discussion 

think about the motives for Shramana movement, and in particular, Mahavira and the other 23 tirthankaras. Knowing what the Vedic period is like from the previous weeks, and the history of the founding of Buddhism and its rejection of Brahminism and the Vedas, discuss the challenges you think the Jains had when establishing a new community based on the values of Mahavira and those who came before. Be sure you think about the Three Jewels, ahimsa, the ways Jain society is structured, and the fact that this is taking place within a largely Hindu environment. The goal of discussion board is to move beyond the textual descriptions of the community and try to imaginatively place yourself at the beginning of the Jain community and think about the environment in which Jainism arose. There is no right or wrong answer, per se, but your answer should demonstrate an attention to the readings and lectures, and demonstrate you understand the differences between Jainism and Hinduism, and have thought about the day-to-day implications of those differences on the lives of the people involved.