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JAINISM
AN ANCIENT ETHNIC RELIGION
SYDNEY SMITH
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MAIN TOPICS
• Description
• Beginnings • Diffusion of Jainism
• Globalization
• Analysis
• Final Conclusions
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MAJOR BELIEFS
• Highest possible value is non-violence
• Traditions summed into three words
• "Ahimsa paramo dharma" → Non-violence is the supreme path
• One must avoid harming others mentally, physically, and verbally
• Moksha is the state reached when one has fully detached from the world, otherwise one remains in the cycle of life and death: Samsara
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HOLY TEXT
• Agama
• Contains the teachings of the Jina Mahavira consisting of 3 main branches
• Purva (the ancient) concerned with Jaina philosophy • Anga (the limbs) concerned with conduct and karma • Angabahya (ancillary limbs) includes commentaries on the
previous topics • Jainism does not only focus on these teachings only, but also
has many notable texts compiled by many followers
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MAJOR LEADERS AND FIGURES
Roles / Exchange of Service
Monks/ Nuns
• All three of these groups are seen as equal but have different roles in the Jainist society
• House Holders support the monks and nuns • In return, Monks and Nuns share their
knowledge about Jainism with the house holders and followers
House Holders
Followers (Jains)
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MAJOR LEADERS AND FIGURES
•
Jinas, Tirthankars
"Conquerors" → fully detached from worldly concerns
First Jinas
•
•
24 prophets who taught the path of non-violence
Mahavira final Jaina of current period
• In future years another 24 Jinas will appear, degenerate, another 24 will appear, and so on
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SYMBOLS AND ICONOGRAPHY
0:40
•
•
Outline universe (Lok)
Raised hand and "ahimsa" - non-violence, stop to think before acting
•
Four arms - heavenly beings, human beings, animal beings, hellish beings
• Three dots right faith, right knowledge, right conduct
Curved arc and dot - Moksha
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CUSTOMS
·
·
V
Vegetarian or Vegan
• Avoid eating and therefore harming living creatures
Monks and Nuns cannot make their own food as this may be
seen as harming living beings
Fasting is common as it promotes self discipline
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TRADITIONS
• Pilgrimage
• Allows Jains to take on lifestyle of monks and nuns • May visit any number of temples or locations associated
with the lives of Jinas • Digambra Monks (Male) do not wear clothing as it is
seen as an attachment to the world
• Shwetambra monks and nuns wear white cloths and
cover their mouths to avoid swallowing and harming insects
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CEREMONIES
• Fasts
Occasional Fasts for contemplation and penance
Ritual of Sallekhana includes fasting until death when one's body begins to interfere with spiritual progress.
• Devotional Worship
Reading holy texts
•
• Meditation
Achieving a peaceful state of mind
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EXAMPLE OF WORSHIP CENTER
•
•
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Palitana+Jain+Temple+In&&view=detail&mid=CD 77C82BDD4CB518CD79CD77C82BDD4CB518CD79&rvsmid=CD77C82BDD4CB518
CD79CD77C82BDD4CB518CD79&fsscr=0&FORM=VDFSRV
http://jsocf.org/
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EXAMPLE OF WORSHIP SERVICE
• Sermons/Services are a western idea
Jains take part in individual practices
Independent worship
• Scripture may be studied
• Meditation to achieve the right state of mind
⚫ Monks or Nuns may speak to a group if present at the time of individuals worshiping
•
•
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BEGINNINGS
• Native to India
⚫ Mahavira, the last of the Jinas, is considered the founder of present Jainism
• Historians believe Jainism began 2,500 years ago but its exact beginning is not known because it is an eternal religion
PAKISTAN
0
250 500 mi 0 250 500 km
Bombay
New Delhi
INDIA
Centers of Jainism Today
Areas where Jainists are 2-7% of population
CHINA
NEPAL
Madras
BHUTAN
RANG
LADESH
SRI INDIAN LANKA OCEAN
BURMA
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DIFFUSION
• Jainism was spread from northern India to
south western India after a 12 year famine
in 4th century BCE • This diffusion also caused the split into two
sects due to differences between those who remained in the north vs those who relocated
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GLOBALIZATION
• Jainism is not a universalizing religion as
is does not have an evangelical aspect
• Jainism will most likely remain in India but temples do exist in the US • 120,000 Jains in the US (although
anyone who follows non-violence is
seen as a fellow Jain) • 80 Jain temples in the US and Canada
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ANALYSIS
• Trends:
• Jainism is an ethnic religion due its non evangelical nature similar to other non evangelical
religions • Hinduism and Buddhism have some similarity with Jainism as Jainism came before them
• Why of where: Jainism exists in India due to their non violent culture which is also
demonstrated in Hinduism and Buddhism (it appeals to those of the area) • Prediction: Jainism will most likely remain an ethnic religion but has the potential to
spread due to the religion being taught in some colleges.
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CONCLUSIONS
• I learned that Jainism shares similar aspects and views with many religions
• Jainism further accentuates the importance of avoiding harm to others and oneself • AHA: Jainism began before any other religion in India and is thus not a branch of
Hinduism or Buddhism (common misbelief). • Main take away: It is important to learn about other world religions besides your own as
it opens your eyes to other cultures and helps you gain an understanding of views held by those of different nationalities.
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