JAIN+IDEAS

__**HISTORY, BELIEFS, AND BASIC IDEAS OF JAINISM**__
 * What are the basic beliefs and ideas of Jainism? How and when did the religion arise? How prevalent is it in India today?**

1. Jainism is a religion derived from Hinduism that believes in practicing a reverence for all life forms. Jains also believe that every living being has an immortal or reincarnating soul. The "Triple Gems of Jainism" are Right Knowledge, Right Conduct, and Right View. The most important components of these "Gems" is "Ahimsa" or nonviolence. (ljo)

2. Jainism originated in India around 2500BC. Jainism was founded by Mahavira. (ama)

3. There are about 10 million Jains in India which is less than 1% of the population of India. However, They are 25% of Indian economic activity. (alim)

4.Some basic beliefs are to have right perception(like seeing (hearing, feeling, etc.) things properly, and avoiding preconceptions and superstitions that get in the way.) ,right knowledge( like having an accurate and sufficient knowledge of the real universe.), and right conduct( living your life according to Jain ethical rules, to avoid doing harm to living things and freeing yourself from attachment and other impure attitudes and thoughts.). (dbe)

5. Jains believe every living being has an immortal soul, and each soul has the potential to become divine. (kbe)

6. Jains accept many ideas from Buddhism and Hinduism. Jainism focuses on the perservation of all life forms. (cca)

7. According to Jain beliefs, one should live a life that benefits oneself and others and avoid acting harmfully. (cne)

8. There are ten million Jains in India. This is a very small number but has a very big meaning. The Jains account for 25% of economic activity. They beleive that every living soul should be respected and that life is too precious to waste.(jat)

9. Jains fast so that they can attach to there inner being. (wste)

10. Mahavira is the founder of Jainism. (WCo)

11. Non-violence is the basis for the Triple Gems of Jainism. (cpr)

12. In India, many Jainist monks live with the rats in their temples. (acl)

13. Jains hold to a tradition of having a good education. This tradition allows them to have a high literacy rate, which is the reason why they contribute to 25% of India's economic activity. (rsc)

14.Jains often live apart from modern society to try to seperate themselves from the suffering of others.(bre)

15. Jains believe that one should live a pure life that is useful to both self and to others. (hma)