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Indira Gandhi National Open University MPYE – 005
School of Interdisciplinary and
Trans-disciplinary Studies World Religions
Block 1
JAINISM AND BUDDHISM
UNIT 1
Introduction to Jainism
UNIT 2
Philosophy of Jainism
UNIT 3
Introduction to Buddhism
UNIT 4
Philosophy of Buddhism
Expert Committee
IGNOU IGNOU
Prof. Gracious Thomas
Director, School of Prof. Renu Bharadwaj Prof. George
Social Work School of Humanities Panthanmackel,
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Senior Consultant, Dr. Sathya Sundar
IGNOU Sethy
Dept of Humanities
Dr. M. R. Nandan IIT, Chennai.
Govt. College for
Women Dr. Joseph Martis
Mandya - Mysore St. Joseph’s College
Jeppu, Mangalore – 2
Dr. Kuruvila
Pandikattu Dr. Jaswinder Kaur
Jnana-deepa Dhillon
Vidyapeeth 147, Kabir park
Ramwadi, Opp. GND University
Pune Amristar – 143 002
Prof. Y.S. Gowramma
Principal,
Dr Babu Joseph College of Fine Arts,
CBCI Centre Manasagangotri
New Delhi Mysore – 570 006
Prof. Tasadduq Husain
Aligarh Muslim
University
Aligarh
Dr. Bhuvaneswari
Lavanya Flats
Gangai Amman Koil
St.
Thiruvanmiyur
Chennai – 600 041
Dr. Alok Nag
Vishwa Jyoti Gurukul
Varanasi
Dr. Jose Kuruvachira
Salesian College &
IGNOU Study Centre
Dimapur, Nagaland
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Block Preparation
Units 1 - 4 Shimmy Joseph V.
Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth
Pune.
Content Editor
Dr. V. John Peter
IGNOU, New Delhi
Format Editor
Prof. Gracious Thomas
IGNOU, New Delhi.
Programme Coordinator
Prof. Gracious Thomas
IGNOU, New Delhi.
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BLOCK INTRODUCTION
Jainism and Buddhism are very ancient Indian traditions that survived for many centuries and
still a living tradition both as religion and philosophy. Even though they are portrayed by
scholars as ‘anti-vedic’ and only in comparison and contrast to Vedic tradition, fresh efforts are
yet to be made to authenticate them as independent sramanic traditions in par with brahmanic
tradition. Jainism is often classified as a philosophy, a way of life, rather than a religion. It puts
great emphasis on the practice of good life. Jainism teaches the path of self-reliance, self-
discipline, and self-purification to realize the inherent potentialities of the human self. Jainism
holds an integral view of life. One is to have a combination of right faith, right knowledge, and
right conduct to tread the path of salvation. Jainism teaches us that attainment of liberation is
possible through personal efforts. The message of Jainism is full of pragmatic optimism. It is a
religion of self-help. The contribution of Jainism to Indian culture, spirituality, and philosophy is
really immense. Non-absolutism of Jaina epistemology is commendable for its uniqueness and
peculiarity.
Buddhism is a non-theistic religion, and unlike other world religions. Buddhism is not a doctrine
of revelation, although is it proper to call it a religion is yet to be addressed. Buddha avoided and
negated the extremes and was not interested in speculative or theoretical analysis of phenomena,
but he was concerned about finding out practical solutions to problems in life. Compassion,
charity and love were the predominant characteristics of Buddhist tradition. The main
philosophical notions based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha, give meaningful insights
about reality and human existence. Buddha was primarily an ethical teacher rather than a
philosopher.
Unit 1 and 2 on the introduction to Jainism as a religion and philosophy briefly presents the
basic tenets of Jainism. Jainism is one of the religious traditions of Indian subcontinent.
According to its own traditions, the teachings of Jainism are eternal, and hence have no founder;
however, the Jainism of this age can be traced back to Mahavira, a teacher of the sixth century
BCE, a contemporary of the Buddha. A great generation of tirthankaras, acaryas, saints, and
scholars belonged to this tradition. Jainism in its essence is the religion of heroic souls who are
jinas or conquerors of their self. Jainism was also instrumental for a radical change in the social
life of Indians. Jainism has the universal message of non-violence. Jainism is atheistic but does
not deny the existence of gods as beings inside the cosmos. Jainism makes a distinction between
Jivas and Ajivas. Although Jainism recognizes souls, it rejects the notion of an ultimate,
universal soul. The philosophy of Jainism lays a strong foundation for the beliefs, practices of
religion of Jainism. The ethics of Jainism deals with the three famous gems and the five great
vows.
The units 3 and 4 briefly deal with Buddhist religious sects and philosophical concepts. Buddha
opposed to Vedic of worship, rituals, and religious ceremonies as interpreted by the Brahmins to
suit their interest. The influence of the early Upanishads is clear in the teachings of Buddha. As a
religious tradition, Mahayana Buddhism plays a great role. Bodhisattva, Buddha-hood, became a
so religious in nature than ethical or philosophical. It developed its own canon of scripture, using
much that was included in the Theravada canon, but adding other Mahayana Sutras, which
contain the bases of their peculiar beliefs. We cannot make a sharp distinction between the
philosophical, religious, and ethical notions of Buddhism.
