Jain Journal 1974 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 24

162
JAIN JOURNAL
saying that the beginnings of dissenting sects like the Jaina and Buddhists arose out of the institution of the fourth Asrama.14
But there were other differences of belief taking shape in this age of inquiry.15 The Brahman philosophy of the Ātman, or Universal Soul, was being disputed. And while the Jaina held to the orthodox belief in 'the absolute and permanent soul-with but one difference that they ascribed to the Atman, a limited space--Buddha went further. “The very first sermon which he preached to his first converts (was a) discourse on the absence of any sign of "soul" in any of all the constituent elements of individual life. '16
At length, therefore, we have arrived at some conclusions about the relationships between Brahmanism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and it will be well here to summarize them. First, that which Buddhists and Jaina have in common, comes in every case from older Brahman sources. Second, in fundamental points the Buddhists and the Jaina are at variance. Third, Mahavira and Buddhà were undoubtedly contemporaries one of another.
II
The Authenticity of Jaina Tradition
The above discussion has, however, been conducted on the supposition that the tradition of the Jaina as contained in their 'sacred books may on the whole be credited. But the intrinsic value of this tradition has been called into question by M. Barth, who is a scholar of cautious judgement. In his opinion, the direct tradition of peculiar doctrines and records had not yet been demonstrated, and he would seem when he wrote to assume that the Jaina must have been careless in handing down their sacred lore.17 Professor Weber also concludes the introduction to his recent work by saying, 'Personally I still continue to regard the Jaina as one of the oldest of the Buddhist sects'.18
A conclusive answer then must be given, before proceeding further, to the question : 'Was the cultivation of the sacred text altogether abandoned in the interval between the days of Mahavira and the redaction
14 S. B. E., vol. xxii. pp. xxix ff. 15 Cf. p. 168. 16 T. W. Rhys-Davids, Buddhism, its History and Literature, p. 39. 17 Barth, The Religions of India, ch. iy (1 882 ed.). 18 Weber, Sacred Literature of the Jains, p. 12.