JAINISM     Page developed by: Jessica Cheung 2007

 


Key Practices, Rituals and Ceremonies
Meditation
Meditation is a form of liberation to acquire enlightenment, which was one of the main spiritual practices.  It also is a practice to gain a peaceful state of mind.

The Five Practices
The following principles are focuses a person's life on proper conduct. These five practices guides proper conduct for a person's life:
  • non-violence  (Ahimsa)
  • truthfulness (Satya)
  • non-stealing (Asteya)
  • celibacy (Brahma-charya)
  • non-possession  (Aparigraha)

    Worship
    The practice of worship is either done in public at a stone temple or at home at a structure resembling a temple. Some rituals during the practice of worshipping include chants of mantra and gazing at images of the gods.

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    Influence in the 21st Century
    The five principles, mainly ahimsa (act of non-violence), greatly influenced Ghandi, which led to the influence of Martin Luther King and also Martin Luther King Junior's civil-rights campaign of non-violent protests and speeches. The civil-rights reforms were set into place in America after what Martin Luther King Junior's campaign had done, but essentially, Jainism had made its positive impact in the 21st century.
     


     

     

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    Fig. 1     - An intricate carving on the walls of the Jain temple near Osiyan, Rajasthan

     


    Fig. 2     - A leader who established Jainism in its current form
    Fig. 3     - The ceiling of a Jain temple in Mumbai.
    Number of Adherents in the World      
  • The world's approximate number of supporters of Jainism is 4 million.
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  • India has the highest percentage of Jains, while Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom has smaller percentages of supporters of Jainism.
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    Related Links:

  • http://www.jainology.org
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/jainism
  • http://www.religionfacts.com/jainism/practices.htm
  • http://www.religioustolerance.org/jainism.htm

     

    Bibliography

    Apel, Warren. Photos of India. 2004. 15 Feb. 2007
    <http://www.ancientmexico.com/content/conquest/index.html>.

    Henderson, Patti. Exploring World Religions: The Canadian Perspective. Don Mills, Canada: Oxford University Press, 2001.

    ReligionFacts. Jain Dharma. 2004-2007. 15 Feb. 2007 <http://www.religionfacts.com/jainism/practices.htm>.

    Robinson, B.A.. Jainism. 14 Aug. 2005. 14 Feb. 2007
    <http://www.religioustolerance.org/jainism.htm>.

    Sacred Destinations. Jain Temple. 2005-2007. 15 Feb. 2007
    <http://www.ancientmexico.com/content/conquest/index.html>.
    Yayasan Dharma Mulia Persada Indonesia. Mahavira. 2001. 15 Feb. 2007 <http://www.goldenmother.org/Galleria/Statues/lain-lain/r_mahavira-001.htm>.

     

     

     



     

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       Review Questions

    1. Where do Jains worship?
      1. at Church and at home
      2. public temples and on mountain tops
      3. at home and anywhere outdoors
      4. public temples and at home



    2. Who were influenced in the 21st century by the 5 practices of Jainism?

      1. Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Ghandi
      2. Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Martin Luther King Jr.
      3. Luther Vandross, Ghandi, Steven Harper
      4. Nelson Mandela, Ghandi, Martin Luther King




    3. How many adherents to Jainism is there approximately in the world today?

      1. 300 million
      2. 4 million
      3. 24 million
      4. 2 million



    4. Which country has the highest population of Jains?
      1. India
      2. South Africa
      3. Hungary
      4. Malaysia



    5. Other than worshipping, what were the other practices of Jainism?
      1. Meditation and Prayer
      2. Following the 5 practices (non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, non-possession) and Prayer
      3. Meditation and Chanting
      4. Meditation and Following the 5 practices (non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, non-possession)