JAINA Convention 2007
Federation of Jain Associations In North America
JAINISM: An Overview
ORIGIN:
Jainism is one of the oldest living religions. It has no beginning. The word Jain comes from a Sanskrit word Jina that means conqueror. It implies conquest over one's inner enemies or passions -anger, greed, ego, and deceit. About 2600 years ago, Lord Mahavir (599-527 BC), the twenty fourth and the lastTirthankar (path finder, propounder, revealer or prophet) of Jain tradition of this era revived the philosophy preached by his predecessor. The present Jain scriptures called Agam Sutras reflect his preaching. They teach reverence for all forms of life, austerity, and non-violence.
GOAL:
The ultimate goal of Jainism is to become a perfected soul, known as Siddha, Parmaatmaa, or God. The perfected soul is pure consciousness and possesses perfect knowledge, power, bliss, and omniscience. The total freedom from ceaseless cycles of birth, life, pain, misery, and death can be achieved through willed elimination of inner enemies or passions.
PATH OF ATTAINMENT:
Right Perception, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct together lead to liberation. Right perception creates an awareness of reality or truth. Right knowledge impels a person to proper action. Right conduct leads to the attainment of total freedom. They must coexist in a person to make progress toward the path of liberation.
PRACTICES:
The sacred Jain prayer Namokaar Mantra, reveres great souls. The worship ritual is symbolical and inspirational. It does not grant favors. The followers observe five disciplines as much as possible:
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- Non-violence (Ahimsa) - Not to cause any harm to any living being.
- Truthfulness (Satya) - To speak the harmless truth.
- Non-stealing (Asteya) - Not to take what is not properly given or earned.
- Chastity [Brahmcharya) - Not to indulge in illicit sensual pleasure.
- Non-Possession (Aprigraha) - An attitude of self-restraint and benevolence.
- Non-violence (Ahimsa) - Not to cause any harm to any living being.
RELEVENCE IN MODERN LIFE:
Jainism is a philosophy for living a blissful life. Many facts proven by modern science are described in Jain scriptures such as existence of atoms, molecules, medium of motion and medium of rest; mathematics, astronomy and the existence of life in vegetation. Jain teachings promote equality towards women, environmental awareness, protection of animals, and benefits of vegetarianism, yoga and meditation.
The three tenets of Jainism: Nonviolence (Ahimsa), Multiple Reality of Truth or Open Mindedness (Anekaantvaad), and Non-possessiveness (Aparigraha) seek peace, justice, and sustainability; acknowledge equality of all human beings; foster mutual respect and understanding which would lead to a better world and attempt to address the current global issues of violence, environmental degradation and poverty.
Universal Love: The basic tenet of Jainism is ahimsa or nonviolence.
According to the teachings of Jainism, all living beings have a soul whose basic nature is consciousness. All souls are spiritually equal and desire to live in a safe, free and peaceful environment. As human beings are blessed with the sense of thinking, the humanity is responsible for achieving oneness and harmony with all life by being compassionate, loving and nonviolent. Ahimsa refers to refraining from visible physical acts of violence as well as from thoughts of hurting and from speech intended to harm or upset others. This attitude makes a person humble and peaceful with other living beings.
Inclusiveness:
Jainism places great emphasis on the principles of the multiplicity of views or open-mindedness (Anekaantvaad). It means that the perception of reality changes depending on the time, place, nature and the state of the viewer. What is true from one point of view can be open to question from another. The absolute truth becomes the sum total of all different view points that can make up the universe. This inclusiveness attitude leads to the acceptance and tolerance of other viewpoints.
Interdependence:
According to Jainism, all life is bound together by mutual support and interdependence [Parasparopgraho Jivanam). Life is viewed as a gift, lived only with support, accommodation, and assistance from the interdependent web of all creation. Therefore, harming another living being inevitably means harming our selves. This teaching combined with the teachings on ahimsa, provides an important foundation for environmental ethic.
In the Jain symbol, the word Ahimsa (nonviolence) is in the center of the raised palm. It symbolizes blessings as well as to stop to review our activities to ensure that they do not hurt anyone. The wheel in the palm signifies that if we ignore our ethical responsibility, then like a wheel we will go round and round through ceaseless cycles of birth, life, pain, misery, death and rebirth.
NAMOKAAR MANTRA
(Jain Prayer)
NAMO ARIHANTAANAM
NAMO SIDDHAANAM
NAMO AAYARIYAANAM
NAMO UVAJJHAYAANAM
NAMO LOE SAVVA SAHUNAM
ESO PANCHA NAMOKAARO
SAVVA PAVAPPANAASNO
MANGALAANAM CHA SAVVESIM
PADDHMAM HAVAI MANGALAM
(I bow and seek inspiration from, the perfected souls, liberated souls, religious leaders, religious teachers; and all monks and nuns in the world. These five obeisances erase all sins. Offering this obeisance is the most auspicious of all benedictions.)
Ahimsa is.............................................................................
Avoidance of Harm Intended by Mind, Speech and Action