Jain Journal 1976 10

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

Page 34

72
views when in authority or assume special dress or luxury, to love truth and hate falsehood, to keep his hand free of theft, and his soul from unrighteous gain, not have any secret from the brethren, to pass on the traditions they have received to others and ever to safeguard them, and to observe the weekly sabbath day. So good were they that the worst tyrant could not charge them with anything.
Not different in external practices from the Essenes were the Therapeutists. They lived in mean and scattered homes. They met every week for prayer. They lived in Egypt. No flesh was served with their fasts. They had a special posture for prayer. Their discipline was very severe. They despised money. They lived a lonely life except for their weekly meetings for prayer. They were attendants and physicians.
JAIN JOURNAL
The Therapeutists might be Jainas or Buddhists. As the Jainas were more concerned with tending the aged and the sick Therapeutists also might have been Jainas. Christ's cures described in the Gospels need not be due to special interventions of God. He might have learned medicine during his association with the Jainas. Some identify the Therapeutists with the Theravadins, a sect of Hinayana Buddhists. If it is correct, we may say that Jesus owed something also to the Buddhists.
The existence of these two sects, Essenes and Therapeutists, is a historical fact and their social influence, on the basis of numerous references about them, is also undoubted. But their proper identification has yet to be made. If this is done it can provide a very important clue to the understanding of Jaina (and also Buddhist) influences outside India. It is a problem worth investigation and study.
Reprinted from Mahavir Nirvan Souvenir, Calicut.