Deepak Sahoo • 10.78K Points
Tutor II History

Q. Which of the following were common to both Buddhism and Jainism ?
I. Avoidance of extremities of penance and enjoyment
II. Indifference to the authority of the Vedas
III. Denial of efficacy of rituals
IV. Non-injury to animal life
Select the answer using the codes given below

Let's examine each statement:

I. Avoidance of extremities of penance and enjoyment

✅ True for Buddhism: The Middle Path (Madhyam Marg) is central to Buddhism, which avoids both severe asceticism and indulgence in pleasures.
❌ Not true for Jainism: Jainism encourages severe asceticism and penance as a path to liberation. So, this is not common to both.

II. Indifference to the authority of the Vedas

✅ True for both: Both Buddhism and Jainism reject the authority of the Vedas. They are considered heterodox (Nāstika) schools in Indian philosophy for this reason.

III. Denial of efficacy of rituals

✅ True for both: Both religions criticize Vedic rituals, especially the elaborate and costly sacrifices, emphasizing individual conduct and ethical living instead.

IV. Non-injury to animal life

✅ True for both: While ahimsa (non-violence) is more central and strict in Jainism, Buddhism also advocates non-injury as part of right conduct.

Therefore, the correct combination is:

II, III, and IV → Option (B)

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