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Jain monasticism

Overview

Jain monasticism refers to the order of monks and nuns in the Jain community and can be divided into two major denominations: the Digambara and the Śvētāmbara. The monastic practices of the two major denominations vary greatly, but the major principles of both are identical. Five mahāvratas (Great Vows), from Mahavira's teachings, are followed by all Jain ascetics of both the sects. Historians believe that a united Jain sangha (community) existed before 367 BCE, about 160 years after the moksha (liberation) of Mahavira. The community then gradually divided into the major denominations. However, no evidence indicate when the schism between the Digambaras and the Śvetāmbaras happened.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).

Philosophers who discussed Jain monasticism

• Hemachandra
• The Buddha
• Samantabhadra (Jain monk)
• Shrimad Rajchandra
• Kanji Swami

Related ideas

• Tirthankara
• Ācārāṅga Sūtra
• Ahimsa in Jainism
• Jainism
• Non-possession
• Nirvana
• Mahavira
• Arihant (Jainism)
• Truth
• Śvetāmbara
• Brahmacharya
• Shastra
• Achourya
• Karma in Jainism
• Dharma
• Religious denomination
• Sāmāyika

Place in the tradition

Part of Śramaṇa.

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