Jainism is an ancient Indian religion that teaches non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possessiveness. It believes that souls undergo cycles of rebirth driven by karma and can achieve liberation by following right faith, knowledge, and conduct. Jainism rejects the idea of a creator god and believes the universe follows natural laws. It emphasizes compassion for all living things and minimizing harm to the environment.

2. Jainism - History
 According to Jain scriptures Jainism has existed in
principle from eternity
 Historical and archeological evidences account Jainism at
least 7000 year old
 Propounded by 24th Tirthankar Mahävir Swämi (599 BC-
527 BC)
 Root word is Jina – means the one who has conquered
inner enemies, which are anger, ego, deceit and greed

3. Jainism – Basic Tenets
 There is no creator, sustainer or the destroyer of the universe.
There is NO super power
 There is no beginning or an end of the universe
 Universe runs on auto pilot on five things:
Time, Inherent nature, Destiny, Karma and Self-effort
 There is a life after death and it is dependent upon your
Karma
 Every action of mind, speech or body results in bondage of
Karma to the soul

4. Jainism – Basic Tenets
 Soul is bound with Karma from eternity
 Until a soul is free of Karma bondage, there will be no
liberation or Moksha
 One must suffer or enjoy the consequences of bound
Karma OR must get rid of that Karma by
austerity, penance or other desirable things
 Therefore, our efforts should be directed towards not
getting new Karma and to get rid of already bound Karma

5. Jainism – Basic Tenets
 Root cause of all misery is, DESIRE
 Curtailing and ultimately getting rid of all desires results
in attaining the ultimate, Moksha

6. Jainism – Five Principles
 Non-violence
 Truth
 Non-stealing
 Celibacy
 Non-possessiveness
Monks and nuns follow these five principles to the
fullest possible, while lay people follow these principles
with several well-defined exceptions

7. Jainism – Path to Liberation
Jainism prescribes a simple path to Liberation.
 Right Faith
 Right Knowledge
 Right Conduct

8. Jainism – Path to Liberation
What is right faith?
There is a soul
The soul is eternal. It cannot be created de-
novo, nor can be destroyed
There is Karma
Soul is bound with Karma from eternity
There is Moksha
One can attain Moksha

9. Jainism – Path to Liberation
What is right knowledge?
 Desire is the root cause of all sufferings
 Behind every perceived happiness there is
unhappiness (absence of happiness is
unhappiness)
 Jina‟s teaching is the true knowledge which
guides us to the path to liberation
 Only way to achieve everlasting peace is to free
the soul from the bondage of Karma

10. Jainism – Path to Liberation
What is right conduct?
Non-violence :
 Not to cause harm to any living being in
thoughts, by speech or by bodily actions.
 Every living being, no matter how small, has a soul
(Jainism has always believed that five fundamental
elements (fire, air, water, earth and vegetation) are
living beings.
 No higher evolved living beings should be hurt and
harm to five fundamental elements should be
minimized to bare minimum. (What a eco friendly
religion !!!!)

11. Jainism – Path to Liberation
What is right conduct?
Non-possessiveness:
 Possessiveness is due to desire.
 Desire to have any tangible or intangible thing is
possessiveness.
 Failure to gain what is desired is the root cause of
unhappiness and misery.
 Elimination of desire is the ultimate step in attaining
liberation

12. Jainism – Path to Liberation
 What is right conduct?
Theory of Multi-view points:
 There could always be an element of truth in any
statement, depending upon how one looks at it. This helps create
mutual respect, expand our knowledge and helps us understand
other side of the coin.
 Every living being, no matter how small, loves its existence and
fears death. Respecting their view is the ultimate application of
this theory among many others.
 However, the whole truth and absolute truth is known only by
Jina, the one who has attained omniscience and taught us the truth
learned by Him.

13. Jainism – Who is God?
 We call Tirthankar as our „GOD‟
 Tirthankar is the one, who has attained Moksha and
taught us the path to liberation
 Tirthankar was born as an ordinary human being just
like any one of us.
 Mahävir Swämi (599 BC– 527 BC) is our last
Tirthankar
 Upon attaining liberation, Tirthankar now exists as a
pure soul who does not have any desire, love or hatred
and THEREFORE, He cannot help us or hurt us.

14. What does Jainism Teach about Ecology?
Non-Possessiveness / Self-restraint is the second most
important Jain principle.
 Minimizing consumption provides respect for others‟ life
and environment.
 Reduce needs and wants as much as possible.
 Reuse / Recycle Products – Do not waste gifts of nature
 Share resources.
 Nature provides enough for our NEED, but not enough for
our GREED.

15. The Ancient Jain Scriptural Aphorism
 Parasparopagraho Jivänäm
“All life is bound together by mutual support and
interdependence “
----Tattvärtha Sutra (2000 year old Scripture)
 Environment is imbued in every living beings
 If we harm “ONE” we harm “ALL” living beings
 Refreshingly contemporary in its premise and in its promise.
 Forms the basis of the modern day science of ecology

16. Jainism - Summary
 Every living being is an individual ahs a soul and, has a
potential to become liberated or God
 At liberation the soul remains in Moksha forever, and never
loses its identity
 The principles governing the successions of life cycles
(Birth, Life, and Death) is Karma
 Our ignorance or intention behind our actions of
body, mind, and speech is the cause of Karma bondage to the
soul
 Path of liberation is to follow Right perception, Right
knowledge, and Right conduct

17. Jainism - Summary
 Desire is the root cause of all suffering
 Conquer your desire by your own effort in order to
attain liberation.
 Self purification, penance, austerity, and meditation are
essential for Right conduct.
 Nonviolence in thought, speech, and action is the
foremost principle to be followed.
 One must cease injuring sentient creatures, large and
small.

18. Jainism - Summary
 While the Law of Karma dictates what we are
experiencing now is the result of our own past
action/s, the Law - by clearly defining the principle of
cause and effect - also lays before us positive future
direction of our own choice and making
 Only WE are responsible for our past, present and future
and only WE can alter it. No one else can!

19. Unique Features Of Jainism
 Ideals of compassion and non-possessiveness build a strong
sense of social service, mutual love and respect.
 No war was ever waged to convert or coerce
 Equality of woman in society and religion.
 Independence from priestly domination.
 The most eco friendly and peace loving religion
 Rests the power in your hand not in the super power by
making you responsible for your own deeds

20. A Profound Truth of All Times
“One who neglects or disregards the existence of
earth, air, fire, water and vegetation, disregards his own
existence which is entwined with them.”
- Lord Mahävir (599 B.C. - 527 B.C.)