RLG100Y1 Lecture Notes - Sallekhana, Anekantavada, Aparigraha
Document Summary
How the jain communtoy evolved after the death of mahavira. View mahavira as someone who is very god-like who was never corrupted by different poisons in the world. Not really practical for women to throw off their clothes and wander out into the world. Women cannot achieve enlightenment while they are in a women"s body. Must be reborn in the next life in a man"s body for this. Deny that mahavira ever had the normal kind of familial or social attachments/committments. View mahavira as a historical character, not much different from the rest of us. Women too can achieve enlightenment in this life. Understanding of mahavira"s life is that he grew up with his family and married and when his parents died he renounced worldly attachments. Within first few hundred years, jainism became quite popular. Due to this popularity the jain community was essential in evolving hinduism, buddhism. Spilt happened due to the different views on clothing.
