Jainism is an ancient religion from India that emphasizes complete nonviolence and asceticism. It is a religion that basically teaches a path to spiritual purity and enlightenment through a disciplined mode of life founded upon the tradition of ahimsa, nonviolence to all living creatures. People who fallows Jainism care called Jains and there are about 4 million Jains worldwide. Jainism emerged in 6th century BCE India, the same time Buddhism was developing. Beginning in the 6th century BCE, Jainism evolved into a cultural system that has made significant contributions to Indian philosophy and logic, art and architecture, mathematics, astronomy and astrology, and literature. Along with Hinduism and Buddhism, it is one of the three most ancient
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Both groups accept the basic Jain philosophy and the basic vows. The philosophical differences between the groups mostly affect monks and nuns, or the very pious. Digambaras believe that women cannot achieve liberation without first being reborn as a man because women cannot live a truly ascetic life, because they have to possess clothes since it is impractical for them to live naked and women are intrinsically harmful. Digambaras believe that the Jains have no bodily functions, live without food and do not act in the world.
Since Jains believe strongly in the principle of nonviolence toward all living beings, their diet is vegetarian. Unlike many vegetarians, however, Jains expand their definition of "living beings" to include bacteria and other microorganisms. The Jain cuisine is completely vegetertian and also excludes onions, potatoes, eggplants and garlic, similar to the shojinryori Buddhist cuisine of Japan. Additionally, it is not acceptable to merely avoid foods derived from animal sources. The harvesting of some foods harms living beings, and a Jain must not consume these foods. According to Arihant.us, a Jain website, Jains may not eat after sunset as it could "cause the death of minute microorganisms that emerge in the dark." The degree of strictness with which Jains adhere to their diet varies from person to
Both groups accept the basic Jain philosophy and the basic vows. The philosophical differences between the groups mostly affect monks and nuns, or the very pious. Digambaras believe that women cannot achieve liberation without first being reborn as a man because women cannot live a truly ascetic life, because they have to possess clothes since it is impractical for them to live naked and women are intrinsically harmful. Digambaras believe that the Jains have no bodily functions, live without food and do not act in the world.
Since Jains believe strongly in the principle of nonviolence toward all living beings, their diet is vegetarian. Unlike many vegetarians, however, Jains expand their definition of "living beings" to include bacteria and other microorganisms. The Jain cuisine is completely vegetertian and also excludes onions, potatoes, eggplants and garlic, similar to the shojinryori Buddhist cuisine of Japan. Additionally, it is not acceptable to merely avoid foods derived from animal sources. The harvesting of some foods harms living beings, and a Jain must not consume these foods. According to Arihant.us, a Jain website, Jains may not eat after sunset as it could "cause the death of minute microorganisms that emerge in the dark." The degree of strictness with which Jains adhere to their diet varies from person to