JAINISM

OVERVIEW

Jainism is one of the world's oldest religions, originating in India at least 2,500 years ago. The founders of the ancient Jain religion were the 24 tirthankaras, or teachers, most of whom lived before recorded history. Their name means path-finders or ford-makers, who cross over the river of birth and death. These sages were also called jina, meaning spiritual victors, and their followers, who revere them and remember their examples, are called Jains.

The last of the 24 Tirthankaras was Mahavira, born around 540 BC, and likely a contemporary of Gautama Buddha. By the 5th century BC, the Jain religion was an influential force in Northern India. Today, it makes up 0.4% of India's population and is the smallest of the country's six major religious groups after Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism and Buddhism, according to the Pew Research Center.

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More about Jainism

'There is nothing so small and subtle as the atom, nor any element so vast as space. Simlarly, there is no quality of soul more subtle than non-violence and no virtue of spirit greater than reverence for life.”
– Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara

BELIEFS & VALUES

Jain beliefs & values share much common ground with conservation.

Ahimsa (non-violence): Ahimsa is a principle that Jains teach and practice not only towards human beings but towards all nature.

Compassion: This is the positive aspect of non-violence: to practice an attitude of compassion towards all life forms. Jains pray that forgiveness and friendliness may reign throughout the world and that all living beings may cherish each other.

Interdependence: This ancient Jain principle teaches that all of nature is bound together, and says that if one does not care for nature one does not care for oneself. Mahavira said: 'One who neglects or disregards the existence of earth, air, fire, water and vegetation disregards his own existence which is intertwined with them.'

Anekantavada (the doctrine of manifold aspects): This concept describes the world as a multifaceted, ever-changing reality with an infinity of viewpoints. What is true from one viewpoint is open to question from another. Therefore Jainism does not look upon the universe from an anthropocentric viewpoint but takes into account the viewpoints of other species, communities and beings.

Self-restraint: An important Jain principle is not to waste the gifts of nature, and even to reduce one’s needs as far as possible. As Gandhi said, ‘There is enough in this world for human needs, but no for human wants.’

The cycle of birth and death: See below.

Jain temple Varanga, Karkala, by Nitin Pouniker, on Unsplash

JAINISM & THE CYCLE OF BIRTH AND DEATH

The goal of the Jain religion is to achieve liberation from the cycle of birth and death. According to the Tattvartha Sutra, Jainism's most important scripture, there are 8,400,000 species of living things – each of which is part of the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth, and is therefore precious. Jains believe that an immortal and indestructible soul resides within every living being.

Under the influence of passions such as greed and hatred, the soul comes under a complex web of karma, or the past deeds of the soul, and suffers repeated birth and death. The effects of karma can only be overcome when the soul achieves liberation.

Mahatma Gandhi was greatly influenced by Jain ideas. He made ahimsa the guiding principle of his struggle for social freedom and equality. Ahimsa means more than not hurting others, it means not intending to cause harm, physical, mental or spiritual, to any part of nature, for, in the words of Mahavira: ‘You are that which you wish to harm.’