Digambara monk

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/digambara-monk

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the spiritual tradition?Adherent of the Digambar sect within Jainism, dedicated to asceticism and liberation
2. What is the core ascetic vows?Strict observance of five supreme vows: ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, and aparigraha
3. Why do Digambara monks not wear clothes?They do not wear clothes because "Digambara" means "sky-clad"; it shows they have no possessions and are fully detached from the world.
4. What are the five main vows of a Digambara monk?The five main vows are non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), non-stealing (asteya), celibacy (brahmacharya), and non-possession (aparigraha).

Ahimsa: The principle of non-violence, a cornerstone of Jain philosophy and practice.
Aparigraha: The vow of non-possession, involving detachment from all material and worldly attachments.
Sallekhana: A Jain practice of voluntary fasting and renunciation of food and water, leading to a peaceful death.