Jainism

[CleftOfLight]

Does anyone here follow this path? If so could you tell me more about it,like how it got started,then basic principles and Tenets of Jainism.Are there any good books or links abot Jains.And could you also go into the life and techings of Mahavira.

[Toby Stimpson]

Hello :)


I don't follow the Jain path, but I do follow a form of Ahimsa (Non Violence). Jainism is one of the closely related religions to Hinduism, and indeed many Jain 'Gods' are similar to Hindu ones. Off the top of my head, Jains number around 5 million, mostly in India...and as you said their 'founder' was Sri Mahavira. The current form of Jainism was founded around the same time as Buddhism, and indeed Mahavira was a contemporary of Gautama. Gautama became a Jain ascetic before he achieved enlightenment, although he dis decide to leave it. Mahavira's birth is interesteing and steeped in mystery. He is the 24th? Tirthankara, which like a Bodhisattva are enlightened beings. In ever major age there is a Tirthankara who guides the way....indeed everyone may become a Tirthankara if he or she works hard enough.

The whole Jain philosophy is circled around Non violence, and indeed many Jain social institutions are modelled on the basis of "does it do harm?" There are two sects in Jainism, strictly speaking...the nagas and the liberal sects. The Nagas are a group of ascetics who wander through life completly naked. Their philosophy is, as far as I know, the act of creating clothing does harm to nature and cannot be allowed...also since clothing is not necessary for survival, clothing is thus a luxury that veers from enlightement.

Of the major festicals I know of...there is one festival where a gigantic Lotus positioned statue of Mahavira is drenched in different pastes of Sandalwood, Patchoullii and others...and it is at this time many new Nuns become ordained.

I found a few websites for you:

http://www.indiasite.com/festivals/mahavirjayanti.html

http://www.san.beck.org/EC8-Mahavira.html#1

http://www.jainism.org/

I hope this helps :)

Namaste

Tobias

[Mithrea]

Thanks Galadraal. Jainism is something I've been recently interested in. I looked on Amazon and most of the books offered there are very, very expensive for some reason. I will have to check out these links :)

[Agaliha]

From what I know Jainism is a strict faith, especially when it comes to Ahimsa.

Here are some more links:

Jainism (http://www.religionfacts.com/jainism/index.htm)
A Jainism Directory (http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/jainhlinks.html)-- tons of links and categories
Wiki Article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism)
Religioustolerance article (http://www.religioustolerance.org/jainism.htm)
Yahoo's Jainism directory (http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Religion_and_Spirituality/Faiths_and_Practices/Jainism/)

:)

[SylverStar]

We actually had a quest at our hotel who was a Jain. I never really got to discuss religion with him though I would have liked to...he was suprised I'd even heard of it.

The only thing I ever remember is that they our strict. That some of the monks (don't know if that's the right word) will not bath because it kills the germs on their bodies. I believe all our very strict vegitarians as well. That's about my only knowledge on it though...and that is probably not true to all.

[CleftOfLight]

Thank you Galaadral and Belle Terre for the great info and the wonderful websites,I will enjoy them emmensly.