Jainism and Buddhism are two ancient religions that emerged on the Indian peninsula approximately 2,500 years ago. Jainism is believed to have appeared between the seventh and fifth century BCE in the Ganges basin of Eastern India (Britannica) and its philosophies are widely based on the teachings of Mahavira (The Great Hero), considered the twenty-fourth and last of the Tirthankaras or “fordmakers of the current cosmic cycle” (Fisher, 2014). Buddhism emerged between the late sixth century and fourth century BCE in the northeastern part of India (Britannica). The Buddha, or the “Awakened One” had a tremendous contribution to the philosophies and traditions of the newer religion. Buddhism and Jainism emerged in India in a time of religious and
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Even though the same principle seems to be found in most, if not all, religions originated on the Indian peninsula, “ahimsa” or non-violence plays a central role in Jainism. In Jainism, “Ahimsa” does not only refer to people but includes all creatures. For example, “observant Jains avoid eating after sunset, so as not to eat unseen insects that might have landed on the food” (Fisher, 2014). Though Buddhism and Hinduism have a more lenient approach towards this matter, vegetarianism and tolerance towards all living creatures became prevalent in …show more content…
After abandoning asceticism, the Buddha finally experienced supreme awakening and realized suffering (dukkha) originated within craving and clinging. Ways to escape craving and clinging, and achieve nirvana (liberation) are proposed in “The Noble Eightfold Path to Liberation”.
Unlike Buddhists who promote more achievable means to purify the mind (right thought or motivation, right action/effort, etc.) and attain the peace of liberation from the cycle of rebirths, Jains believe in achieving “kevala”, the highest state of perfection, and liberation by penance, self-control, and detachment from the material world. Those requirements are so strict that the Digambaras- one of the two fractions of the Jain monks; the other one being the Svetambaras- wear no clothes and their only possessions are “a gourd for drinking water and a broom of feathers dropped by peacocks” (Fisher,
Even though the same principle seems to be found in most, if not all, religions originated on the Indian peninsula, “ahimsa” or non-violence plays a central role in Jainism. In Jainism, “Ahimsa” does not only refer to people but includes all creatures. For example, “observant Jains avoid eating after sunset, so as not to eat unseen insects that might have landed on the food” (Fisher, 2014). Though Buddhism and Hinduism have a more lenient approach towards this matter, vegetarianism and tolerance towards all living creatures became prevalent in …show more content…
After abandoning asceticism, the Buddha finally experienced supreme awakening and realized suffering (dukkha) originated within craving and clinging. Ways to escape craving and clinging, and achieve nirvana (liberation) are proposed in “The Noble Eightfold Path to Liberation”.
Unlike Buddhists who promote more achievable means to purify the mind (right thought or motivation, right action/effort, etc.) and attain the peace of liberation from the cycle of rebirths, Jains believe in achieving “kevala”, the highest state of perfection, and liberation by penance, self-control, and detachment from the material world. Those requirements are so strict that the Digambaras- one of the two fractions of the Jain monks; the other one being the Svetambaras- wear no clothes and their only possessions are “a gourd for drinking water and a broom of feathers dropped by peacocks” (Fisher,