Faith at a glance:

Jainism

Background

Jainism originated in India, and is an ancient faith that emerges into history in the 6th century bce with the teaching of Vardhamana, more often called Mahavira, the Great Hero. Mahavira is believed to be the twenty-fourth in a succession of teachers who are called by Jains Tirthankara, Ford-Makers. These are the original Jina, who through their own spiritual struggle achieved enlightenment or omniscience, and from whom the Jains take their name.

The Tirthankara are those who have themselves crossed the floods of samsara, the cycle of birth and death, and who by their teaching and example help others to cross over: that is why they are called the Ford Makers.

Mahavira is thought to have been born in modern Bihar about 599bce. At the age of thirty he began a spiritual quest, and after twelve years attained kevalajnana, pure or absolute knowledge.

After this he taught the Jain way and established the fourfold structure of the Jain community, with sadhus and sadhvis, men and women who choose the renunciate life, and shravakas and shravikas, men and women who choose the life of householders.

Significance of Life

• Jains believe that being is without beginning and without end; change is an illusion.

• A central teaching of Jainism is anekantavada, the notion that truth and reality seem different from different perspectives, and that no one point of view gives a complete understanding. A plurality of views comes closer to truth, even – or especially -  views that are in opposition to one another

• Life is understood as a hierarchy of being from plant life through to human beings, including the beings that dwell in heaven and hell. 

Karma and Moksha

• The principle of karma, the law of cause and effect, teaches that the body inhibited by a soul in its next life is determined primarily by the soul's present actions and the acts of will which inform them.

• Jainism teaches that the human state is the only one from which moksha, release from the cycle of birth and death, is possible. Even the beings of heaven must be reincarnated in this state before they can obtain liberation.

• The Three Jewels offer a graduated pathway towards moksha which both people leading settled lives and mendicants can follow according to their vows. They are:

• right faith
• right knowledge
• right conduct

Ethics

Ahimsa, or non-violence, is the central teaching of Jainism. It means avoiding all harm, including mental harm, to even the smallest living being.

The anuvratas, the five vows,  provide the framework for Jains who aspire to live according to this principle. These include:

• ahimsa (non-harming)

• satya (truthfulness)

• asteya (not stealing)

• brahmacharya (abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage)

• aparigraha (keeping possessions within limits)

 There are further vows which are undertaken by mendicants.

Jain monks of the Digambara tradition, the sky-clad, wear nothing and usually live in seclusion.

Svetambara monks wear thin white robes.

Women renunciates of both traditions wear robes.

Scriptures

Jain scriptures are composed of around sixty texts which incorporate the teachings of Mahavira and other Tirthankaras. The majority of these texts are written in the ancient language of Ardhamagadhi.

Many of the Jain scriptures are believed to have been lost in ancient times, following a famine about 350bce. After the famine the Svetambara sought to preserve what was left of the Agamas, the teachings of Mahavira; the Digmabara tradition teaches that all were lost. For this reason the two traditions have different perspectives on sacred texts.