How to Become a Jain?

Mahaveer Sanglikar

Many people are asking me about the process of adopting Jainism as a religion. I receive a lot of emails from every corner of the world regarding this issue. In this article, I am giving my views on converting to Jainism. This article will help all those who want to become lay followers of Jainism. Please feel free to ask any questions on this issue.

-Mahaveer Sanglikar

A Query Mail About Adopting Jainism

This is a typical query about converting to Jainism.

Respected Sir,

I’m J.M. John Marshal, a student of bioinformatics at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.

I’m writing this email to you to get any information on how can I adopt Jainism. My parents are Christians and I was also made Christian since birth via Baptization. But later I came to know my preferences suited well for Jainism. Even in the case of being a Christian, I contradicted it and changed to atheistic and agnostic views.

I’m saying that I’m interested in adopting Jainism, not because of my hostility to Christianity and I don’t have any such hostility to it too. But the way of thinking, the philosophy that stretches me inside, my atheistic views and materialistic philosophy and my inclination to veganism and vegetarian principles, moreover my position as atheist as opposed to the reductionist materialism of neuroscience or the solely experience-based principles as in mystics, etc and placing myself in a middle way, all which I think, it is better if I adopt Jainism. I’ve been thinking about these for several days.

I found a Jain philosophy book and read it and found my views matching with it more. So, please can you say the procedures to adopt Jainism?

J.M. John Marshal

I replied to the email and gave some suggestions to J.M. John Marshal.

Now here are some guidelines for those who want to adopt Jainism. Before reading the guidelines, here is a short and basic info about Jainism:

What is Jainism?

Jainism is one of the oldest religions in the world. It has a rich heritage in India. There are about 20 million Jains the world over.

The basic things one should know about Jainism are:

Jainism believes in the equality of all living beings, and it opposes discrimination against any person or group of persons in the name of Gender, Color, Race, Caste, Creed, Ethnicity, Language, Nationality, etc.
Jainism does not believe in the creator God. Jainism believes that the universe was not created by anybody, and it is beginningless and endless.
Jainism believes in the soul and liberation of the soul.
Jainism believes that all living beings have souls.
Jainism respects all types of living beings and opposes killing or causing to kill them.

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 Baptism like the process of becoming a Jain. You can become a Jain on your own, by studying basic philosophy and adopting the Jain way of life. Knowledge is the base and when you acquire knowledge, it automatically changes your conduct. According to Jainism, conduct without knowledge is useless.

Acquiring knowledge is a long-term process. But you can declare yourself a Jain by following the basic principles of Jainism after knowing the reasons why to follow those principles.

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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