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JAINISM AND BUDDHISM
(2) Is the universe destructible? (3) Is the universe finite? (4) Is the universe infinite? (5) Is the soul same as the body? (6) Is the soul another, and the body another? (7) Is Tathagata born again after death? (8) Is Tathagata not born after death? Buddha replied that these questions were not to be discussed. Gautama says in these words, "Paṭṭhapâda, they are not useful; they do not lead to virtue; they are not causes of chastity, or self-absorption, nor do they bring non-attachment, nor cessation of miseries, nor they lead to Nirvâna; and therefore I do not describe them." Again Patthapâda asks: "What has the Lord Buddha described:" Then Buddha says, Patthapada: It is misery which I have described; the cause of misery, the cessation of misery, the means of the cessation of misery; this I have described. Paṭṭhapada, this is useful, leading to Virtue, procuring chastity or selfabsorption, bringing non-attachment, causing cessation of pain, leading to passionlessness, providing knowledge, making intellectual, and leading to nirvâna; therefore I have described."
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Although, Jain Literature has given a very fine description of the substances, still it is said that the description is of three kinds Heya, avoidable, Upadeya, adoptable, Jneya, knowable. Out of these three, he who is desirous of liberation, should pay his deep attention first to the former two. He should know what are the causes of misery, and what lengthens
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