Jainism and Buddhism — Question 4
Back to all questionsTitle: The Enlightened One
Characters:
Gautama Buddha
Queen Maya (Buddha's mother)
King Suddhodana (Buddha's father)
Ananda (Buddha's disciple and cousin)
Mara (the demon of illusion)
Act 1:
Scene 1: The birth of Gautama Buddha
The play opens with Queen Maya giving birth to Prince Siddhartha Gautama. The king and queen celebrate his birth, with the king envisioning a bright future for his son. However, a prophecy is revealed that the prince will either become a great king or a great sage, causing King Suddhodana to worry about his son's future.
Scene 2: The young prince
The play fast-forwards to Prince Siddhartha's teenage years, where he is depicted as a curious and introspective youth. He becomes increasingly interested in the nature of suffering and the meaning of life, much to the confusion of his father and the courtiers.
Act 2:
Scene 1: The Great Renunciation
Prince Siddhartha, now a young man, is married and has a child. One day as his charioteer is driving him through the town, he sees an old man bent with age. Then he sees a sick man groaning in pain. After that he witnesses a dead body of a man being carried for cremation. He is consoled when he sees an ascetic in search of salvation. He becomes disillusioned with his life of luxury and decides to renounce his material possessions and seek the truth. This decision causes great distress to his family, particularly his father, who wants him to become a great king.
Scene 2: The search for enlightenment
The prince embarks on a journey to find enlightenment, seeking the advice of several spiritual teachers along the way. However, he remains dissatisfied with their teachings and continues his search.
Act 3:
Scene 1: Enlightenment
After several years of meditation and self-reflection, Prince Siddhartha attains enlightenment under a Bodhi tree. He becomes known as the Buddha, or the enlightened one. Ananda, his cousin and disciple, witnesses the event.
Scene 2: The first sermon
The Buddha travels to the Deer Park in Sarnath and delivers his first sermon, known as the Four Noble Truths. Ananda and other disciples listen intently as the Buddha explains the nature of suffering and the path to liberation.
Act 4:
Scene 1: The spread of Buddhism
The Buddha continues to travel and teach, gathering a large following of monks and laypeople. He performs several miracles and attracts the attention of Mara, the demon of illusion, who tries to distract him from his mission.
Scene 2: The Mahaparinirvana
The play ends with the Buddha's death, known as the Mahaparinirvana. Ananda and the other disciples mourn his passing, but the Buddha reminds them that his teachings will live on through the Dharma. The play concludes with Ananda reciting one of the Buddha's famous quotes, "All conditioned things are impermanent. Strive on with diligence."
Chapter Overview: Jainism and Buddhism
Jainism and Buddhism emerged in the 6th century BCE as reform movements against the rigid caste system, expensive Vedic rituals, and Brahmanical dominance. Vardhamana Mahavira (24th Tirthankara) established Jainism’s core principles of non-violence (ahimsa), truth, non-stealing, non-attachment, and celibacy. Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) founded Buddhism based on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path as a middle way between extreme asceticism and indulgence.
Both religions rejected the authority of the Vedas and the caste system, preached in Prakrit languages accessible to common people, and gained royal patronage. Jainism split into Digambara and Shvetambara sects after the Council of Valabhi. Buddhism spread across Asia through the efforts of Emperor Ashoka and later missionaries, splitting into Hinayana (Theravada) and Mahayana schools. Both religions profoundly influenced Indian art, architecture, literature, and social values.
Board Exam Weightage: 6-7 marks | Difficulty: Moderate
Jainism vs Buddhism — Comparison
| Aspect | Jainism | Buddhism |
|---|---|---|
| Founder | Mahavira (reorganised; Rishabhadeva was first Tirthankara) | Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) |
| Core teaching | Tri-ratna (Right Faith, Knowledge, Conduct), Five Vows | Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path |
| Ahimsa | Extreme non-violence (covers even microscopic life) | Non-violence but less extreme |
| God | Does not believe in a creator God | Silent on God; focused on individual liberation |
| Sects | Digambara, Shvetambara | Hinayana, Mahayana |
| Spread | Mainly India (Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka) | Spread to Sri Lanka, SE Asia, China, Japan, Tibet |
Must-Know Concepts
- Causes for Rise: Rigidity of caste system, expensive Vedic rituals, use of Prakrit (common language), royal patronage, simple teachings
- Buddha’s Four Noble Truths: Life is suffering (Dukkha), suffering has a cause (desire/Tanha), suffering can end (Nirvana), the path to end suffering (Eightfold Path)
- Eightfold Path: Right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration
- Jain Five Vows: Ahimsa, Satya (truth), Asteya (non-stealing), Aparigraha (non-possessiveness), Brahmacharya (celibacy)
- Buddhist Councils: First (Rajagriha), Second (Vaishali), Third (Pataliputra, under Ashoka), Fourth (Kashmir, under Kanishka)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Calling Mahavira the founder of Jainism — he was the 24th Tirthankara who reformed and organised it
- Confusing Hinayana (individual salvation, original teachings) with Mahayana (universal salvation, Buddha as God)
- Mixing up the Five Vows of Jainism with the Eightfold Path of Buddhism
- Forgetting to mention Ashoka’s role in spreading Buddhism
Scoring Tips
- Comparison questions between Jainism and Buddhism are high-frequency — master the table format
- Always explain the Four Noble Truths in sequence for maximum marks
- Mention contributions to art and architecture: stupas (Sanchi), cave temples (Ajanta, Ellora)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Buddhism spread more widely than Jainism?
Buddhism had powerful royal patronage (especially Ashoka), used a moderate Middle Path accessible to common people, and actively sent missionaries abroad. Jainism’s extreme asceticism (especially for monks) limited its mass appeal.
What are the Tri-ratna of Jainism?
Right Faith (Samyak Darshana), Right Knowledge (Samyak Jnana), and Right Conduct (Samyak Charitra). These three together form the path to liberation (moksha) in Jainism.
What is the difference between Hinayana and Mahayana?
Hinayana (Theravada) follows the original teachings of Buddha, seeks individual salvation, and does not worship Buddha as God. Mahayana considers Buddha as God, believes in universal salvation through Bodhisattvas, and developed elaborate rituals and sculptures.