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Buddha and Mahavira
] 129 a position to ascertain which form of conduct prevailed in which period. This boils down to a Conclusion that we are able to know the precise limit or norm of Jaina code of conduct whether one is a monk or a mere layman as also we are able to know those who go beyond it. Jaina Sangha derived advantage from this and due to this fact a specific level or stage or standard as regards code of conduct has been possible to be pinpointed or fixed.
But, as Buddhism has preferred golden mean, the standard of code of conduct remained always fluctuating. This resulted in an inevitable fact that forms of Buddhist code of conduct were varying according to times and countries. This phenomenon was responsible for the result that Tibetan Buddhism and Sinhalese Buddhism. though they both held the same views regarding the three jewels such as Buddha etc. etc. differed as regards code of conduct and still they both were considered as belonging to Buddhism. Contrary to this, Jainism, at any stage and in any country maintained uniformly a certain standard of conduct always.
Buddhism spread, no doubt, in the world but not in its original form while Jainism, though it lost its foothold in the soil of its birth, preserved its basic nature and existence. We can see with our own eyes the results of the insistence on a golden mean and an extreme attitude.
Jain Education International
("Prabuddha Jivan", 1-11.64; 16.11.64). -Translated from Gujrati into English By Dr. A.S. Gopani
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