Religion and Philosophy of the Jainas

Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Jain International Ahmedabad

Page 40

CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT understood this philosophy did join the sect. On several occasions we find from the Jaina works that there were religious discussions between the Brahmins and the Jainas. The Jaina philosophy teaches that such distinctions of caste are sure to arise so long as there is in the human mind the vanity and pride of individual and family greatness. The duty of Jainism whicii existed side by side with Hinduism was, therefore, to look down upon this pride and to teach the people the true law of cause and effect. Buddha handled this question differently. In his time the Brahmin priesthood was supreme. The barriers created by them were unsurmountable. The Jaina prophet Mahävīra and his 23 predecessors had seen such or similar things in their times. They clearly saw the cause of this the individual pride which became the cause of a Karma leading the man to be bom under such circumstances that he will be considered as belonging to a lower family in comparison to other people. Buddha blamed the Brahmins and their whole society. He laid the whole blame at the door of the Brahmins and ignored the real cause - the individual thoughts and feelings. He wanted to smash the whole society for this one reason. It was like the mosquito and the man. He forgot the truth that by his side there were other philosophers whom it was impossible for him to vanquish. He, however, tried the experiment. The people crushed under the feet of Brahmin priests flocked to him; and thus 600 years before Christ there was a great spectacle on the banks of the Ganges - Buddha preaching the doctrine of equality and salvation for all men, high and low. The work which Buddha did in this department was noble.
In the Vedic times, as may be learned from the numerous hymns, many of them composed by women, a pleasing picture of woman's state may be seen. In that early age the father of the family was the priest, and his home was the temple. The sacred flame was kindled in every house and the hymns were chanted with simplicity and devotion by the entire family. When sacrifices were to be offered, religious devotions