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 …show more content…
“…through nirvana the Buddha entered the state of bliss, marking his freedom from suffering and rebirth” (Yusuf, 2009, 378). This ‘bliss’ is said to be attained through knowledge. The original Buddha claimed to have discovered the fundamental problem with the human condition: that nothing is everlasting. He also stated that this ‘awakening’ is what led to freedom from samsara. Others attempt to follow the example of the Buddha, using his story and written testaments, or sutras, as spiritual guides to redemption, that is, nirvana. “Nirvana literally means being above all worldly desires’” (Kaewthep, 2007, 226). In most religions the concept of sacrifice is essential to attaining salvation; this is true for reaching nirvana also. One must forsake all worldly pleasures and live a humble life in order to gain the understanding of the impermanence of the world in order to reap the benefits of …show more content…
Although both have a ‘this world’ orientation whereby individuals focus on the betterment of themselves in this life because they need to achieve salvation on earth, the process of this achievement seems to differ between religions. “To achieve moksha, the individual must avoid the accumulation of any karma, good or bad, because it is karma that affects the transmigration of the soul.” (Hodge, 2004, 30). Karma is a product of an individual’s deeds while trapped in samsara; the type of karma one acquires in their life is said to affect what kingdom they will be born into in the next life: the heavens, the human realm, the animal realm or the underworlds. One cannot acquire any karma because they do not want to be reborn in any of these worlds, but the uncreated world of the creator. As stated previously, The Paths of Devotion, Works and Knowledge are the routes to achieving
This is significant in developing a deeper understanding of Buddhist teachings as it encompasses physical, spiritual activities such as meditations, chanting and rituals which assists an individual in reaching Nirvana by cultivating the mind. Through “(Proper meditation is) single-minded intense sitting without burning incense, worshipping, reciting…,practicing repentance nor reading sutras.” DOGEN, 13th century Japan, further explores the notion of the Eightfold path, whereby the “Intrinsic nature” of an individual can be overcome through a process of effort, indicated in “Intense sitting”. The offering of flowers and incense to shrines are the basic acts of Puja. Buddhist adherents are encouraged to chant, meditate or light incense. However it is ultimately up to the decision of the individual to liberate oneself from distraction and spiritually renew one’s mind. Through these acts, Puja can potentially be seen as impacting an individual’s spiritual path to Nirvana, as the actions undertaken creates a connection to the Eightfold path. For example, through the act of meditation, the right of concentration can be obtained through the nourishment of the mind. Ultimately leading the individual to the true path of enlightenment, from which the individual is free from distractions. The act of Puja further integrates the philosophical
Buddhism is not about God or Gods, it doesn't supply a hypothesis about what may occur in after death, nor does it express perspectives about creation; it is situated in the realm of day by day living. Furthermore, Buddhism is largely associated with the condition of being awaken by the nature of humanity. As the fourth-largest religion in the world, Buddhism has proven to be both influential and significant. While most religions have profound theoretical foundations that they are built upon, and while most individuals within such religions have faith that the theory is true, Buddhism does not address theories; nor does it agree or disagree with any religion, but rather acknowledges religion as a means to live in a positive manner. This religion is about not only living a peaceful life but also about enlightening a person through the regaining of wisdom and grace from within. The purpose of this paper is to examine the depth of Buddhism through Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and karma.
Buddhism is a philosophy and a religion based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama who lived approximately 566 B.C.E. Today, Buddhism has millions of followers worldwide, known as Buddhists. (Ballou, 1976) Most practicing Buddhists believe in concepts such as karma, dharma, samsara and nirvana. In addition to these, Buddhists base their lives and actions on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold. Fortress (1999) explains that the name Buddha is a title that means “one who has been awakened” or “the Enlightened One”. On his quest for enlightenment and spirituality, Buddha escaped the life he knew as a husband and father, and turned to a life of meditation, along with ascetic practices. He lived much of his life as a monk in the monastery preaching to his followers that the way to be “awakened” or achieve inner peace and enlightenment is to” live in the now”. (Fortress, 1999) This paper will discuss Buddhism and whether it is a religion of escapism or whether Buddhist live in denial of reality.
Hindu followers have no doubt they go to moksha after they accomplish redemption, but Buddhists believe that the main goal is to achieve nirvana in the afterlife. A Hindu can conquer redemption by living a life of asceticism. After becoming a Sadhu, or holy man, and renouncing
Buddhist believes that all people are reborn over and over again until they reach spiritual enlightenment and then Nirvana. In Buddhism good deeds are rewarded by receiving a better rebirth. Karma dictates a person’s rebirth including their financial state, appearance, class, health, species, and intelligence. Buddhist ultimate goal is to strive for Nirvana. Nirvana is the state that exists beyond the cycle of reincarnation, freedom from Karmic suffering, and provides a state of heavenly paradise.
I want to compare the Hindu concept of moksha to the Buddhist concept of nirvana. Moksha is the main goal of Hinduism, and nirvana is the main goal of Buddhism. Moksha is viewed by Hindus as freedom from the cycle of reincarnation (Narayanan, 37). Nirvana is viewed by Buddhists as having a life that is free from all desire and suffering of the world (Taylor, 249). Both Hindus and Buddhists search to achieve these goals in their religions. They both want to be released from cycles, but they are different cycles. Hindus want to be released from the cycle of reincarnation, and Buddhists want to be released from a cycle of desire and self-interest. They want to be freed from desire because in Buddhism, desire is viewed as the main cause of suffering (Amore, 200). Once Hindus achieve moksha and Buddhists achieve nirvana, then they are truly free from these unpleasant cycles. Both Hindus and Buddhists understand moksha and nirvana as a sort of “superdeath” that ultimately ends the cycle of constant rebirth and death (Taylor, 250).
Nirvana is a place of peace, similar to heaven. Benares Sermon was for the followers of Buddha, and was written to open eyes of the followers. Buddha’s words became widespread because they offered guidance to the people. Not everybody had to practice the Eightfold Path, but this did not mean many people chose not to. This showed that the people in this society were afraid to follow the rules in order to get to nirvana. Liberation was the end goal, which is why the people were so willing to obey by these rules. This meant if you followed this got liberated from rebirth. Benares Sermon shows how willing people are to follow somebody's rules.
Believers of both Catholicism and Buddhism share the interest of obtaining certainty for their souls from their religion. The believers of Buddhism have the aim to reach a state of peace, called “Nirvana”. Nirvana is the state where one’s soul is at peace and disappears into nature. For Catholics At the moment of death, the soul is separated from the body and no longer sustains
The ultimate goal of Buddhism is to reach the state of Nirvana. Nirvana is a conceptual state in which one has realized his or her oneness with the universe and escapes all suffering in the world. Such a person will no longer experience the cycle of reincarnation. While the person still "exists" in a complex spiritual sense, the personal self ceases to exist. Nirvana literally means "blowing out" or "quenching," as in extinguishing a candle.
Buddhism stands as a philosophy and a religion founding itself on the theory of a possible eternal soul. Until awakening is achieved, this eternal soul is locked in the vicious cycle of rebirth (Samsara). According to the Four Noble Truths preached by the Buddha, life is a perpetual suffering caused by desire and attachment, and freedom from suffering is only possible by practicing the Eightfold Path. The World is suffering in a succession of temptations and negative experiences from birth to death. Therefore Buddhism advises on searching to go beyond suffering, and only aspire to rest, nothingness, and liberation, into a final state called Nirvana. Happiness or Nirvana can eventually be achieved in a hereafter, another life, if man abandons any desire or perspective of action within his present life, in order to go past suffering.
Formula for salvation: Nirvana is the final goal of Buddhism. It is a transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth.
The word "nirvana" is heard pretty often. For example, people might say they've achieved nirvana when they're really happy or they might talk about going to nirvana as an eternal reward after death. Then, of course, there’s the rock band who adopted the term Nirvana with a certain amount of irony. Furthermore, the word is fully imbedded in the modern vocabulary. But in reality, to most people in¬ the Western world, religious nirvana is a total mystery. Both known religious traditions Hinduism and Buddhism focus on liberation from the endless cycle of rebirth and death and the suffering that comes with that cycle – known as samsara. However, there are important distinctions in how the two traditions view this liberation. Many associate
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.
will tell you what you have done as bad things you do in your life
Jainism and Buddhism acknowledge extremely similar aspects in their respective religions. They both have a grounded belief of karma, samsara, and one of liberation. Although these basic principle are the same, they have differences within them. In this essay, it will discuss the similarities and differences between the basic beliefs and traditions regarding karma, samsara, recognition of the self, and final liberation in regards to Jain and Buddhist religions.