Post 4

Give a brief description of Jainism:
What do they believe?

The Jain religion considers all forms of life, big or small, to be worthy of respect because every living being has a soul. This goes from all human beings to the life of a fly. Because of this the religion calls for vegetarianism, due to the violence of mdern dairy farms many practice veganism. Within the Jain belief is an emphasis on the consequences of not only physical but mental behaviors. This religion also believes that the Universe and Dharma have neither beginning nor no end however, it does go through a process of cyclical change. Because of this the religion of Jain has no concept of a creator of the universe. Jains view God as the unchanging traits of the pure soul of each living being. In short the Jain religion believes in ahimsa, asceticisim, karma, sanskar, and jiva.


What are their ethics?

Every living being should be treated as you would treat yourself. This is done because every living being is believed to have a soul. Ahimsa (non-violence) is also that basis for the triple gems of Jainsim (Right View, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct). They also stress the limitation of ones possessions and leading a pure life. In short the Jain code of enthics consist of Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Achaurya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (Celibacy), Aparigraha (Non-attachment to temporal possessions).


What is their spiritual goal?

The spiritual goal of Jainsim is a realization of the soul’s true nature. This is reached through spiritual development through cultivating one’s own personal wisdom and self-control (vratae). Every living soul has the potential to attain God consciousness by ending their cycle of birth and death through completely eliminating their karmic bonding.


Who are their religious heroes?

Parshvanatha is the earliest Jain leader and was also the twenty-third Tirthankar. Emperor Kharvela could also be considered a religious hero due to him conquering Magadha and bring Rishabhnath’s statue back and installed it in Udaygiri.



Also, having read the article on vegetarianism briefly, discuss whether the neuro-ethical argument for vegetarianism as presented by Lane might match or differ from a Jain's perspective?]

Within the text of the argument for vegetarianism presented by Lane I would have to say that it differs from a Jain’s perspective slightly. However has the basic same point of view just uses different words to present basically the same argument. Within the text Lane even states that because it is necessary to survive without eating animals that the vegetarian argument does not need a spiritual injunction however at some point does present a moral one. He believes that the reason we eat meat today is because we cannot empathize with the animals we do eat such as cows, chickens, and fish. However animals that we do empathize with we do not eat such as dogs, and cats. He does however stated that, “Higher forms of life, or those with sophisticated central nervous systems, should not be eaten, particularly when there is no compulsory need to do so” and continues with comparing eating animal flesh to slaughtering animals. In a moral sense this is similar to the Jain perspective.