Criticism of Jainism

Jainism has been criticized in one way or another by proponents of other religions.

Theories

Philosopher Dayanand Saraswati wrote in his book Satyarth Prakash regards Jainism as "the most dreadful religion", he writes that Jains were intolerant and hostile towards the non-Jains.

Criticism of non-creationism theory

According to Jain beliefs, the universe was never created, so Jainism along with Buddhism has been categorized as atheist philosophy or nāstika darśana, by Hindus. However, the word nāstika corresponds more to heterodox rather than atheism. Accordingly, those who did not believe in the Vedas and rejected the creation of the Universe were labeled "nāstika". In particular, Advaita Vedanta Hinduism criticises the Jain position on the supremacy and potency of Karma in Jainism, specifically the insistence on non-intervention by any Supreme Being. For example, in a commentary to Brahma Sutras (III, 2, 38, and 41), Adi Shankara argued that the original karmic actions themselves cannot bring about the proper results at some future time; neither can supersensuous, non-intelligent qualities like adrsta—an unseen force being the metaphysical link between work and its result—by themselves mediate the appropriate, justly deserved pleasure and pain. The fruits, according to him, then, must be administered through the action of a conscious agent, namely, a supreme being (Ishvara).

Fasting to death

Santhara, commonly called Sallenkhana is a procedure in which a Jain stops eating with the intention of death. Human rights organisations say santhara is comparable to suicide and euthanasia and must not be allowed to continue. In India, euthanasia is banned and suicide is a crime. In Rajastan, a lawyer petitioned the High Court of Rajasthan to declare santhara illegal. There is ongoing human rights debate about whether santhara has any place in modern society.

Santhara is a method of burning Karma when one has mastered self-control, has no worldly desires, inclination towards pleasures are nil, mentally and spiritually person is in sound health. Santhara is not allowed in conditions of good health, mental disease or unconsciousness, unwillingness, due family responsibilities, desire to eat or live, or remaining worldly desires. Healthy young adults or children are unfit (not allowed) to do santhara because they have family obligations, lives to live and religion to practice. It is allowed only in cases of impending death due to old age or terminal disease.

Santhara is a voluntary act and is bound by very strict regulations. Only a person who has no wishes/desire/ambition left, and no responsibilities remaining in life is entitled to perform it and the action is done under community regulation. The decision to do so must be publicly declared well in advance and permission from family & other relatives is a must. Conditions that allow santhara are: 1) Old age disease such that death appears imminent. Or in cases of terminal disease in adults.

2) One's inability to perform normal bodily function,

3) The condition is so bad that life's pleasures are nil or death appears imminent.

4) No responsibilities towards family/relatives remaining in life.

5) The person must be fully conscious and in good mental and emotional health.

6) Strong desire to burn karmas by fasting.

7) Strong belief on Dev, Guru & Dharma.

8) Permission from family members and relatives.

9) Strong Desire of Moksha/Nirvana.

All these conditions must be fulfilled before taking the vow of santhara.

Jains claim that Santhara or Sallekhana is the most ideal, peaceful, and satisfying form of death. It is done in full consciousness, not suddenly, sadly or ignorantly.During the process of fasting one gets better understanding of the inherently painful and flawed nature of earthly existence.[citation needed]It also minimizes the damage to one's soul due to bad desires and karmas during the end of life. Asceticism is revered and practicing ascetics are admired and appreciated.[citation needed]. Santhara is performed only by those Jains who attain a peaceful state of mind, perpetual happiness, self-actualization and become free from desire of eating, living, dining etc...Those who do santhara feel enlightened and free from worldly pain. Their soul is enlightened and attain perpetual happiness during lifetime which is difficult to explain in words.

Status of women

Although Jainism is dedicated to equality in many ways, women do face difficulties in attaining moksha "liberation" in Jainism. Some texts state that women are spiritually unequal and impure. Women are believed to be harmful by nature. Their menstrual blood is considered to be impure in several important Jain texts. The bleeding that occurs in menstruation is thought to kill micro-organisms in the body, making the female body less nonviolent than the male body. The very femininity of females is a deterrent to their religious freedom.

Digambaras in particular believe women must be reborn in male form before they can achieve moksha. They claim that women cannot become full monasticism or nuns because nakedness is key to achieving non-attachment but they ban women from being nude in public. Digambaras believe that if women go without clothing, men will experience sexual desires, thus diverting them from divine liberation. In turn, women would feel ashamed, and they would also be denied holy deliverance.

The Svetambara, disagrees with this position, holding that one of the Tirthankaras, Mallinath, was a woman. Indeed, the majority of Svetambara monastics are female.

See also

• Criticism of Buddhism
• Criticism of Christianity
• Criticism of Hinduism
• Criticism of Islam
• Criticism of Religion
• Criticism of Sikhism