Death and the Afterlife Jainism

Question 1

Jianism

Answer 1

salvation by perfection through successive lives, and noninjury to living creatures, and is noted for its ascetics.

NO creator God - cosmos has always existed

Need some pain to know not in true home, which is in Moksha

Question 2

Jinn

Answer 2

• he who attains spiritual perfection and taught the path of release
• takes the ultimate path of nonviolence
• auspicious to be born human so you will therefore know you are stuck in Samsara and can act on it

Question 3

Jiva / Ajiva

Answer 3

• Jiva: soul
• Ajiva: without soul
• All life forms have a jiva
• soul is enmeshed in something that is not the soul - have to pull them apart, which can only do in human form

Question 4

Samyak Darshan

Answer 4

• If you have insight that violence is contrary to the soul you will achieve Moksha

Question 5

Jian Goal

Answer 5

• to be born human to burn off Karma and achieve Moksha & escape Samsara
• can only do this via life non-violence but hard to do as very literal - i.e. an apple is alive so if eat it that is violence, even water has a jiva (even tho necessary violence) so ideal is near total non-violence

Question 6

Acaranga Sutra

Answer 6

• oldest Jain text
• teachings of Mahavira
• when harm something bring negative karma on yourself so when cause harm causing it to your self

Question 7

Renunciation and Jainism

Answer 7

• need to renouce world to attain moksha but few go to those lengths - as in are fully aware of where they walk, how they talk, whether they breathe in air and harm something (wear masks)
• Harder for women to attain moksha (though they are more violent and emotional and more “attached” to each other)

Question 8

Householders

Answer 8

• most Jains who are not renouncers
• non-violent but still (e.g.) eat apples, etc.
• vegetarians
• work in industries that support non violence

Question 9

Death and Jainism

Answer 9

• seen as insight and not annhilation
• need to be fully aware of the moment when soul leaves the body (goal)
• when know dying, give up your body through ritual fast (minority practice) - Sallekhana / Santhara

Question 10

Sallekhana

Answer 10

• ideal death
• give up attachment to body, world, life (which represent negative karma)
• body is subservient to the soul
• usually lie on a cot, recite the mantra
• practice made illegal in 2015
• Jain community do NOT consider it suicide
• no temples for Jains, consider it violence