YJA Convention 2002 07 NJ Fifth

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

Page 59

Jainism 101: Back to the Basics
Amar Salgio I Dr. Bharat Shah
ainism is a philosophy - it's also a religious tradition "Jain" is also not a caste or a jaat. that has developed around that philosophy over many
In other words, "Jain " is not an ethnicity. thousands of years. This very old tradition is very much
Jains come from many different walks of alive today, and is continuing to take shape.
life and from all different socio-economic
levels. (Not just one caste, not just Jainism is based on the spiritual value of every single living
banias or bankers, or merchants, etc.) being. Its based on the notion that every individual living
Jainism is a philosophy - it's also a being is independent & free to create its own destiny.
religious tradition that has developed Every living thing - from us humans, to plants,
around that philosophy over many to animals, to bacteria - has an eternal and
thousands of years. This very old individual soul.
tradition is very much alive today, and is • Soul is "life" or jiva (the soul is that which is
continuing to take shape. alive - soul is conscious of itself). Souls, as individuals, aren't dependent on Historically, Jainism goes back to an extremely early anything else for their existence. A soul, such period in the development of South Asian (Indian) as each of us, doesn't need anything else for culture its own eternal survival or for its own spiritual
The Indus Civilization (3000 - 1500 BC) liberation - ultimately, the only thing we need
- many artifacts (such as statues and is our own pure souls.
seals) strongly indicate the practice of Jainism is not a
Jainism. sect or part of another religion
Vedas & Puranas (from the Hindu offshoot of another religion
tradition), these ancient books also protest against another religion
discuss many important figures from early Jain history. I
notes:
58 Jain Education International 2010_03