Buddha also criticises the Jain ascetic practice of various austerities, claiming that he, Buddha, is happier when not practising the austerities.
In the 8th century Jain text Astakaprakaranam (11.1–8), Haribhadra refutes the Buddhist view that austerities and penances results in suffering and pain. According to him suffering is on account of past karmas and not due to penances. Even if penances result in some suffering and efforts, they should be undertaken as it is the only means of getting rid of the karma. He compares it to the efforts and pains undertaken by a businessman to earn profit, which makes him happy. In the same way the austerities and penances are blissful to an ascetic who desires emancipation. Page 47
Haribhadrasūri, Sinha, Ashok. Kumar., & Jain, Sagarmal. (2000). Aṣṭakaprakaraṇam. Varanasi (India): Pārśvanātha Vidyāpīṭha. ISBN 81-86715-42-8 OCLC 469455055