Jainism
Jainism is an ancient Indian religion emphasizing nonviolence, truth, and asceticism, tracing its teachings to a line of enlightened teachers known as Tirthankaras.
Nonviolence is taken so seriously in this tradition that observant followers go out of their way to avoid harming even the smallest insect, a principle traced back over two thousand years to a line of enlightened teachers.
A Lineage of Enlightened Teachers
Jain tradition holds that its teachings were revealed by a succession of 24 Tirthankaras, or spiritual guides, with the most recent, Mahavira, living in India around the 6th century BCE and often regarded as the tradition's central historical figure.
Ahimsa: Radical Nonviolence
Central to Jain philosophy is the principle of ahimsa, or nonviolence, extended so thoroughly that many observant Jains practice strict vegetarianism and take extraordinary care to avoid harming even the smallest living creatures in their daily lives.
Ascetic Monastic Life
Jain monks and nuns often follow especially austere and disciplined lifestyles as part of their pursuit of spiritual liberation, with the most devout practitioners renouncing nearly all material possessions in their commitment to nonviolence and detachment.
Karma and Liberation
Jain philosophy teaches that all actions, even unintentional ones, generate karma that binds the soul, and that liberation comes only through rigorous ethical discipline and the gradual purification of one's actions and intentions.
A Living Tradition
Today, Jainism has several million adherents, primarily concentrated in India, with growing communities also established in North America, Europe, and other parts of the world through migration.
