Sheetal, why don’t you eat meat? Are you allergic??? Food habits…..the unique identity of Jainism was the initiator for those long discussions which I had with Dr. Parisa, the post doctorate researcher at Politechnico the Milano, Italy. She is a Persian girl, staying in Italy for more than 6 yrs. We were sharing a flat during my three months visit to Italy. Discussions over the dinner were usually based on culture, religion and belief. This is my try to put the discussion on Jainism on the paper. I would like to continue with the same language (English)here, in which we had our discussions. Special thanks to Dr. Parisa, her curiosity gave me an opportunity to explain Jainism in the European continent. Before I start, I would like to thank to all those whose inputs helped me understand the bit of Jainism, especially, my Guru Pujya Ashishmuniji, and teachers Dr. Nalini Joshi madam and Mrs. Megha Kothari madam. Without those selfless efforts of teaching by them, it would have been difficult for me to take up the discussions and subsequent queries confidently.
Sheetal, why don’t you eat meat? Are you allergic??? My answer to Parisa’s question was, “Well, I really don’t know whether my body is allergic to this type of food or not. I never tried it in my whole life, and will not try to do so in future too. It’s my religion whose foremost important preach “Ahimsa” doesn’t allow me to do so.” Parisa--Oh that’s interesting! What is Ahimsa and how it is related to the food you eat? Me–Desisting from gross injury in thoughts, words or deeds of any living creature is Ahimsa. The simplest way one can explain Ahimsa is “Live and let live”. That means your happiness should not be at the stake of anyone’s life. How helpless can be the animal and/or how basic can your need be. Then how can I eat meat which comes only after ending animal’s life and also egg for that matter? Parisa--Yesterday, you bought the packet of milk. Milk also comes from animal as egg so. Don’t you think it is contradicting somewhere? Me--Egg has every probability to produce life (Chicken), in fact a life (living creature) actually resides inside an egg. It’s not same with milk. Do you agree? Parisa--hmm…It’s really interesting to know that your religion tells you about what to eat. Me--The teaching of Jainism is not only limited to philosophy or some conduct like eating or drinking. In fact it gives us complete package to live life. Parisa--Sheetal, I am really excited to know more about Jainism. Can you explain it to me? Me--Sure, I will be pleased to explain you. First, we will start with fundamentals. The universe is made up of two facts, soul and matter. The matter is physical material without life. The soul is conscious, it is representation of life. Soul and matter are into existence for infinite time. Both come into contact and as a result of which, soul gets covered with particles of karma. This covering makes soul to go through different stages. If one stops this contact and removes already attached karma particles from soul, the soul comes to its purest form, the own form. This purest stage of the soul is liberation. The journey of death and birth ends for the liberated soul. Unless the soul is liberated, it remains worldly being and continues its journey in the world through different bodies(new body after the death). Parisa--Oh that means, after death soul from animal body can get into human body and vice-a versa. Me--It’s not only the matter of animal or human body. This transit is very broad. Parisa--Broad!! What do you mean? Me--There are four types of Transits, namely Hellish, Sub-human, Human and Heavenly. Trans-migratory soul (non-liberated) moves in all these transits. Even our soul would have gone through all four transits for many a times. Parisa--Sub human means animals, right? Me--Well, animals belong to sub human category. But this category has some more living beings like trees, water, fire etc. Parisa--Is water a living substance? Unbelievable! What else you call as living beings?? Me-- Parisa, again we need to go in detail to understand it. Broadly, living beings are of two types liberated souls and worldly beings (trans-migratory). Worldly beings are further divided into two types, immobile being (one-sensed being) and mobile being (many-sensed being). The five types of one-sensed being are earth bodied, water bodied, fire bodied, air bodied and flora bodied. Four types of mobile beings are two-sensed, three-sensed, four-sensed and five-sensed. The 5 senses are touch, taste, smell sight and hearing. One sensed being have only touch sense, two-sense beings have touch sense and taste sense, so as three, four and five sensed beings have senses in chronological order. Human and few animals are five-sensed beings. At the time of soul’s transit to sub human type, it can take any worldly body out of these. Parisa--It looks like your religion has done thorough scientific study of botany and zoology. It is first time in my life; I came to know that fire, water etc. are not things (material) but living beings. Now, I understand the reason behind your care and concern about animals, not eating meat. But Sheetal, when you say every soul is same and flora and water are living beings, then how do you eat vegetables/fruits, drink water. Me--Good question! It is understood that one cannot survive without food and water. Hence, it is recommended not to eat food like meat which comes after ending mobile beings and use immobile being (water, flora, fire(electricity) etc.) just as much required without any wastage. Parisa--Saving water, trees, electricity is “Go Green” mission, on which the entire world is concentrating today. Your religion is teaching you it. I am really amazed to know it. Me--Very true! That’s the reason I said its complete package of “Living life” Parisa--I am really amazed. But, in view of so many categories/subcategories of transits, it must be very difficult for the God to decide the next transit of every soul after death. Me--Parisa, I guess I forgot to mention one of the fundamentals of Jain philosophy, Karma siddhant. According to it next transit or liberation of soul is decided by soul’s own karma and not by the God. In fact, Jainism won’t believe in any role of God in creation, running or distraction of world. It is all the conduct of each being that decides the covering of karma on soul and the level of covering of karma, which decides the next transit of the soul. Parisa--What are karmas? How does it get accumulated on soul? Me--Karmas are of 8 different types. These karma particles get bonded with soul because of our conducts and deeds. Conduct includes thoughts and words along with actual actions. If one observes religious virtue, good karma particles get accumulated on soul and if one does evil, bad karma particles get accumulated on soul. Parisa--So the chief aim of your life is to acquire good karma and lead good life. Me--Not really, Jainism believes that the chief aim of man is to attain salvation or the freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth. This state of soul means no coverage of karma, either good or bad. But before achieving the salvation, one should always pick up good karmas over bad. Parisa--How can one attain salvation? Me--One can attain salvation by stopping new karmas flowing in the soul that are making bondage and removing already accumulated karmas. It can be achieved through three jewels (gem trio)viz Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct. These are known as jewels because they help soul to get more and more pure. One can restrain the karmas with the help of right conduct and can gradually disassociate of karmas with the help of twelve penances. Parisa--Can you put some light on right conduct and penances? Me--Sure, but before answering to your question let us summarize the nine tenets of Jainism that we discussed living being, non-living being, religious virtue, evil act, inflow of karmas in the soul, restraint of karmas, gradual disassociation of karmas, bondage of karmas and liberation. Now I shall answer your question: The first step towards good conduct is to give up 7 bad habits, namely consumption of alcohol, eating flesh/meat, prostitution, adultery, hunting, gambling and theft. In the next step one should try to abstain from injury to living being, falsehood, stealing etc. It also has to be coupled with limited possession and use of things/ material (go green!!). It further can be raised with spiritual activities like concentration, fasting, offering food to ascetic. This is combo pack of conduct, which ensures stable state of oneself, ensuring no/slow inflow of karmas and light bonding with soul. Parisa--Oh my God! What a thorough thought process it is! Me--Parisa, penance helps in gradual disassociation of karmas. These are broadly categorized into two types, external austerities and internal austerities. Six external austerities are fasting, reduced diet, special restriction for begging food, giving up stimulating dishes, lonely habitation, mortification of body. Six internal austerities are atonement, reverence, service, study, renunciation and meditation. All of these twelve together helps us to be closer to the soul. These help we understand ourselves. It makes us understand “I am a soul and not the body”. It finally leads soul to salvation. Salvation means soul in its purest form. It is the state of complete knowledge or only knowledge. It’s an attainment of perfect enlightenment. It is an end of birth-rebirth cycle of soul. The soul comes to its own state of unlimited knowledge, peace, and happiness. Parisa--Sheetal, now I understood the term “Complete Package of Living life”. But it seems to be difficult to practice. Do all Indians follow this? Me--Parisa, India is multi-religion country. Indian people follow different religions like Jainism, Hindu, Buddhism, Sikh, Islam etc. As rightly pointed by you, Jain practices are not easy hence Jainism is adapted by comparatively less people. Parisa--Isit mandatory for all followers to practice it completely? Me--No, in that respect Jainism is quite flexible. Two types of conducts are described in the literature Conduct of ascetic and Conduct of Lay votary. The conduct for ascetic is strict and compulsory but lay votary can do it as per their capacity. Parisa--Sheetal, wait for a while, you said your religion don’t believe in God. Then who has written the literature you are referring for this conduct? If it is written by common man/men, how wise it would be to believe in some common man’s writing/preaching as “To Error is a human” Me--I am really happy to see that you are taking our discussions seriously, remembering all points and stopping me upon doubt. Before we actually go into details of conduct we will discuss about the God. Let me reiterate, “Jainism won’t believe in any role of God in creation, running or distraction of world. Also it does not believe in any role of God in deciding further transit of soul.” To understand this we will discuss few points in detail. As per Jainism this world is into existence for unlimited time and will remain so for infinite time to come. This infinite time consists of uncountable “Kalchakra”. Kalchakra gets repeated with certain frequency. In the past, infinite souls have tried and achieved the state of true knowledge. After acquiring this state they remain in human body till they complete their life. These are known as “Arihant”. There are few Arihants, who get instrumental in preaching and teaching for the spiritual enhancement of the society. They are known as “Tirthankar”. In the present “Kalchakra” 24 souls reached the state of “Tirthankar”. In Jainism these Tirthankars are treated as God. We pay our worship to them. But the idea of worship is not to get any direct benefit from them but we see them as role models to learn how we can practice good conducts to reach to the state of liberation where they are today. The 24th Tirthankar of this Kalchakra is Mahaveer. Mahaveer renounced the family life at the age of 30 and became an ascetic. He practiced hard penance and tortures on his body for 12 years. At the age of 42 he attained perfect enlightenment and was called the Jina or the conqueror. He attained true knowledge and preached the teaching of Parshwanath, 23rd Tirthankar, with few changes as per the need of the time. He gave all his preaching in the local language. That’s the reason people have found his very close. He did this noble task of preaching for 30 years. At the age of 72 he (his soul) actually ended the cycle of birth-rebirth and got located at the top of world. Parisa--Oh! Jainism has long history? What had happened after him? Me--The teaching of Mahaveer attracted many followers. During his life time, he had large number of followers. Few of them became ascetic renouncing their family and started practicing hard conduct ofpenance and torture of body. These included 5 major vows complete desisting from injury, false hood, stealing, unchastely and living with no possession. With some tough rules for life like refraining from use of any vehicle, walking barefoot, begging food for lively hood, not staying at one place for longer period (exception in rainy season) etc. Few those who could not leave their family started practicing simple vows or conduct for lay-votary like desisting from gross injury, falsehood, stealing, non-celibacy and also practicing limited possession, limited travel in all direction, fasting etc. Few years after Mahaveer, the Jain community got divided into two sects, Digambars (without clothes) and Shwetambar (with white cloths). This division in mainly based on wearing of cloths, way of accepting foods of ascetic and acceptance of holy books. But the fundamentals of Jainism are well accepted by both the sects like nine tenets, Karmasiddhant, 5 major vows of ascetic and “Anekantwad” etc. Parisa, “Anekantwad” a.k.a relativity is also one of the fundamentals of Jain philosophy. It’s actually an identity of Jainism. Parisa--Do you mean to say the scientific concept of “Relativity” is explained in your religion? Me--Yea, It’s the theory of relativity in ethical sphere. Observing/studying anything with only one aspect is not accepted in Jainism. Jainism believes that every item is a collection of different attributes and explaining it only with one attribute is incorrect. Jainism gives faultless method to see, observe, study and mention anything around e.g. I am a student and a teacher as well. When I am teaching to my students I am teacher but when I am discussing my research topic with my guide I am a student. So only calling me a student or a teacher would be incorrect. Parisa--Now, I don’t have any doubt what so ever that the Jainism is completely a scientific religion. What is the name of your holy book? Me--Parisa, it’s not a single book like Bible. Preaches of Mahaveer are written in different books. Main disciple ascetic of the time of Mahaveer did wonderful job for all mankind, especially for later generations by noting and writing down preaches of Mahaveer and that’s the literature I was referring to. Since the literature contains the preaching of Mahaveer who had attained only knowledge, we can believe in it without any hassle. There is no probability of going wrong and making error with the knowledge he had achieved. Some book has detailed discussion on conduct of ascetic, some has conduct of layman, some has the discussion on fundamental, few on philosophy and few have stories too. Parisa--In which language these book are written? Me--Since the preaching of Mahaveer was in local language-Prakrit the chief works called Angas are written in Prakrit. The saints also made good contribution to the literature in Snaskrit-the prime language. Parisa, India is multilingual country. People speak different languages in different part of India. Over the period local languages have also changed and saints of that time wrote their part in the current languages of that region like Apbransh, Shaurseni, Jain-maharashtri etc. In a way Jainism made a great contribution to the literature. It’s the only religion in India which got maximum literature in all languages. Parisa--Are the books or literature only propagated Jainism? Me--No, Jains made ample use of art and architectures too for the propagation of their religion. They built stupas, monasteries, temples to fresh the memories of their saints (ascetic) and sages. Some inscriptions talk about the Jainism in the past. They also decorated their buildings with carved pillars and beautiful images. Some caves in India are the fine specimen of Jain art and carries information about the history of Jainism Parisa--Is there formal education available for Jainism? Me--Yeah, you will find it in all well-known universities in India and also all over the globe. Apart from India, universities at Germany, UK and USA are leading and researchers are finding Jainism worth studying and exploring. The scientific approach has attracted researchers. The theories explained 2600 years ago about “PARMANU” (today’s-Nuclear science), “Similarities of plant and human (experimentation done by Dr. J. C. Bose)”, Types of intelligence (today’s-Efforts to create machine Intelligence) are few examples that have kept scientist astonished. Historians are also finding it worth studying with the help of art and architecture. People all over the globe finding it as a solution for today’s problem like violence and scarcity of natural resources. Parisa--Sheetal, which festivals you celebrate? I would like to be part of it sometimes. Me--Our saints stay in one place forfour months of rainy season (usually August to October) to avoid any harm to newly developing grass etc. around. This period is well used by us, lay votary, for carrying out various religious activities under the guidance of saints. The main festival is “Paryushanparva” which is celebrated for 8 days (some celebrate it for 10 days). On the last day of this Paryushan we all gather in place of worship and seek forgiveness from all for known and unknown mistakes of ours. Apart from this, there are few more festivals we celebrate like “Mahaveerjayanti”-birthday of Mahaveer, “Mahaveernirwan”- emancipation of Mahaveer. Akshaytritiya - First food offering to Aadinath (First Tirthankar), Rushipanchami etc. The celebration is usually in the form of fast, chanting, penance etc. You are always welcome to celebrate these festivals which will lead to the salvation. My best wishes to you. Parisa--Sheetal, you have really explained me the Jainism to the fullest and in simple way. I am thankful to you. As understood by me the salvation can come only with the right conduct and penances. I will try my best to practice Ahimsa and will try to become vegetarian like you. Me--Parisa, explaining Jainism to the fullest is not my cup of tea. I could only share what I have understood from my family, saints, teachers and guru. I am sure your belief in Ahimsa will take you to the next height of spiritual development. I wish one day you will pass all 14 levels of spirituality and will reach the final stage of spiritual development-The Moksha.
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