Contribution
to Sociology
JAINISM AND WORLD PEACE
INTRODUCTION
Jainism is the religion professed by the Jains.
There are only few lacs of Jains but the principles of jainism touch the basis
or existence of any living entity under the sun. It preaches nonviolence towards
all who breathe. It discourages hatred towards anybody including enemies.
JAIN SHRAVAKA - 12 VOWS
A jain layman(shravaka) has to observe 12 vows:
1 |
not inflict any
injury on any living being consciously or intentionally |
2 |
not utter lies
which will injure anybody or create wrongful loss or gain to anybody. |
3 |
not steal goods
of anybody. |
4 |
not have sex with
lady, other than wife. |
5 |
will have limit
to his wealth, consume surplus in charity. |
6 |
will limit sphere
of activity. |
7 |
will limit
articles of consumption. |
8 |
will not
entertain evil thoughts and not give sinful or harmful advice. |
9 |
will practice
‘samayika’ (equanimity of mind for 48 minutes). |
10 |
will abstain from
worldly activities for one day per year. |
11 |
shall practice
one day per year of life as a Jain monk. |
12 |
shall observe
full fast once a year. |
PRINCIPLES OF JAINISM
1
|
Principles of
Jainism preach and propagate pure, chaste, unadulterated and
unfrictional life which is harmonious and soothing the other anguished
lives in the universe. |
2
|
It preaches
democracy in concepts and freedom in beliefs. it respects the right of
existence of any living being of any miniature. it not only lives and
lets others to live but helps others to live also. |
3
|
It is environment
friendly and discourages cutting of trees and generation of unnecessary
waste and unnecessary consumption. |
4
|
Jains preach ‘Samvara’(stoppage)
and ‘Nirjara’(consumption of karma(the law of action). According to
Jainism, both killing of a man and killing the smallest possible are
murders. |
5
|
This is the most
democratic and equitable aspect of Jainism. All living entities love
life and love to exist. Hence we have no right to exist by killing
anybody however big or small. |
JAIN MONKS
Jain Monks strictly observe the following rules:
1
|
Principles of
non-violence in its entirety. |
2
|
A Jain Monk does
not stir out to beg alms if it is raining because it may injure insects
crawling on the grounds. in the process he may starve for days together
but he does not mind. |
3
|
They always stay
without light, lest the insects might assemble and be scorched with the
heat of light. |
4
|
They always hold
a strip of cloth against their mouth while speaking so that even
minutest insect should not be tortured by their vocal vibrations. |
JAIN PENANCES
Jains undertake following penances:
1 |
Penances are like
self imposed punishments which destroy our evil acts done consciously or
unconsciously before. |
2 |
Fasting, one of
modes of penances, is done where no food, no water nor any substance of
any nature is eaten, swallowed or tasted. this continues up to one day
or week or sometimes even months. |
3 |
Even today many
lay house holders among jains abstain from even drinking water after
sunset, because that may endanger the lives of insects present around
after sunset. |
References
Book on ‘JAINISM AND WORLD PEACE’
Part I Jainism and world peace by Shri Ghanshyam
Joshi
Part II The Jain notions of the soul by Shri M.
G. Merchant
[Navjivan Granthmala, Gariyadhar(Saurashtra)]
By Prof. (DR.) Kanak Madrecha