How to Become a Jain?

Mahaveer Sanglikar

I often get asked about how one can adopt Jainism as their religion. People from all over the world send me emails with questions about this topic. In this article, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the process of converting to Jainism. My aim is to guide anyone who is interested in becoming a lay follower of the Jain faith. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out—I’m happy to help.

-Mahaveer Sanglikar

A Query Mail About Adopting Jainism

This is a common query regarding conversion to Jainism.

Respected Sir,

My name is J.M. John Marshal, and I am currently a student of Bioinformatics at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.

I am writing this email to seek information about the process of adopting Jainism. I was born into a Christian family and was baptized at birth. However, as I grew older, I began to realize that my personal beliefs and preferences aligned more closely with the principles of Jainism.

Even while identifying as a Christian, I often found myself questioning its doctrines. Over time, I moved towards atheistic and agnostic viewpoints.

My interest in adopting Jainism does not stem from any hostility toward Christianity—I hold no animosity towards it. Rather, I am drawn to the philosophical depth of Jainism. Its emphasis on rationality, non-violence, and spiritual discipline resonates with my own worldview. My leanings toward atheism, my inclination toward vegan and vegetarian principles, and my desire for a balanced path between reductionist materialism and mystical experientialism have led me to believe that Jainism offers a meaningful and thoughtful framework for life.

Recently, I came across a book on Jain philosophy and found that many of its ideas strongly reflected my own beliefs. Therefore, I would be grateful if you could guide me regarding the procedures and steps involved in adopting Jainism.

Sincerely,
J.M. John Marshal

What is Jainism?

Jainism: An Overview

Jainism is one of the oldest religions in the world and has a rich cultural and spiritual heritage in India. Today, there are approximately 20 million Jains across the globe.

Here are some fundamental beliefs of Jainism:

Equality of All Living Beings: Jainism upholds the principle that all living beings are equal. It strongly opposes any form of discrimination based on gender, color, race, caste, creed, ethnicity, language, nationality, or any other distinction.

No Creator God: Jainism does not believe in a creator god. According to Jain philosophy, the universe is eternal—it was never created and has no end.

Belief in the Soul and Liberation: Jainism teaches that every living being possesses a soul. The ultimate goal is the liberation (moksha) of the soul from the cycle of birth and death.

Non-Violence and Respect for Life: Jainism emphasizes non-violence (ahimsa) towards all living beings. It strictly prohibits killing or causing harm to any life form, no matter how small.

Read more about Jainism at Understanding Jainism: A Comprehensive Overview

Who Can Become a Jain? Some Guidelines

Anybody can become a Jain. A person of any nationality, ethnicity, creed, caste, color, gender, or linguistic group can adopt Jainism as a lay follower or as a Jain monk.

There is no formal baptism or initiation ceremony required to become a Jain. One can choose to become a Jain independently by studying its basic philosophy and adopting the Jain way of life. In Jainism, knowledge is considered the foundation. When you gain true knowledge, it naturally transforms your conduct. Without knowledge, conduct holds little value.

Gaining knowledge is a lifelong journey, but you can still identify as a Jain by consciously following the core principles of Jainism—once you understand the reasoning behind them.

What Do You Have to Follow?

After knowing the basic principles of Jainism, you have to follow the five vows of Jainism.

Ahimsa (Non-violence): This vow entails avoiding harm to any living being, whether it’s through physical, verbal, or mental means. Practitioners strive to cultivate compassion and refrain from causing injury or suffering to any creature.

Satya (Truthfulness): Practicing truthfulness involves speaking and living by truth. Followers of Jainism endeavor to be honest in their speech, actions, and thoughts, avoiding falsehood, deceit, and dishonesty.

Asteya (Non-stealing): Asteya entails refraining from taking anything that is not willingly given. It goes beyond mere theft and encompasses not exploiting others’ resources, time, or possessions without permission.

Brahmacharya (Chastity): This vow emphasizes celibacy or faithfulness in marriage. Practitioners commit to controlling their desires and channeling their energies toward spiritual growth and self-discipline.

Aparigraha (Non-attachment): Aparigraha involves minimizing attachment to worldly possessions and desires. Followers aim to live a simple and minimalist lifestyle, avoiding greed, possessiveness, and the accumulation of unnecessary material possessions.

These vows are central to Jain ethics and are intended to lead followers toward spiritual liberation and the attainment of moksha, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death (samsara). While these vows are particularly emphasized for monastics (monks and nuns), lay followers also strive to uphold them to the best of their abilities within the context of their daily lives.

Apart from these vows, you have to follow a few other things that will lead you to your spiritual evolvement. I will discuss them in a separate article.

How to Become a Jain?

Mahaveer Sanglikar

A Query Mail About Adopting Jainism

What is Jainism?

Who Can Become a Jain? Some Guidelines

How to Become a Jain?

What Do You Have to Follow?

More Articles on Jainism

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