C0MMUNITIES OF THE WORLD BUDDHIST JAINIS JEWS By NITYA SURI.

C0MMUNITIES OF THE WORLD

BUDDHIST

JAINIS

JEWSBy

NITYA SURI

What is Buddhism?• Buddhism is a major world

religion, or in a better sense, philosophy.

• It is the 4th largest religion of the world, and has about 300,000,000 people living by it.

• It explains the purpose of life, injustices and inequality around the world.

• It also helps people by providing a way of life that will lead to true happiness.

The “Three Jewels” of Buddhism

Buddha – the teacher

Dharma – the teachings

Sangha – the community

Who was the Buddha?Born Siddhartha Gautama – of noble caste in India, 563 B.C.E.Raised in great luxury to be a kingEmpathy for the suffering of others; at age 29 rejected the life of luxury to seek enlightenment and the solution to sufferingFollowed a strict ascetic lifestyle for six yearsRejected this extreme, sat in meditation, achieved Nirvana – an awakening to the truth about life, becoming a Buddha, the “Awakened One”at the age of 35Spent the remaining 45 years of his life teaching others how to achieve the peace of mind he had achieved

Teachings of Buddha

The Four Noble Truths:To live is to sufferThe cause of suffering is self-centered desire & attachmentsThe solution is to eliminate desire and attachment, thus achieving Nirvana (“extinction”)The way to Nirvana is through the “Eight-Fold Path”

Eight-Fold Path

Wisdom:•Right understanding

•Right motivationMoral discipline:•Right speech

•Right action

•Right livelihood

Mental discipline:•Right effort

•Right mindfulness

•Right meditation

The 5 precepts

• Do not take the life of anything living• Do not take anything not freely given• Abstain from sensual overindulgence• Refrain from untrue speech• Avoid intoxication

• Do not lose mindfulness

• This is the moral code of the Buddhists

What do Buddhists believe?

Rebirth (reincarnation) results from attachments (karma)Nirvana is a peaceful, detached state of mindAchieving Nirvana means escape from the cycle of rebirth

Once Gautama Buddha died, after 80 years of life in this world, having achieved Nirvana and teaching multitudes his way of life, he ceased to exist as a distinct beingBuddhism is non-theistic: Buddha is not the Buddhist God – he is just a revered teacher

The Spread of Buddhism

Within two centuries after the Buddha died, Buddhism began to spread north and east into AsiaBy 13th century Buddhism had disappeared from India

Non-ViolenceNon-

Violence

Non-Violence

Jainism is a Religion

and a Way of Life

(Ahimsa)

Non-ViolenceNon-

Violence

Mahavira 599-527 B.C.

•Parallels Buddha’s life

•Family wealth vs. poverty

•Joined ascetics

•Became far more extremein practice of Non-Violence

•Ahimsa yields true release

•Ahimsa produces Jina (release from this life or conqueror over attachment, hence the name Jain)

Non-ViolenceNon-

Violence

Timeline

571ADMohammed

Judaism

Christianity

Jainism

Hinduism

Islam

2600BCAbraham

2200BCExodus from Egypt

30BCChrist

Beginningless/Endless

Beginningless/Endless 557BC, Mahavir

483BCGautam Buddha

1940sAD Israel

Buddhism

Non-ViolenceNon-

Violence

Jain Monastics: Two Major Sects

• Digambara (sky clad male monks)– Given up all belongings– Live alone or in small

groups in the forests– Teach Jainism – Spend 3 months during

rainy season in one location (to minimize killing insects on the ground from excessive walking)

Non-ViolenceNon-

Violence

Jain Monastics: Two major sectsSvetambara (“white clad”)– Wear white robes– Live in community– Admit both men and

women– Some wear face masks to

protect minute life forms from harm

Non-ViolenceNon-

Violence

Jain Way of Life is Universal Irrespective of your Religion

Non-ViolenceNon-

Violence

“Validated” Treasure in Jainism• Non-Violence• Filtered/boiled water• Jain mathematics• Plant life & Environmentalism • Equality towards women• Animal Protection• Molecules and atoms• Compassionate diet/

Vegetarianism• Meditation and Yoga – mind

“More than 2500 Years old…”

Non-ViolenceNon-

Violence

Jain Festivals• Mahavir’s Birthday • Mahavir’s Nirvan Celebration

– Diwali, New year• Paryshan Parv

– Remembering and Practicing the qualities of the Soul

Judaism is…

“A 4000 year old tradition with ideas about what it means to be human and how to make the world a holy place” (Rabbi Harold Kushner, To Life)

A “covenant relationship” between God and the Hebrew people

A celebration and sanctification of life

A faith, a people, a way of life…

A 4000 year old tradition… The Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac,

Jacob (“Israel”) – origins of the Hebrew people (more than 3800 years ago)

Enslaved in ancient Egypt and freed by Moses (more than 3300 years ago)

Hebrew monarchy in the “Promised Land” (The Land of Israel), ends 6th century BCE

As a faith, Jews Believe… In one God, creator of the universe,

personal but non-corporeal In prophets of old – especially Moses,

through whom Torah was revealed to the Hebrew people

In Torah (first five books of the Bible), containing religious, moral and social law which guides the life of a Jew the Hebrew Bible does not include the

New Testament

As a people, Jews are…

A nation in Diaspora (dispersed) 15 – 16 million in worldwide population United by a common heritage (an “ethnic”

religion), divided in contemporary practice: Orthodox:

Modern Chasidic (Ultra Orthodox)

Reformed (18th century Germany) Conservative – moderates, response to

reform Reconstructionalism (20th century America)

As a way of life, Judaism is based on… 613 commandments found in Torah (“Written

Law”) Talmud (“Oral Law”) – commentary of ancient

rabbis that elaborates on how to apply God’s Law in everyday life through: Dietary rules (Kashrut/Kosher) Dress and other symbols Prayer and devotion to the one God The Temple and Temple rites Observance of Holy days Proper social relations between male and

female, in business, judicial rulings, etc. Thus sanctifying life, blessing it in every way

How does Judaism sanctify time? The Jewish Holidays: High Holidays:

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

Sukkot, the “Festival of Booths” (fall harvest festival)

Simchat Torah – celebrating Torah Chanukah, the “Festival of

Lights”

More Holy Days…

Purim (“Lots”) – a carnival (commemorates events told in book of Esther)

Pesach (“Passover”) – commemorates the exodus from Egypt (events told in Exodus)

Shavuot (“weeks,” Pentecost) – commemorates receipt of Torah at Sinai

Other, minor festivals Shabbat (Sabbath, 7th day, on Saturday)

– the “Day of Rest”