Jainism Essay

The three main religions that originated in Ancient India were Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. Hinduism grew out of overlapping beliefs and is currently one of the most complex religions. Hindus believe in brahman, gods representing natural forces or animals, and that gaining moksha is the ultimate life goal. Next, Jainism was founded by Mahavira and it emphasizes self-denial, extreme Ahimsa, and meditation. Lastly, Buddhism emphasizes the Four Noble Truths and the final goal of life is nirvana. Buddhism spread throughout the world, but soon began to decline in India. Therefore, Ancient Indian religions became not only very crucial to them but also to the rest of the world.

Jainism, also known as Jain Dharma, is a religion that many people in the world don't know about but is practiced by about 9 million people worldwide. With the roots of the religion coming from pre-historic India, Jainism is a dharmic religion. There is not an exact definition for the word dharma, it has several different meanings. It is used in most of the philosophies or religions originating in India, like Hinduism and Buddhism. Jainism is a very strict and intricate religion and its followers are big believers in peace and non violence.

The four stages of life choices, which favor both renunciation and world upholding, are 1) student 2) householder 3) forest hermit and 4) wandering ascetic (Ghose, 1/18/01). In the book, Siddhartha participated in each of these lifestyles for a significant amount of time. Unlike his father, Siddhartha did not want to be a Brahmin. He thought his calling

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

The most important difference is that of the creation of the universe. Jains regret the idea that the universe was created by one creator. Rather they believe that the universe was created out of natural forces in motion. And that they forces are constantly changing. Sikhs on the other hand believe that the universe was created by one God. This one God is the divine entity in their monotheism religion. This helps to formulate the understanding in each religions core beliefs. “Regardless of their difference, both religions stress the importance of the individual’s struggle to purify the self, to act morally, and to do good to others,” Malloy (2013). The most important similarity is that of karma and reincarnation. These basic principals have been adopted from Hinduism. It represents the main mantra that life on this plane must be lived in the path of righteous. By doing onto others and acting selfless these two religions are formed under one basic principal: to achieve the ultimate goal of life on the highest existence level.

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 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.

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)

Jains view karma as a physical substance accrued through harm to other life. Sikhs believe karma from a previous life affect the circumstances of your life now, much same way Hindus view karma.

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.

Both Jainism and Sikhism have arisen as alternatives to Hinduism within India. As Molloy highlights, they both share a belief in karma with Hinduism, but both reject the polytheistic and ritualistic elements of Hinduism. Despite these similarities, Jainism and Sikhism are different in their emphasis. The founder of Jainism was named Mahavira. He was the twenty fourth, in a succession of saints, called tirthankaras. Mahavira was born into an aristocratic family, and much of his life is shrouded in legend, but all version of his life story agree, that at the age of 30 he embraced the wandering life of an aesthetic holy man. His is said to have endured much pain, and sacrifice at his own hands, and at the hands of others. During this

Ancient India: Buddhism and Jainism were founded in India in the 500’s and 400’s B.C. These two religions spread rapidly in India and both rejected the authority of the Vedas and the Brahmans.

Describe the Four Noble Truths that the Buddha taught; how do these represent a reaction against the Vedic and Jain traditions? Why did Buddhism draw more devotees than Jainism.

Jainism is one of the oldest practicing religions, although, today Jainism appears in its present day form in the areas of Northeastern India, just as it did thousands of years ago. It's a religion composed in arrangement so that it's characteristic are associated with the religions like Buddhism and Hinduism. In the beginning, however, the Jains prayed to the Hindu gods mainly for earthly support like a male heir, long life, and prosperity. Jainism can be trace its beginnings to the Indus river valley civilization of three thousands B.C. Due to the reaction and demands of the Indian religion by the Hindu Brahmans and its Brahman priesthood, there arose two independent religions with who rejected the materialistic goals and

Both Jainism and Buddhism originated in India. Yet, unlike Hinduism, neither is based on the Vedas, and both were alternatives to the ritual-oriented Brahmanism of India. The extreme antiquity of Jainism is well documented from ancient Hindu and Buddhist scriptures, but the teachings