Where Are All The Jains, When You Need Them?

Discussion in 'Philosophy and Religion' started by Jimbee68, Mar 29, 2017.

  1. Jimbee68

    Jimbee68 Member

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    Perhaps I am don't understand Jainism completely. I am after all don't have doctorate in comparative religions, as I assume the rest of you don't either.

    But from what I have heard about the Jains, they have a beautiful religion. They don't even believe in harming plants, or even bacteria for that matter.

    My question is, where are all these people? And why aren't more of them in public life, politics in particular?

    I know Richard Nixon was a Quaker. Quakers are pacifists and rather open-minded too. Nixon was rather a jerk, of course. So much for that. But it does show, people who belong to an enlightened religion can make it far in politics.

    So why haven't we had a Jain president yet? Or even Senator, or governor? In fact, I just have to ask, What is the furthest a Jain has ever made it, in American politics? I am sure they involved in politics in India. That after all is the home country.

    :daisy:[​IMG]
     
  2. BlackBillBlake

    BlackBillBlake resigned HipForums Supporter

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    Jains are a small minority in India which is mainly Hindu. About 6 million of them, out of around 2.5 billion. Probably they have little influence. From what I've read it seems their religion has been in decline for a long time.

    I'm not sure that not harming bacteria is such a great idea. It seems to me somewhat fatalistic. But the general idea of ahimsa, or non-violence as practised by Jains is good. I just think you can go too far with anything.

    Ahimsa though is also part of Hinduism, and probably many Hindus would say they are already enlightened enough without input from the Jains. The current prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, is a member of the BJP, a Hindu nationalist party. So although I don't know a huge amount about Indian politics, I assume the Jains just get pushed out by the majority.
     
  3. morrow

    morrow Visitor

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  4. tumbling.dice

    tumbling.dice Visitor

    There aren't many of them in the US, only about 150,000, and they didn't start arriving until the 20th century (mainly the 1970's).

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism_in_the_United_States
     
  5. Ajay0

    Ajay0 Guest

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    Vikram Sarabhai, considered as the father of India's space programme, was a Jain.

    India recently created a record by sending 104 satellites to space on a single rocket launch.

    Donald Trump's top spymaster nominee Dan Coats stated that he was 'shocked' to see India launch a record 104 sattelites in a single go. :dizzy2:
     
  6. Ajay0

    Ajay0 Guest

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    The Jains are considered amongst the most well-educated and richest communities in India. Their wealth and moral stature gives them a lot of prestige in Indian society , and Gandhi himself had been influenced by them deeply. The Jain monks can be considered the most austere on earth due to their rigorous austerities.


    I see Jainism as perhaps a design of providence to institute non-violence in the world, along with the Amish and quackers, imho. Of course the Jains go the extra mile in non-violence by being strictly vegetarian and refraining from killing even insects.

    But I would say they are as a religion necessary to institute non-violence in this violent world of ours with numerous conflicts and wars, along with animals and birds getting extinct on an accelerating basis.



    The Avatar and 14 year old prince Rama in the ancient scripture Yoga Vasistha, which records his philosophical discourses with the sage Vasishta, had expressed his admiration of Jain monks and wish to emulate them.

    The Jains , due to their wealth and moral stature, does have a strong influence much beyond their numbers in Indian society.

    I personally have had good experiences with them whenever I have met them. I think they are the sweetest people I have ever met, without any hint of violence or negativity in them.

    Once I went with a mutual friend to a Jain's house, and his mother affectionately gave a lot of tasty dishes to me , an absolute stranger, just on the basis of generosity and hospitality.
     
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  7. BlackBillBlake

    BlackBillBlake resigned HipForums Supporter

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    I'm all in favour of non-violence, including violence towards animals, or nature itself. The Jains are an exemplary religion in that respect, but I think pretty well all religions embody the same principles to some degree, even if they are often forgotten or ignored by by followers. The trouble with not killing bacteria is obvious - and in fact we all kill billions every day without even knowing it. The principle may be a noble one, but not realizable in practical living. Most people would kill bacteria rather than the bacteria kill their child for instance.

    As I said I'm by no means well informed in regard to Indian politics. I'm glad to hear that the Jains do have influence.
    I read that the Parsees in India, also a minority, have been quite influential. Similarly, members of non-mainstream religions such as Quakers have had an influence in the west. Often though, such voices are drowned out by the clamour of the mob.

    It's always nice when one meets people who are sincere and generous.
     
  8. MeAgain

    MeAgain Dazed & Confused Lifetime Supporter Super Moderator

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  9. BlackBillBlake

    BlackBillBlake resigned HipForums Supporter

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    Thanks for the list Meagain. I noticed that Amit Shah is current president of the BJP (a Hindu nationalist party). So from that I assume the Jains are not really radically different from Hindus where politics are concerned. Or at least Mr. Shah isn't.

     
  10. Ajay0

    Ajay0 Guest

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    Mahavira was a contemporary of Buddha and lived 2500 years back. There is no reference to killing of bacteria or viruses in Mahavira's teachings.
     

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