Reading Assignment #2
Answer in at least 2-3 full sentences
1. What is a tirthankara? How many are there?
Jains believe there are twenty-four “great people” who have reached a level of perfection in their religion. They are seen to have lived in different centuries and have been considered role models and guides for others in the religion, in a sense they show others the way. Therefore, these people are called tirthankara, also translated as a ford in a shallow part of a river where people can wade across to the other side. Meaning, these great people do not act as a bridge for others, but as a way for people to get their feet wet to cross to the other side.
2. Name the five ethical recommendations according to the Jain tradition.
The …show more content…
“A spirit can move up or down the scale of rebirth, as well as free itself entirely from the chain of rebirths” (Molloy 187). Jains see that the direction of rebirth is controlled by karma; however, unlike the Hindus, Jains see karma has a physical quality: “it is like a power or grime that settles on and clings to the spirit” (Molloy 187). Therefore, they see the level of rebirth is determined automatically; meaning when that person dies, the state of karma they are in is what carries them over into the next life. Jains also believe that “superhuman beings” are also subjected to karma and its change. “When the karma that had brought them rebirth as gods has run out, they will be reborn in lower parts of the universe” (Molloy 187). Some even believe that these celestial beings can be of help to people on earth who pray to them. Another aspect Jains believe, is that there are painful realms below the earth and want to avoid being reborn there. However, their main goal overall is to gain a total state of freedom, to have their spirits liberated from …show more content…
Digambaras, meaning “clothes in sky” or “atmosphere-clad,” is one such branch of Jainism, where the monks’ ideal is going completely naked. This branch is unique because of this ideal regarding nakedness. “The Digambara branch holds that everything must be renounced, including the last scarp of clothing and the consequent shame of nakedness” (Molloy 190). Members of this branch mainly live in Southern India since famine occurred, sometime in history, in the north that drove Jains southward. During the time of migration, divergences developed within the religion between the north and south territories. Therefore, the southern branches have become much more conservative than the north, and insist upon renunciation quite literally. The Digambara branch shows conservatism in different ways, one such way is they do not accept women into monastic life, “holding that they may become monks only when they have been reborn as men” (Molloy 190). Also, this branch rejects the tradition that Mahavira was ever married in this
Answer in at least 2-3 full sentences
1. What is a tirthankara? How many are there?
Jains believe there are twenty-four “great people” who have reached a level of perfection in their religion. They are seen to have lived in different centuries and have been considered role models and guides for others in the religion, in a sense they show others the way. Therefore, these people are called tirthankara, also translated as a ford in a shallow part of a river where people can wade across to the other side. Meaning, these great people do not act as a bridge for others, but as a way for people to get their feet wet to cross to the other side.
2. Name the five ethical recommendations according to the Jain tradition.
The …show more content…
“A spirit can move up or down the scale of rebirth, as well as free itself entirely from the chain of rebirths” (Molloy 187). Jains see that the direction of rebirth is controlled by karma; however, unlike the Hindus, Jains see karma has a physical quality: “it is like a power or grime that settles on and clings to the spirit” (Molloy 187). Therefore, they see the level of rebirth is determined automatically; meaning when that person dies, the state of karma they are in is what carries them over into the next life. Jains also believe that “superhuman beings” are also subjected to karma and its change. “When the karma that had brought them rebirth as gods has run out, they will be reborn in lower parts of the universe” (Molloy 187). Some even believe that these celestial beings can be of help to people on earth who pray to them. Another aspect Jains believe, is that there are painful realms below the earth and want to avoid being reborn there. However, their main goal overall is to gain a total state of freedom, to have their spirits liberated from …show more content…
Digambaras, meaning “clothes in sky” or “atmosphere-clad,” is one such branch of Jainism, where the monks’ ideal is going completely naked. This branch is unique because of this ideal regarding nakedness. “The Digambara branch holds that everything must be renounced, including the last scarp of clothing and the consequent shame of nakedness” (Molloy 190). Members of this branch mainly live in Southern India since famine occurred, sometime in history, in the north that drove Jains southward. During the time of migration, divergences developed within the religion between the north and south territories. Therefore, the southern branches have become much more conservative than the north, and insist upon renunciation quite literally. The Digambara branch shows conservatism in different ways, one such way is they do not accept women into monastic life, “holding that they may become monks only when they have been reborn as men” (Molloy 190). Also, this branch rejects the tradition that Mahavira was ever married in this