Ajiva Vs Jainism
According to Jainism, what is the distinction between jiva and ajiva? What effect might this distinction have with regard to understanding Jain ethics? What are some of the applications of this metaphysical distinction?
Thesis
The distinction between jiva and ajiva, soul and non-soul, reflects a very straightforward and clear approach to religion that downplays mysticism and demands a system of ethics that respects the soul in everything. This reflects its origins in revolt against the priest caste and is the source of its pacifistic beliefs. Overall, this dualistic belief results in a religion that is very equal and open to all.
Jainism believes two types of material form all things in the universe. These two things are jiva and ajiva. …show more content…
Ajiva on the other hand is the part of material that doesn’t look for enlightenment. Instead, ajiva looks for pleasure, escape from pain, and self-interest.
The Jains believe in reincarnation and karma, just like the Hindus. Karma is a thing that adds up on the bodies of people and it either helps jiva or ajiva. When a person dies how they are reincarnated is determined by their karma. A lot of good karma will reincarnate them into something that is good and has lots of jiva, or something that is less enlightened and has more …show more content…
After all, if everybody is basically the same and everybody has the same spiritual potential, hierarchy and controlling people is like harming your brother or your friend. Also it’s very hard to make hierarchy compatible with Jainism. Most formal types of hierarchy like governments only exist through violence, which Jains strongly oppose. Nonattachment also makes it hard to fit hierarchy into the religion. The entire religion is about learning to beat ajiva and to grow past the limitations of desire. Building a formal hierarchy is going to make you more closely connected to the flesh since you are leading and directing and creating structure. This will hurt and not help people achieve enlightenment. In addition hierarchy is built on the idea that the people on the top are better than the people on the bottom, and Jainism is a religion that believes all life is equal and will eventually work its way to enlightenment. It’s not exactly compatible with believing that you are better than another
Thesis
The distinction between jiva and ajiva, soul and non-soul, reflects a very straightforward and clear approach to religion that downplays mysticism and demands a system of ethics that respects the soul in everything. This reflects its origins in revolt against the priest caste and is the source of its pacifistic beliefs. Overall, this dualistic belief results in a religion that is very equal and open to all.
Jainism believes two types of material form all things in the universe. These two things are jiva and ajiva. …show more content…
Ajiva on the other hand is the part of material that doesn’t look for enlightenment. Instead, ajiva looks for pleasure, escape from pain, and self-interest.
The Jains believe in reincarnation and karma, just like the Hindus. Karma is a thing that adds up on the bodies of people and it either helps jiva or ajiva. When a person dies how they are reincarnated is determined by their karma. A lot of good karma will reincarnate them into something that is good and has lots of jiva, or something that is less enlightened and has more …show more content…
After all, if everybody is basically the same and everybody has the same spiritual potential, hierarchy and controlling people is like harming your brother or your friend. Also it’s very hard to make hierarchy compatible with Jainism. Most formal types of hierarchy like governments only exist through violence, which Jains strongly oppose. Nonattachment also makes it hard to fit hierarchy into the religion. The entire religion is about learning to beat ajiva and to grow past the limitations of desire. Building a formal hierarchy is going to make you more closely connected to the flesh since you are leading and directing and creating structure. This will hurt and not help people achieve enlightenment. In addition hierarchy is built on the idea that the people on the top are better than the people on the bottom, and Jainism is a religion that believes all life is equal and will eventually work its way to enlightenment. It’s not exactly compatible with believing that you are better than another