JAINISM: A VERSION OF VIOLENCE

Objectives

1. To discuss what Jainism is.

2. To enumerate the beliefs of Jainism
3. To give the value of life.

Content
Mahavira Vardhamana

 Born in 599 BCE.

 A kshatriya was the founder of Jainism.
 He was joyous and proficient in imparting his teaching and was called
Mahavira (great hero) and Jina (conquerors)
 Region of the Conquerors

Teaching and Beliefs

 Vardhamana believed in at man, the soul that moves from one body or
vehicle to another in a process called samsara. But karma has a negative
connotation. It is spiritual dirt that clings to formerly pure at man. Human
beings should, therefore, avoid evil deeds in order to purify the soul

 For the followers of Jainism, the purpose of living is to purify the soul.
Oftentimes, Jainist monk took up residence in monasteries to avoid
committing any action that would result in erroneous action or pollute the
soul.
 Lying, stealing and hurting other souls are consider wrong and prohibited.
Hurting other people plants, animals and other elements of nature can taint
the soul. Therefore, Jainists avoided violence, a practice referred to as
ahimsa. Because they did not want to harm other people or animals, most of
them engaged in trade and stayed away for farming and slaughter of animals
 JAINISM: A VERSION TO VIOLENCE

Exercise 1
Direction: Identify the word needed in each number. Write the answer in the space
provided.

______________1. The founder of Jainism.

______________2. The soul that moves from one body or vehicle to another in a
process called ____.
______________3. It has a negative connotation. It is spiritual dirt that clings to
formerly pure at man.
______________4. They said purpose of living is to purify the soul.
______________5. Jainists avoided violence, a practice referred to as ____.
______________6. Vardhamana referred to as ____.
______________7. They took up residence in monasteries to avoid committing any
action that would result in erroneous actions or pollute the soul.
______________8. Vardhamana born in what year.
______________9. How many months did Vardhamana removed his clothing and
walked the streets wearing nothing until the last moments of his life.
______________10. What age Vardhamana desired to live as an ascetic but was
forced to live as an aristocrat with his family.

Exercise 2
Direction: Write T if the statement is True and F if the statement is False. Write the
answer in the space provided.

____1. Mahavira Vardhamana, a Kshatriya was the founder of Hinduism.

____2. Vardhamana born in 599 BCE.
____3. He desired to live as an ascetic but was force to live as an aristocrat with his
family.
____4. After 10 months, he removed his clothing and walked the streets wearing
nothing until the last moments of his life.
____5. He traveled, he joyous and proficient to spread what he had learned.
____6. Mahavira’s belief system came to be known as Jainism, or the religion of the
conquerors.
____7. Vardhamana taught karma is composed of spiritual dirt that clings to the
mind.
____8. In the beginning, the soul was pure but because of mans evil deeds, it
became polluted.
____9.By sheer avoidance of evil deeds, as individuals can remove the dirt from his
heart.
____10. Purifying the soul is hard to do and the surest way to attain this objective is
to enter the monastery and avoid any sort of activity.

Exercise 3
Essay: Explain the following

1. As a student do you think you can avoid Violence? Why?

2. If you were a Jainists now in our time. Do you think you can perform their
beliefs in our time? Why?
 JAINISM: A VERSION TO VIOLENCE

Answers key

Exercise 1

1. Mahavira Vardhamana
2. Samsara
3. Karma
4. Followers of Jainism
5. Ahimsa
6. Jina or Conqueror
7. Jainist Monk
8. 599 BCE
9. 13 Months
10. 30 years old

Exercise 2

1. F
2. T
3. F
4. F
5. F
6. T
7. F
8. T
9. F
10. T