Ancient Traditions Of Buddhism And Hinduism

In this essay, I intend to compare and contrast two major religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, that came out of India thousands of years ago. Though these two religions are old, they are still practiced today by millions of followers within the continent of Asia and the West.

Hinduism is a very broad term that encompasses a multitude of different backgrounds, traditions, beliefs, and practices. Hinduism, as we know it today, has gone through many changes. To fully understand how Hinduism became as it is currently, knowledge of its development over the course of history is essential. This paper will demonstrate the primary shifts of its central beliefs, practices, and goals between periods of Early Vedic, Late Vedic, and Classical Hinduism.

The religious history of India is long and complex. Hinduism was the first known religion to permeat India and the surrounding area. A couple thousand years later, Buddhism originated as a reformation of Hinduism–rejecting its caste system and deities–and began to rearrange the religious status of India. Today, Eastern Asia is divided between Buddhism and Hinduism. Only Nepal employs both religions, considering them inextricably linked. The history and current situation of the relationship between Hinduism and Buddhism begs the question: Can Buddhism exist in a Hindu society in a way that fulfills each religion? Huston Smith’s The World’s Religions and the Buddhist Scriptures each contribute to this controversial conversation. Despite strong arguments for the conjunction of the two religions and the similarities they share, the philosophical and categorical difference between the two demonstrates a tension better than it does a cohesion.

Religion has been used for centuries as a way for people to find answers to some of life’s biggest questions. The ideas of desires, suffering, and death are difficult concepts to wrap your head around without the sense of a greater purpose guiding their existence. The world’s fourth largest religion, Buddhism serves as the grounding for millions to find reason in the world around them. Buddhism highlights the perils of human desire and attempts to give a way out of the cyclical suffering that we experience. It is based on the story of Siddhartha, the once privileged prince.

Buddhism and Hinduism are two of the world’s most influential and greatest religions. Buddhism is a religion based on the teachings of the awakened one (Abrams), and Hinduism is the oldest of the world’s greatest religions (Rice). Both of these religions arose in South Asia, thus they share similar culture and philosophy; however, they also contrast greatly with each other in many other aspects. By comparing the rituals of worship of the two religions it is proven that Hinduism worships various deities, whereas Buddhism does not worship any. Rituals of worship such as puja and meditation are practiced in both religions, nevertheless the way and purpose of how they are done differ.

Huston Smith, explores, the various processes in which man could transcend the austere and lucid form of being to a more enlightened one. Smith, explores this notion, in the context of religion, and mainly the various religious traditions and practices that attempt to enlighten and save one's soul from the allencompasing, worldly, goods and desires. Smith’s arguments, tremendously, revolve around the notion of ‘transcendence’ and the important role of religion in facilitating the enlightenment of the mind and soul. This notion of transcendence is evident in almost all religions (however, mainly South Asian) i.e. Hinduism (Moksha) and Buddhism (Nirvana) these form of transcendence do not only differ in terms of the linguistically, but most importantly, in the ways at which they can be achieved. I believe that Hinduism does in fact facilitated the move from imperfection to perfection, however I would like to emphasises the notion that various other forms religion may play a similar role in transforming one's soul for the better. Therefore, in this paper I will explore the inevitable and vital role of religion (hinduism) in transforming one's soul, whilst simultaneously providing that basis to other

Buddhism is the most prevailing religion in Asia with about 379 million followers. Buddhism believes in following the “Enlightened” path, which is to live life serenely and without desires. This action was very challenging to accomplish, but it allowed you to associate with yourself internally. Buddhism impacted the world by expressing the belief of the 4 noble truths, offering the idea of reincarnation, and to follow certain traditions in physical appearance. The 4 noble truths were the main components in following the “Enlightened” path by explaining how the suffering is caused by people’s desires and that they need to release those to feel free. Reincarnation led other people to believe that when you die, your soul would be born into a new life, which gave the thought about other “realms” that may exist. Also, the physical appearance of Buddhists/monks was different because they would wear clothes that helped them see their natural beauty.

Buddhism and Hinduism share many similarities. One such similarity is Samsara, the perpetual cycle of rebirth, which is often characterized by suffering and sorrow. In both religions, this unending rotation is seen as dangerous, and, although many people attempt to gain good karma in order to achieve wealth or social prosperity in the next life, there are others who try to escape this cycle by reaching enlightenment. Although labelled differently, one of the main goals associated with both Buddhist nirvana and Hindu moksha involves freeing oneself from the cycle reincarnation and moving on to attain salvation. This paper will examine Hindu moksha and Buddhist nirvana by comparing the similarities and contrasting the differences of attaining

There are many different religions with many different beliefs, traditions, practices, and rituals. These differences are a very important part of understanding and appreciating the culture and history behind the specific religion. However, the practices that certain religions have in common can aid even more in furthering the understanding of specific beliefs of other religions. Since most religions cultivate from the practices and beliefs of other religions, they use those core values and beliefs and transform them into what they believe is a better way practicing. Religions use similarities within each other and twist them into their own. There are certain beliefs within every religion that shape their practices such as their morals or their most essential or absolute value, their position on human beings’ problems and solutions, and their view on life and death within their religion. Pure Land Buddhism (a form of Mahayana Buddhism) and Vaishnavites (a group within Hinduism) are great examples of this very concept.

Hinduism and Buddhism affect one another from numerous points of view. The Buddhist idea of preservation and love toward every single living thing found it’s begins in India, while Mahayana Buddhism took its customs from Indian practices for reverential love. Buddhism also had a hand in influencing the development of the art and architecture of the Hindu religion and also contributed to the art of mediation and higher conditions of awareness. Yet the Hindu tantra impacted the inception and advancement of Vajrayana Buddhism.

Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. It is the oldest and fourth largest religion in the world with around 500 million followers. Buddhism focuses on teaching people how to come to terms with and end the suffering of themselves and others by cutting out greed, hatred, and ignorance from their lives. Unlike most major world religions, Buddhism does not revolve around worshiping a god or divine creator, instead the focus of Buddhism is living one 's best life and transforming the lives of others. The ultimate goal of Buddhism is to reach Enlightenment and upon death achieve Nirvana, the liberation of pain and suffering. For Buddhists, it is the individual’s responsibility to find his or her own path to enlightenment; the principles of Buddhism are seen more as guidelines than rules.

The basic characteristics of Buddhism are meditating, prayer, rest, exercise, lecture and small group discussion with other Buddhists in Zen centers and temples around the world. Buddhists believe that “Siddhartha Gautama discovered the “Middle Path” out of suffering, reaching the full enlightenment that rescued him from constant reincarnation into this world (Voorst, R., 2013)”. They also believe in karma and rebirth until they reach the point of enlightenment. Enlightenment is reached once they have strived and reached for nirvana.

But at the first century C.E., Buddhism was divided into two faction: Hinayana and Mahayana. The Hinayana (“the Lesser Vehicle”) which believed in reincarnation until Nirvana and karma, still exists in Sri Lanka and all Southeast Asian countries, while Mahayana (“Greater Vehicle”) which believed that there are others to reach Nirvana like chanting and good works, still exists in Korea, China, Japan, and Tibet (Vail). However,after 2500 years, patheos said that Buddhism is currently divided into three: Theravada (“Doctrine of the Elders”), Mahayana, and Vajrayana (“Diamond Vehicle or Tibetan Buddhism”) with each having many different sect. Teaching of Buddha spread all around the world where some of practices and belief is applied to distinct people like “Buddhist Christian”, ”Buddhist Jewish”, Buddhist Atheists”, and many more.But at 12 century C.E., Buddhism in India decreased greatly due to the Muslim invasion, people’s attachment to Hinduism, or stresses of the monk, but it was still strong in Asia

Hinduism and Buddhism are both eastern traditions with much to say about the human condition as well as the reason human beings exist at all. In some ways they are different while also being similar in other ways. In this essay, those differences will be discussed and the similarities examined for their message. In conclusion, we will examine what these two faiths offer to the human beings of the twenty-first century.

Is concentrated on spiritualism than religious teachings. Established by the buddha, one must obtain their own spiritual awakening, or nirvana through meditation. There are three main branches of Buddhism Theravada Buddhism , Mahayana Buddhism and Tantric Buddhism.