Buddhism – Gautama Buddha was the founder of Buddhism. His childhood name was Siddhartha. He was born in 563 BCE in Lumbini near Kapilvastu in the terai of Nepal. At the age of 29 years, he left his house to attain knowledge. He preached to adopt the middle path. The preaching and teachings of Buddha are known by the name of Buddhism. 

There are two branches of Buddhism-

(i) Hinayana 

(ii) Mahayana

In India, almost 0.8% people follow Buddhism. Teachings/Sermons of Buddhism Following are the major teachings and sermons of Buddhism-

(i) Etemal Truth – Buddha has suggested four eternal truths in context to worldly sufferings

1. Human and non-human life is full of sorrows 

2. There is a reason for every sorrow 

3. End of sorrows is possible. 

4. ‘Dukh Nirodh Marg’ is the path to shun all sorrows.

(ii) Eight – Fold Path – Buddha advised to follow the eight-fold path to become free from all the sorrows. 

These eight paths are:

1. Samyak drishti 

2. Samyak sankalp 

3. Samyak vaani 

4. Samyak karma 

5. Samyak ajivika 

6. Samyak vyayaam 

7. Samyak smriti, and 

8. Samyak Samadhi.

(iii) Principles (Sheel) – Buddha empha – sized on following ten sheels for the end of all sorrows, i.e. for attaining Nirvana

1. Truth 

2. Non – violence 

3. Asteya (not stealing) 

4. Aparigrah (not keeping any type of property) 

5. Not consuming alcohol 

6. Not eating food untimely 

7. Not sleeping on a comfortable bed 

8. Not accumulating wealth 

9. Keeping away from women 

10.Remaining away from dance and music.

It was mandatory for the Grihasths to follow five principles and for the monks to follow all the ten principles.

Jainism – Rishabh Dev was the founder of Jainism. Mahavir Swami was the 24th and the last Tirthankara of Jainism. The founders of Jainism are known as Tirthankaras. Mahavir Swami was bom in 540 BCE in Kundagram (Vaishali). At the age of 30 years, he adopted the life of an ascetic after the death of his parents. After meditating rigidly for 12 years, he attained knowledge. 

There are two major branches of Jainism

1. Digambar 

2. Swetambar. In India, almost 0.4% people follow Jainism

Major teachings/sermons of Jainism Following are the major teachings and sermons of Jainism:

1. The world and life is the basis of sorrows.

2. The ultimate objective of life is to attain salvation. 

3. Jainism believes in karma, the fruits of karma is rebirth. 

4. Due to karma only, the life adopts a physical shape and falls into the trap of relationships. 

5. Triratna is the path to avoid the sins of karma. 

These triratnas are –

• Samyak darshan 
• Samyak gyan 
• Samyak acharan 

6. It is mandatory to follow the five mahavratas in order to adopt triratna – 

• Non-violence 
• Truthfulness 
• Asteya (not stealing) 
• Aparigraha, and 
• Brahmacharya 

7. Jainism does not believe in God. Jainism believes in soul