Excerpts From Past Issues:
(From Jain Study Circular, April 1983)
(Sunit, son of Kushal Raj and Mankunwar Jain, was in school when he wrote this article)
Jainism is an ancient monastic religion of India. Its approximately 2 million followers are known as Jains. It is known to have existed in Magadh, in Northern India, in the sixth and fifth centuries B.C., when its doctrines were being preached by Vardhaman Mahaveer. Mahaveer set out on a religious quest at the age of 30, and in the thirteenth year of rigorous asceticism, gained supreme knowledge. From then on until his NIRVANA, 30 years later, he preached in and around Magadh.
Mahaveer was preceded by Parshvanath, 250 years earlier, who had reestablished an order requiring four vows of his monks. These were to avoid injuring living creatures, to be truthful, to refrain from stealing, and to own no property. Mahaveer added a fifth vow, that of purity of mind and body (celibacy). Modern historians accept the above. However, according to Jains, Parshvanath and Mahaveer were only the last two of the twenty-four TEERTHANKARs who reinstated the Jain religious order.
Jainism accepts the doctrine of karma and rebirth, which teaches that the doer of any act will feel its effects in this or in a later life. The ultimate goal of a soul is to escape from this cycle and attain perfect knowledge.
Jainism teaches the principle of AHIMSA, noninjury to all living creatures. Agriculture is thus not approved as an occupation for Jains because a farmer's tools destroy many forms of life.(1) Many hospitals and animal shelters are supported by Jains in India.
Jains worship their twenty-four TEERTHANKARs and other holy persons, but they do not believe that they are gods who run the affairs of the universe. The universe operates on its own, according to the laws of nature. Jains also do not believe in a supreme God, the creator of the universe, who rewards us or punishes us.
According to Jainism, the universe consists of six entities which are: individual souls (JEEVs), matter (including energy, PUDGALs), principle of motion (DHARM), principle of rest (ADHARM), space (AAKAASH) and time (KAAL).
In conclusion, Jainism is a very old religion of India in which nonviolence (AHIMSA), truthfulness, non-stealing or non-cheating, purity of body and mind, and non-covetousness are the main virtues to follow. Of course, it is difficult but through self-motivation and determination, these virtues can be achieved.
Footnotes:
1. This idea is inconsistent with the Jain principle of rationalism. We are responsible for the violence done by others in producing our food. - D. C. J. Back up