Teachings Of Mahavira
The Jain spiritual community is organized into a fourfold order known as the "Chaturvidha Sangha," comprising monks (sadhus), nuns (sadhvis), laymen (shravakas), and laywomen (shravikas). Each group has a distinct role in upholding and practicing Jain teachings.
1. Monks (Sadhus)
Role: Monks are male ascetics who renounce all worldly attachments and live lives of strict discipline and austerity. Practices: They adhere rigorously to the five great vows (mahavratas): non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, chastity, and non-possessiveness. Monks engage in meditation, scriptural study, and teaching, relying on the lay community for their sustenance, which they receive as alms. Goal: The primary aim of monks is to attain spiritual purity and liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth and death (samsara).
2. Nuns (Sadhvis)
Role: Nuns are female ascetics who, like monks, renounce worldly life and follow strict spiritual discipline. Practices: Nuns also take the five great vows and live ascetically, focusing on meditation, scriptural study, and teaching. They depend on the lay community for their needs and practice non-violence and other ethical principles rigorously. Goal: The goal for nuns is identical to that of monks: to achieve spiritual purity and ultimately attain moksha.
3. Laymen (Shravakas)
Role: Laymen are male householders who follow Jain principles while managing their everyday responsibilities. Practices: Laymen observe the vows to the extent possible within their circumstances, typically in a less stringent form than monks and nuns. They may take anuvratas (small vows), similar to the great vows but less severe. They engage in religious activities, provide support to monks and nuns, and participate in charitable works. Goal: The goal for laymen is to live a virtuous life, reduce karmic accumulation, and support the monastic community, thereby progressing on their own spiritual journey toward liberation.
4. Laywomen (Shravikas)
Role: Laywomen are female householders who, like laymen, adhere to Jain principles while fulfilling their domestic and social responsibilities. Practices: Laywomen observe the anuvratas and engage in religious practices such as prayer, fasting, and pilgrimage. They play a significant role in the religious upbringing of children and support the monastic community through alms and other forms of assistance. Goal: The aim for laywomen is similar to that of laymen: to live a life of virtue, support the spiritual community, and make progress on the path to spiritual liberation.
Interdependence and Harmony
Mutual Support: The fourfold order emphasizes interdependence. Monks and nuns rely on the lay community for their physical needs, while laypeople look to the ascetics for spiritual guidance and inspiration. Community Cohesion: This structure ensures the preservation and propagation of Jain teachings, as each group uniquely contributes to the religious and spiritual fabric of the Jain community. The lay community supports the monastic community materially, while the monastic community offers spiritual leadership and exemplifies the highest ideals of Jain practice.
Importance of Canonical Texts
Guidance: Provide ethical conduct, spiritual practices, cosmology, and philosophy guidance for both monastic and lay communities.
Preservation: Ensure the preservation and transmission of Jain teachings across generations, encapsulating Mahavira's teachings and other enlightened teachers.
Link for Class: https://youtu.be/CRnYixrRr4Y
Link for PPT: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IDqN2fxSIVBGQwmnIkZWElhd6_k-HopI/view?usp=sharing
I appreciate the mutual sharing and responsibility of the Monks and the nuns towards Laymen and women. The laymen and women fulfill the material needs and the monks and the nuns fulfill the spiritual needs. This leads to integral growth of the community.
ReplyDeleteThe structure of this religion plays an important role in preservation of the teachings as well as mutual help to each other in practicing the religion.
ReplyDeleteIn the religious history so far this is the first religion presented the women in an equal position to men. I find Jainism as a religion that welcomes all people without any discrimination.
ReplyDeleteIn any religion Oder structure is important to preserve the Teachings and Values
ReplyDeleteThough Mahavira get credit as a founder of Jainism but other 23 Tirthankaras also have contributed in their own way to Jainism. Their contribution is inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI feel Jainism is one of the richest religions in the world in terms of mutual respect. Monks and nuns rely on laypeople for their physical needs, while laypeople rely on monks and nuns for their spiritual and ascetic guidance. In Jainism, both monks and nuns, as well as laypeople, understand each other's needs and help one another reach their spiritual destiny.
ReplyDeleteThe teaching of Mahavira is very much appreciated especially his rules and regulations for all monks, nuns and all lay people men and women. It helps them all to be interconnected and support each other in their mission, which is great. this is the first Religion I have Arcos where men and women are equally respected.
ReplyDeleteMahavira's teachings focus on living a life of non-violence, truth, simplicity, and spiritual life. In this integral growth of community is there by helping lay members in the society.
ReplyDeleteMahavira basically comprises of fourfold order in which each order has an equal and distinct role to play. I see interconnected, going into the same direction, fulfilling the same purpose.
ReplyDeleteI am moved by the vow of non-violence which demands a person possess the qualities of love and compassion that we see in the very life of Jesus and all the saints who followed Him closely. This vow inspires me to develop a selfless life.
ReplyDeleteI am impressed by the way they live harmoniously together. They depend on each other, like how body parts depend on each other.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, laymen (Shravakas) play a crucial role in Jainism by balancing ethical principles with their societal responsibilities while aiming for spiritual growth.
ReplyDeleteit is interesting to note that almost or all religions have celibate like nuns and priests
ReplyDeleteThe structure of any order plays a vital role for its progression. Not all can do all things nor none can do nothing. But we all can do something thus the sharing of our own capacity in our own ways like monks and laymen and women contribute to a bigger success.
ReplyDeletePriests, Nuns, Laymen, and Laywomen play a vital part in a religion's people-oriented approach and spreading of its teachings. Religion cannot exist by itself.
ReplyDelete