Jainism

Jainism was founded in India, around 500 BC, by a spiritual seeker named Mahavira. Adherents of Jainism, called Jains, believe that all living things have souls. Therefore, Jains take five lifelong vows:

1. Ahimsa (compassion and non-violence)
2. Satya (truth)
3. Asteya (not stealing)
4. Brahmacharya (celibacy)
5. Aparigraha (non-attachment)

Due to these principles, most Jains are vegetarians, and many of them practice rigorous methods of meditation and self-discipline. A major principle of Jain cosmology is anekantavada (many-sided reality). Jains believe that the nature of existence can be experienced, but that it is far too complex to be expressed through language. They do not, therefore, teach an official doctrine regarding God or a higher reality.

There are two major sects of Jainism, the Digambaras and the Svetambaras. Svetambara monks, also called “white-clad”, are known for wearing plain white robes. Digambara monks, called “sky-clad”, are known for not wearing any clothing at all. It is believed that the schism between the Digambaras and the Svetambaras is due to this difference is clothing.

There are other traditions that differentiate Digambaras from Svetambaras. The sky-clad Jains believe that Jainism’s founder, Mahavira, remained unmarried, while the white-clad Jains believe that he was married and had a daughter. This has caused the Digambaras to develop more rigid beliefs about women and sexuality, while the Svetambaras are more lenient in regards to marital and sexual affairs.