Professional Documents
Culture Documents
14 June 2009
1: In the sixth century BCE, Buddhism and Jainism arose as a protest against Hinduism
Both Hinduism and Buddhism reject the sacrificial system of the Vedas. Jainism
According to the law of ahimsa sees all life as sacred and should be respected and
Protected at all cost. Jainism teaches that one finds release from life through
Asceticism, the teaching the individual must accomplish his own "release from life
Through self denial of pleasures and satisfaction of the body from which one may
Achieve freedom from endless birth and rebirth. In contrast Hinduism states in order
to be released from life there must be true knowledge that life is an illusion. Buddhism
Just like Jainism does not accept the sacrificial system of Hinduism out of respect for life
And that all living things must be protected. Buddhism unlike Hinduism does not believe
In the existence of souls whereby in Hinduism there is a belief in a soul. Buddhism grew
Out of the many beliefs of Jainism, however it taught the extremes of asceticism which is
Total self denial of pleasures to achieve freedom and break the cycle of birth and rebirth
Were not necessary. Buddhism soon appeared to become the religion of India, sending
Missionaries to other Asian nations. Soon however Hinduism absorbed itself with many
However by the 5th century C.E. the Buddhist population had almost completely
Diminished in India, However Buddhism soon spread across other nations in Asia
And survives to this day. With the rise of Jainism and Buddhism in the 6th century C.E,
It clearly demonstrates that not everyone in India found satisfaction with the teachings
Of classical Hinduism.
2: Ahimsa means non-violence or non-harm, and is central to the world view and ethics
of the Jain tradition. The Jain view of the life spectrum which includes, as souls, the
whole range of plants and animals, has significant consequences for daily action.
It is not just a theory about life, but a way of living, Jain’s are sincerely committed to
are sincerely committed to minimizing their violent impact on the universe around them.
Jain’s practice ahimsa on a daily basis, this includes the practice of avoiding meat
Products and adapting a vegetarian diet. Jain’s go out of their way so as not to hurt even
small insects and other tiny animals. Jain’s make considerable efforts not to injure plants
They admit that plants must be destroyed for the sake of food, they only accept such
violence inasmuch as it is indispensable for human survival and there are special
instructions for preventing unnecessary violence against plants. Jain’s don’t eat
Root vegetables because tiny life forms are injured when the plant is pulled up and
Because the bulb is seen as a living being, as it is about to sprout. Traditionally Jain’s
have been prohibited from drinking unfiltered water from wells at of fear it may contain
Living things as well as the fact living things live in the water. For this reason, most
Jain’s are not just vegetarians but "fruitarians as they eat only fruits, nuts and milk.
These foods are acceptable because they are only the by-products of the living beings and
not the living beings themselves. This unique concept of nonviolence also explains why
some Jain monks and nuns wear masks over their mouths and noses or carry whisks
To brush off chairs out of fear of killing insects. Jain’s even go as far as to avoid