How do Jainists feel about Buddhists and Buddhism? Also, how do Jainists feel about The Buddha?

• Jain view of Buddhists/Buddhism: Jainism and Buddhism are distinct paths. Jains respect every sincere seeker who strives for liberation, but Jain philosophy remains separate in its understanding of the soul, karma, and the path to moksha. Most Jain teachers explain that while Buddhists share the ethic of non-violence and renunciation, Jainism does not identify Buddhism as a Jain sect or as a Jain “jina” (ford-maker). This is a common teaching in modern Jain explanations that emphasize their differences while acknowledging mutual ethical kinship. You can read more about the distinctness and mutual respect here .

• Jain view of The Buddha: In Jain scriptures and traditional teaching, Mahavira and the Buddha were contemporaries, but there is no evidence in Jain canonical texts of a meeting between them. Jains generally do not regard the Buddha as a Jina (a conqueror who has attained kevala jnana) in the Jain sense, but they recognize him as a great spiritual teacher who attained enlightenment and taught a path to liberation within his own framework. This nuanced stance is explained in Jain Knowledge’s clarification on whether Mahavira and the Buddha met and in discussions about their respective paths .

Notes for clarity (in short):

• The difference between Jainism and Buddhism is acknowledged; they share key ethical aims but differ in metaphysics (jiva, karma, moksha) and in their diagnostic paths.
• The Buddha is respected as a great teacher within Jainism, but not treated as a Jain Tirthankar or a shared leader in Jain doctrine.

If you’d like, I can point you to more Jain sources that discuss the Mahavira–Buddha chronology and the Jain stance on Buddhist teachings.