Jainism in Buddhist Literature

SR No.: 011023
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhagchandra Jain Bhaskar
Publisher: Alok Prakashan
Publication Year: 1972
Total Pages: 326
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

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of worship must have been appropriated by the Buddhists as at happened with regard to the monastery of Giri, and any traces of the earlier faith would certainly have been obliterated in this way, Some of the earliest unidentified stūpas of small dimensions may, however, be Jaina in origination."182
These meagre bits of evidence prove that Jainism existed in Ceylon from at least eighth century B. C. If any credit is given to the legends of Rāvana, the upper limit may be extended by a few inore centuries. If the historicity of these legends is established it would be interesting to find that early Jainism which preceded Pārsvanātha had also founded a foothold in Ceylon.
BUDDHISM AND ITS LITERATURE The Buddha and Buddhism
Buddhism is a pirt of purification based on the Majjhima pațiada (Middle path) which avoids the two extremes Kāmesu kama sıkhallakauttyoga (the attitude of sensual indulgence) and Attakılamathānuyoga (asceticism and self-mortification ). Thi, doctrine wus nunciated by the historical personality of Gautama, thr Buddha in the sixth century B. C.1 Source of Buddhism
There is no consensus of opinion among scholars regarding the source of Buddhism, because Buddhism has becn influenced by all the philosophical schools prevalent at that time. As Oldenberg says: "Hundreds of years before Buddha's time, movements were in progress in Indian thought, which prepared the way for Buddhism."
The Buddha, before gaining enlightenment, went to Alara Kaläma and Uddaka under whom he followed their religious observances. Alara Kālāma is supposed to be the Acārya of Saukhya philosophy. But Keith, while pointing out several similarities between Sankhya and Buddhism, says that "the proof of Sjukhya influence is obviously indirect and not in itself complete.''3 Oldenberg also thinks in a somewhat simiIar way.