mountain’s KamiWorship at Home Shrines

Shinto InfluenceSome have claimed that Shinto’s blessing of planes

was the rationale for the Kamikaze pilots in World War IIRationale – background understanding and reasoning

for an actionHowever, Buddhism (understanding of suffering) and

Confucianism (ideals for obedience to governmental forces) are equally to blame

Torii – arch to be walked under in order to enter the shrineMost common symbol of Shinto

1946 - Emperor Hirohito was the first to reject the title of divinity

After World War II, the Occupation forces forced the organized Shinto religion to be abolishedIt was formally abolished, but it came back