A SHORT TREATISE ON JAINISM

Jain (Jina) or (Victor). This is the title given to the teachers of this religion, due to them fighting against earthly (bodily) desires. This is their victory to enlightenment.

Jains believe that every living thing whether insect or human has a soul and is reborn until they have found or achieve Moksha (Enlightenment). They do this by keeping to a strict code called the Three Jewels (Triratna).

These are:

Right Belief

Right Knowledge

Right Conduct

People of this religion do not have a personal God, but instead worship the 24 Tirthankaras (Spirit Guides) whom they believe existed in the past. Jainism has the theory that all of your good deeds will reap good karma, but all of your bad deeds will reap bad karma. Due to this reasoning they are also very stringent vegetarians, who also refrain from eating root vegetables, as when they are uprooted they kill the plant. This goes with them also not being willing to harm any living thing, even to the extent of some Jains resorting to wearing masks on their face so they do not kill any insect, which may accidentally be inhaled.

Mahavira

(Great Hero)

The person, who Jains consider as the founder for their religious order, is Mahavira. Mahavira is also classed as being the 24^th or final of the Tirthankaras. He was said to have lived around the same time as Buddha.

During Mahavira’s 30^th year of life, even though he was married and with family commitments, he decided to embark on an ascetic life. A life of which he spent 13 years roaming India in search of his quest of Life’s Truths. It was during this period where he began to gain a following of monks.

In his later years he spent much or most of his time meditating, rarely eating, and not speaking a great deal as he saw this as a way of stopping negative karma. He eventually became as Jains call it a Jina. This is a person who had deified him/herself, by detaching themselves from their karma and acquiring enlightenment.

Nirvana

This is the state what Jains aspire to gain. This is the state of their soul rising, to the summit of the heavens, where they will rest in bliss.

Worship

Central to the upkeep of the Jain religion are the monks and nuns. To become one of these you would have to submit to five vows.

These five vows are:

Non-violence

Truthfulness

Not stealing

Denial of material goods

Chastity

These monks have two separate orders, which are Digambaras and Shvetambaras. There are some minor differences, which these orders have.

For instance the Digambaras believe that their oral traditions have been lost over the centuries, but their texts, which not many are in the public domain have preserved the essence of their religion as much as is possible. The Digambaras will also refrain from wearing any clothes as they prefer to be sky-clad (naked) as their founder had done.

Whereas the Shvetambaras claim their texts or scriptures, the 11 Angams (Limbs) hold their basis in the teachings of Mahavira. They will also allow women in their order (which the Digambaras do not). The Shvetambaras are white-clad, as they are permitted to wear only 3 white garments.

The emblem for Jainism represents the Sun and its rays, and is called the swastika. They used this emblem for many centuries before the Nazis stole it off them.

After Word

It is worth noting that if today’s society worldwide just considered abiding by the first three of the Five Vows of Jainism, that our world would be a much happier and better place to live.

I would also like you to consider that their idea of Nirvana in no way resembles Christianity’s Heaven idea, and I would myself associate it more with the Ancient Egyptian belief. As similar to Jainism the Egyptians believed they could become a Deity by aspiring to the heavens above, and becoming a star.

Sources and Credits
Written by Robert Worrall