Jain Thought and Culture

Author(s): G C Pandey
Publisher: University of Rajasthan

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Jain Thought and Culture
the Pali Canon 6 Derived from the same genre and sharing a common ascetic philosophy and a general non-Vedic outlook, these sects were bound to have certain similarities in their institutional set up and working system Persons seeking for the truth gathered around such famous teachers and formed a community the members of which were bound together by an aspiration for a common goal and adoptation of a common way of life as prescribed by the teacher Such a religious and ascetic community was designated as Sangha or Gana and its head was called samghi, gani or ganacarıya During the course of their long history, there ascetic communities had evolved certain common customs and institutions, some of which are said to have been borrowed by Buddha when he started his Samgha? Of these communities Jainism and Buddhism during the long course of their existence, were destined to influence and shape Indian history and culture in many ways and have survived till to-day These two operated within an elaborate and well-organized corporate structure to which, no doubt, must be attributed their strength and vitality 8 Difference in the Nature of the Jaina and Buddhist Monastic Codes
The sect of the Jainas came into existence earlier than the Buddhist sect, the Jaina tradition traces its origin much beyond Mahavira, the historical founder of Jainism and a contemporary of Buddha, something which has withstood historical scrutiny and critical research 9 Nevertheless, the credit for providing its members with a distinct and well-codified text of monastic rules goes to the Buddhists The Jainas do not have a separate code such as the Pali Vinaya or other Vinaya versions of the different Buddhist sects, the Vinaya rules of the Jainas are found scattered in various texts and need
6 All mentioned together in Cullavagga (Nal Ed Ed Bhikkhu J Kashyap, Pali Publication Board. Bihar Government. 1956). D 199 For an account of their teach. ings sce, Barua, Pre Buddlust Indian Philosophy (Calcutta, 1921)
G C Pande, Studies in the Origins of Buddhism (Allahabad, 1957) Ch 1X, K N Jaya. tillcke, Carly Buddhist Theory of Knowledge (George Allen and Unwin, London, 1963), Chs II and III, The Age of Vinaya, Ch, III 7 See my The Age of Vinaya, p 41 8 With regard to Buddhism Charles Eliot has remarked, "The great practical achievement of the Buddha was to found a religious Order which has lasted to the present day It is chiefly this institution that the permanence of his religion is due Hinduism and Buddhism (Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd, London, 1954), Vol 1, p 237 The same can be said about Jainism also 9 See Indian Antiquary Vol IX, 1880, p 162, Jacobi's introduction to Jaina Sutras, SBC Series, Vol 45, PP XIV-X