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INTRODUCTION On reading some Buddhist works in the original Pali, some translations in English and some independently written English books on Buddhism, I found out that old Buddhism resembled Jainism in many points. In order to know Pali Buddhism I went to Ceylon and stayed for a month in the Vidyalankara College, Kelaniya, from the 14th May to 13th June 1932. Also I went to some other famous Buddhist places to know the religious ways and customs. In the College I gained much information on Buddhism from the Buddhist monk Ananda Kausalyayana and Rahula Sankrityayana, the editor of “ Buddha Charya.”
I thought it advisable to write a book in which I might show the similarities between the Jaina and Buddhist philosophies by quoting passages from the literatures of both; so that the readers may be convinced of their oneness and of their common source.
So far as I understand, the nature of Nirvana and its path as shown in the Buddhist Pali Books are not different from the nature of Nirvâna and its path as given in the old Jain Books.
From the description given in this book, the readers will know that Goutama Buddha on leaving his home, adopted the conduct of a naked saint, like a Digambar Jain ascetic for some time. Afterwards he proclaimed his middle path in which clothes were allowed for the monks. But the philosophy was not changed by him.
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