RLG205H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Handcuffs, Ficus Religiosa, Ethics Of Jainism
Document Summary
Vedic religion and culture: qualities: sacrifice to the gods, hierarchy (brahmins = top) Sramana traditions = ascetic movements that rejected vedic religion. Avaidika = those who reject vedic lifestyle and its worldview no god orientation. Kayotsarga asana = dismissing the body pose at badami cave in karnataka. Parsva, mahavira"s predecessor lived in 9th centure bce. Mahavira bridge maker born in ruling clan near patna, northeastern india. Asceticism of jina as path to liberation. Each biographies have same internal tales and same teachings. All jina manage to conquer passion and attain spiritual enlightenment (moksha) By learning the life stories of jina one learns about karma, cultivate the qualities of the jina and so one can develop things like passion, courage, discipline. Cosmic drama between soul (jiva) and nonsentient matter (ajiva/karma) enables activity and inactivity. Soul inflamed by passions (samjvalana) attracts karmic matter, cumulative the karmic matter attaches to our jiva.
