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Comparison of Buddhism, Jainism

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Buddha and Mahavira were contemporaries and there was much in common between Buddhism and Jainism. Because of the striking resemblances, certain scholars have opined that Jainism originated in Buddhism.

There may be many similarities between two but the basic differences in their philosophies provide each of them a place of a distinct religion. Some of the similarities and distinctions between the religion are as follows:

Similarities

1. Both reliions possessed the background of the Aryan culture and were inspired by the ascetic ideals and the philosophy of the Upanishads. The source of the philosophies of both was the same though both of them made certain changes in it.
2. Both were the products of intellectual, spiritual and social forces of their age and, both stood up as revolts against the prevalent Brahmanical religion.
3. Both emerged in eastern India.
4. Both were started by the members of the Kshatriya caste and both appealed to the socially down-trodden, the Vaishyas who were not granted social status corresponding to their growing economic power, and the Shudras who were definitely oppressed.
5. Mahavira and Buddha, were Kshatriya Princes and were able to get support for their cause from the contemporary ruling class.
6. Both were opposed to caste system.
7. Both opposed ritualism and the sacrifice.
8. Both believed that Nirvana or salvation of an individual meant his or her deliverance from the eternal chain of birth and death.
9. Both denied the authenticity of the Vedas as an infallible authority.
10. Both laid great stress upon a pure and moral life rather than practice of ritualism or even devotion to and worship of God as a means to attain salvation.
11. Both emphasized Ahimsa or non-violence.
12. Both accepted the doctrines of the transmigration of soul and Karma.
13. Both preached their religion in the common language of the people and discarded Sanskrit as the language of their early religious texts.
14. The early Buddhist texts were written in Pali and Jaina texts were written in Prakrit.
15. Both encouraged the idea of giving up the world and urged to lead the life an ascetic.
16. Both organized orders for monks and nuns.

Differences

1. Jainism is a much more ancient religion as compared to Buddhism. According to Jain traditions it had twenty-four Tirthankaras and Mahavira was the last of them. That is why, while Mahavira has been regarded as a reformer of an already existing religion, the Buddha has been regarded as the originator of a new one.
2. The Jain concept of soul is different from that of Buddhism. Jainism believes that everything in nature, even stone and water, has a soul of its own. Buddhism does not believe so.
3. The concept of Ahimsa (non-violence) is different in Buddhism as compared to Jainism. While Jainism over emphasized it, Buddhism remained liberal in its interpretation.
4. Buddhism emphasized elimination of caste distinctions more as compared to Jainism.
5. Jainism advised practice of strict asceticism to attain salvation while Buddhism advised its Upasakas to follow the middle path or Tathagata marg.
6. According to Jainism, women and men house-holders cannot attain salvation, while, according to Buddhism, it is possible for both.
7. In Digambara sect of Jainism, it is necessary for the monks to go naked while Buddhism denounced it.
8. Buddhism emphasized the organization of Sanghas more as compared to Jainism.
9. According to Jainism, salvation is possible only after death while according to Buddhism it is possible during one’s own life if one is able to detach oneself completely from the worldly existence. Thus, while Jainism describes Nirvana freedom from body, Buddhism describes it as destruction of the self or detachment from worldly existence.
10. Buddhism proved more adaptable to circumstances as compared to Jainism. That is why while Buddhism spread all over Asia and accommodated traditions of the local populace, Jainism remained confined to India alone.
11. In practice, Jainism remained closer to Hinduism than Buddhism. Therefore, conflicts between Jainism and Hinduism were negligible while Buddhism and Hinduism challenged each other and proved rivals to each other.
12. Jainism never spread beyond the frontiers of India while Buddhism spread over distant countries of Asia.

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