I really find the cyclic nature of the universe in Jainism to reflect much of what I believe as a Pantheist... it's quite fascinating... the expansions and contractions of the universe are infinite...
In Buddhism, only when you become a Saint, like Buddha or Arahant.
All sentient beings are kept in the cycle due to their lack of wisdom (ignorance) and defilement's. By completely eliminating these, Arahant will enter Nirvana upon death, and breaks the cycle.
If you have heard the four noble truth, the first two about suffering refer to suffering in Samara, and the last two about ceasing suffering refer to breaking the cycle.
First the Siddhatta the Prince tortured himself in order to attain enlightenment. Later he realized he was wrong so he changed his mind to middle way from the way of torturing oneself.
Jainism seems to be the first part of the experience of Prince Siddhatta.
I hope you can see the differences clearly.
It's true Jainism and Buddhism share some common ground in practice and meditation; however, Jainism is too extreme and it never had a leader who can be compared with the Buddha.
Jainism seems to have existed during the Buddha's era because the founder of Jainism met the Buddha but didn't accept the Tamma of the Buddha - as much as I know.
In Buddhism, the cycle is endless as long as your karma is still exist. When you end all your karma in an enlightened way (not extreme as Jainism), you will enter Nirvana and end your cycle.
In jainism and buddhism, does the cycle of samsara break?
