Buddhism Compare And Contrast Essay

Buddhism originated in India in fifth century BCE. In Buddha’s first sermon, he states that sorrow arises from craving and in order to stop the craving, one must follow the “Noble Truth of the Way” (Document 1). Later around 350 CE, China was invaded by central Asian steppe nomads. During this time, Zhi Dun, a Chinese scholar and author and friend of Chinese governmental officials, wrote that anyone who follows Buddha teachings and the path of Buddhism, he or she will be “enlightened in his spirit, and then he [or she] will reach Nirvana.” In Zhi Dun’s perspective, he believes that Buddhism will calm down China through its peaceful method of meditation. Due to invasions, disunity was present in the society (Document 2). As a result, many Chinese scholars saw Buddhism established order and control and found it as a way of reviving China. An anonymous Chinese scholar, who published the Disposition of Error in 500 CE, stated that he who follows the Way will gain “goodness and wisdom” in place of “worldly pleasures” (Document 3). While Confucianism was based on the idea of creating a better world, Buddhism focused more on acquiring more knowledge and being good to oneself. The monks who reach enlightenment give up their worldly views because they want peace in the world over their own desire of a wife and

““Worldwide, more than eight-in-ten people identify with a religious group,” says a new comprehensive demographic study of more than 230 countries and territories conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life.” (Harper). Within the top five most popular religions, Christianity if found to be at the top with Buddhism ranked number four. With millions of people from around the world participating in these religions, one may wonder how they compare to one another. Upon exploration of Buddhism and Christianity, many similarities are found such as the importance of a spiritual master, shared values, and the followers strive for spiritual perfection. Although Buddhism and Christianity encompass many similarities within the religions, the fundamental differences in the view of God, salvation, and reincarnation ultimately outweigh their likeness.

While Hinduism and Buddhism come from the same cultural backgrounds, they are extremely diverse in their beliefs on afterlife, deity, and rituals. Both religions believe in reincarnation, but it is where an individual goes after he or she gets off the endless cycle that differs. These religions also part when it comes to whom they do or do not worship. Every religion comes with rituals and Hinduism and Buddhism are no exceptions.

While the Western World is largely familiar with elements surrounding the spread of Christianity, these people are inclined to ignore that Buddhism came to experience a similar progression in the East. Beginning approximately five centuries before Christianity, Buddhism emerged as an ideology contrasting harsher Hindu laws and made it possible for people to understand that it was actually necessary for them to follow a Middle Path in order to achieve Enlightenment. In spite of the fact that the religion spread rapidly through its land of birth, it generally came to receive lesser appreciation in India while more and more countries to the East began to express interest in the concepts that it put across.

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.

Buddhism originated in the early Fifth century BCE, from the teachings of Siddhartha Buddha (Fisher, 2005). Plagued by the desire to help end human suffering, Buddha reached a state of pure enlightenment showing him the way to end earthly suffering. Through meditation, people can control the desires of their human nature. By gaining control of our desires we can end our suffering. He taught his wisdom to all that wanted to learn. After his death, three main forms of Buddhism emerged; there was the Theravada’s, the Mahayana’s, and the Zen Buddhists (Fisher, 2005). For the sake of this report, the local Buddhist

Hinduism and Buddhism have different similarities and are in some ways connected to each other. Some of the practices of the two religions are similar in various ways and there are several examples to show this.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, new opportunities, as well as challenges, needed to be addressed by Buddhism as a religion. Cultural and religious patterns were being affected and across regions at the expense of the pre-modern Buddhist world ("Encyclopedia Britannica ", 2014). Westernization began to settle in a lot of Buddhist countries due to conquests. Economic, political, cultural and religious influence from the west was becoming heavy. All across Asia the everyday life and thoughts of Buddhist communities became infused with notions of socialism and liberal democracy, modern rationalistic and scientific thinking and modern capitalistic economies. Also, Buddhism, as a religion started to reappear in communities it previously flourished many years ago. Buddhism rapidly moved into the west and prospered with new developments, which energized the Buddhism religion back in Asia ("Encyclopedia Britannica ", 2014).

Born in China, Dalai Lama who originally was called Tenzin Gyatso was the spiritual leader of Tibet. He reined this region from 1950 after being declared the spiritual leader in 1937. His advocacy was for non-violent liberation and this made him earn a Nobel Prize in 1989. The objective of this paper is to offer a detailed analysis and criticism of the response of Dalai Lama (His Holiness) as he is interviewed by Jose Ignacio about the possible integration of Buddhism and Christianity. However, Dalai Lama does not think that there are possibilities of the two religions integrating without the loss of integrity despite the fact that all major religions have some common features in them. The paper shall as well offer response and conclusion to the argument that ‘all the major world religions are destined emphasis on love, compassion, tolerance, and forgiveness to promote the inner values in people and not conflict.’

#2. Compare and contrast the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. What were the essential differences

In the world today, there are dozens of religions that have spread all over to many parts of the world to promote their idea of spiritual enlightenment and peace. One of the interesting things that occurs with some of these religions is after it spreads to a new area, how it becomes popular with the people and becomes a part of everyday life. The religion of Buddhism is one of these that had this effect when it began to spread from India where it originated, to many Asian countries especially China where it would have the biggest impact. In China, Buddhism would take root and would grow to become a popular religion in the country much like the other major religions of China, Confucianism and Taoism, which together with Buddhism would later be known as the “Three Teachings”. Additionally, at some point Buddhism would began to lose its popularity in India due to Hinduism, which had absorbed some of the features of Buddhism and another famous religion from India Jainism, in order to re-emergence as the major religion of India. In China, this would not be the case, as it would continue to grow and remain strong long after it fell out of popularity in India. This study will explore some of the ways of how Buddhism was able to prosper and survive longer in China where in India it was only able to last until Hinduism re-remerged as the major religion for India.

It is said that history is shaped by the lives of great men.  Great men are leaders.  They bring about change; they improve the lives of others; they introduce new ideas, models, and theories to society.  Most of the world's religions were founded, developed, or discovered by great men.  Two particular religions - Christianity and Buddhism - developed in different parts of the world, under different circumstances, and in different social atmospheres.  But each religion is based upon the teachings of a great man.  When one compares the life of Buddha with the life of Jesus, one finds that the two share many things in common.  This essay aims to compare and contrast the lives of Buddha1 and Jesus in two key areas:  conception and birth.

E. Preview Main Points: Today we will take an in-depth look at the beliefs of the Four Noble Truths and Karma and the customs of meditation and the Sacred Mandela. We will also explore its history in India and of Buddha, and how the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh have truly shaped this life changing religion.

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.

In the United States there are over four million buddhists, one thousand temples, study groups, or Buddhists associations (Monroe 108). This number has come from just one man searching to find happiness and eventually enlightenment. Buddha’s story is how buddhism became a religion all over the world. It teaches a peaceful manner, reveals the key to happiness for the mind, and eliminates the desire in life. Not just the history of buddhism is important, but how it has spread through the world and what it looks like today.