Test 1: Jainism Flashcards
“Prosperous Great Hero”. The 24th Tirthankra (“Ford Builder”) or Jina (“Conquerer”). Born in Vaishali. Renounced the world, pulled out his hair because it was a symbol of vanity and he did not want to harm any insects that would get stuck in his hair. Meditated in a squatting position to make least amount of contact with the earth. Meditated for 12 years in squatting position to achieve liberation. When he achieves liberation the gods place him on a throne (the lion throne).
Mahavira
“Conquerer”. The 24 teachers, also called Tirthankras.
Jina
Jain monks who rejected the elaborate rituals because they felt commoners felt left out of them.
Sramana
The principle of soul and individual souls. Pure, omniscent, bright, blissful consciousness, infinite in number.
Jiva
Non-soul-being. Atomic matter and principles of space, time, motion, rest in 3 realms.
Ajiva
“Knowledge”. Liberation from the cycle of reincarnation. In Jainism, achieved by getting rid of all karma.
Moksha
Samsara
The cycle of deaths/rebirths/reincarnation.
Small particles of ajiva which stick to the jivas and weigh them down, entrapping them in the realms of suffering.
Karma
Aparigraha, Ahimsa, Anekantvada.
The Three Ethical Pillars
non-attachment
Aparigraha
a-pari-graha/not-all-grasp
non-violence/non-harm. Symbol is the hand
Ahimsa
non-absolutism/multiple perspectives. Absolutism is attachment to an idea, one should not argue about religion.
Anekantvada
Fasting to the death. Suffering at the end of your life will allow you to burn off karma. Mostly done by monks and nuns but done by some lay people as well. Mahaviras parents performed this.
Sallekhana
“White Clad”. Monks and nuns. belive women (nuns) can achieve liberation. They wear white robes, masks.
Svetambara
“sky clad”. Monks who are always naked as they do not believe in attachment to clothing/vanity. They believe women cannot achieve liberation but if you are a svetambara nun you can be reborn as one of them.
Digambara
