“Windows To Spirituality”
Dharma In Jainism This article covers Dharma In Jainism. Jain texts assign a wide range of meanings to the Sanskrit dharma or Prakrit dhamma. It is often translated as “religion” and as such, Jainism is called Jain Dharma by its adherents. In Jainism, the word Dharma is used to refer to the following: Religion...
Dravya Dravya (द्रव्य) means substance or entity. According to the Jain philosophy, the universe is made up of six eternal substances: sentient beings or souls (jīva), non-sentient substance or matter (pudgala), principle of motion (dharma), the principle of rest (adharma), space (ākāśa) and time (kāla). The latter five are united as...
Aparigraha In Hinduism and Jainism, aparigraha (अपरिग्रह) is the virtue of non-possessiveness, non-grasping or non-greediness. Aparigrah is the opposite of parigrah, and refers to keeping the desire for possessions to what is necessary or important, depending on one’s life stage and context. The precept of aparigraha is a self-restraint (temperance) from the type of greed and avarice where one’s own...
Ajiva Ajiva is anything that has no soul or life, the polar opposite of “jīva” (soul). Because ajiva has no life, it does not accumulate karma and cannot die. Examples of ajiva include chairs, computers, paper, plastic, etc. According to Jain philosophy, Ajiva can be divided into two kinds, with form and without form. Five categories...
Causes Of Karma In Jainism This article covers the causes of Karma in Jainism. The karmic process in Jainism is based on seven truths or fundamental principles (tattva) of Jainism which explain the human predicament. Out of those, four—influx (āsrava), bondage (bandha), stoppage (saṃvara) and release (nirjarā)—pertain to the karmic process. Karma gets...
Moksha In Jainism This article covers Moksha in Jainism. Sanskrit moksha or Prakrit mokkha refers to the liberation or salvation of a soul from saṃsāra, the cycle of birth and death. It is a blissful state of existence of a soul, attained after the destruction of all karmic bonds. A liberated soul is said to have attained...
Samsara In Jainism This article covers Samsara in Jainism. Samsara in Jain philosophy refers to the worldly life characterized by continuous rebirths and reincarnations in various realms of existence. Saṃsāra (transmigration) is described as mundane existence, full of suffering and misery, and hence is considered undesirable and worth renunciation. The Saṃsāra is without any beginning and the soul finds itself in...
Tattva In Jainism This article covers Tattva in Jainism. Jain philosophy explains that seven tattva (truths or fundamental principles) constitute reality. These are: jīva– the soul which is characterized by consciousness ajīva– the non-soul āsrava (influx)- inflow of auspicious and evil karmic matter into the soul. bandha (bondage)- mutual intermingling of the soul and karmas. samvara (stoppage)- obstruction...
Jainism And Hinduism Jainism and Hinduism are two ancient Indian religions. There are some similarities and differences between the two religions. Temples, gods, rituals, fasts and other religious components of Jainism are different from those of Hinduism. “Jain” is derived from the word Jina, referring to a human being who has conquered...
Buddhism And Jainism Buddhism and Jainism are two ancient Indian religions that developed in Magadha (Bihar) and continue to thrive in the modern age. Mahavira and Gautama Buddha are generally accepted as contemporaries. Jainism and Buddhism share many features, terminology, and ethical principles, but emphasize them differently. Both are śramaṇa...
Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism (also Indo-Tibetan Buddhism) is the form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet where it is the dominant religion. It is also found in the regions surrounding the Himalayas (such as Bhutan, Ladakh, and Sikkim), much of Chinese Central Asia, the Southern Siberian regions such as Tuva, as well as...
Endless Knot The endless knot or eternal knot (śrīvatsa; 盘长结; 盤長結; pánzhǎng jié; དཔལ་བེའུ། dpal be’u; Түмэн өлзий) is a symbolic knot and one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols. It is in important symbol in both Jainism and Buddhism. It is an important cultural marker in places significantly influenced by Tibetan Buddhism such as Tibet,...
The Way Of Wisdom Although all Hindus take the path of action at least for much of their lives, it doesn’t bring oneself to final liberation from the wheel of Samsara. Karma, even good karma, keeps a person bound to the cycle of transmigration. Ultimately, one needs to transcend karma...
The Wisdom of Hindu Thought: A Paradigm for Our Time This article covers The Wisdom of Hindu Thought. When I was a college student, I used to chant Mantra, practice yoga and Meditation and used to attend religious ceremonies. I was ridiculed by my fellow students for not being a...
The Wisdom In Islam: In Muhammad’s Words “Wisdom in Islam” encompasses in its radiant words the true goals that all of us must strive for. Its bounty of mercy, forgiveness and guidance is stunning in its clarity. Imagine using this wonderful guidance on a regular basis? It is important to...
Knowledge And Wisdom: Islamic Viewpoint We begin our first lesson with Knowledge and Wisdom, which is the first and original pillar of human distinctions and specialties. In the very first revelation to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) we read, Read in the name of your Lord Who created. He created man...
House Of Wisdom, Bayt al-Ḥikmah The House of Wisdom (بيت الحكمة; Bayt al-Ḥikmah) refers either to a major Abbasid public academy and intellectual center in Baghdad or to a large private library belonging to the Abbasid Caliphs during the Islamic Golden Age. The House of Wisdom is the subject of an active...
Wisdom and St. Louis This article examines the relationship between Wisdom And St. Louis. In order to fully comprehend the spiritual doctrine of St. Louis de Montfort, it is necessary to see it in its totality, since it forms an organic whole, and each part will shed light on the...
The Quran And Wisdom This article covers the relationship between The Quran And Wisdom. Wisdom is “a higher dimension of consciousness”, which many people who have not attained faith have not experienced. With such consciousness, the individual’s mind is very clear. However, what provides this clearness is neither the brain’s...
What Is Wisdom (Hikmah)? Wisdom has been defined in various definitions and meanings. Some of them are as follows: Performing something in the ideal and optimum way. Science explaining the real nature of things. Divine mysteries and intentions inherent in things. Knowledge together with action. Beneficial knowledge and good deed....
