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Is Jainism a Branch of Buddhism ? *
1906
For too long a time, Jainism used to be considered as one of the branches-perhaps the most ancient-of Buddhism-and as # result it was reproached for want of originality. This opinion had been waintained by scholars of the very highest eminence amongst others Lassen and Weber. It must be admitted that the arguments of Lassen and others appear to-day puerile, and Dr. Herman Jacobi has done them full justice.
LASSEN, 1. " Jains, like the Buddhists", Lasstu urged first of all, "give to to, their prophets, the same title and the same honorific epithets e. g. Siddha, Buddha, Jina, Arhat, Tathāgata, Sarvajña, Sugata eto." But these names are peculiar neither to Jainism nor to Buddhism. They are a part of the general terminology of India to describe a being who has achieved the Final Emancipation. Besides, in this series of synonymous terms, the Jains, like the Buddhists, have made a sort of choice and the choice is not identical.
The Buddha, besides this adjective which has become almost his personal attribute is called in addition Tathāgata or Sugata. On the contrary, the twentyfourth prophet of Jainism, Vardhamāna has received in general the name of Mahāvīra or of Vtra, Like the other prophets-his predecessors-he is also a Tîrthankara and this latter designation, honorific with the Jains is lescribed among the Buddhists-the founder of a heretical sectan opposition which show's distinctly how much the two religions, even in their terminology, are far from similar
2. “The Jains and the Buddhists, worship their prophets in the same way as gods, erect their idols and make a cult of them."
* Froni un Essay on Jaina Biblography by M, Guerinot of Paris. (1906)
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