Pure Soul and the Jaina Traditions, Syntax and Experience

Flügel, Peter

Abstract

In museums and exhibitions, the Jaina tradition has generally been presented in stereotyped form. The approach of the Pure Soul exhibition at The Brunei Gallery SOAS was different. For the first time, philosophical and social differences within the Jaina tradition were placed at centre stage, highlighting the internal pluralism of Jaina thought and practice, and the fact that there are distinct varieties of Jaina ethics. The premise was that in its processes of internal differentiation, the vitality and creativity of the Jaina tradition manifests itself. The aim was to inform a wider public about previously underrepresented facets of the Jaina way of life, in particular on the non-image venerating Śvetāmbara mendicant traditions, and lay traditions inspired by the spiritual teachings of the Digambara monk Kundakunda. Most of these traditions do not even feature in standard textbooks on Jainism, let alone exhibitions, though thirty to forty percent of Jainas follow them today.

Citation

Flügel, P. (2024). Pure Soul and the Jaina Traditions, Syntax and Experience. Jaina studies, 19, 16-22. https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/research-centres/centre-jaina-studies/newsletter-centre-jaina-studies

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 15, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Mar 18, 2024
• Publication Date: Mar 18, 2024
• Deposit Date: Mar 19, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 19, 2024
• Print ISSN: 2059-4151
• Electronic ISSN: 2059-416X
• Publisher: SOAS University of London
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 19
• Pages: 16-22
• Keywords: soul, self, jaina, religion, philosophy, history, aniconic, spiritual, traditions, art, mendicant paraphernalia, upakaraṇas, maps, modern, exhibitions, museums, amūrtipūjaka, mūrtipūjaka, Sthānakavāsī, Śvetāmbara, Digambara, Kānjī Svāmī, Tāraṇa Svāmī, Śrīmad Rājacandra
• Publisher URL: https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/research-centres/centre-jaina-studies/newsletter-centre-jaina-studies
• Additional Information: References : Flügel, Peter, De Jonckheere, Heleen and Söhnen-Thieme, Renate, eds. (2023) Pure Soul: The Jaina Spiritual Traditions. London: Centre of Jaina Studies, SOAS.