UNITED STATES, (by Nikhil Bumb) : On the first day of college we were handed an optional Religious Identification Form to complete. Very simply, the form asked if we chose to identify with any of the listed religions or "Other," with a place to fill in what "Other" meant to us. I quietly checked the box next to "Other" and wrote "Hindu/Jain."
When I meet people who have not heard of Jainism, or who assume it is an obscure branch of Hinduism, it frustrates me. Honestly though, until a few years ago, I barely knew the difference myself. Ironically, it was not until I joined the board of the Hindu students group in college that I began to explore these differences and give thought to my own distinct religious identity. The truth is Jainism is not a sect of Hinduism.
It is possible to be a practicing Jain while still following Hindu customs. Jains and Hindus have been socially integrated since the large-scale migration of Buddhism out of India. As members of the faiths grew close, they shared customs, values and lifestyles that merged into a unique culture. In fact, the Jain doctrine of anekantavada, or the multiplicity of views, encourages individuals to practice non-exclusivity by exploring other perspectives, recognizing the relativity of truth and developing your own paradigm of it.
Given that same Religious Identification Form I would now confidently check the box next to "Other" and proudly fill in "Jain." I cannot deny the Hindu influences in my upbringing or the fact that I still think they have cooler gods and goddesses. Nevertheless, with a more complete understanding of both faiths, I now know that despite an overwhelming number of cultural similarities, Jainism and Hinduism are distinct religions with individually valid philosophies.
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