Buddhism and Jainism: A Comparative Overview
While both Buddhism and Jainism emerged around the 6th century BCE, during the Age of Transition in Indian history, they were not the same. They responded to similar social and religious contexts, but evolved with different paths, doctrines, and impacts.
Let’s first understand their similarities — why we often study them together — and then move on to their key differences.
✅ Similarities between Jainism and Buddhism
Aspect | Common Feature |
---|---|
Social Origin | Both Mahavira and Buddha were born into royal Kshatriya families, yet renounced luxury to seek truth. |
Critique of Vedic Tradition | Both rejected the authority of the Vedas, the ritualism of yajnas, and Brahmanical supremacy. |
Animal Sacrifice | Opposed the violence of animal sacrifices and promoted non-violence. |
Caste and Varna System | Rejected or did not uphold the rigid caste and varna hierarchies. |
Concept of God | Neither emphasized creator gods; both promoted a non-theistic path to liberation. |
Path to Liberation | Emphasized individual effort (self-discipline, morality, meditation) over rituals. |
Monastic Institutions | Established monasteries (viharas and sanghas) for monks and nuns, creating organized religious communities. |
🧠 Why these similarities?
Because both were Sramana movements — part of a larger non-Vedic philosophical wave challenging orthodoxy in the Gangetic plains during the 6th century BCE.
🔍 Key Differences between Jainism and Buddhism
Let’s now contrast them now:
Feature | Buddhism | Jainism |
---|---|---|
Path to Liberation | Middle Path – Avoid both luxury and extreme asceticism | Extreme Path – Advocated severe penance and asceticism |
Belief in God and Soul | Did not recognize the soul (anatma) or creator god | Recognized both soul (jiva) and existence of gods (though subordinate to Jinas) |
Varna System | Explicitly condemned the caste/varna system | Did not accept, but also did not strongly condemn the varna system |
Ahimsa (Non-violence) | Important, but less strict compared to Jainism | Most fundamental doctrine – extended even to plants, rocks, water |
Spread | Widespread – expanded across Asia: Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Southeast Asia | Primarily confined to India (Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, etc.) |
State Patronage | Received extensive royal support, e.g., Ashoka, Kanishka | Less royal patronage in comparison |
Survival in India | Virtually disappeared from India by 12th century CE | Still retains strong presence in Western and Southern India |
Religious Language | Early teachings in Pali | Early teachings in Prakrit (Ardhamagadhi) |
🧭 Summary Insight:
While Buddhism chose moderation, Jainism chose extreme austerity.
Buddhism focused on the psychological causes of suffering (dukkha) and their removal, while Jainism focused on purifying the soul (jiva) by shedding karmic matter through self-restraint and penance.
🧠 Buddha taught: “Desire causes suffering. Remove desire, and suffering ends.”
🧠 Mahavira taught: “Attachment causes karma. Remove attachment through penance, and liberation follows.”