Quiz 4 Flashcards
mahavira
jainism’s major taeacher, contemporary of the Buddha (around 530 BC), prince who renounced position and wealth at 30 to wander as spiritual speaker, achieved liberation and perfection through meditation, silence, and extreme fasting
tirthankaras
translates to “fordmakes”, mahavira is the last of 24; in jain cosmology, the universe it without beginning or end, instead it is cycles of progreess and decline, humans are happy and virtuous with no need for religion, but when those qualities decline, the Tirthankaras create religion in order to steer people away from the growing evil in the world;
digambaras
“sky clad”; a group of jains that left after mahavira’s teachings were written into books (as opposed to remaining a strictly oral tradition) because they believed the changes to be inauthentic; digambara wear nothing to symbolize innocence of shame and non-attachment to material goods, they own a broom of feathers, and a gourd for drinking water; feel that women are impure and inferio
svetambaras
“white clad” a group of jains that stayed near the original location and accepted the changes; unlike digambaras, they wear a piece of white cloth, also they feel that women are capable of the same spiritual achievements as men,
jiva
an individual’s higher consciousness or soul, can be saved by discovering its own perfect, unchanging nature and thus transcend the miseries of earthly life, may req many incarnations
samsara (JAIN)
similar to hindus and buddhists, the freedom from the wheel of birth and death
jina
“winner” over the passions; someone who has brought forth the highest in his or her being, the tirthankaras were jinas who helped others find their way, regenerating the community by teaching inspiring spiritual principles
karma
like hindus and buddhists, jains believe that our actions influence the course of our future life and lives to come, but in jainism, karma is subtle matter, tiny particles that we accumulate as we act and think, karma are like coats of clay that weigh down soul, avoid accumulating karma
ahimsa
non-violence; every part of the universe is filled with living beings, all of whom want to live, humans have no special right to supremacy, to kill anything living has a negative karmic effect; higher life forms have heavier karmic burdens; jains are strict vegetarians
aparigraha
non-attachment to both things and people; one should cut onw’e living requirements to a bare minimum; possessions posses us, their acquisition and loss drive our emotions, even attachments to friends and relatives bind us to samsara (cycle of birth and rebirth); non-acquisitiveness is considered the way to inner peace, letting go is key to freedom
anekantwad/anekantavada
non-absolutism or relativity, jains avoid anger and judgementalism, remain openminded and remember that any issue can be seen from many angles, fullness of truth has many facets, no point in finding faults with others, attention must remain in ourselves and cleansing ourselves
kevala
highest state of perfection, all gross activities come to an end, liberated being has boundless vision, infinite righteousness, strength, perfect bliss, existence without form, and a body that is neither light or heavy; veils of karma life throughout the process of birth and rebirth until this kevala state (i think?)
world jainism: anuvrat movement
jainism was a non-orthodox minority within hindu india until 1949 in which the revered acharya tulsi enlisted people of all faiths and nationalities to commit themselves to anuvrats, small vows, which he developed to help people rejuvenate strong moral standards of self restraint in the midst of an ethically unhealthy society (avoid killing, avoid discrimination, avoid false business and political practices, limit acquisiton of possessions, avoid wasting water, avoid cutting down trees),
