Jainism: Sinning Against The Earth

Jainism is a quite interesting religion. What one normally would think of everyday tasks, hobbies and alike are considered acts of sin and violence against living things. Jains see violent or harmful acts against —water, animals, nature, careless use of fire, even the wind—are wrong as they are all living things; they must be taken care of (147). Jains see all these living things to have souls or Jiva, and therefore just as we have souls, they are no different than us. An act of wrong against them is the same as one towards us or others. Consequently, this belief system leads to many particulars, which are quite interesting and seemingly different than we may live our lives.
In Jainism, the idea of being so particular in laying out what should not be harmed in the “Sinning Against the Earth” is so that Jains have a clear idea of what is violence is. For instance, water is considered alive, and therefore, must be filtered in some way so that Jains are able to drink it (147 &

Giving up desires, passions, that the world tempts us with, is what should be avoided. In the practices “The eternal Law” speaks to letting go of such temptations so that one may attain Kevala. “Those who give way and indulge in pleasure will be born again and again” (146). This, referring to letting go of such passions or desires that may lead to violence as well as lessoning ones worldly possessions must be done so that it does not distract one from realizing Kevala and breaking from samsara. Consequently, it would serve to be believed that as compared how you or I may live, Jains live a very minimal and unindulgent life. Yet, for them living in such a manner is how they realize what is truly important in life. The act of caring for everything in the way that they do is honestly difficult, and one not taken