Mains Marathon

Briefly introduce Buddhism and Jainism as two significant ancient Indian religions. Discuss the differences between the two in terms of origin, practices, teachings and sects. Also, discuss their Influence on Social and Cultural Life. Summarize the key points discussed, reiterating their impact.

Answer:

Buddhism and Jainism are two ancient religions that emerged in India around the 6th century BCE. Both of them are considered as Sramanic traditions, which means they rejected the authority of the Vedas and the Brahmanical rituals, and advocated for a path of renunciation, asceticism, and ethical conduct. However, there are also significant differences between Buddhism and Jainism in terms of their origin, teachings, practices, and sects.

Origin:

Buddhism	Jainism
Buddhism was founded by Gautama Buddha, who was born as a prince of the Shakya clan in present-day Nepal. He renounced his worldly life and became an ascetic in search of the truth and the end of suffering.  After attaining enlightenment under a Bodhi tree, he became known as the Buddha, or the awakened one, and started preaching his doctrine to his followers.	Jainism was founded by Mahavira, who was born as a prince of the Jnatrika clan in present-day Bihar. He also renounced his worldly life and became an ascetic in search of liberation from the cycle of birth and death.  He attained enlightenment after 12 years of rigorous penance and became known as the Jina, or the conqueror, and started teaching his philosophy to his disciples.

Teachings:

Buddhism

Jainism

Buddhism teaches that life is suffering (dukkha) and that the root cause of suffering is ignorance and attachment to impermanent phenomena. The way to end suffering is to follow the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which lead to the cessation of ignorance and attachment and the attainment of nirvana, which means “extinction” or “blowing out”. Nirvana is the ultimate goal of Buddhism, which is a state of peace and freedom from all defilements and rebirths.

Jainism teaches that life is bondage (bandha) and that the root cause of bondage is karma (action) and moha (delusion) that attach the soul (jiva) to matter (ajiva). The way to end bondage is to follow the Five Vows and the Three Jewels, which lead to the purification of karma and moha and the attainment of moksha, which means “liberation” or “release”. Moksha is the ultimate goal of Jainism, which is a state of bliss and omniscience in which the soul is free from all matter and rebirths.

Practices:

Buddhism

Jainism

Buddhism emphasizes meditation as a means to cultivate wisdom (prajna) and compassion (karuna), which are essential for achieving nirvana. Meditation can take various forms, such as mindfulness (sati), concentration (samadhi), insight (vipassana), or loving-kindness (Maitri). Buddhism prescribes ethical precepts for lay followers (panca-sila) and monastics (Pratimoksa), which include refraining from killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct, and intoxication. Buddhism also encourages generosity (dana), morality (sila), patience (ksanti), effort (Virya), concentration (samadhi), and wisdom (prajna) as qualities that lead to enlightenment.

Jainism emphasizes non-violence (ahimsa) as a supreme virtue that encompasses all living beings. Non-violence can be practiced through thought, speech, and action. Jainism also prescribes ethical vows for lay followers (anuvrata) and monastics (mahavrata), which include abstaining from violence, lying, stealing, sexual activity, and attachment. Jainism also encourages austerity (tapas), equanimity (samata), detachment (vairagya), self-control (samyama), knowledge (jnana), faith (sraddha), and conduct (caritra) as qualities that lead to liberation.

Sects:

Buddhism: Buddhism is divided into two major sects: Hinayana and Mahayana.

• Hinayana (Theravada), or the school of the elders, is the oldest and most conservative branch of Buddhism.
  • It follows the Pali Canon, the earliest collection of Buddhist scriptures, and emphasizes the individual attainment of nirvana through self-effort and meditation. 
• Mahayana, or the great vehicle, is the more liberal and diverse branch of Buddhism.
  • It accepts many other scriptures besides the Pali Canon and emphasizes the universal salvation of all beings through the compassion and wisdom of bodhisattvas, or enlightened beings who postpone their own nirvana to help others. 

Jainism: Jainism is divided into two major sects: Digambara and Svetambara.

• Digambara, or the sky-clad, is the more orthodox and ascetic branch of Jainism.
  • It holds that nudity is a requirement for monks to attain liberation, and that women cannot achieve liberation unless they are reborn as men.
• Svetambara, or the white-clad, is the more moderate and liberal branch of Jainism. It holds that clothing is permissible for monks to attain liberation, and that women can achieve liberation in their own right.

Influence on Social and Cultural Life:

• They challenged the dominance of Brahmanism and its rigid caste system by promoting equality and social justice for all people regardless of their birth or status.
• They spread education and literacy among the masses by using Prakrit as their medium of instruction and by establishing monasteries and universities as centres of learning.
• They fostered a spirit of tolerance and harmony among different religions and sects by engaging in dialogue and debate with them.
• They enriched the art and literature of India by creating works such as stupas (monuments), chaityas (shrines), viharas (monasteries), Jataka tales (stories of the Buddha’s previous lives), Kalpasutra (biography of Mahavira), etc.
• They inspired many kings and rulers to adopt their faiths or patronize them. For example,
  • Ashoka (3rd century BCE) was a Buddhist emperor who propagated Buddhism throughout India and beyond.
  • Harshavardhana (7th century CE) was a Buddhist king who supported both Buddhism and Jainism.
  • Chandragupta Maurya (4th century BCE) was a Jain king who abdicated his throne to become a monk; etc.

Buddhism and Jainism, while sharing certain philosophical and ethical principles, diverged in their teachings, practices, and sects. They left an indelible mark on ancient Indian society, fostering values of non-violence, compassion, and ethical living. Their influence on art, language, and social reform contributed to the rich cultural tapestry of ancient India and continues to resonate in the broader spiritual and cultural landscape of the region.