Some questions which have followed me since ages compelled me to write this finally. It’s time to give answers and it’s time to break those myths.

• Do you really eat before 6 P.M?
• Do you eat Onions and Potatoes?
• Why your saints give up on their clothes?
• Why you are so vegetarian, there is nothing wrong in being an Eggetarian?

So the list continues!

Here I am talking about being a Jain. Jainism is one among several religions followed in India. Only 0.36% of people in India are Jains. Jain community comes under minority. Even after being a minority it is further classified into numerous sub-caste, and the different set of people have a different belief system. But let’s not get into that, as my purpose is different here.

I am not writing here to promote any religion; I am writing so that one can get a clear understanding about what is this religion about, what it says why it follows Nonviolence so seriously, is it really a religion or is it just a way of living life shown by some great ancient man.

My second objective to write is because Jainism Logic and Believes are worth sharing as it might help someone to lead a more peaceful life, it might provide you a different perspective to life and it might also teach you the way to break the matrix and set yourself free from the process of life and death, if you know what I is say.

So let’s begin!

A little History here:

Jains trace their history through a succession of twenty-four victorious saviors and teachers known as Tirthankaras. Tirthankaras accomplished the highest spiritual goal of existence (Moksha/ salvation) and then taught others how to achieve it. Rishabh Dev was the first Tirthankara who is believed to have lived millions & millions of years ago in Jain tradition, and twenty-fourth being the Mahāvīra around 500 BCE. You might have heard about Lord Mahavira as he was the last and the most recent one. Mahavira is regarded as the man who gave Jainism its present-day form.

Are Thirthankar Gods?

The answer is No. Jains believe there are no gods or spiritual beings that help humans. God is neither the creator nor destroyer or an administrator of the universe. The universe is eternal; it existed from times immemorable and will exist forever governed by a number of universal laws. Only its form and contents go through a process of change continuously.

Also,  a Tirthankar is neither an incarnation of the God nor the messenger of God.  He is an ordinary soul who is born as a human and attains the states of a Tirthankar with his capability to break the circle of Life and death through years and years of Meditation to finally attain Salvation. Tirthankaras were not founders of the Jainism but great omniscient teachers who lived at various times in man’s cultural history and have shown the path to liberate souls from this cycle of life and death.

Here I am not talking about the God who can do Magic, who can tell the future, the past with his magical power. No, I am not calling him God, but he is the one who understood the ultimate goal, accomplished the highest spiritual goal of existence (Salvation/Nirvana) through Meditation and is capable of using 100 % capacity of his brain.

The person who can use the 100% capability of the brain and can see the entire universe (Past/Present /Future) is said to have attained Keval Gyan (Complete Knowledge/Supreme Wisdom) and are then called as Sarvagya (The one who Know it all ). That’s why out of respect they are worshiped by entire Jain Communities.

What happens when Tirthankar attain Keval Gyan?

Now, this is like the most favorite topic of mine! Every time I read about it, it never fails to amuse me.

As per Jain text (Jinvani), when Tirthankara attained keval Gyan the Samavasarana was organized. It was a place where all had the opportunity to acquire wisdom. It is said that the divine pavilion was built by heavenly beings after the Tirthankara attained omniscience (Keval Gyana). This immensely beautiful development was done so that all living beings including plants and Animals could acquire wisdom from him.

The Tīrthankara sat on a throne. Around, the Tīrthankara sits the Ganadhara. The term Ganadhara is used to refer the chief disciple of a Tirthankar. Ganadhara possesses exceptional brilliance and are able to able to fully assimilate teachings of a Tirthankara. The presence of such a disciple is mandatory in the samavasarana before Tirthankara delivers his sermons. Ganadhara interprets and mediates to other people the divine sound (divyadhwani) which emanates from Tirthankara’s body, the waves that emanate contains the information/Wisdom, which only the Ganadhara would understand. Ganadharas acted as interpreters, who interpret and convert the information received in the language all living being could understand.

I believe in Kevalgyan because I have read some part of Jain Cosmology written some 2,000 years back and I am thrilled by the fact that how so much was known and written in details about the miraculous discoveries of science like gravity, relativity, Quantum Physics and what not. Just to give an idea, you can read the book “Cosmology Old and New” by Professor GR Jain. Its an interpretation of 5th Chapter of  Tattvartha Sutra (also known as Tattvarth-adhigama-sutra), an ancient Jain text written by Acharya Umaswati, sometime between the 2nd- and 5th-century AD.

 Just give it a try and you will understand what I am trying to say here.

Concepts of JAINISM

There are four concepts that constitute the foundation of Jainism. Let’s understand them in brief.

1. The concept of Minimization: Jainism teaches and preach that Violence of any type is forbidden.
   Practically, it is impossible to survive without killing or injuring some of the smallest living beings. Some lives are killed even when we breathe, drink water, or eat food. Therefore, Jainism says that minimum killing of the lowest form of life should be our ideal for survival.
   For Example, as Jainism strongly believes in Non-Violence, for some Non-Violence can be not eating a living organism, or for some, it might be not eating few vegetables (Like Onions) and for some it could be not eating at all. So, it depends, up to what level you are willing to go. But the most important thing to note here is, it never forces anyone to follow what’s written. As I told you there is no god who might punish you for wrong deeds, karma takes care of that. Hence our next concept is Karma.
2. The concept of Karma: Jainism believe in the concept of Karma. Karma is the mechanism that determines the quality of life. There is good karma and bad karma. The happiness of a being’s present life is the result of the moral quality of the actions of the being in its previous life that is the amount of good karma a being have accumulated. Karma works without the intervention of any other being, Gods or angels have no part to play in dispensing rewards or punishments.
   It is believed that karma is a physical substance that is everywhere in the universe. It may be helpful to think of karma as floating dust which sticks to the soul, or as types of atomic particle which are attracted to the soul because of our actions, words, and thoughts. On their own, karma particles have no effect but when they stick to a soul they affect the life of that soul. We attract karma particles when we do or think or say things that can hurt someone. We attract karma particles if we kill something, we attract karma particles when we tell a lie, we attract karma particles when we steal and so on. The quantity and nature of the karma particles sticking to the soul cause the soul to be happy or unhappy and affect the events in the soul’s present and future lives.
   It’s a compound process in which the accumulation of karma causes us to have bad thoughts, deeds, emotions, and vices, and these bad actions (etc) cause our souls to attract more karma, which causes more bad thoughts, and so on. Some karmas expire on their own after causing suffering. Other karmas remain. One has to continuously shed his/her Karmas to have the right birth at the right place to achieve Nirvana.
3. The concept of Soul: Soul is living and Body is non-living. Body is just a medium for the soul. It is believed that animals and plants, as well as human beings, contain living souls. Each of these souls is considered of equal value and should be treated with respect and compassion. As we treat every soul as equal, the supreme principle of nonviolence (ahimsa) is based on this belief. Jains believe in reincarnation and it takes many rebirths to get rid of all Karma attached to the soul before the soul could finally liberate from the circle of rebirth.
   A soul that frees itself from the circle of life and death is called Siddha (liberated soul) whereas those souls which are still attached to the worldly life are called samsarin (mundane souls). A liberated soul experiences boundless knowledge, power, perception, and profound happiness.
4. The Ultimate Goal:(Moksha/Nirvana/salvation) It is the highest spiritual goal of existence. Moksha is the stage from where the soul does not have to take rebirths. Moksha is also known as salvation or liberation. A stage where a soul finds ultimate knowledge and peace and stays as a bright light forever.
   Moksha means liberation from the bondage of karmas.  So to attain moksha or to be liberated one has to get rid of all eight karmas.
   When these first four Karmas namely-  Mohniya, Jnanavarniya, Darshnavaraniya, and Antaray are removed completely, the soul exhibits its true nature by surfacing Kevalgnan (Omniscience), Kevaldarshan( Omnivison) and  Vitrag (Omnipotentness). Now there is no more attachment or haltered for anyone or for any activity. And, at the time of ending of current life, one would completely get rid of the rest of the four karmas, namely Nam, Gotra, Vedniya, and Ayushya. Once soul obtains Moksha, it stops wandering in this universe and is free from the cycle of birth and death.

How to Attain Moksha?

The path to liberate soul is defined but, nobody said it would be a cake walk. It’s the most difficult path, with the most delightful destination. But it is written that all humans have the eligibility to attain moksha. It might take several births, but it is possible.

Such a goal can only be attained if we can feel that our soul and body are two different things. The soul is our conscious and Body is lifeless and impart the purpose of just being a medium for the soul. The soul does not need anything, no clothing, no shelter, no medicine, no family, no food. These worldly needs are the needs of the body and not of the soul. This the reason why Jain Munis do not wear clothes and why they leave their home and all their possession. And this ultimate Liberation can be attained by liberating the soul from this worldly matrix, with the help of Mediation after giving up all the world pleasure.

Path to Moksha

Moksha could be attained if one can realize the soul’s true nature that is a soul is different from the body and can free itself from the circle of Life and Death. Below are the stages in chronological order in which the person enter when trying to attain Liberation.

1. Samyag Gyan – Right Knowledge (Keval
2. Samyag Darshan – Right Faith (Keval Darshan)
3. Samyag Charitra – Right Conduct (Veetrag)

In order to acquire these gems, one must practice the five great vows:

• Non-violence – Ahimsa
• Truth – Satya
• Non-stealing – Acharya or Asteya
• Celibacy/Chastity – Brahmacharya
• Non-attachment/Non-possession –Aparigraha

1. Non-violence (Ahimsa): Mental tortures by way of harsh words, actions, and any type of bodily injuries are considered Violence, even thinking evil of someone is considered violence in Jainism. Jainism explains that violence is not defined by actual harm, for this may be unintentional. It is the intention to harm, the absence of compassion, unawareness, and the ignorance that makes an action violent.
2. Truth (Satya): Truth simply means being truthful in your thoughts, speech, and deeds.
3. Non-stealing( Asteya) – One should not take anything which does not belong to him. When accepting alms, help, or aid one should not take more then what is the minimum needed. To take more than one’s need is also considered theft in Jainism.
4. Celibacy/Chastity(Brahmacharya): It is practiced as celibacy by monks and nuns, and monogamy by normal society
5. Non-attachment/Non-possession(Aparigraha): The more worldly wealth a person possesses, the more he is likely to commit sin to acquire and maintain the possession, and in a long run he may be unhappy. The worldly wealth creates attachments, which will continuously result in greed, jealousy, selfishness, ego, hatred, violence, etc.

If a person can follow the above-written vows, he can minimize the bad Karma which sticks to one’s soul and thus when the soul sheds all the Karma, it finally attains Salvation through deep Mediation after going through all three stages as mentioned above.

I know It’s difficult to digest, even I ask myself if that’s the ultimate goal then why we are here in first place. Why there is life, what are we doing here? Are we here by chance or do we have a purpose or is this world really is a maze which is to be solved, is breaking the life death circle is our ultimate goal or is there something beyond it, are we under Simulation, is this a real world or its some one’s computer game, is it a dream or is it a reality. There are a hundred thoughts, questions floating in the cosmos but unfortunately or fortunately there is no one to answer. Maybe someday we will understand, till then keep reading and exploring.

I hope you might have got some idea about Jainism. It’s just an introduction, there is so much more to learn and read. The blog is only about what Jains follow, what are their principals and ultimate goal, but beyond this, there lies the entire “Jain Cosmology”, which I have omitted here because it’s too vast and can’t be written in one article.

There is so much written about Jain cosmology (that too in the 2nd Century AD. If you will go deep into that stuff, I am sure you might find answers to some of the unanswered question about the Universe and our existence.

I am yet to publish my next blog about Jain cosmology, will update you soon, once done!

Happy Reading!