Jainism, a part of Indian Thought and Culture, was founded by Vardhamana Mahavira, born in North Bihar in 540 BC.
He was a worldly man till thirty years and became an ascetic and lived till 72 years.
His philosophy is called Jainism
The root Jina means Spiritual Conqueror.
Those who follow him are Jains and the Religion is called Jainism.
Jainism is classified as a Nastika system of Indian Philosophy, along with Buddhism,Charvaka,Nyaya, Yoga,Vaisheshika,and Sankhya(some call it Astika), which do not believe in the authenticity of the Vedas.
Most of the Jainism Doctrines are the same as the Vedas or Sanatana Dharma.
Agreement and differences with Hinduism.
For example, the Karma Theory.
The theory of Karma is more stringent and is not dependent on Ishvara or personal God as in Hinduism.
In Jainism Karma operates independently of Iswara.
Hinduism speaks of One Ultimate Reality,Non Dualism , Jainism speaks of Multiple Realities.
The Reality is not one.
The individual Soul is not dependent on the Universal Soul, there is no Universal Soul.
There are two entities, Jiva, with Consciousness and Ajiva without Consciousness.
The sentient are Jivas and the non-sentient are Ajivas.
The Jiva or Soul is blinkered to perceiving things in their own Nature,because of limitations.
Transcending these limitation is called the Kevala Jnana.
Jiva is the Spirit.
Ajiva, the non spirit is devoid of Consciousness.
It has three essential ingredients.
Pudgala(matter) , Time and Space.
Matter is composed of Atoms are perceived to be different things because of the various combinations .
There is no underlying principle as such , as in Hinduism.
Space and Time are perceived as modes which are Infinite.
As such the world has no beginning and no end.
Hinduism states that the world is eternal and Time is Cyclic.
For Jainism Change is Permanent , while for Hinduism Permanence alone is Real and the changes are apparent.
On the Theory of Knowledge or Epistemology, Jainism agrees with Hinduism in that it is Self Luminous.
While Hinduism states that it is the modification of the Self is the world of things, Jainism says the world is of Multiple Realities.
The removal of the obstruction brings forth Knowledge as Knowledge is apart from the Self.
Hinduism states that removal of Ignorance from the Self leads to reverting to Knowledge state.
Jainism believes is Perception or Pratyaksha.
It believes in Immediate Knowledge as in Hinduism.
Here the difference is that Jainsim believes in th particular Knowledge of a Thing in detail and nothing more.
This , as related to Jiva or Soul.
Hinduism takes into account all aspects of Immediate Knowledge without reservations , like Sabda, testimony of the Vedas.
Jainism accepts Inference and Tharka(logic).
Intuition is not accepted by Jainism as by Hinduism.
The Logical system of Jainism is the best and is far more advanced than the Logical Positivism.
This is called the Sabda Bhangi Naya.
Please read my post on this.
Fundamentals of Ethics.
Jainism encourages spiritual development through cultivation of personal wisdom and through reliance on self-control through vows.[59] Jains accept different levels of compliance for ascetics and lay followers.[59] Ascetics of this religion undertake five major vows:
- Ahimsa: Ahimsa means non-violence. The first major vow taken by ascetics is to cause no harm to living beings. It involves minimizing intentional and unintentional harm to other living creatures.
- Satya: Satya literally means “truth”. This vow is to always speak the truth. Given that non-violence has priority, other principles yield to it whenever they conflict: in a situation where speaking truth could lead to violence, silence is to be observed.[59]
- Asteya: The third vow, asteya, is to not take anything that is not willingly offered.[59] Attempting to extort material wealth from others or to exploit the weak is considered theft.
- Brahmacharya: The vow of brahmacharya requires the exercise of control over the senses by refraining from indulgence in sexual activity.
- Aparigraha: Aparigraha means non-possessiveness. This vow is to observe detachment from people, places and material things.[59] Ascetics completely renounce property and social relations.(wiki)
In Hinduism Ethics is more elaborate and elastic.
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