Buddhism and Jainism
Question 4
Buddhism and Jainism are two distinct religions. However, these religions are in a way or two related to each other, basically due to their common origin. It is believed that a revolt placed the two apart from being a common religion. Nonetheless, these two religions do have common beliefs and practices. For instance, both believe in life after death, Karma, and God and scripture.
Concerning the life after death, both Buddhism and Jainism subscribe to the fact that reincarnation comes later after we die. The latter refers to the rebirth of the soul in a new form after the present body dies. The two believe in paradise as the permanent residence of our souls. Hell, for the two religions is non-existent.
The concept of Karma is found on either side of the two. In both ends, Karma is an attachment of forces either negative or positive based on a person’s deeds, spiritual attachments and beliefs. Reincarnation always is believed to carry on the force, and as such, it takes effort to purify the soul. Both religions believe that no soul will attain enlightenment in paradise with negative Karma.
Buddhism and Jainism believe that reaching enlightenment only occurs to every person in a single lifetime. They also suggest that we should leave behind the suffering caused by cravings.
None of the two religions believe that God created the universe. As such, according to them, the universe’s divinity owns all the creation. Their holy texts neither belong to God nor the sacred stories. So the scriptures are considered as teaching tools that are meant to lead the people to enlightenment via practice and thought.
In that connection, the two religions also have differences that eventually set distinct boundaries between them. For example, Jainism believes that Karma forces affect one’s outcomes of their deeds directly or indirectly. On the other hand, Buddhists believe that Karma works directly in accordance with the actions of an individual. Jainism acknowledges the presence of both the living and non-living things. The existence of the soul, according to the Buddhists, is only in living things. Among the Jainists, the soul keeps on existing regardless of Nirvana’s absence while in Buddhism, the soul will be dissolved into nothing after Nirvana.
Buddhism is firmly attached to the teachings of Gautama Buddha. Jainism, on the other end, focuses on the life and teachings of Mahavira. Polytheism is practised in Buddhism religion to attain enlightenment. Likewise, polytheistic religion is exercised among the Jainists only that its goals are to liberate the soul.
Despite the two religions being revolts against Vedic religion, they have some aspects, presumably common, that they incorporated into their systems while others could vary. The Vedic deities such as Buddha are portrayed in a similar manner in both religions. As such, practices including meditation which form a significant part of the Vedic religion are also part and parcel of the constituent religions. The doctrine of Vedic religion carries on in both settings of the religion. Also, both religions, in a way, have distinct features far from neither Vedic nor their counterpart. For Jainism, are less critical of the adversary. Buddhism religion, on the other hand, is non-orthodox. That gives it uniqueness against the mother religion (Vedic). Jainism, on its way, is restricted to India, this is against the Vedic religion which was initially widespread in countries including China.
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