ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Shramana

Shramana is a word that is used to describe people who follow a particular way of life or belief system, typically in the Eastern parts of the world. Basically, this means that these people have their own set of rules and ideas that they live by.

Think of it like this: you know how some families have their own traditions or customs that they follow? Maybe they always have a big dinner on Thanksgiving or they always do something special on someone's birthday. Well, shramanas are a lot like that. They have their own way of doing things that is different from what other people might do.

One thing that shramanas often believe in is the idea of self-improvement. This means that they try to be the best version of themselves that they can be. They might do things like meditate or practice yoga to help them achieve this goal. Some shramanas even choose to live a simple life with few possessions, so that they can focus more on improving themselves instead of being distracted by material things.

Another idea that shramanas often follow is the idea of non-violence. This means that they try to avoid doing anything that might hurt another living being, whether it's a person or an animal. This is why many shramanas are vegetarian, because they believe that it's wrong to kill animals for food.

Now, it's important to remember that not all shramanas believe the exact same thing. Just like how not all families have the same traditions, different shramanas might have different beliefs or practices. But overall, the goal is to live a good life and treat others with kindness and respect.
Related topics others have asked about: