Doctrines of Jainism and Buddhism (5.2) Flashcards
To analyse the doctrine, patronage, spread and impact of Jainism and Buddism
Jainism
Founder - Vardhaman Mahavira who was born in 599 BC near Vaishali in Bihar. Jainism believed that the main goal of human life is the purification of the soul and attainment of ‘nirvana’, which means freedom from birth and death, which can only be achieved by pursuance of ‘triratna’ and ‘panchamahavrata’.
Triratna
Also known as the three jewels of faith are: right faith, right knowledge and right conduct, which can lead to liberation.
Right conduct means observance of the five great vows.
Ahimsa (do not commit violence), satya vachana (do not speak a lie), asteya (do not steal), brahmacharya (do not indulge in sexual acts) and aprigraha (do not acquire property). Householders were expected to observe a milder form of the practice of these virtues called anuvrata (small vows), in comparison to the monks.
Important features of Jainism
The concept of anekantavada/syadavada, which means that the truth can be viewed from ‘aneka’ or various angels.
Another important feature is the emphasis on extreme forms of penance, austerity, and strict non-violence.
Buddhism
Founder - Gautama Buddha who was born in 566 BC in Lumbini at the foothills of Nepal. One night he left his palace in search of truth and ultimately attained the true knowledge at Bodhgaya. Since then he was called Buddha or “The Enlightened One”.
What were Buddha’s followers asked to avoid?
His followers were asked to avoid the two extreme indulgences in worldly pleasure and the practice of strict abstinence and asceticism.
The four noble truths (arya satya) and eight-fold path (astangika marga)
The noble truths: suffering (dukkha) is the essence of the world; every suffering has a cause (dukkha samudya); suffering could be extinguished (dukkha nirodha); there is a path leading to the extinction of suffering (dukkha nirodha gamini pratipada). The removal of desire can be achieved through the eight-fold path, these are: right faith, right resolve, right speech, right concentration, right action, right living,right effort and right thought.
Propagation of Buddhism
Buddha used the Pali language spoken by the masses to propagate his teachings. Lower varnas and women were allowed to join the ‘sangha’. Four Buddhist councils organised over different periods played significant roles in the propagation of Buddhism.
Impact of Buddhism
Can be seen in all spheres of life in Indian history. Buddhist scholars created several literary texts like Triptaka, Milindapanho, Buddhacharita, etc. Buddhism became and inspiration for the promotion of art and architecture, in the forms of stupas, rock cut caves and paintings. Buddhism, by opening its doors to all classes of society, challenged the superiority of Brahmanism and gave better social positions to lower castes.
