Ethics in Jainism
Jainism places a significant emphasis on ethics, with the ultimate goal being salvation (moksha), achieved through right conduct. This conduct is guided by various vows and principles, most notably the Twelve Vows for laypersons and the Pancha Vrathas, or Five Great Vows.
The Twelve Vows
The Twelve Vows guide laypersons in ethical living, promoting self-restraint and spiritual discipline:
- Non-Violence (Ahimsa): Avoid harming any living being.
- Example: Donating excess items rather than hoarding them.
- Truthfulness (Satya): Speak only the truth.
- Non-Stealing (Astheya): Refrain from taking what is not given.
- Chastity (Brahmacharya): Abstain from sexual indulgence.
- Non-Possession (Aparigraha): Limit material possessions.
- Example: Restricting travel to reduce environmental harm.
- Limiting Activities (Anartha-danda Virati): Avoid unnecessary harmful activities.
- Limiting Use of Resources (Bhoga-Upabhoga Virati): Restrict consumption.
- Example: Limiting meals to twice a day.
- Equanimity (Samayika): Maintain a balanced state of mind.
- Example: Daily meditation for 30 minutes.
- Restricting Areas (Desavakasika): Further limit areas of activity periodically.
- Example: Confine movement to a neighborhood for a period.
- Fasting (Paushadha): Live like a monk on specific days.
- Example: Fasting and living simply on holy days.
- Sharing (Atithi Samvibhaga): Share resources with those in need.
- Example: Regularly donating food to shelters.
- Meditation and Focus (Sanlekhana): Gradual reduction of passions to detach from the body and material world.
The Five Great Vows (Pancha Vrathas)
- Ahimsa (Non-Violence): Central to Jain ethics, practiced with varying rigor by laypersons and ascetics.
- Example for Laypersons: Avoid eating meat and harming animals.
- Example for Ascetics: Avoid killing even plants; sweep paths to avoid harming insects.
- Satya (Truth): Speak only what is true, pleasant, and beneficial.
- Astheya (Non-Stealing): Do not take what is not freely given.
- Brahmacharya (Chastity): Complete celibacy for ascetics, sexual restraint for laypersons.
- Aparigraha (Non-Possession): Detachment from material and sensory pleasures.
- Example for Ascetics: Renounce all possessions, live with the bare essentials.
- Example for Householders: Maintain simplicity, avoid excess.
Link for Class: https://youtu.be/f3eaHcHFMQM
The practice of these twelve vows is very challenging, yet if we are able to follow the vows we would be very happy and peaceful person. We would be able to bring peace, love and smile to others.
ReplyDeleteOne can only achieve moksha through right conduct. It's guided by various vows and principles. In Jainism there are five vows and twelve spiritual disciplines for laypersons which help them to attain salvation.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Jainism's emphasis on ethics, guided by the Twelve Vows and Five Great Vows, provides a comprehensive framework for achieving spiritual growth and salvation through self-restraint, non-violence, truthfulness, and detachment from material possessions.
ReplyDeleteI relate the five vows with the vows we take as Jesuits. The ultimate goal of the vows is to lead a life of complete surrender. When I relate the vows of Jesuits it is quite similar.1.Poverty = Aparigraha
ReplyDelete2. Chastity = Brahmacharya 3.Obedience = Satya & Ahimsa. Thus all the religions preach the central idea of complete surrender to the Supreme.
These Vows remind me of 10 commandments and 6 precepts of the catholic church. Just like how vows are important for jains for right conduct , similarly the above is important for a catholic for right conduct .
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to note that one of their vows is to live like a monk on specific days. Lord! they have 12 vows and we have just 3 and making lots of noises hahaha but it was fun to know tho
ReplyDeleteVows play a very significant role in the life of individuals if we follow them genuinely, when I reflect on my vows I feel that the vows are there to lead us towards purity and in the case of Jainism who follow 12 vows which by following them can lead them to liberation.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to have right conduct, take vows and practice it. Vows shapes our behavior. Ethics of jains attracts, encourages me to examine my behavior. I am becoming better human. After exam, I will do 30 minutes of meditation once a week.
ReplyDeleteVows are the guides that guide oneself to have a right thought, words and deeds and thus achieve liberation.
ReplyDeleteJainism places a significant emphasis on ethics, with the ultimate goal being salvation (moksha), achieved through right conduc. In Jainism they followe 12 vows very strictly
ReplyDeleteEthics in Jainism is a conduct of five vows and twelve vows. I am inspired by the conduct for laypersons which are practical way to achieve Moksha. Sharing is very dear to me because it comprises very essence of life.
ReplyDeleteThese ethical principles aim to purify the soul, leading to spiritual liberation.
ReplyDeleteAll religions have ethical teachings aimed at achieving Moksha (liberation from Karma), but they may take different forms. In Jainism, the 12 vows and 5 great vows serve as guiding principles that lead towards Moksha.
ReplyDeleteJaina ethics consists of practices focused on non-violence, non-absolutism and non-attachment, which aim to disentangle the self and karmic matter and which help one to reach omniscience. To maintain a balanced state of mind, Jainism emphasizes on daily meditation for 30 minutes.
ReplyDeleteThe Jaina ethics suggest twelve vows for ordinary Jain devotees and Five great vows of the Jain religious to attain Moksha(Liberation) and also helps to lead a happy and peaceful life.
ReplyDeleteThe Five Great Vows in Jainism embody profound ethical principles. I admire how they emphasize non-violence and truth while encouraging both ascetics and laypersons to practice self-restraint and detachment from materialism.
ReplyDeleteJainism has a strong ethical foundation, aiming for salvation through right conduct. The Twelve Vows and the Five Great Vows help both laypeople and ascetics live by values like non-violence, truthfulness, and self-restraint. These teachings show how to apply these principles in daily my life, promoting mindful living and compassion for all beings.
ReplyDeleteThe ethical foundation of Jainism leads both laypeople and ascetics towards spiritual liberation by encouraging nonviolence, truth, and self-control. Its vows cultivate inner purity by encouraging simplicity, detachment, and compassionate living.
ReplyDeleteJain ethics are designed to be applied practically in everyday situations. This practicality says that ethical living is not reserved for philosophical debate but is integrated into daily life
ReplyDeleteVows hold great importance in people's lives when we follow them sincerely. Upon reflecting on my vows, I believe they guide me toward purity. In Jainism, practitioners observe 12 vows that can lead them to liberation.
ReplyDeleteI find twelve vows of Jainism very practical. For me these vows really helpful for keeping oneself pure and ethical. It's also very much practiced in today's context.
ReplyDeleteIn Jainism, ethics resolves around non-violence, non-absolutism and non-possessiveness, cultivating compassion, tolerance and self control to minimize harm to all living beings and promote spiritual liberation.
ReplyDeleteJain ethics emphasize non-violence (ahimsa) as the highest principle. Jains strive to avoid harming any living being, including plants, animals, and even microorganisms. They also follow other ethical principles such as truthfulness, non-stealing, chastity, and non-possession.
ReplyDeleteEthics of Jainism resembles that of the ten commandments of Christianity. Through the practice of 12 vows a person can live ethical life.
ReplyDeleteJain ethics, emphasizing non-violence and asceticism, contrasts with Christian teachings, which often promote forgiveness and love over strict self-denial and detachment from worldly life.
ReplyDeleteJainism emphasizes ethics with the goal of achieving salvation (moksha) through right conduct. The Twelve Vows guide laypersons in self-restraint, highlighting principles like non-violence (Ahimsa), truthfulness (Satya), and non-possession (Aparigraha). The Five Great Vows (Pancha Vrathas) further deepen ethical commitments, shaping both lay and ascetic lives.
ReplyDeleteThe twelve vows in Jainism plays an important role in shaping a person and moulding a person into a good human being. These play a pivotal role in living a righteous life.
ReplyDeleteThe twelve vows in Jainism plays an important role in shaping a person and moulding a person into a good human being. These play a pivotal role in living a righteous life.
DeleteIn Jainism, the twelve vows has especially made for laypersons in ethical living, promoting self-restraint and spiritual discipline which we rarely find in any religion. Jainism includes everyone under one umbrella.
ReplyDeleteJain ethics, with its focus on non-violence, truth, and self-control, deeply inspire my commitment to compassion, honesty, and disciplined living.
ReplyDeleteThe above texts provided me new information about the Jainism and their Ethics. I never knew before about their Twelve Vows and the Five Great Vows. Thus the above text helped me to gain knowledge about Jainism
ReplyDeletetwelve vows increase my understanding of my purpose of life.
ReplyDeleteJainism has this unique vows 12 vows for common people which governs their life and it is based on their principles.
ReplyDeleteEthics in Jainism is very much practical and paves way for the people to become a better version of themselves.
ReplyDeleteThe ethical values of Jainism mainly focus on non- violence and righteous life with austerity.
ReplyDelete