RLG100Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Mahayana, Upaya, Impermanence
Document Summary
Vardhaman kasyapa (mahauira) is the great hero, he conquered himself. Perfect child, wanted to be a renouncer, his parent dies at the age of 30. His idea: the body is a distraction to the mind, we need to master the body. Achieved enlightenment at approximately 40 years old. Became a monk, pulled out his hair (jain tradition) Two sects of jainism: svetambara white clad, digambara sky clad (allowed no women, what mahauira is a part of) A physical dust-like substance, settles on the jive and obscures the light. Actively try to get rid of karma. It is impossible to get rid of as it is driven by desire. Jains were vegetarians, the believed that some foods were more harmful than others (root vegetables harmed the earth and the bugs), monastics go as far as eating only fruit that has fallen from the tree of its own accord.
