Messages of Buddhism & Jainism

He who knows the nature of his self and understands how his senses act, will find no room for the "I" and will attain unending peace.  The world holds to the thought of I, from this arises false understanding. --------Buddhism                                                                                                      

Continuing the flow of thoughts from my earlier blogs ( the last one published on October 29, 2014 ), let me now humbly explore the Dharma and Ethical  living philosophy and concepts evolved during the period of great spiritual philosophers Siddharth Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism during  560 BCE-- 480  BCE as well as Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism during 599 BCE--- 527 BCE. let us humbly ignore slight variations , if any, in the date of birth and nirvana of these two great philosophers of ancient past because of non availability of exact timeline and probably correct recording of historical texts.

DHARMA is one of the three  Jewels of Buddhism.

• Buddha--- meaning the mind's perfection of enlightenment.
• Dharma--- meaning the teachings and practices of Buddha.
• Sangha---- meaning those awakened beings who provide guidance and support to Buddhism.

Let me now quote one of the key philosophical principle of Buddhism.

Goodwill towards all beings is the true religion; cherish in your heart boundless goodwill to all that lives. Hatred never cease by hatreds in the world; by love alone, do they cease. This is an ancient law.Let us inspect our thoughts, that we do no evil, for as we sow, we shall reap.

The essence of Dharma and Ethical living flow abundantly from the FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS, which Buddha experienced at the time of his ENLIGHTENMENT. These are;

1. Life always experiences Suffering or DUKHA like encountering pain, loss, sickness or unsatisfied feelings.
2. Sufferings arise from Desires--- for meeting unending expectations and efforts towards self fulfillment.
3. Sufferings or DUKHA can be reduced by minimizing attachments to desires and changing our perception.
4. The way to cease suffering is to follow middle way, the noble EIGHT FOLD PATH---Right Understanding, Right Intent, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration.

Let me now explore a little more into Buddhist Philosophy for understanding desirable Ethical Actions for mankind. It projected KARMA as a dynamic concept and an on going process. New actions create new Karma and hence Ethical Actions and Thoughts act positively on future. Another thought process of Buddhism is that all Karmic Debts are settled in one's lifetime. Accordingly, Nirvana is to break free from the wheels of Samsara and achieving a state of ANANDA or BLISS. The Buddhist path requires courage, patience, flexibility and intelligence.

VIMALAKIRTI SUTRA, one of Buddhist sacred text gives TEN FOLD PERCEPTS for Ethical Living.  These are;
First Percept--- Abstinence from killing living beings.
Second Percept---Abstinence from stealing OR practicing honesty in all areas.
Third Percept--- Abstinence from sexual misconduct.
Fourth Percept--- Abstinence from falsehood OR being truthful.
Fifth Percept--- Abstinence from harsh speech.
Sixth Percept--- Abstinence from frivolous speech; only meaningful speech is desirable.
Seventh  Percept--- Abstinence from slanderous speech; only harmonious speech is desirable.
Eighth Percept--- Abstinence from greed.
Ninth Percept--- Abstinence from hatred.
Tenth Percept--- Abstinence from being self centered; belief in sharing knowledge.

Let me sum up the key learnings from Buddhism, relevant to my area of limited research, with the following two quotes from great Buddha;

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care, for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.

Let me now move on to picking up relevant threads from another important religion JAINISM, which  flourished almost during the same period of founding of Buddhism. Jain DHARMA prescribes a path of NON-VIOLENCE towards all living beings and emphasizes spiritual independence and equality among all  forms of life.Quoting YOGASHASTRA, a Jain scripture of around 500 BCE ;

Non injury to all living beings is the only religion--- First TRUTH of Jainism. In happiness or suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our  own self and should therefore refrain from inflicting upon others such injury as would appear undesirable to us if inflicted upon ourselves.

The goal of Jain Dharma is complete perfection and purification of the soul. While the early foundation of a community based on abandonment of worldly concerns was laid by a great philosopher and renunciate teacher of around 700  BCE namely Shri Parshavanath, the 23rd Tirthankar, Lord Mahavira gave it a firm footing as a religion. The FIVE PRINCIPLES propagated by Lord Mahavira, the 24th and last  TIRTHANKAR, on Ethical living and Dharma are;

• AHIMSA or NON VIOLENCE in  all parts of a person, be it mental, verbal or physical; indirectly conveying compassion for all forms of life including those in plants, rivers, sand or stones. As per Lord Mahavira, there is no quality of soul more subtle than non violence and no virtue of spirit greater than reverence for life. His thoughts and action included restraint on  VIOLENT INTENTION as well as VIOLENT THOUGHT/SPEECH, because it probably led to anger, greed,  pride and jealousy--- the symbols of UNETHICAL LIVING. Controlling these may bring compassion, tolerance and forgiveness.
• ANEKANTVADA ( multiplicity of views )--- conveys that difference of viewpoints need to be heard since it adds to knowledge and builds tolerance. Though, perhaps, contested by some of his followers, yet, it is a valid principle even today , for the growth of an individual or a society.
• SATYA or truthfulness.
• APARIGRAHA ( non possessiveness)--- Non attachment to materials through self control, self imposed curtailment of one's needs, abstinence from over indulgence etc. ASTEYA or non stealing is another principle of Jainism with wider interpretation like honesty in every way of life--- honest in paying taxes, acquiring material things by honest means, honesty in behavior etc. In today's context too, it is a valid concept.
• BRAHMACHARYA ( chaste living )--- Though mostly followed in Jain monks, it is based on the belief that sexual indulgence  generally leads to unethical behavior and generation of Bad Karma s.

The ANUVRATAS ( little vows ), GUNAVRATAS and SHIKSHAVRATAS in Jainism primarily include abstinence from violence, falsehood, stealing and to be content with limited material possessions. Jainism has , however, never compromised on the principle of non violence. Its HOLY TEXT " Tattvartha Sutra ' sums it up in the phrase " Parasparopagraho Jivanam ", which means that  all life is mutually supportive. Jains are also strict vegetarians, consuming only one sensed beings, primarily from plant kingdom. Jainism also advocated its people to lead an AUSTERE life, in such a way that their JIVA ( Soul) does not pick up any more Karma and it only wipes out old Karma s. For this goal, ETHICAL JAIN LIFE advocated the path of strict asceticism, renunciation and moral cultivation. The three jewels of Lord Mahavira's philosophy had been Right Belief, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct. Let me sum up key learnings by a quote from Jainism.

Vatthu Sahavo dhammo--- the Dharma is the nature of an object. It is the nature of the soul to be free. For the soul, Dharma is  PARALAUKIKA, beyond worldly.  It is the nature of the body to seek self preservation and will be engaged in pleasures. For the body, Dharma is LAUKIKA, worldly.

Many important lessons emerge from both Buddhism and Jainism religions, considering Dharma and Ethical living. A few key learnings include non violence, abstinence from falsehood, honesty, right intent, right thoughts, right speech, right action, abstinence from greed and hatred, belief in sharing knowledge, non possessiveness from material world thru self control, self imposed curtailment of desires & needs, chaste living and moral cultivation. We shall  weave some of these principles into a template/ pattern of Ethical Living later after some more understanding onto how these have been evolved over past 4000 years or so.

Let me sum up the blog  by a famous quote from Swami Vivekananda on these two religions;

The Buddhists or the Jains do not depend upon God; but the whole force of their religion is directed to the great central truth in every religion to evolve a GOD out of a man.