Guest guest Posted August 6, 1999 Report Share Posted August 6, 1999 Hello enlightened friends! I was wondering if members of the list had heard of the term that sounds in English "Naustik" ... I have been told this is Sanskrit for atheist as well as those who do not accept the authority of the Vedas, such as Buddhists and Jains. The confusion occurred when I proclaimed myself a gnostic to some Indian friends and they immediately said that I was an atheist. Could someone clear this up? - Art Gregory lgregory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 1999 Report Share Posted August 6, 1999 Jainism, Buddhism and Carvaka system are considered nastika sampradaya (Nonbelievers of God) while Nyaya, Vaiseshka, Sankhya, Yoga, Purva Mimansa and Vedanta are the called astika (believers of God) or orthodox systems. Jainism is an offshoot of Hindusim. It is certainly as old as the Vedic religion. It requires its followers to observe the following five Vows: ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (chastity) and aparigraha (non-attachment) What are the key differences between Jainism and Advaita? 1. Jainism and Buddhism reject the rituals of Vedas i.e. the Karma Kanda of the Vedas and also the caste system. Vedanta considers rituals unimportant. 2. Jainism does not accept God as the creator of the world. It believes that the universe is beginning-less (anadi), endless (ananta). Hinduism holds that there is personal God. Advaitins choose a personal god but the God becomes unreal after Self-realization. 3. Jainism and Hinduism believe in the immortality of the soul and also the law of Karma. They both accept the doctrine of Ahimsa (non-violence) but Jainism makes Ahimsa its central doctrine. 4. The goal of life according to Jainism is to attain Kevala: Jainism recognizes two distinct categories of Reality, Jiva (soul) and Ajiva which consists of matter(pudgala), space(akash), time (kala), dharma(ethics), and adharma.. A liberated Jiva has perfect knowledge, purity, peace etc. A bound Jiva has a body associated with karmic forces. To attain Kevala means to restore the glory of the soul by removing the covering of Karma. The Jain teaching is not totally different from Advaita Vedanta. Both Kevala and Mokhsha allow Jivas to transcend the world of names and forms. 5. The path of attaining Kevala require a Jain to take the five Vows and to follow the right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct. There is no savior. The person wanting Kevala must do selfless work without desire for rewards. Jainism is quite similar to Advaita Vedanta specially to the path of Karma Yoga and Jnana Yoga. The significant difference is the absence of the Bhakti Yoga in Jainism. 6. In Jainism, Jiva is characterized by consciousness, life, immateriality, and extension in space. The size of the individual soul is the same as the size of the body it occupies; expanding and contracting due to merit or sin. In Advaita, Jiva is independent to the body and mind. Note: There may be other differences and similarities between Jainism and Advaita and let me leave it to you to contemplate. Ram Chandran Burke, VA ====================== The Clan wrote: > > lgregory (The Clan) > > Hello enlightened friends! > > I was wondering if members of the list had heard of the term that sounds in > English "Naustik" ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 6, 1999 Report Share Posted August 6, 1999 Ram Chandran [chandran] Friday, August 06, 1999 3:00 PM advaitin Re: "Naustiks" Ram Chandran <chandran Jainism, Buddhism and Carvaka system are considered nastika sampradaya (Nonbelievers of God) while Nyaya, Vaiseshka, Sankhya, Yoga, Purva Mimansa and Vedanta are the called astika (believers of God) or orthodox systems. Jainism is an offshoot of Hindusim. It is certainly as old as the Vedic religion. It requires its followers to observe the following five Vows: ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (chastity) and aparigraha (non-attachment) What are the key differences between Jainism and Advaita? 1. Jainism and Buddhism reject the rituals of Vedas i.e. the Karma Kanda of the Vedas and also the caste system. Vedanta considers rituals unimportant. 2. Jainism does not accept God as the creator of the world. It believes that the universe is beginning-less (anadi), endless (ananta). Hinduism holds that there is personal God. Advaitins choose a personal god but the God becomes unreal after Self-realization. 3. Jainism and Hinduism believe in the immortality of the soul and also the law of Karma. They both accept the doctrine of Ahimsa (non-violence) but Jainism makes Ahimsa its central doctrine. 4. The goal of life according to Jainism is to attain Kevala: Jainism recognizes two distinct categories of Reality, Jiva (soul) and Ajiva which consists of matter(pudgala), space(akash), time (kala), dharma(ethics), and adharma.. A liberated Jiva has perfect knowledge, purity, peace etc. A bound Jiva has a body associated with karmic forces. To attain Kevala means to restore the glory of the soul by removing the covering of Karma. The Jain teaching is not totally different from Advaita Vedanta. Both Kevala and Mokhsha allow Jivas to transcend the world of names and forms. 5. The path of attaining Kevala require a Jain to take the five Vows and to follow the right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct. There is no savior. The person wanting Kevala must do selfless work without desire for rewards. Jainism is quite similar to Advaita Vedanta specially to the path of Karma Yoga and Jnana Yoga. The significant difference is the absence of the Bhakti Yoga in Jainism. 6. In Jainism, Jiva is characterized by consciousness, life, immateriality, and extension in space. The size of the individual soul is the same as the size of the body it occupies; expanding and contracting due to merit or sin. In Advaita, Jiva is independent to the body and mind. Note: There may be other differences and similarities between Jainism and Advaita and let me leave it to you to contemplate. Ram Chandran Burke, VA Thank you Ramji for this very nice summary. The practical methods to attain Moksha and Nirvana through reflection, contemplation, meditation, and yoga overlap quite a bit in Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. Great sages appear to rise in all traditions to console and uplift humanity. We bow to those saints who have shown the way to freedom from suffering and resting in the Self. Harsha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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