“The Jaina philosophy is a parallel strand to the Vedic thoughts.  It is pre-vedic in origin and belongs in the ancient history of India” – said Professor Vimal Prakash Jain in a well-documented lecture on Saturday, January 28, in an internal seminar of India Discovery Center.  Professor Jain, a renowned authority on Jainism and Jaina faith, has been residing in Boston area after his retirement.  With analytic research and scholarly references, he spoke about the development of the modern Jainism and the breadth of the Jaina literature.  Twenty members of the community attended the lecture.

His first reference was the mention of Rshavadeva and Arishtanemi in the Vedic literature.  Rshavadeva has been accepted as the first Tirthankara of the Jaina faith.   Tirthankar Neminath is referred as a learned teacher in prehistoric times through the purāṇa literature.  In Jaina faith, the Tirthankara is liberated soul who helps a human being to realize his/her true self.

Mahavira was the twentyfourth Tirthankar.  He was born around 600 BC.  He compiled the existing teachings and added new ones.  He helped establish the modern Jaina faith.  He elaborated several categories that underlie the basic structure of the Being. These categories include-  Jeeva and Ajeeva, living and non-living; Dharma - the principle of motion, Adharma - the principle of rest; and Akasha, space; and Kala, time. There are infinite number of souls who are capable of getting liberated through their own efforts. They may or may not find help from other realized beings on their way. Right Faith, Right knowledge and Right Conduct are key to this liberation. Right Faith is the faith in true nature of self.  It is the faith in the constantly changing nature of things around us realizing the transient nature of the objects. Right Knowledge is the right view about self and that of all beings.  Right Conduct is the truthful behavior towards all.  This basically amounts to exercising nonviolence in all aspects of living.

Dr. Jain pointed out that there are seven other metaphysical categories laid down.  They help in the path of salvation of the soul. The first three are: Jeeva and Ajeeva: living and nonliving; Asrava: influx of the non-living Karmic matter into the soul. Next is Bandha, bondage. It defiles and keeps the soul tied down to worldly existence by the force of passionate selfish activities of the soul. Then we come to Samvara: This is the beginning of the process of liberation of the soul. All details of righteous conduct come in here. All religious scriptures of the Jains, the Hindus, Buddhists and others belong to this and the next three closely associated categories. This is the way of self-restraint or self-control, with the sole purpose of stopping the influx of subtle Karmic matter into the soul by penances and austerities.  The elimination and annihilation of the sinful matter from the soul is known as Nirjara.  For attaining Nirjara one must observe the five vows of nonviolence.  The final stage is Moksha, the liberation.

According to Jain thought there is no creator of the universe.  There is no beginning, neither there is any end of the universe.  It is a world of permanence cum change.

Mahavira articulated three basic principles for human beings to live –ahimsa, non-violence; anekantavada, non-absolute view; and aparigraha, non-possession. Nonviolence is not causing harm to any being in speech,action or thought.  Anekantavad is non absolutism, realizing that there can be many ways of looking at the world and phenomenon. Aparigraha is sharing or no- accumulation. They all have to be practiced together. If one is missing others become meaningless.  For example, he pointed out that nonviolence in conduct is not possible without the attitude of sharing.

A vigorous question and answer session followed his lecture. Questions about history, ontology and ethics of the Jaina system of thought were very eloquently answered by Dr. Jain. In answer to one of questions he pointed out that although Jainism does not accept a God, Jainas do worship the Tirathankaras as deities in temples. This has to do with social psychological needs of people. In answer to another question, he pointed out that Jainism became state religion of Karnataka.  Further history says that The Emperor Chadragupta Maurya died as a Jain Monk.  In answer to another question he pointed out that Jainism holds women equal to men in all aspects.

The audience thanked Dr. Jain for such an enlightened and informative discussion on Jainism and thanked IDC and Dr. Bijoy Misra for organizing it.

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