Jainism the Oldest Living Religion

Author(s): Jyoti Prasad Jain, Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi

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Jainism
(ii) A reference in the Majjhima Nikāya to the
conversion of Upāli, a lay disciple of Lord Mahāvira, after a dispute with the Buddha as to the comparative iniquitousness
of the sins of the body and the mind. (iii) Mrs. Rhys Davids in Psalms of the Early
Budhists' (London 1903) givos several insta. nces of conversions from Buddhism to Jainism and vice versa, viz. Ajjuna a Budhist, contacts the Jainas and enters their order, prince Abhaya is said to have been taught a dilemma
by Nātaputta, and so on. (iv) Dr. B. C. Law in his Historical Gleanings'
refers to the relation of Buddha with the Niganthas and to their mutual conversions, giving examples o f Siha, Saccaka, Šrigupta, Gșhadinna, Digha Tapassi, Upāli, Abhaya
Rājakumāra, Višākhā etc. (v) Mentions of Jainism are also found in other
famous works like Sumangalā Vilāsint, Lalila
Vistara, the Jātakas, Dāthā Vamso etc. 4. References in old Buddhist books tɔ well known and acknowledged doctrines of Jaipa theology, metaphysics and etbics :--
(i) A reference to cold water possessiog a soul
i.e, to Jivas of Jalakāya, in the Brabma jāla
Sutta of Digha Nikāya. (ii) A reference in the same to the Jaioa rejection
of the Ājivika doctrine that the soul has
colour (i.e. doctrine of Leśyā). (iii) In the Majjhima Nikāya, a reference to the
three Dandas of body, speech and mind,