Mr. Powers Jainism Test

Which of these religions originated in India?

a. Hinduism

b. Buddhism

c. Jainism

d. all of the above

d. all of the above

What are the defining characteristics of Jainism?

a. ahimsa

b. asceticism

c. service

d. both a and b

d. both a and b

True or False: Jainism shares many basic doctrines with Hinduism & Buddhism.

True

True or False: According to Jain belief, only five people in the present turning of the world cycle have established a "river crossing."

False

True or False: Jainism rejected the Hindu caste system, but replaced it with a Jain caste system.

True

True or False: Like Gautama, Mahavira learned the true practices of Jainism on his own, not from others

False

True or False: Jains understand the universe to be vast yet finite.

True

True or False:Many of the gods and goddesses of Hinduism are also acknowledged by Jains.

True

True or False: The Jain universe passes through cycles that are depicted as turnings of a wheel.

True

True or False: Jains believe that the soul of an elephant differs from the soul of a human.

False

True or False:Jains believe that even some microbes have the potential for spiritual advancement.

True

True or False: Salvation is attainable for Jains of this world, despite this era's being one of continuing decline.

False

True or False: Nearly half of the three million Jains in the world today are ascetics

False

True or False: Today Jain ascetics tend to wander in groups, rather than setting out alone.

True

True or False: The Jain principle of nonviolence implies complete pacifism.

False

True or False:Jains universally practice vegetarianism.

True

True or False: Jains often use statues in their worship.

True

In Jainism, spiritual conquerors who have attained salvation are called

a. tirthankaras

b. bodhisattvas

c. rajahs

d. lokas

a. tirthankaras

Mahavira practiced

a. mild asceticism

b. extreme asceticism

c. the Middle Way

d. hedonism

b. extreme asceticism

Knowing the makeup of the universe was

a. unimportant to Gautama, important to Mahavira

b. important to Gautama, unimportant to Mahavira

c. important to both Gautama and Mahavira

d. unimportant to both Gautama and Mahavira

a. unimportant to Gautama, important to Mahavira

In Jainism, both deities and hell beings

a. stay in their condition eternally

b. are liberated souls

c. are destined to experience rebirth

d. both a and b

c. are destined to experience rebirth

Jivas are

a. perfectly pure

b. impure

c. known for their large size

d. all destined to become tirthankaras

a. perfectly pure

Jainism understands reality to be

a. essentially one thing

b. ultimately many things

c. impure

d. both b and c

b. ultimately many things

Jains believe that complete purification of the soul can be achieved only through

a. divine assistance

b. an ascetic life

c. the direct assistance of tirthankaras who have passed from material existence

d. both a and c

b. an ascetic life

If a Jain nun is carefully sweeping a path and steps on a bug by accident, she has

a. violated the vow of ahimsa

b. not violated the vow of ahimsa

c. taken a significant step toward liberation

d. effectively eliminated herself from the ascetic life

b. not violated the vow of ahimsa

The central Jain ritual is that of

a. eating (communion)

b. repentance

c. meditation

d. prayer

b. repentance

The ideal method of dying for Jains is

a. voluntarily starving

b. going to sleep

c. succumbing to disease

d. being sacrificed by an ascetic

a. voluntarily starving

Jain laypeople regard achieving the ultimate aim of salvation as

a. guaranteed

b. a distant possibility

c. limited to those who are prosperous

d. both b and c

b. a distant possibility

Which of the following assertions is not one of the Five Lesser Vows taken by Jain laity?

a. Avoid lying.

b. Do not take what has not been given.

c. Renounce sexual activity.

d. Avoid greed.

c. Renounce sexual activity.

The proportion of Jains among India's population is about

a. 2 percent

b. 25 percent

c. 50 percent

d. 75 percent

a. 2 percent

The root of the name Jainism; a word that means "conqueror" and is synonymous with the term tirthankara

jina

The 23rd tirthankara, who continues to be a popular object of Jain devotion

Parshva

The perfect and complete knowledge that is Jain enlightenment

kevala

The Jain universe, often depicted as having the shape of a giant man

loka

Souls

jivas

The nonliving components of the universe, such as space, time, motion, rest and all forms of matter

ajiva

What Jain monks and nuns are collectively known as

ascetics

The principle of nonviolence and the central standard of conduct for all Jains

ahimsa

The largest Jain sect, whose monks and nuns wear white robes

shvetambaras

the second-largest Jain sect, whose monks go about naked, or "sky-clad"

digambaras