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JAIN PRAYERS
INTRODUCTION
Jains follow the path established and practiced by Tirthankars, those spiritual victors who attained enlightenment and spread the concepts of truth and non-violence. Each Tirthankar illuminates the tradition according to the needs of the time, but essentially teaches the same eternal truths. The Jain religion is nonVedic in origin and outlook, and is the oldest living representative of the ancient Shraman tradition of India. Until recently, Jainism was not much known outside India (except within scholarly circles), but it has long been influential in shaping the social, economic and ethical landscape of India.
Jainism advocates friendship for all living beings. Its aim is the well-being of the whole universe, not only of human beings. Jain philosophy emphasizes that all living beings have a life force (jiv), which should not be violated nor exploited. Instead, all life should be treated with amity and compassion. One way in which Jains practice this compassion is by adhering to a strict vegetarian diet. Violence towards our fellow beings (irrespective of species) is tantamount to violence to the self.
The Jain dictum parasparopagraho jivänäm, all souls are interdependent' offers a lasting alternative to the Darwinian theory of "survival of the fittest". The fundamental and far-reaching Jain principle of Ahinsä (non-violence), advocates non-harm in thought, speech and action, and applies to all forms of life. The path of non-violence teaches us that amity with all of human beings and with all life is the true wealth of our planet and source of our happiness.
We are delighted to be able to contribute to the growing awareness of Jainism and publish these Jain Prayers for the general public. We appreciate the opportunity given by the Ecumenical Study Commission on Public Education to submit Jain reflections for the "Book of Multifaith Readings". While many individuals have contributed to making this endeavor a success, we would like to thank Ms. Sima Sheth in particular, for her tremendous effort in painstakingly compiling the Book. We sincerely appreciate the critical review done by Manubhai Doshi of Chicago. We are also grateful to Ms. Pramoda Chitrabhanu for granting us the permission to reproduce many prayers from her and Claire Rosenfield's wonderful book "To Light One Candle: Universal Prayers for Peace."
Editorial Committee: Dr. Vastupal Parikh, Dr. Anne Vallely and Prakash Mody
Note: At the end of each prayer, Comment denotes a suggested Grade levels. P for Primary, J for Junior, I for Intermediate and S for Senior level of students.
