15. What is Jainism? - The Radical Religion of Nonviolence

2.5 What is Jainism? Topics discussed in this episode: History of Jainism - 2:03 Five Great Vows Do nor harm any living thing. Speak the truth. Do not steal. Be chaste. Renounce all possessions. Terminology: Jiva (soul): essence of every living thing, eternal and conscious Kevala: omniscience, absolute knowledge of reality; enlightenment that terminates samsara Digambara: one of the main Jain sects; characterized by monastic practice of nudity Shvetambara: larger of the two main Jain sects; characterized by monastic practice of wearing white Jina: "conqueror" or one who has overcome samsara Tirthankara: a "bridge builder" or "maker of the ford"; one who has crossed over from the captivity of samsara to the world of enlightenment and freedom from rebirth Resources for further research: Jain Center of America virtual tours Vaughn, Lewis. Anthology of world religions: sacred texts and contemporary perspectives. Oxford University Press, 2017. Partridge, Christopher, and Tim Dowley. A Brief Introduction to Jainism and Sikhism. 1st ed. Vol. 5 of Brief Introductions to World Religions. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Fortress Press, 2019.  Gough, Ellen. “Jainism: An Introduction - By Jeffery D. Long.” Religious Studies Review 36, no. 1 (2010): 97. Follow us on our Patreon!