Characteristics Of Jainism In Ahimsa

Upon reading about the historical and religious background of Ancient India, one can clearly assume that the country was strongly influenced by three main religious teachings: Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. These three sects in religious thinking have many similarities as all recognize the life-cycle and the need of liberation, they worship one central deity that used to be a human who gained enlightenment and they all recognize the existence of the eternal soul and after-death re-incarnation. However, they also share a lot of differences that mark the underlying principles of practicing them. I will identify the scope of differences and similarities in these ancient religions in an attempt to understand why each attracted followers, why

Jainism is another religion of India, it has very close relations with other main religions of India like Hinduism and Buddhism. It

1. Ahimsa- nonviolence belief means extremely gentle or harmless. This is the core belief in Jainism. It includes avoiding occupations that may harm other living animals including insects, using items made from animals such as leather and feathers.

     Jainism earliest descriptions were thought of being a self centered search for personal salvation without having a personal God. Jains do not believe in one creator or God. Heinrich Zimmer, an expert on Indian Philosophy, states, ?Jainism is Tran theistic- it does not deny existence of God but that it goes beyond them.? (A 352) Others see it?s as a search for personal growth and a sense of higher personal ethics. Jainism is founded on the goal of overcoming the temporary cycle of earthly life in addition to be released from an endless cycle of existence. Human destiny was the center of Jain teaching. They were to rely on themselves to seek that which will save them from the domination of matter, this being moral elevation. Above all, Jainism is a religion of love and compassion, with an eternal universe. They have made significant contributions in logic, art, and architecture, grammar, mathematics, literature, philosophy, astronomy, and astrology.

The view of good and evil in Jainism also is to a great extent similar to that in Hinduism. The concept of karma occupies a place of importance in Jainism also, however, slightly different. In a person’s life god gives rise to happiness and evil to pain and misery. ‘Punya’ is the consequence of good deeds and ‘Paap’ of evil. In Jainism as a man does, he is repaid with it. One who sows ‘Paap’ or evil, gets evil in return and one who sows ‘Punya’, finds everything good in his life. Moksha is the elimination of everything good and bad. Evil karmas or wrong doings result in low birth in the next life. So, Jainism also views good and evil as a part of a person’s life.It is our Karma that according to Jainism determines the quality of our life. (Sivananda, 2004)

Jainism is an ecologically responsible way of life, which is non violent in thoughts, actions, and deeds (Pecorino, 2001). The heart of Jainism is to live and practice ahimsa. This is the action by which all actions are judged (ahimsa| Britannica.com, 2015). The Golden Rule, if you will. The Jain’s believe that life is eternal. That all living souls have the potential of attaining enlightenment and immortality (Raghuram, 2004). If you interrupt the spiritual progress or jiva of an insect, animal, plant or person, you will incur karma (ahimsa | Britannica.com, 2015). Your karma will affect your samsara, and will determine your next incarnation. The purpose in one’s life is to attain liberation from the samsara cycle.

Benjamin Franklin, American humanists, inventor, and writer during the Age of Reason, wrote in his autobiography that, “[He] knew…what was right and wrong …[and] concluded that the mere speculative conviction that it was [everyone’s] interest to be completely virtuous,” (Franklin 69). Franklin portrays the importance of virtues, and that doing good will help one’s life become a success. Franklin wishes the populous to do good so that everyone’s life will benefit from outstanding accomplishments. People do good deeds everyday to benefit the world around them. Buddhists, for example, believe in practicing the Five Precepts, which are the basic code of ethics: (1) one should not kill another living being, (2) one should not take anything that is not given or offered, (3) one should not commit adultery, (4) one should not tell fibs, and (5) one should not drink alcohol or intoxicate him or herself in any way (“Basic Buddhism Guide”). By practicing these Precepts, Buddhists serve their fellow beings by honoring their rights. Buddhists wish to better the world by undertaking such ambitious duties. Unlike the Puritans, Buddhists do not believe there is a god, so when one sabotages a Precept, he or she must reflect on the misdeed, and analyze how the treachery can be avoided in the future.

They see it as a true substance that binds to the jiva with each activity. They believe that our souls attract karmas through activitiesrelated to mind, body, and speech. For example, when you get angry, kill, deceive, or become greedy that the karma will attach itself to the jiva. Then karma begins to form layers and layers on the jiva and hinders us from realizing our true potential. Thus making one continue to go through the cycle of birth and death. The Jain doctrine states that it is possible for us to be able to modify our karma, and to obtain release from it, through the strictness and purity of conduct. Such as, to practice the virtues of truth (satya), the practice of non-violence (ahisma), practice austerity (brahmachara), and practice non-possessiveness

A third teaching of Jainism is that lying and exaggeration are damaging practices that are to be avoided. On another hand Jainism also teaches that “absolute truth” is impossible to express because everyone experiencing any given situation from a unique perspective. Other teachings condemn stealing, and confine acceptable sexual practices to those between a married couple, both of which try to curb improper desire, and stop the perpetuation of pain inflicted on others. These teachings, which emphasized acceptable societal practices are similar to the Dharma of Hinduism, which emphasized social obligations (Molloy, p196, 2010).

The world is full of diversities which are mostly characterised by the geographical disparities. These diversities range from the way people interact with one another socially, economically and politically. Through the lens of social organization, religion stands out to be one of the major aspects of human life. Everybody has some element of religiousness in him. Fortunately or unfortunately, often people adapt to the religious partners they find at the place of their birth. However, globalization and civilization is gradually transforming and integrating religious believes from the different parts of the world and perhaps someday, which is not known to anyone as per now, people will have a common believe in regard to religion. Till then, humanity continues to believe differently on matters of religion. Among these many religions of the world are Jainism and Daoism. Both based in Asia, these religions have a history and a following which is noticeable. Because of their prominence in Asia and a growing global integration of the ideologies upheld by these two forms of religions, this paper critically examines them with intent of exhuming any form of similarity or difference. This paper also checks into exactly what these two religions entail or teach its followers.

Hinduism and Buddhism are both eastern traditions with much to say about the human condition as well as the reason human beings exist at all. In some ways they are different while also being similar in other ways. In this essay, those differences will be discussed and the similarities examined for their message. In conclusion, we will examine what these two faiths offer to the human beings of the twenty-first century.

Jainism and Buddhism acknowledge extremely similar aspects in their respective religions. They both have a grounded belief of karma, samsara, and one of liberation. Although these basic principle are the same, they have differences within them. In this essay, it will discuss the similarities and differences between the basic beliefs and traditions regarding karma, samsara, recognition of the self, and final liberation in regards to Jain and Buddhist religions.

Jains have five incredibly important aspects that they follow. The first is ahimsa, non-harm, not only to themselves but to everyone and their environment. Next, Jains believe in telling the truth; they don't believe in over exaggerating or lying because it can cause pain to someone (which brakes ahimsa).

- but that does not mean we shouldn't try to keep it to a minimum.

Jainism and Buddhism share some common ground and similarities in their beliefs and practices, and they also have features that make them unique and distinctively different from the other. Some of the central similarities of Jainism and Buddhism can be found in when and where their traditions originated, resemblances in their primary teachers, their religious goals, nonbelief in a creator, and their values of nonattachment and nonviolence. Some differences between Jainism and Buddhism are found in their karmic principles and the conception of the soul. There seems to be more parallels shared between Jainism and Buddhism than discrepancies.