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Now ve sball speak about Dr. Bhandarkar's second argument, a morbid extravagance characterising its moral discipline, unlike the Buddhist tone which is more healthy. No doubt the rules for Jain asce. tics are very harsh, especially in the beginning when Mahavira went to the length of requiring his followers to observe absolute nudity ; but this would be accounted for, if one remembers that Mahavira considered an austere life and torturing of self, quite essential for obtaining Nirvana, while Buddha considered on the contrary a healthy body necessary for a healthy mind and for right actions. We acknowledge, that, in some matters especially in its respect for life, Jainism went to a very great extent, but while thus partially admitting the morbid extravagance of Jainism, we refuse to consider it as a sign of its late origin. It is quite natural, that in the beginning of a movement, in the frenzy of the moment, men are apt to be carried away to extremes, Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat www.umaragyanbhandar.com
