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JAINISM: A THEISTIC PHILOSOPHY "GOD IN JAINISM"
With reference to Brahma, Gautama has distinctly said in Tevijjāsutta that the talk of the Brahmins about that Brahma is a foolish talk and that there existed no such state as Brahma".
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With the reference to ātman, Gautama said that it is heresy to say that there is any such thing as ātman. Soul and spirit, ātman and Brahman, are all identical in Indian philosophies and attempt to put into the mouth of Gautama views which he never maintained is a fruitless attempt.
But the theory of transmigration was not the only theory, which Gautama accepted from the ancient religion and adopted in modified form into his own religion. The whole of the Hindu pantheon of the day was accepted with modification to suit his cardinal idea. The innumerable gods of Rgveda were recognized but they were not supreme. Brahma the supreme deity of the Upanisads was recognized but was not supreme. Holy life alone was supreme, and in preaching that doctrine Buddha did an immense good; he raised goodness attainable by man above the gods and nature-powers of Brahmins.
The Buddhist believe in a God similar to that of the Jains but they believe in his incarnation in the world. The followers of Buddhism believe in God who is the preacher of their four eternal truths viz., existence of sorrow or misery, cause of suffering, cessation of sorrow and the path that lead to that cessation, and who incarnates himself in the world whenever his teaching is neglected. Buddhist considers Buddha to be their God.
VII. 3. (iii) Jaina View of God Compared with the Sāṁkhya Philosophy
Samkhya admits two ultimate realities namely, Purușa and Prakṛti which are independent of each other in respect of their existence.
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Jain philosophy, Historical out line, P-117
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