Jain believe that liberation comes from the complete conquest of their internal enemies such as desire, attachment, greed, anger, and pride. This can be achieved by adhering to the three main principles of Jainism: non-violence, non-absolutism, and non-possessiveness.
Nonviolence is the first principle of Jainism and the most well known; jain believe that all violence is inherently bad and is a manifestation of internal enemies. Jain believe in not causing any sort of harm, whether through actions, words, or thoughts. Jain practice this everyday when they interact with other humans, and they make the utmost effort not to injure others through words. Jain also do not believe in the consumption of meat or dairy, as the production of meat or dairy could cause harm to an animal. Jain also do not eat plants that come from the ground, such as onions, as small animals like worms could be harmed when the plant is uprooted. Jain believe that all life as value, and so many Jain wear a mask over their mouth as to not accidentally inhale any small life forms, even bacteria. Jain carry a broom to sweep the path before them as they walk in order to prevent stepping on any smaller life forms. |
Non-absolutism is the second principle of Jainism and can be summed up as having an open mind. This encourages respecting all other cultures, religions, and people. Jain respect differences in belief, and consider the viewpoints of anyone, even those who oppose them. Jain believe in pluralism, the notion that the truth of reality cannot be completely captured from one viewpoint and multiple perceptions of one event can be all true and correct. There is common story in Jainism where an elephant is brought into a dark room and examined by multiple men with no knowledge of an elephant. The men who feel his trunk believe the elephant to be a water spout, the men who feel his ear believe it to be a fan, the men who feel his leg believe it to be a pillar, and the men who feel his back believe it to be a throne. The story concludes with, "The sensual eye is just like the palm of the hand. The palm has not the means of covering the whole of the beast."
Non-possessiveness is the third principle of Jainism. Non-possessiveness is the principle of not allowing oneself to become attached to anything, for attachment leads to greed. Wealth and belongings should be shared as much as possible. The principle of non-attachment also extends to where the Jain reside. Jain often do not reside in one place for more than a week, and are constantly moving just as Mahavira did. In order to master these three principles, Jain take five vows. The first vow, Ahimsa, is to cause as little harm as possible to any living being. The second vow, Satya, is to always speak the truth except when it would violate other vows. The third vow, Asteya, is to not steal anything or pay anything less than a fair price for goods. The fourth vow, Brahmacharya, is to be chaste in all activities which involves control over indulgence in sexual activities. The fifth vow, Aparigraha, is to not be attached to any physical object. Jain believe that in staying true to their vows and following the three principles they can achieve moksha, freedom from the endless cycle of rebirth. |