Christopher Cunningham

Dr. Vladimir Thomas

PHIL- 1304 (Introduction to World Religions)

14 June 2009

Lesson 3 Chapter 4 and 5 Reading Responses

1: In the sixth century BCE, Buddhism and Jainism arose as a protest against Hinduism

and alternative paths to this worldview. Hinduism is a sacrificial religion, however

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

Of the beliefs of Buddhism making Buddha a member of the pantheon of God’s.

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

in everyday life as far as possible.

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

Occupations in agriculture and the military as it is the deliberate of human life.