DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BUDDHISM AND JAINISM

Similarities:
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In respect of their basic philosophical concepts, Buddhism and Jainism were

indebted to the Sankhya philosophy. The Buddhists and Jainas equally believe
that the world is full of misery, that the object or religion is to deliver the soul
from the miseries of this world by eliminating rebirth. This concept of the Jainas
and the Buddhists that world is a misery and that man is subjected to the result of
Karma was borrowed from the Upanishadas and the Sankhya philosophy.

Both dismissed: god, caste system, Vedas. Both accepted: non violence, moral
and ethical life,

Differences
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The Jaina conception of soul differed from that of the Buddhists. The Jainas
ascribe life to plants, stone and water, which the Buddhists reject. Their concept
of Jiva (soul) and Ajiva (matter) is entirely different from the Buddhist concept of
soul which doesnt believe in soul for non living objects.

Jaina follows extreme non violence and hardship to realize truth while such
extreme hardship is rejected by Buddhism.

The Jainas do not entirely reject the caste system and do not entirely sever
contacts with Hinduism. They are more accommodating to Hinduism than the
Buddhists and employ Brahmanical priests for worship. But Buddhism has
completely cut itself off from Hinduism and rejects caste system in any form.

In Jainism soul is eternal and divine and it is bound to human form. To get
liberated from the human form and remain free the person has to conduct self
mortification and extreme austerity. While Buddha doesnt believe in eternity of
soul and he believes that once a person has achieved nirvana the soul is
destroyed.

According to Jainism karma is attached to oneself because of impurity of action.

This karma can be washed only by extreme penance. While Buddha says the
karma are the result of desires and ignorance. They stick to the soul. And the
person continues to reborn to suffer until the karma is washed away.

Various mudras of Buddha

1)

Uttarabodhi Mudra: This mudra is formed with both hands placed at the
heart; index fingers touching and pointing upward. It is a hand gesture that
clearly evokes a sense of unshaked unity within oneself in aligning with the
One source.

2)

Darmachakra Mudra: expresses the continuous energy of the cosmic order.

It is often referred to as the representation of teaching about the cosmic order
as coming from (or through) the heart center.

3)

Vitarka Mudra: Close to Abhaya Mudra , the energy created by this hand
gesture allows for a transmission of knowledge in a protected way, without
being impeded by fear.

4)

Vajrapradama Mudra:

translated as the Mudra of Unshakable Self

Confidence
5)

Karana Mudra: Karana mudra expresses a very powerful energy with which
negative energy is expelled. This hand gesture is also called warding off the
evil .

6)

Varada Mudra: expresses the energy of compassion, liberation and an

offering of acceptance. This mudra is also called a boon-granting mudra,
because it helps bestow a specific quality of energy one might be seeking from
an enlightened being.

7)

Bhumisparsa Mudra: translated asTouching the Earth , or Calling the Earth

To Witness the Truth mudra. Bhumisparsa mudra is said to be Buddha's hand
gesture when he achieved enlightenment. It represents unshaken strength and
the truth of his commitment to liberation, which helped overcome the darkness
(Mara) challenging him right before he entered the Light.

8)

Abhaya Mudra: translated from Sanskrit as fearlessness .

FACTS ABOUT BUDDHISM

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The sermons of Buddha were 1st written only after death of Buddha.

BACIS FACTS

Sramana was a non-Vedic Indian religious movement parallel to but separate

from the historical Vedic religion. The raman a tradition gave rise to Yoga,
Jainism, Buddhism and some nstika schools of Hinduism such as Crvka and
jvika, and also popular concepts in all major Indian religions such as
sasra (the cycle of birth and death) and oksha.