Marriage

Author(s): Natubhai Shah
Publisher: UK Jain Academy

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Asteya (not stealing or taking anything which belongs to others without their permission)
Brahmacharya (chastity and control over senses; for the ascetics total celibacy and for the laity faithfulness to one's spouse)
Aparigraha (non-attachment to material things)
Essential Duties
Lay Jains observe six essential duties: equanimity, veneration of the twenty-four tirthankaras, veneration of ascetics, penitential retreat, renunciation, meditation with bodily detachment, which are meant to enhance their quality of life, physically, mentally and spiritually. Some add donation for good causes as an essential duty.
Sects
In the 4h century CE, Jainism developed two major divisions Digambara (sky clad ascetics) and Svetambara (white robbed ascetics). With the passage of time, both Digambara and Svetambara communities have continued to develop, almost independently of each other into different sects. Later on in 16th and 18th century two other major sects Sthanakvasi and Terapanthi developed. Except for minor differences of no importance, all of them believe in the same teachings and accept the same vows.
Beliefs
The universe: The universe as conceived by Jains has two parts: occupied and unoccupied and it consists of six substances: the soul, matter, medium of motion, medium of rest, space and time. All except the matter are formless. The soul is the living being (jiva) and the others are nonliving substances (ajiva). Both jiva and ajiva are interdependent and everlasting. It is the attachment of non-living substance (karma) to the soul that causes apparent injustices of life, and an unending cycle of birth, death and rebirth in any destiny: heavenly, human, animal and plants or infernal as a mobile being with two to five senses or as an immobile being with one sense.
The aim of life
The Jain way of life aims to shed karma attached to the soul and manifest the soul's true characteristics: infinite bliss, infinite knowledge, amity and equanimity. It consists of the coordinated path of the 'Three Jewels': Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct. Right Faith is belief in the nine 'real entities' (living being, non-living being, merit, demerit, influx of karma, karmic bondage, stoppage of karma, shedding of karma, and liberation); Right
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