aim of history project on Jainism and Buddhism
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A Common Origin
Both Buddhism and Jainism originated in Asia among the people of ancient India, a country much larger than it is today. The ancient origins of both religions lie in Hinduism, yet both developed as an alternative belief in rejection of many Hindu beliefs and practices. At one time, European scholars theorized that Jainism developed from Buddhism, but two German researchers discovered that Jainism predated Buddhism by hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Age, however, is not the only difference between the two faiths. Let's look at a quick overview of each before diving into their many similarities and differences.
Buddhism
At the age of 29, a prince from Nepal named Siddhartha Gautama surrendered his royal titles and sheltered life in pursuit of enlightenment after seeing true suffering for the first time. As he meditated, he developed the four principles of Buddhism known as the Four Noble Truths about the nature of suffering and life. From this, he laid out the Eightfold Path of right thoughts and actions in order to find enlightenment and escape the suffering. Essentially, the philosophy says that life is suffering but that suffering comes from wants and desires. To give up the practice of wanting and desiring helps escape suffering. The soul, once realizing enlightenment, reaches a perfect state of peace and bliss called Nirvana.
Buddha Meditating
Jainism
One of Jainism's greatest teachers was Mahavira, a man born only a few years before the Buddha. He was 24th in the line of great Jainist teachers whose legacy extends far before Buddhism developed. Jains believe in Karma, but see it as pollution of the soul which must be cleansed by the individual's own effort. In this process, the Jain strives for detached enlightenment with the goal of achieving Moksha, a state of enlightenment but also a place at the furthest ends of the universe where they live in a state of perpetual bliss. One of the most notable practices of Jains includes adherence to total non-violence, including vegetarianism and even the refusal to kill a bug.
Jains Praying
Similarities
While Jainism and Buddhism are completely different religions, they do share many similarities in their beliefs and practices.
Life after Death
Both religions believe in reincarnation, the rebirth of the soul in a new body after the death of the previous body. They also believe the soul can eventually, through enlightenment, exist in a permanent state of paradise. They also don't believe in a hell or a final judgment of the soul.
Both Buddhism and Jainism originated in Asia among the people of ancient India, a country much larger than it is today. The ancient origins of both religions lie in Hinduism, yet both developed as an alternative belief in rejection of many Hindu beliefs and practices. At one time, European scholars theorized that Jainism developed from Buddhism, but two German researchers discovered that Jainism predated Buddhism by hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Age, however, is not the only difference between the two faiths. Let's look at a quick overview of each before diving into their many similarities and differences.
Buddhism
At the age of 29, a prince from Nepal named Siddhartha Gautama surrendered his royal titles and sheltered life in pursuit of enlightenment after seeing true suffering for the first time. As he meditated, he developed the four principles of Buddhism known as the Four Noble Truths about the nature of suffering and life. From this, he laid out the Eightfold Path of right thoughts and actions in order to find enlightenment and escape the suffering. Essentially, the philosophy says that life is suffering but that suffering comes from wants and desires. To give up the practice of wanting and desiring helps escape suffering. The soul, once realizing enlightenment, reaches a perfect state of peace and bliss called Nirvana.
Buddha Meditating
Jainism
One of Jainism's greatest teachers was Mahavira, a man born only a few years before the Buddha. He was 24th in the line of great Jainist teachers whose legacy extends far before Buddhism developed. Jains believe in Karma, but see it as pollution of the soul which must be cleansed by the individual's own effort. In this process, the Jain strives for detached enlightenment with the goal of achieving Moksha, a state of enlightenment but also a place at the furthest ends of the universe where they live in a state of perpetual bliss. One of the most notable practices of Jains includes adherence to total non-violence, including vegetarianism and even the refusal to kill a bug.
Jains Praying
Similarities
While Jainism and Buddhism are completely different religions, they do share many similarities in their beliefs and practices.
Life after Death
Both religions believe in reincarnation, the rebirth of the soul in a new body after the death of the previous body. They also believe the soul can eventually, through enlightenment, exist in a permanent state of paradise. They also don't believe in a hell or a final judgment of the soul.
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Buddhism and Jainism are two ancient Indian religions that developed in Magadha (Biharregion) and continue to thrive in the modern times.
Jains believe that their religion is ancient and eternal with 24 Tirthankaras. Of the 24, the last two – Parshvanatha and Mahavira – are generally accepted as historical persons, with the 23rd Tirthankara pre-dating the Buddha and the Mahavira by probably some 250 years.
Buddhist scriptures record that during Prince Siddhartha's ascetic life (before attaining enlightenment) he undertook many fasts, penances and austerities, the descriptions of which are elsewhere found only in the Jain tradition.
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