Question

Enumerate the sources of study for Jainism and Buddhism.

Answer 1

• Sources of Jainism:

1. Mahavira's preaching was orally transmitted by his disciples over the course of about. one thousand years.
2. In the early period of Jainism, monks strictly followed the five great vows of Jainism. Even religious scriptures were considered possessions and therefore knowledge of the religion was never documented.
3. Two hundred years after the death of Mahavira, Jain scholars attempted to codify the canon by convening an assembly at Pataliputra, but it ended as a failure.
4. A second council held at Vallabhi, in the 5th century A.D., was, however, successful in
5. Over time, many learned monks, older in age and rich in wisdom, had compiled commentaries on various topics.

• Sources of Buddhism:

1. Buddha's teachings for a long time were transmitted through the memory of teachers and disciples.
2. They were reduced to writing by 80 B.C. and were written in the Pali language.
3. The Pali canon Tripitaka has three divisions, also known as the Threefold Basket. They include Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka and Abhidhamma Pitaka.