YJA Convention 2002 07 NJ Fifth

Author(s): Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA

Page 55

Jain Time Cycle of the Universe
Pallavi Gala
That is time? Perhaps every notable culture, religion become smaller in stature, their needs greater, and
and group of people on earth has made significant subsequently less fulfilled. Environmental and attempts to define and measure the concept of time. To manmade disasters occur more frequently, and in this extent, Jains have made their own contributions to the sixth aro, a sort of "hell on earth" prevails. We the history of the delineation of time.
are currently, we are in the early stages of the fifth
aro on the descending side, which is approximately Jainism has a specific, elaborate definition of time and its 21,000 years long. various components. Time, according to Jains, has no beginning and no end. In this sense, it is similar to a Following the sixth aro of the descending side, the circle of a wheel, which has no definitive start and end ascending side begins. Time once again progresses point. Within this infinite space, smaller time spans are from the sixth aro back up to the first, reviving the defined, though still difficult to comprehend.
good and pleasant aspects of human life. At the
"end" of the ascending half, the descending half of Jains believe that different time cycles govern various the cycle "begins" once more, and continues on portions of the universe. For the purposes of this session, infinitely. we will focus on the Jain view of time as a sort of circle, divided into two halves: an ascending half and a The Jain time cycles are shrouded with a myriad of descending half. Each half is further divided into six myths and conflicts. These include the different portions, or "aros." The descending half begins with the types of people and general condition of things in first aro and continues down to the sixth. As we go down each aro, and the conflict between science and the aros (usually thousands of years long), life becomes religion. This session attempts to simply clarify some progressively grimmer and more difficult for human beings. aspects of the Jain time cycle and elucidate some For example, in the first aro, humans are very tall and of the controversy which surrounds it. their needs, small in number, are usually all fulfilled by a "giving tree". As we progress through the aros, humans
notes:
54 Jal Education Intematona 2010-03