Although Jainism is an ancient and respected
religion, it is little known in Europe and
America. Here are answers to some questions
which may be asked by the Westerner on first
coming into contact with the Jains.
Q. Who was the founder of Jainism?
Q. Is there any one principle above all
which characterizes Jainism?
Q. Surely this (Ahimsa) is impossible to
achieve?
Q. Does that mean that a Jain will defend
himself from violent attacks?
Q. Do Jains believe in God?
Q. So Jains believe in reincarnation?
Q. But the soul, you say, can become Godlike
in time?
Q. What is karma?
Q. Can you describe Moksha?
Q. Am I, then, right in gathering that the
keys to Jain life are faith and knowledge,
coupled with ethical conduct arising from
these?
Q. Doesn't that sound like a recipe for
sainthood?
Q. Can you say a word or two about Jain
monks?
Q. Who was the founder of Jainism?
A. Jains believe that their religion is
extremely ancient. The Lord Mahavira, was
the last of a long series of prophets (Tirthankara).
He followed an existing religion, which
Jains believe was established by Rishabhdev,
who lived countless centuries before.
Q. Is there any one principle above
all which characterizes Jainism?
A. Yes. The fundamental principle of Jainism
is Ahimsa or nonviolence towards all living
things however insignificant to our
eyes. To a true Jain, violence in though
and speech is as bad as physical violence.
Q. Surely this (Ahimsa) is impossible
to achieve?
A. That is not true. Jains recognize that
in everyday life for the ordinary person
it is almost impossible to avoid all harm
to other
beings. But every attempt is made to avoid
harm and this is obligatory (even at the
cost of their own life) on monks and nuns
who are not caught up in the business of
ordinary life.
Q. Does that mean that a Jain will
defend himself from violent attacks?
A. If unavoidable a layperson (Shravaka
and Shravika) may. Violence is bad because
of the effect on the victim, but particularly
bad for the passions it creates in the perpetrator.
But as far as monks and nuns are concerned
even self-defense is totally forbidden.
Q. Do Jains believe in God?
A. Not in the sense of a creator or judge
or controller of the universe. The universe
is always existing, controlled by its own
laws.
Every individual soul is potentially God
and this is the state of the soul, which
has reached Moksha or liberation. (Incidentally
Jains do believe that there are heavens
beyond this world inhabited by celestial
beings who are not eternal but may be reborn
as humans or other creatures in due course.)
Q. So Jains believe in reincarnation?
A. Most definitely. Every soul has passed
through countless lives carrying with it
the accumulated effects (karma) of its deeds
and
passions, good and bad.
Q. But the soul, you say, can become
Godlike in time?
A. A soul, born into human life, may become
aware of the true aim of existence and may,
by meditation and austerity, conquer the
passions, purge itself of the accumulated
karma, and achieve a total knowledge of
the whole nature of the universe and eventually
may attain Moksha (or nirvana).
Q. What is karma?
A. All phenomena are said to be linked together
in a universal chain of cause and effect.
Every event has a definite cause behind
it. By nature each soul is pure, possessing
infinite knowledge, bliss, and power. But
these qualities are restricted from time
immemorial by foreign matter in contact
with the soul. This foreign matter is karma.
The effects of both good and bad deeds are
attached to the soul and are caused forward
through subsequent rebirths. When the soul
frees itself from all karma, good and bad,
it reaches Moksha.
Q. Can you describe Moksha?
A. Not really, for it is absolutely beyond
all human sense experience, a condition
of infinite bliss and complete knowledge.
The
liberated souls live in a timeless totality,
yet retaining their individuality in a state
which human comprehension cannot reach.
These
souls are free from the cycle of death and
rebirth.
Q. Am I, then, right in gathering
that the keys to Jain life are faith and
knowledge, coupled with ethical conduct
arising from these?
A. That is exactly right. Jains speak of
the `three jewels' of right faith, right
knowledge, and right conduct. Right conduct
for the lay person means above all nonviolence
but also truthfulness, restraint of sensual
passions within proper limits, the avoidance
of stealing in any form, and the reduction
of attachments to material possessions.
For monks and nuns the rules are stricter.
Jains believe that this conduct will spring
from faith in the teachings of their Tirthankara
and knowledge of the true ends of existence.
Q. Doesn't that sound like a recipe
for sainthood?
A. Perhaps. Let us be honest, not all Jains
live up to all the precepts. However, Jains
do have a reputation for truthfulness and
honesty in business dealings, delinquency
seems to be rare among Jain youth, care
for animals is a main object of Jain charity
and strict vegetarianism is almost universal.
Q.
Can you say a word or two about Jain monks?
A. When a Jain lay person reaches a particular
stage of spiritual development, he or she
decides to leave worldly affairs and follow
the stricter rules for monkhood: total nonviolence,
complete truthfulness, control over sensual
desire, absolute honesty, and renunciation
of possessions.
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