{"id":3893,"date":"2026-01-02T13:36:04","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T08:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=3893"},"modified":"2026-01-03T16:07:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T10:37:12","slug":"jainism-and-buddhism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/jainism-and-buddhism\/","title":{"rendered":"Difference Between Buddhism and Jainism"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jainism vs Buddhism:<\/strong>\u00a0The prevalent social, economic, and religious circumstances during the sixth century B.C. gave rise to new religious churning in Indian society. The Vedic ritualistic, orthodox ideas and the prevalence of rigid caste realities were coming under increasing attack during this period. As a result, numerous heterodox religious movements eventually emerged. Amongst them,\u00a0Buddhism and Jainism<\/strong>\u00a0were the most important ones that successfully evolved into the well-organised popular religions.<\/p>\r\n

Differences between Jainism and Buddhism<\/h2>\r\n

The emergence of Jainism and Buddhism shares some similarities in their principles; however, they differ significantly in some fundamental aspects.<\/p>\r\n

Founder of Jainism and Buddhism<\/h3>\r\n
    \r\n\t
  • Buddhism:\u00a0<\/strong>Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama (\u2018the Buddha\u2019).<\/li>\r\n\t
  • Jainism:<\/strong>\u00a0There are 24 Tirthankaras who are credited with founding and developing Jainism and its philosophy; however, Parsvanatha and Mahavira are more noteworthy owing to their historical records and effect on the two main sects of Jainism.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    Core Teachings<\/h3>\r\n
    \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    Concept<\/strong><\/td>\r\nBuddhism<\/strong><\/td>\r\nJainism<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Basic Doctrines<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\r\n

    - Four Noble Truths:<\/p>\r\n

      \r\n\t
    • The world is full of suffering.<\/li>\r\n\t
    • All sufferings have a cause; desire, ignorance, and attachment are the causes of suffering.<\/li>\r\n\t
    • The suffering could be removed by destroying its cause.<\/li>\r\n\t
    • In order to end suffering, one must know the right path. This path is the\u00a0Eight-Fold Path<\/strong>\u00a0(Ashtangika Marga<\/strong>).<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      -\u00a0The Eight-Fold Path:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

        \r\n\t
      • Right View:<\/strong>\u00a0To understand that the world is filled with sorrow generated by\u00a0desire,\u00a0<\/strong>whose end will lead to the liberation of the soul.<\/li>\r\n\t
      • Right aim:<\/strong>\u00a0To avoid the enjoyment of the senses and luxury. It aims to love humanity and increase the happiness of others.<\/li>\r\n\t
      • Right speech:<\/strong>\u00a0Emphasising to speak truth always.<\/li>\r\n\t
      • Right action:<\/strong>\u00a0which is understood to be unselfish action.<\/li>\r\n\t
      • Right livelihood:<\/strong>\u00a0It instructs that a man should live by honest means.<\/li>\r\n\t
      • Right effort:<\/strong>\u00a0It is the proper way of controlling one\u2019s senses so as to prevent bad thoughts through correct mental exercises.<\/li>\r\n\t
      • Right mindfulness:<\/strong>\u00a0To understand that the body is impermanent and meditation is the means for the removal of worldly evils.<\/li>\r\n\t
      • Right concentration:\u00a0<\/strong>The observation of it will lead to peace. Meditation will unravel the real truth.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n
    		\r\n

    -\u00a0Pancha Mahavratas:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

      \r\n\t
    • Truth (Satya)<\/li>\r\n\t
    • Non-violence (Ahimsa)<\/li>\r\n\t
    • Non-possession (Aparigraha)<\/li>\r\n\t
    • Non-stealing (Asteya)<\/li>\r\n\t
    • Celibacy (Brahmacharya)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      -\u00a0Triratnas:\u00a0<\/strong>According to Jainism, a person can achieve \"moksha\" by leading a life of purity, virtue, and renunciation. The following principles (triratnas or ratnatraya) can be followed to achieve moksha (nirvana):<\/p>\r\n

        \r\n\t
      • Right belief (Samyak Darshana):\u00a0<\/strong>Samyak Darshana, or \"right perception,\" involves seeing things properly and avoiding preconceptions and superstitions.<\/li>\r\n\t
      • Right knowledge (Samyak jnana):\u00a0<\/strong>Accurate and sufficient knowledge of the real universe, including the five or six substances and nine truths, is essential, and this knowledge should be accompanied by the right mental attitude.<\/li>\r\n\t
      • Right conduct (SamyakCharitra):\u00a0<\/strong>To avoid harming living things and freeing oneself from attachment and impure attitudes and thoughts. It believes that those with the right faith and knowledge achieve the right conduct.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
    Belief in Soul<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\r\n

    - Buddhism denies the concept of self (jiva) or soul (atman), proposing the concept of no-self (anatta) instead.<\/p>\r\n

    - Buddhism does not believe in the transmigration of the soul either.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    - Jains believe in the existence of an eternal Jiva (soul).<\/p>\r\n

    - They believe in the transmigration of the soul.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    Non-violence doctrine<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\r\n

    - Buddhism takes a moderate path to non-violence. It prohibits violence but is not as strict as Jainism.<\/p>\r\n

    - For example, it even permits eating animal flesh, if necessary or as part of the local diet.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    - The doctrine of nonviolence ('Ahimsa') is being\u00a0strictly followed\u00a0<\/strong>by Jainism.<\/p>\r\n

    - For instance, Jain vegetarianism is based on the idea that no animal should be harmed.<\/p>\r\n

    - They also prohibit agriculture because they believe that it can kill insects and pests.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    Salvation<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\r\n

    - Buddhism advises its Upasakas to follow the middle path to attain salvation\u00a0(Nirvana)<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n

    - Nirvana is possible during one\u2019s own life through the practice of\u00a0detachment\u00a0<\/strong>from worldly desires and ignorance.<\/p>\r\n

    - According to Buddhism, it is possible for both normal men and women to attain salvation.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    - Jainism advises the practice of strict\u00a0asceticism\u00a0<\/strong>to attain salvation, that is\u00a0Kaivalya.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    - According to Jainism, salvation is possible only after death.<\/p>\r\n

    - According to Jainism, women and male householders cannot attain salvation.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    The existence of God<\/strong><\/td>\r\n- The Buddha neither accepted nor rejected the existence of God. He was more concerned about the individual and his actions.<\/td>\r\n\r\n

    - Jainism recognises the existence of God.<\/p>\r\n

    - For example, in Jainism, pantheons of gods, including the Brahmanical gods, are worshipped.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    Karma<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\r\n

    - The concept of 'karma' law is highly valued in Buddhism.<\/p>\r\n

    - This law states that past\u00a0acts\u00a0<\/strong>determine the present.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    - They also believe in Karma.<\/p>\r\n

    - According to Jains, karma is a real substance that permeates the entire universe.<\/p>\r\n

    - The actions of the\u00a0soul\u00a0<\/strong>draw karma particles to the soul.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    Philosophical concepts<\/strong><\/td>\r\n\r\n

    -\u00a0Madhyamika:<\/strong>\u00a0Also known as Sunyavada and was systematised by Nagarjuna (2nd century A.D)<\/p>\r\n

    - The name of this school comes from Buddha\u2019s famous \u2018middle position\u2019 (madhyama pratipad).<\/p>\r\n

    - The middle position is the rejection of the extreme metaphysical positions of \u2018is\u2019 and \u2018is not\u2019 (Sasvatavada and Uchedavada).<\/p>\r\n

    - Thus it becomes the no-position (transcendental and inexpressible) and they used the word \u2018Sunyata\u2019 to explain it.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    -\u00a0Anekantwada:\u00a0<\/strong>Realistic and relativistic pluralism is what the doctrine of the manyness of reality proposes. A thing can have an infinite number of unique characteristics.<\/p>\r\n