Jainism (pronounced in English as /ˈdʒeɪ.nɪzm̩/), traditionally known as Jain Dharma (जैन धर्म) , is a religion and philosophy originating in the prehistory of South Asia. Now a minority in modern India with growing communities in the US, Western Europe, Africa and elsewhere, Jains have continued to sustain the the ancient Shraman (श्रमण) tradition. Jainism has significantly influenced the ethical, political and economic spheres in India for well ...

Including:

• Jainism - Overview of Jain Dharma
• Jainism - Universal History and Jain Cosmology
• Jainism - Beliefs and practices
• Jainism - Jain Symbols
• Jainism - Jain Literature
• Jainism - Jain Worship and Rituals
• Jainism - Digambar and Shvetambar Traditions
• Jainism - Geographical spread and influence
• Jainism - Jain Contributions to Indian Culture
• Jainism - Jainism and Indian Archaeology
• Jainism - Holy sites
• Jainism - Jain Temples in the West
• Jainism - Holy days
• Jainism - Jainism and other religions

Read more here: » Jainism: Encyclopedia - Jainism

See also:

Carvaka, Carvaka - Destruction of Original Works, Carvaka - Madhavacharya and Carvaka System, Carvaka - Some Quotes attributed to Carvaka from Sarva-Darsana-Sangraha, Carvaka - Brihaspati and Lokayata, Carvaka - Hinduism Buddhism & Jainism vs. Lokayata, Carvaka - Abul Fazl on Lokayata, Carvaka - Lokayata on the role of Women, Carvaka - Notes, Carvaka - Bibliography

Read more here: » Carvaka: Encyclopedia II - Carvaka - Hinduism Buddhism & Jainism vs. Lokayata

Carvakas cultivated a philosophy wherein theology and what they called 'speculative' metaphysics were to be avoided. The Carvakas accepted direct perception as the surest method to prove the truth of anything. Though their opponents tried to caricature the Lokayatikas' arguments, the latter did not completely reject the method of inference. Debiprasad_Chattopadhyaya quotes S. N. Dasgupta: "Purandara (a Lokayata philosopher)...admits the usefulness of inference in determining the nature of all worldly things where perceptual expe ...

See also:

Carvaka, Carvaka - Destruction of Original Works, Carvaka - Madhavacharya and Carvaka System, Carvaka - Some Quotes attributed to Carvaka from Sarva-Darsana-Sangraha, Carvaka - Brihaspati and Lokayata, Carvaka - Hinduism, Buddhism & Jainism vs. Lokayata, Carvaka - Abul Fazl on Lokayata, Carvaka - Lokayata on the role of Women, Carvaka - Notes, Carvaka - Bibliography

Read more here: » Carvaka: Encyclopedia II - Carvaka - Hinduism, Buddhism & Jainism vs. Lokayata

Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived in what is now Northern India and Nepal between 566 and 483 BCE. Buddhism spread throughout the ancient Indian sub-continent in the five centuries following his death. It continued to spread into Central, Southeast, and East Asia over the next two millennia. With approximately 708 million followers, Buddhism is a major world religion whose adherents are called Buddhists. Buddhist denominations are historically categ ...

Including:

• Buddhism - What is a Buddha?
• Buddhism - Origins
• Buddhism - Principles of Buddhism
• Buddhism - The Four Noble Truths
• Buddhism - The Noble Eightfold Path
• Buddhism - Practices of Buddhism
• Buddhism - Refuge in The Three Jewels
• Buddhism - The Five Precepts
• Buddhism - Meditation
• Buddhism - Buddha-dhatu Buddha-Principle, Buddha-nature
• Buddhism - Other principles and practices
• Buddhism - Vegetarianism
• Buddhism - Buddhist religious philosophy and branches
• Buddhism - Buddhism after the Buddha
• Buddhism - Principal schools of Buddhist philosophy
• Buddhism - Scriptures
• Buddhism - Relations with other Eastern faiths
• Buddhism - Buddhism in the modern world
• Buddhism - Buddhism and the West
• Buddhism - Buddhism
• Buddhism - Related systems and religions
• Buddhism - References and Links
• Buddhism - References
• Buddhism - Footnotes
• Buddhism - External links

Read more here: » Buddhism

Jainism is an ancient religion, more ancient than what most of us are given to believe. Although a lot of people associate Jainism with Lord Mahavira as its founder but nothing can be further from truth. Lord Mahavira was not the founder of Jainism but the last of the 24 Tirthankaras . It is very difficult to envisage and visualise how old and ancient this religion is because the period between the coming to earth of each of the Tirthankaras was yugas or eons.

Read more here: » Jainism: A Way To Cleanse

The Jaina Theory of Relativity

The same man is regarded simultaneously as son, father, son-in-law, father-in-law, nephew, uncle, brother, cousin, husband and so on; yet there is no contradiction owing to an understood relationship which is termed in Jainism as syadvada . The triple stream of right vision, knowledge and conduct flows in one channel, the path to liberation, moksha-marga ; it branches into hundreds of fresh streams of different aims and objects, which as a whole are called 'not-one-end', anekanta , the applied form of which is syadvada .

Read more here: » Jainism: The Jaina Theory of Relativity

Liberation of women and gender equality is not the bedrock of Jainism. It grants a woman as much dignity, freedom of thought and opportunity as man. The Jain goal is to attain a liberated state completely free from effects of karma and that is not possible at present in one human life. The awareness and high degree purification is essential for complete liberation. To attain this state it is necessary to halt the impact of karma on the soul and at the same time to eliminate the previously acquired karma that enmeshes the soul. But the only way to attain victory over karma is through further, refined action.

Read more here: » Jainism: Jain Traditions

The word Jain originated from Jina , meaning victory, conqueror or liberator. The Jain philosophy centers round 'live and let live '. It embodies the precepts of forgiveness, reconciliation and abiding love, and has never encouraged aggression, in thought, word or deed. The five principal tenets of Jainism are ahimsa, satya, achaurya, aparigraha and brahmacharya (non-violence, truth (reality), abstaining from taking anything that does not belong to you, being chaste and content).

Read more here: » Jainism: The Only True God Is within Us

Buddhism: Origins of Buddhism

Legend has it that the Buddha to be, Siddhartha Gautama, was born around the 6th century BCE. His birthplace is said to be Lumbini in the kingdom of Magadha, in what is now Nepal. His father was a king, and Siddhartha lived in luxury, being spared all hardship.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Origins of Buddhism

Jainism continues to be a living faith in India, with adherents living in nearly every state, but concentrated mainly in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Jainism has practically no following outside the country of its birth. The core of Jaina ethics is the doctrine of ahimsa or non-injury to any living creature. Jainism does not espouse belief in a creator but divides the universe into two independent, eternal categories: Jiva (life) and ajiva (non-life).

Read more here: » Jainism: Renewing Oneself Through Confession

In India, the day begins with worship. People pray, bow and meditate. Members of the Jain community all over India bathe, put on new clothes and walk barefoot to their local temple. They embark on their daily pilgrimage with no possessions and with high aspirations. Some of them carry a cloth mask which they wear when inside the temple. From the moment they walk into the temple, all worldly concerns are set aside to facilitate meditation. Their focus is on the Tirthankaras , the teachers who conquered their own vices to teach the world about compassion and salvation through example. The recitation of the Namokar Mahamantra encourages them to salute the achievements of all divine souls who attained salvation.

(See also: Jainism Worship, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Even though the basic principles of Jainism are framed from the religious and spiritual point of view, you can find scientific reasons for them.
Food should be ecological, evolutionary and ethical. They are supposed to drink boiled water only. As per Jain religion sour and spicy food is rajasik. Only satwik food keeps the mind clean, makes you samatabhavi, gives you equanimity. Alcohol, vinegar, molasses and wine and even honey is forbidden.

Read more here: » Jainism: Pure And Simple Life

The Jain philosophy of Anekantavada (multitude beliefs) tells us that there are no absolute theories or formulae that can describe reality in absolute terms. Rather, our belief of Anekantavada tells us that we do not know the complete truth. We can learn from others as well. Let truth prevail, say Jains . Truth in its final analysis is wholesome and one, which leads us to love and understanding. And that is the very necessary essence of all religions.

Read more here: » Jainism: Let Truth Prevail

Buddhism is a philosophy and/or religion based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Sanskrit; in Pali, Siddhattha Gotama), who lived between approximately 563 and 483 BCE. Originating in India, Buddhism gradually spread throughout Asia to Central Asia, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, as well as the East Asian countries of China, Mongolia, Korea, and Japan.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Introduction to Buddhism

The main principles of Buddhism: The Three Jewels, The Four Noble Truths, The Noble Eightfold Path, The Five Precepts, The three marks of conditioned existence and vegetarianism.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Principles of Buddhism

It is commonly believed that Buddhism involves long hours of meditation and is devoid of elaborative pujas (prayers) and ceremonies associated with prayer-offerings. People also think that Gautam Buddha was against an organised religion and propounded Buddhism minus the offerings and ceremonies to undermine the priestly class who exploited the common masses with religious superstitions. But the fact is Buddhism has elaborate ceremonial prayer offerings, especially its Mahayana and Vajrayana forms.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Prayers In Buddhism

Buddhism after the Buddha

Buddhism spread slowly in India until the powerful Mauryan emperor Asoka converted to it and actively supported it. His promotion led to construction of Buddhist religious sites and missionary efforts that spread the faith into the countries listed at the beginning of the article.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Buddhism after the Buddha

How is Mahavira (599 to 527 BC), one of the Tirthankars of the Jain religion, relevant to modern times? After all he lived in an age when science had not brought about any revolutionary changes in the lifestyle of man. No BMWs, Pepsi, video parlours or McDonald's fast food joints were in existence then. Despite all the conveniences offered by the gadgets of science, there are moments when we feel that man's unrestrained accumulation and consumption are not an unmixed blessing.

Read more here: » Jainism: Mahavira, A Socialist

Buddhism: Uposatha Observance Days

Uposatha days are times of renewed dedication to Dhamma practice, observed by both lay people and monastics throughout the world of Theravada Buddhism.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Uposatha Observance Days

One of the several stories narrated in the sixth anga of the Jain scriptures is about Malli. Malli was the only woman among the twenty-four Tirthankaras. Here is the story in brief.

Read more here: » Jainism: Malli � Woman Tirthankar