69
See also: The four stages of life 106–109 ■ Escape from the eternal cycle 136–43 ■ Buddhas and bodhisattvas 152–57
■ The ultimate reward for the righteous 279 ■ The Sikh code of conduct 296–301
jinas, or more commonly,
tirthankaras: “builders of the ford
across the ocean of rebirth.” By
following the path of self-denial
taught by the tirthankaras, Jains
hope to free their souls from
the entanglements of material
existence. Without this hope, life
is simply a continuous cycle of
life, death, and reincarnation.
Personal responsibilty
Jainism does not recognize any
deity, placing full responsibility
on the actions and conduct of the
individual. In order to adhere to
a life of self-denial, Jain monks
and nuns take what are called the
Five Great Vows—nonviolence
(ahimsa), speaking the truth
(satya), celibacy (brahmacharya),
not taking what is not willingly
offered (asteya), and detachment
from people, places, and things
(aparigraha). The most important
of these vows is the practice of
ahimsa, which extends beyond
avoiding violence against human
beings to encompass all animals,
including the smallest organisms
found in water or air. The other four
Great Vows equip the monk or nun
to follow the life of a wandering
mendicant, dedicated to preaching,
fasting, worship, and study.
Self-denial is central to Jainism.
It is said within the faith that
Mahavira himself went naked,
having been so deep in thought
at the start of his wanderings that
he failed to notice when his robe
snagged on a thorn bush and was
pulled off. But in the 4th century CE,
long after Mahivira’s death, the
extent to which self-denial should
be practiced caused a schism in
Jainism between the Shvetambara
(“white-clad”) and DigambaraANCIENT AND CLASSICAL BELIEFS
The path is set out
in the Five Vows of
nonviolence, truth-telling,
chastity, not stealing,
and nonattachment.Only by freeing ourselves
of the burden of karma
can we achieve
enlightenment and be
liberated from this cycle.Life is an endless
cycle of reincarnation.To do this we must
follow the example of the
great teachers who have
achieved liberation,
such as Mahavira.If we follow this path,
we too may eventually
achieve enlightenment.Images of the jinas or tirthankaras,
the enlightened beings revered in
Jainism, are used as devotional objects
and as a focus for meditation while
prayers and mantras are recited.(“sky-clad”) sects. Shvetambara
monks believe that detachment
and purity are mental qualities
that are unimpeded by wearing
a simple robe. However, Digambara
monks go naked, believing that the
wearing of clothes indicates that ❯❯Having wisdom, Mahavira
committed no sin himself,
nor did he induce others to
do so, nor did he consent
to the sins of others.
Akaranga Sutra