Religion Chapter 4 Jainism

Although the majority of Indians who are religious continue to follow the Hindu paths, Mother India has given birth to several other religions, which are NOT based on the Vedas. One of them is _____

Uplifting human awareness inculcating high standards of personal ethics

Jain teachings recognize that we humans are imperfect, but hold out the promise that through strict control of our ______ and ______ we can attain perfection, freedom, and happiness.

Jainism's major teacher for this age is ______ ("The Great Hero"). He was a contemporary of the Buddha and died approximately 527 BCE.

Like the Buddha, Mahavira was the prince of a ______ clan and renounced his position and his wealth at the age of _____ to wander as a spiritual seeker.

The Jain teachings are not thought to have originated with Mahavira, however, He is considered the last of ___(#) _______ ("Fordmakers" -make religion) of the current cosmic cycle.

In Jain cosmology, the universe is without beginning or end. Eternally, it passes through long cycles of progress and decline. At the beginning of each downward cycle, humans are _____, _____-_____, and ______; they have no need for religion.

Tirthankaras must create religion in order to steer people away from the growing ____ in the world.

After Mahavira's death, his teachings were not written down at first because the monks lived as ______ without possessions; they were initially carried orally.

Eventually the two groups split over their differences into the _______, who had left and did not accept the changes as authentic to Mahavira, and the _______, who had stayed near his original location.

Two major differences remain between the ascetic orders today. Digambara ("____ clad") monks were nothing at all, symbolizing their innocence of shame and their non-attachment to material goods. Environment was their clothing. They have only two possessions and they are?

The Svetambara ("____ clad") monks feel that wearing a piece of white cloth does not prevent them from attaining liberation.

Svetambaras feel that women are capable of the same spiritual achievements as men, and that the _______ Tirthankara was a women.

Like Hindus and Buddhists, Jains believe that our actions influence the future course of current life, and our lives to come. But in Jain belief, karma is actually subtle matter-______ _____ that we accumulate as we act and think. Mahavira likened karma to coasts of clay that what?

Jains are very careful to avoid accumulating karma. Three of the chief principles to which they adapt their lives are ______(non-violence), ______ (non-attachment), and ______ (non-absolutism)

Jains are strict ______, and they treat everything with great care

Jains believe that the universe is without _____ and that it has no creator or destroyer.

The world operates by the power of nature, according to natural principles. Jains do believe in ____ and demons, but the former are subject to the same ignoble passions as humans.

Practicing strict ethics and self-control, Jains are often quite successful and trusted in their professions. Many Jains have thus become wealthy. Because of the religion's emphasis on non-_____, wealthy Jains are often PHILANTHROPISTS.

Jainism is non______

Through the centuries, Jainism managed to survive as a small heterodox (non-orthodox) minority within largely Hindu India. Today there are approximately _______ Jains.

Since the twentieth century, Jainism has been carried to the outside world by several teachers. One of them, _____ _____, was for twenty-nine years a monk who walked barefoot over 30,000 miles.