Jainism And Buddhism: Video Analysis

Jainism and Buddhism acknowledge extremely similar aspects in their respective religions. They both have a grounded belief of karma, samsara, and one of liberation. Although these basic principle are the same, they have differences within them. In this essay, it will discuss the similarities and differences between the basic beliefs and traditions regarding karma, samsara, recognition of the self, and final liberation in regards to Jain and Buddhist religions.

Jainism is an ecologically responsible way of life, which is non violent in thoughts, actions, and deeds (Pecorino, 2001). The heart of Jainism is to live and practice ahimsa. This is the action by which all actions are judged (ahimsa| Britannica.com, 2015). The Golden Rule, if you will. The Jain’s believe that life is eternal. That all living souls have the potential of attaining enlightenment and immortality (Raghuram, 2004). If you interrupt the spiritual progress or jiva of an insect, animal, plant or person, you will incur karma (ahimsa | Britannica.com, 2015). Your karma will affect your samsara, and will determine your next incarnation. The purpose in one’s life is to attain liberation from the samsara cycle.

Both Jainism and Sikhism have arisen as alternatives to Hinduism within India. As Molloy highlights, they both share a belief in karma with Hinduism, but both reject the polytheistic and ritualistic elements of Hinduism. Despite these similarities, Jainism and Sikhism are different in their emphasis. The founder of Jainism was named Mahavira. He was the twenty fourth, in a succession of saints, called tirthankaras. Mahavira was born into an aristocratic family, and much of his life is shrouded in legend, but all version of his life story agree, that at the age of 30 he embraced the wandering life of an aesthetic holy man. His is said to have endured much pain, and sacrifice at his own hands, and at the hands of others. During this

It can be concluded, based on the writing of Mary Pat Fisher, Living Religions (2014), that the Jain religion is very strict and disciplined. They live by a total of 12 vows five of which are major vows. The vows affect how the Jain live, eat and carry themselves.

Jainism is another religion of India, it has very close relations with other main religions of India like Hinduism and Buddhism. It

Some of these good virtues can be inferred from ancient Egyptian funerary texts such as The Negative Confession, which state “I have not caused pain, I have not caused tears, I have not killed…”[10] According to this text, causing pain and tears, and committing murder were actions that could bar one from attaining immortality. This standard of ethics differs from the previously held notion, which was that only kings could become immortals. Because of the potential promise of eternity, people began to act better, in hopes that their efforts would be enough.

As seen in various religions, they all “share the view that our basic human problem is karmic entrapment in the cycle of rebirth” in which the “ultimate goal is to break the attachment and escape from the cycle” (Young 61). What differentiates all these branches of religion is the way they inform their followers to reach and experience this state of enlightenment. Two branches of religion that teach liberation is completely based on self-reliance are the Buddha’s Theravada Buddhism and Mahavira’s Jainism. Despite the similarities in their strict teachings and restrictive beliefs, the key difference between the two is the differing lifestyles each religion demands of their followers which is dependent upon their opposing views regarding the concept of karma. Buddhists understand this concept identical

Another aspect of the Jainism religion is Karma. As mentioned above with Hinduism, Karma is a popular concept within the Dharmic religions. As the textbook mentions, “Jains believe that the universe is without beginning and that it has no creator or destroyer.” This religion is different from the other Dharmic religions in this concept. Both Hinduism and Buddhism believe in a Supreme Being, yet Jainism does not as they feel there is no need to. Due to the belief of no Supreme Being, Jain’s believe one’s choices and afterlife is determined by our deeds and how one acts in their current life. The Jain definition of Karma is a “subtle matter or particles that accumulated on the soul as a result of one’s thoughts and actions.” Until one frees himself

Craig Martin stated, “The world is not just there for us to find and discover – rather, we make the world what it is through our use of language.” (21). This further expands on the notion that human beings are the makers of social constructs and social roles; we make these categories that we place ourselves and others in to give each other a sense of identity. Human beings like to be in control of their world and everything in it. Anything that tries to disrupt that or is outside of their control brings a sense of chaos.

The Jain religion originated more than twenty-five hundred years ago, around the 6th century BC, on the Indian sub-continent about the same time as Buddhism.2 There are several shared beliefs between Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, such as nonviolence(ahimsa), reincarnation, and karma.The essence behind the development of Jainism was to have a path to reunite and purify oneself in order to free oneself from the cycle of karma, which in turn allows one to enter into a state of eternal liberation from rebirth (kevala). The only way a person can attain kevala is through very intentional and thorough practice of nonviolence.2 Per Jains, everything is alive in some sense, from rocks to trees, all matter has a pulse,

Xuanzang was impressed by India’s ability to stay together for so long and have very few problems. Also, that many people conformed to the social rankings of their culture with little arguement. The fact that you are more free to do what you want without the consequence of death hanging over your head. Also, you are not forced to believe in one religion, and you do not have to accept one person as a ruler.

devotion to pacifism. Mahavira conveyed in his teaching that all things in the world, to

They live in small groups and their day to day lives, in which they meditate, study scripture, and of course, they eat. Their diets are strictly vegetarian, and some even become vegans, so they cause almost no harm to living creatures. The broom that they carry to sweep away living creatures is of upmost importance to a Jain monk as it is given to them upon entering the monkhood. There existence is much like Buddhist monks in that they exist for preservation of culture However, the teaching aspect is larger for Jainist monks. They act as spiritual teachers to the lay Jains that surround them and because of this, the community supports them. All of these manifestations come together to lead one to believe that Jainist monks are, in fact, an important part of the faith. They wouldn’t and can’t be considered a NEET in any sense of the word; Jainist monks do contribute to society and are in a constant state of

Jainism and Buddhism share some common ground and similarities in their beliefs and practices, and they also have features that make them unique and distinctively different from the other. Some of the central similarities of Jainism and Buddhism can be found in when and where their traditions originated, resemblances in their primary teachers, their religious goals, nonbelief in a creator, and their values of nonattachment and nonviolence. Some differences between Jainism and Buddhism are found in their karmic principles and the conception of the soul. There seems to be more parallels shared between Jainism and Buddhism than discrepancies.

     Jainism earliest descriptions were thought of being a self centered search for personal salvation without having a personal God. Jains do not believe in one creator or God. Heinrich Zimmer, an expert on Indian Philosophy, states, ?Jainism is Tran theistic- it does not deny existence of God but that it goes beyond them.? (A 352) Others see it?s as a search for personal growth and a sense of higher personal ethics. Jainism is founded on the goal of overcoming the temporary cycle of earthly life in addition to be released from an endless cycle of existence. Human destiny was the center of Jain teaching. They were to rely on themselves to seek that which will save them from the domination of matter, this being moral elevation. Above all, Jainism is a religion of love and compassion, with an eternal universe. They have made significant contributions in logic, art, and architecture, grammar, mathematics, literature, philosophy, astronomy, and astrology.