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CHAPTER VII. The condition of India in the 5th century B. C.
The teachings of the two great schools of philosophy—the l'edanta and the Sankhya including the Yoga, .
After having shown that the Jain system as taught by Mahavira and the Buddhist system as given out by Buddha were contemporaneous movements, we shall pass over to the examination of soine of their important doctrines. But before entering upon the doctrinal differences or similarities it is necessary to consider the condition of India in the fifth century B. 0. The fertile soil of India inade the struggle for existence almost unknown to the ancient Indians, and gave to its people ample time to speculate over nonmaterialistic problems. Philosophical discussions and metaphisical topics ever engrossed the minds of the Indians. Kings and nobles venerated sages and philosophers, and held meetings in which deep inetaphysical
problems were argued. The life they led Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat www.umaragyanbhandar.com
