Do you respect the lives of plants? Do you feel that all living beings deserve respect, despite their diverse forms? Even if you don’t subscribe to these ideals, there may be a place for you within the religion of Jainism. As with many other religions, Jainism focuses on a form of enlightenment that clears biased judgement from the mind, discourages attachment to material possessions and stresses non-violence. However, unlike many modern religions, Jainism has a view of the universe and its history from a standpoint that parallels modern science.
Read on to see what other principles Jains advocate.
Jain doctrine says that humans, plants and animals all have souls, which are all equal. Since all souls are equal, Jains are strict vegetarians and try to live in a way that utilizes a minimal amount of the Earth’s resources.
Jains believe that there is no almighty “God” figure in the universe. Since every soul has the potential to be perfect, it is not possible there is a superior god. One piece of Jain writing states, “If God created the world, where was he before creation? If you say he was transcendent then, and needed no support, where is he now?”
Since there is not almighty being passing judgement, Jains believe that Karma determines whether you end your cycle of rebirth.
When a soul dies, it is reincarnated. The only way to end the cycle of reincarnation is to free yourself of all karma.
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Right Belief: Jains avoid preconceptions and judgement of others that clouds their views from the truth. They believe when you achieve right belief, you will see truth in all situations without any bias.
Right Knowledge: Right knowledge is having an accurate view of the universe (explained below) and the substances of which it consists. Lacking attachment to possessions and lacking desires.
Right Conduct: To have right conduct is to avoid harming others and having a pure ethical standing.
Jains believe that the beings of the universe are split into two categories. The first is living souls, or jivas. The second is non-living objects, which is everything else and space, which is infinite.
In addition, Jainism holds that nothing is created or destroyed; it merely changes form.The universe has always existed and will always exist. It is regulated by cosmic laws and its own energy processes.
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Jivas (Souls): Jivas are eternal and conscious, made of some form of energy, do not have a physical form and are able to be “embodied.” When they are pure and free from all karma, they are omniscient and totally blissful.
Dharma: Dharma is the medium of motion through which souls and atoms travel.
Adharma: Adharma is a medium of non-motion, for souls and atoms whose natural state is rest.
Pudgala (Matter): Pudgala is anything with physical matter that can be touched. Pudgala is also responsible for all feelings of sensation, such as pleasure, pain, birth and death. The karma particles that make up the soul are created by pudgala.
Akasa (Space): Akasa is the place where everything functions. It extends beyond the boundaries of the universe.
Kala: Kala is the substance of time, though not all Jains include this as one of the categories of substance. (Just as some physicists don’t agree that time is the fourth dimension.)
Jains can choose to fast during festivals and holy days. The monsoon period in India is an example of a time during which Jains traditionally fast. Fasting is meant to be atonement, causing purification of body and mind.
The beliefs of Jainism revolve around the idea that life that is devoid of harm and ill thinking. Though you may not convert on the spot, one can’t help but respect the revere that Jains hold for other living beings and the universe itself.
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For more information on Jainism and a deeper look into their beliefs, read more here.
