Jainism Ahimsa

1
Jainism -- Ahimsa

• All breathing, existing, living, sentient
  creatures should not be slain, nor treated with
  violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven
  away. This is the pure, unchangeable, eternal
  law, which the clever ones, who understand the
  world, have declared. THIS IS IT!!!

2
India born

• As with Hinduism and Buddhism
• Infinite series of world cycles
• Samsara human rebirths, reincarnations
• Karma moral law of cause effect
• Moksha release from samsara

3
Centrality of Ahimsa

• H B ahimsa is important
• Jainism ahimsa is central, focal, pivotal
• Jain monks/nuns expand principle
• To include ALL life forms, even atomic particles
  of wind, water, earth, fire
• Jains are among most educated of India
• Also among the highest social classes

4
Jina conqueror Jain origin

• Conquered samsara have crossed river
• Tirthankara river crossers
• 24 in tirthankaras in current cycle of humanity
• These exemplified practice of ahimsa
• Generally, only last 2 seen as historical
• Parshva 8 C. B.C.E.
• Mahavira (great hero) 600 525 B.C.E.

5
Mahavira the great hero

• Kshatriya Hindu
• Jainism rejected Hindu castes, created own caste
  system
• Mahavira grew restless with palace life
• Gave up all he had, including family
• Joined Jain monks

6
Mahavira sky clad monk

• Most severe asceticism had NOTHING, including
  clothes for 20 years
• Begged for his food
• Absorbed taunts passively
• Tolerated even insects their bites to brush
  them off might harm them

7
Mahavira not Buddha

• Siddhartha Gautama rejected extremes of Hinduism
• Mahavira accentuated the extreme asceticism
• Buddha discovered his insights
• Mahavira learned them from others

8
Kevala

• Mahavira squats near tree but in sun
• Accomplished Kevala Jain enlightenment
  release from samsara

9
Remarkable Death

• 72 yrs old final ascetic act ? starves himself
  to death full release from physical body
• His pure soul ascended to top of universe, where
  it still resides
• The most important person in Jainism

10
Cosmology and Salvation

• Buddha paid little attention to universe
• Jains see nature of universe/cosmos as key to
  salvation the universe is our predicament
  (suffering, dukkha)
• Loka the Jain universe finite yet
  indescribably vast
• Loka imagined as giant man god flying ten
  million miles/second ? 7 years to traverse

11
Loka giant universe

• Three realms
• We live in Middle Realm soul can move to
  salvation only through Middle Realm
• Lower Realm hells inhabited by hell beings
• Upper Realm heaven inhabited by deities
• Many same gods as Hinduism

12
Loka ? moksha/nirvana

• Umbrella tops loka home of liberated souls,
  never to be reborn

13
Upward Downward Cycles

• These cycles seen as turning wheel
• Viewed as location on wheel
• As location turns upward, things improve
• As location turns down, things worsen
• Each cycle divided into 6 ages
• Each age is 21,000 years
• We are currently in downturn, rampant decay
• People are meaner, physically smaller
• Golden Age mentality

14
Our World

• Mahavira last of 24 tirthankaras
• Mahavira and his 11 disciples the last to achieve
  salvation
• And they lived 1500 years ago
• Best anyone since can hope for is a good rebirth
  in a different world, where salvation is a
  possibility

15
The Human Condition

• Clean souls in dirty matter
• Loka inhabited by 2 different types
• The 2 types have inexplicably become entwined
• Jivas ? living things or souls
• Jivas perfectly pure
• Ajiva ? space, time, motion, rest, matter
• Matter is impure, dirty

16
Jivas quest

• Jivas seek disentanglement from ajiva
• The entwinement points to Jainisms pluralism
  (dualism????)
• Reality, (the universe, the cosmos) consists of
• Infinity of jivas
• Infinity of ajiva

17
Equality of Souls/Jivas

• All jivas are, in their original purity, equal
  in size and quality. The soul of an ant, for
  instance, is identical to that of an elephant.
  Only the bodies they inhabit, the forms of matter
  in which they are entwined, differ.
• Jainism extensively classifies these life-forms
• E.g., categorization by number of senses possessed

18
Equality of Jivas/souls

• All life-forms, because they are inhabited by a
  soul, are to be regarded as fellow creatures
  worthy of respect and care. Most life-forms are
  capable of some degree of participation in
  religious life.
• Plants express feelings, desire food, fear
• Animals can learn (e.g. of lions fasting)
• Microbes can advance spiritually

19
Equality of Jivas/souls

• Only by becoming human can a soul reach moksha

20
The Quest Fallen Soul Rises

• Cf. loka image -- rise to top, umbrella
• weighed down by the matter in which their souls
  are entwined.
• Salvation the soul cleans all matter from
  itself and regains it original state of purity.
• Very Platonic

21
The Quest and Karma

• Very much like Hindu karma, but definitely
  understood in terms of dirty matter
• Any action (sin in our terms) that violates karma
  will dirty the soul with thick, heavy matter.
• Good actions, good karma deposit only light

22
Kevala spiritual perfection

• Karma no longer can tarnish one
• Can be attained before death but generlly not the
  case
• In our current world gt era of decline
  salvation is NOT attainable in this world

23
Religious Life

• Monks nuns only several hundred in world
  today real asceticism
• revered by the laity as heroic role models.
• Laity, laypeople nearly 3 million
• Ahimsa, is the central standard of conduct for
  both lifestyles.

24
Jain sects White and Sky

• Shvetambaras white robed
• beg for food daily, using a bowl
• Generally more liberal
• Women CAN attain kevala
• Once one attains kevala, one still needs food to
  live
• Tend to remain among the laity, life

25
Jain sects White and Sky

• Digambaras sky clad monks
• ONLY MEN can attain kevala
• sky clad Yes! They are completely nude!
  reject Shvetambara Scriptures and accounts and
  teachings of Mahavira and other tirthankaras

26
Asceticism the only way

• Jains deny any divine assistance or helping hand
  hence kevala is attained ONLY via own human
  effort DENIAL, DENIAL, DENIAL of the body,
  matter
• At age 8 or young adult, one can choose to be an
  ascetic
• All family ties are severed
• Become married to ascetic life
• Receive alms bowl, a whisk broom, five tufts of
  hair (renunciation of sexual life)
• fasting

27
Initiated Ascetic

• Own nothing
• Beg for food from laity
• Tend to wander in groups
• During rainy season they restrict their wandering
  because more life-forms appear on the path when
  it rains dont want to accidentally step on
  something

28
Five Great Vows

• Do not injure other life-forms
• Intention matters, accidents tolerated
• Avoid lying
• Do not take what has not been given
• Renounce sexual activity
• Renounce possession

29
Ahimsa w/ a twist

• Ahimsa does NOT demand absolute passivity
• If violence done to them whether by human or
  other life-form can defend selves
• E.g., if tiger attacks groups, they may kill it
  in self-defense

30
Asceticism -- for all

• Rigorous vegetarianism for all Jains
• Not only avoid meat but also
• Vegetables/fruits that may contain life-forms,
  e.g., microbes
• Fruit with many seeds ? life within seeds
• Do not build fires or dig in earth sure to
  kill, harm some life-form
• Bathing carefully regulated to avoid harm to
  water microbes

31
Asceticism for all

• Regular periods of fasting meditation
• Hymns of praise to tirthankaras
• Pay formal acts or respect to teacher
• Standing in silent meditation (48 mins.) nurtures
  an attitude of benevolence
• Most important ritual ? repentance I ask pardon
  from al living creatures. May all creatures
  pardon me. May I have friendship for all
  creatures and enmity towards none.

32
Asceticism for all

• Mahaviras self-starvation
• Not recommended today but defended
• Defended because did not involve violence or
  passion therefore, not suicide
• BUT if one were to voluntarily starve to
  death, it is the ideal death ? it purges all
  matter

33
Everyday Jains Prosperous Moral

• Extreme asceticism a distant possibility, not
  expected of most
• Immediate goal ? good karma, good rebirth
• Codes of conduct ? acts of charity are primary --
  5 plus 7 ? The Twelve Vows for laity

34
Twelve Vows

• 1 5. from ascetic life PLUS
• 6. Avoid excessive travel
• 7. Dont indulge generally (food, drink, dress)
• 8. Avoid unnecessary harmful behavior
  (self-indulgence, complaining)

35
12 Vows religious practiecs

• 9. Restrict activities to certain place for a
  certain time IOW, slow down, focus
• 10. regularly meditate while standing
• 11. Fast on certain days
• 12. Give to ascetics and charitable causes

36
Jain presence in India

• Immense statues of tirthankaras
• Common practice gazing reverently at a statue
  tirthankaras are beyond our reach
• Washing statues with milk, honey, etc.
• NOT petitioning for help because
• Jain temples are striking

37
Jains in the Quotidian

• Very much involved in everyday life
• Among wealthiest, most philanthropic in India
  big on environment and peace movements
• 2 population 50 national philanthropy
• Do NOT seek converts
• Do encourage vegetarianism for all