I'm looking for a good site to learn the real deal about jainism in "layman" terms. I have frequently gotten it as my top religion, often at 100%, when I have done that Selectsmart quiz. Yet I ended up assuming the one or two little (as in very tiny) bits of knowledge I had on it meant the Selectsmart test got me wrong.

Out of curiosity, I googled it. It is a lot more in synch with my values and beliefs and I have to confess I was judging it as not my cup of tea before I even knew anything about it.

I'd like to get a good website/forum/listserv where I can ask questions as they arise. Are there any Jains hanging out at these forums?

I'm so new to this religion, I'm not even sure how its pronounced. Is it Jain as in Jane or Jan? Or something else entirely?

One of my questions is if the "gods" worshiped by Jains are actually more like Kwan Yin, Buddha and Tara ... the Bodhisattvas of Buddhism. If so, that's pretty interesting. I always thought the Eightfold Path simplified things so much, but since yesterday I am basing my choices on non-violence only and... voila... I have not been unsure about which choice to make yet.

Turns out there is a Jain community about half an hour away from me, but since I don't drive the distance feels much greater. Still I would like to be in touch with them so I'm wondering what kind of etiquette would be specific to the Jain community.

Does anyone know of a good book on the idea of those Idiot's Guides to "such-and-such" or "such-and-such" For Dummies?

Lovin'u!
heartfull <3