RLG205H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Jain Monasticism, Jaina, Digambara
Document Summary
Rlg205 introduction to south asian religions: lecture 5. Very small percent of the indian popula5on is jain (0. 4 % of the popula5on) The classical age: heterodox reform movements jainaism and buddhism (non-brahmanical) Earliest evidence for the jaina dharma dates back to 700 bce. Common goal of world renouncing groups: libera5on from the cycle of birth and death, created by karma. For jainas, libera5on requires asce5cism (you could not achieve it otherwise- something special to the jains) The meaning of jina conqueror" (self-conquest- those who could conquer their own passions and achieve self-mastery were the greatest) Jinas: 24 mythohistorical teachers, rst being rsahba only the 24th known to be a historical. Gure; even the 23rd borders on a mythical: mahavira great hero not the founder of jainism but its restorer. Various ages of progress and decline- declining ages is where all morality is gone- in these periods the great teachers are born.
