Jainism & Buddhism - 3

The interaction between Mahavira (the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism) and Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) is a subject of historical curiosity, though there isn't substantial direct evidence to suggest they personally interacted. Both Mahavira and the Buddha were contemporaries, and their teachings emerged in a similar cultural and philosophical context in ancient India. Let's explore the facts about their possible interactions and the story behind why the Buddha departed from Jainism.

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Facts about Mahavira & Buddha's Interaction

1. Time Period:

   • Both Mahavira and Buddha lived around the same time, in the 6th century BCE. Mahavira is believed to have lived from 599–527 BCE, and Buddha from 563–483 BCE.

   • They both began their spiritual journeys as young men, seeking answers to the nature of suffering, liberation, and the nature of the soul.

2. Similar Spiritual Search:

   • Mahavira was born into a Kshatriya family and initially led a life of luxury before renouncing the world to seek spiritual knowledge.

   • Buddha (Gautama) was also born into a royal family and sought answers to the nature of human suffering and the ultimate path to liberation.

3. Influence of Jainism on Buddha:

   • Buddhism emerged in a religious atmosphere heavily influenced by ascetic and spiritual traditions of the time, including Jainism.

   • It's possible that Buddha was aware of Jainism and might have encountered Jains during his search for enlightenment. However, Buddha's teachings were distinctly different from Jainism, focusing on the Middle Path rather than extreme asceticism.

4. No Evidence of Personal Interaction:

   • There is no solid historical evidence that Buddha and Mahavira met or directly interacted. Some sources suggest they might have known of each other, but no definitive encounter is documented in Buddhist or Jain texts.

   • Jain texts mention Mahavira as the spiritual leader of his followers, while Buddhist texts describe Buddha’s interactions with other teachers, but not specifically Mahavira.

5. Buddha’s Encounter with Jain Monks:

   • Buddha is said to have met Jain monks during his travels. In Sūtra Pitaka (Buddhist scriptures), there are references to Buddha engaging with ascetics from various traditions, including Jainism.

   • Some stories indicate that Buddha initially practiced extreme asceticism, similar to Jain practices, but later found it unfulfilling, leading to his development of the Middle Path.

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Why Buddha Departed from Jainism

The Buddha's departure from Jainism is primarily associated with his rejection of extreme asceticism and the core teachings of Jainism, especially regarding the severity of self-mortification and the metaphysical concepts of the soul.

1. Buddha’s Early Asceticism:

   • After leaving his palace life, Buddha initially studied under various teachers and practiced extreme forms of asceticism. He joined a group of Jain ascetics and practiced their rigorous methods of fasting and self-mortification.

   • Jainism emphasizes severe asceticism, non-violence, and the renunciation of all material possessions, including food, which can lead to extreme fasting. Buddha is said to have practiced such methods for six years.

2. Rejection of Extreme Asceticism:

   • Buddha eventually realized that extreme asceticism did not lead to the insight he was seeking. He believed that self-mortification only weakened the body and did not lead to wisdom or enlightenment.

   • The famous story of the Buddha’s “Middle Path” reveals his breakthrough: one day, after nearly starving himself to death, Buddha accepted some food from a woman named Sujata. He then decided to abandon extreme fasting and pursue a balanced approach to life, which he later called the Middle Path.

3. Rejection of Jain Metaphysical Views:

   • Jainism emphasizes the existence of an eternal soul (jiva) that is fundamentally separate from the body, and it teaches that liberation (moksha) comes through purifying the soul from the physical impurities of karma.

   • Buddha, on the other hand, rejected the concept of a permanent, eternal soul (atman or jiva). He proposed the doctrine of anatta (no-self), asserting that there is no permanent, unchanging soul or self. Instead, everything is in a constant state of flux and interdependence.

   • Buddha also rejected the Jain view of karma as a substance that adheres to the soul, choosing instead a more psychological view of karma as intentional actions that shape one’s experiences.

4. The Middle Path and the Four Noble Truths:

   • Buddha developed his own path to liberation, which he called the Middle Path—a balanced approach between indulgence and severe asceticism.

   • He proposed the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which focused on right understanding, right action, and right concentration as the means to overcome suffering (dukkha), achieve enlightenment (nirvana), and ultimately be freed from the cycle of rebirth (samsara).

5. Teachings on Non-Violence (Ahimsa):

   • Both Buddha and Mahavira advocated for ahimsa (non-violence). However, Buddha’s emphasis on the Middle Path led to a less rigid interpretation of non-violence. Buddha allowed his followers more flexibility in daily life, especially when it came to non-violence in thought and action, whereas Jainism was more stringent, advocating for even the protection of microscopic life.

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Key Factors in Buddha's Departure from Jainism:

• Rejection of Extreme Asceticism: Buddha found Jain asceticism unsustainable and realized that it did not lead to the enlightenment he sought.

• No Permanent Soul: Buddha rejected Jainism’s belief in an eternal, individual soul and proposed that there is no permanent self (anatta).

• Karma: Buddha's view of karma as intentional actions and the law of cause and effect was different from Jainism's more physical conception of karma.

• Middle Path: Buddha introduced the Middle Path, advocating a balanced life, as opposed to Jainism’s extreme renunciation.

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Conclusion

While Mahavira and Buddha were contemporaries, there is little direct evidence of their personal interaction. Buddha’s departure from Jainism came mainly due to his rejection of the extreme asceticism practiced by the Jains and his development of a more moderate, balanced approach to spiritual practice, known as the Middle Path. He also departed from Jain metaphysical views, particularly regarding the existence of an eternal soul, and formulated his own teachings based on the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path.

Buddha’s teachings became a distinct tradition that gained wide popularity across Asia, while Jainism continued as a separate, though smaller, religious path focused on non-violence and self-purification.

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