Chapter 7 Jainism According to Wikipedia; Traditional Libraries in India (John E. Cort, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 115, No.1 January-March,1995 pg.77-87) Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes pacifism and a path of non- violence towards all living beings. The founder of the Jain Community was Vardhamana; the last Jina in a series of 24 lived in East India. He attained the enlightenment after 13years of deprivation and committed the act of salekhana, fasting, to death in 420 BCE. Jainism is referred to a Shraman – self-reliant Dharma or religion of Nirgantha by ancient texts. Jainism is also referred to Jain Dharma in Hindi and Samanam in Tamil. It philosophies emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine …show more content…
Jainism believes that any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state of Supreme Being is called Jina (Conquered Victor). Its doctrine is that of Jainism has already existed and will always exist. Some of the beliefs of Jainism is that every living being has a soul, every soul is potentially divine with innate qualities of infinite knowledge, perception, power and bliss, every soul is born as a heavenly being, human, sub-human, or hellish being according to its own karma, when a soul is freed from karma, it becomes free and attain divine consciousness, the belief that four things are difficult for a soul to attain; human birth, knowledge of the laws governing the souls, absolute conviction in philosophy of non- violence, and practicing this knowledge with conviction in everyday life activities. Jainism encourages spiritual development through cultivation of one’s personal wisdom and reliance on self-control. Jainism followers believe in the triple gems of Jainism, which is to have the right perception, right knowledge, and right conduct that would provide the path for obtaining liberation (moksha) from the cycles of birth