Compare And Contrast Hinduism And Buddhism

Hinduism and Buddhism are among the oldest traditions in the world. Incidentally, both traditions have their roots in India. Since their beginning, both traditions have co-existed peacefully and even spread beyond India in similar patterns. Most people have scattered information about the traditions and make assumptions that they are similar. However, they also have clear distinguishing features. This paper intends to study the similarities and contrasts between the two traditions in various contexts. First, the traditions will be compared and contrasted based on how they began. The development processes of both religions will then be contrasted. The paper will then discuss the similarities and differences between the two religions based on the social and the political roles they played.

Religion is one of the oldest and most sacred traditions of the human species. Religion started off as a basic belief in an afterlife, and then further developed into tribal religions, which evolved into ancestral worship, then to polytheism, and lastly into monotheism. Monotheism in the form of Christianity is the largest religion of the modern world, and it has similar beliefs to other world religions such as Buddhism. Christianity and Buddhism are similar because both religions teach about the equality of people and that making good choices reflects the positive teachings of that religion. They are also similar in how they formed, as both broke off from another religion that was exclusive, and both became popular and spread easily

In early India, there were many types of religions, two of which being Hinduism and Buddhism. Both Hinduism and Buddhism were extremely important religions in Early India. They shared some similarities and differences in qualities regarding their origins, sacred texts, and different beliefs. Hinduism believed in reincarnation and karma as it would help them in their coming life and will move them higher on the caste system, opposed to Buddhism which believed more in doing the right thing and not hurting anyone or anything because they believed that all deserve to be treated correctly. Buddhism was not about the caste system like Hinduism, it was more about being a good human being and that karma will return to you. The people that looked more in Buddhism were the people who were the rejects of the caste system.

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.

As two of the world’s oldest and most established religions, Hinduism and Buddhism have their similarities, as well as differences. Both religions are practiced in Southeast Asia, starting in India and have influenced each other. Hinduism dates back to 5,000 years ago, while Buddhism was created three centuries ago. I will explore what the two religions share and what separates the two from one another covering the origins, number of followers, the texts used, and the belief system followed.

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.

Throughout history, religion has been a guiding force that determines a person’s core values and directs a person down a path in their life. It is a basic belief that a person practices which can determine an individual’s life. There are hundreds of religions in the world. They evolve from different traditions and customs, as well as practices and values. Two of the most influential religions in the world are Hinduism and Buddhism. Both religions originate from South Asia and are similar in their basic beliefs and practices; though they differ in many aspects.

Since the beginning of civilization many religions and cultures have come and gone. One of the few that has stood the test of time is Hinduism. Hinduisms base flourishes from the practical view of human life, belief in eternal truth and it’s ability to make small adaptations to it without compromising its core values. Hinduism is the oldest known religion in the world and also the third largest in the world. Most of its one billion followers live in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Even with its immense amount of followers and lengthy existence, many non followers are unaware of its history, beliefs, and practices.

Some people may think that Hinduism and Buddhism are the same religions with just two different names. They aren’t, Buddhism and Hinduism both have different types of rituals, holidays, founders, and so-on. The two extensive religions of Hinduism and Buddhism have lots of information behind themselves. They are made up of cultures, rituals, practices, and many other things.

Hinduism is a religion that was based off of a local traditions, cults, and clans. Hinduism is one of the oldest, non-literate system that is recorded in history being founded in 1500 B.C. A very high developed culture/civilization was living in the Indus Valley with its own culture and religion, These people are speculated to be the founders/beginnings of Hinduism.

No one is sure where or who started Hinduism, the oldest written documents known as the Vedas, where the first copied onto parchment in 1000 BC yet has existed orally long before that time. Hinduism is thought to have derived from the Vedas. Hinduism has notably changed since it was first practiced, there are now new beliefs that have developed and different sects also known as denominations. There are still many things connected between the different sects of Hinduism, but their basic beliefs are what intertwine them together.

Both Buddhism and Hinduism believe in karma and that is a consequence for a certain behavior. In both religions Dharma is a spiritual law. The two believe that knowledge is very important on a daily bases. In both religions there code of conduct make it extremely hard to reach enlightenment. Both religions believe in Nirvana as their. They both meditate as one of their religious rituals.

Around 1500 BCE, the Vedas, written in Sanskrit, were compiled. Vedas are known as the revered collection of ancient sacred hymns. Veda is the most ancient body of Indian religious literature and is also regarded as the basis of all the later Shastra texts (Britannica.com). Vedas were written by the middle of the 1st millennium but are much older than the earliest written forms. Around the years of 600 to 100 BCE, the Upanishads were developed. Upanishads are known as the Vedantic or the end of the Vedas and is what Hinduism is molded around. It is said that the Vedas and Upanishads were “breathed out” by the Gods and represent knowledge and are revealed rather than written by mortals

Both Buddhism and Hinduism are well known religions. They are two of the most popular polytheistic faiths in the world. Some people believe them to be sects of the same religion, but they are mistaken. Buddhism and Hinduism have some similarities, but many things set them apart from each other as well. They are each their own religion in many aspects.

Hinduism originated in India over four thousand years ago. The India-based religion lacks an individual founder. In the beginning, the term “Sanatana Dharma” erupted; but Sanatana Dharma soon transformed to “Hindu” after Islamic invasions occurred: “the Muslim invaders pronounced H for I” (Patheos), thus, the inhabitants along the Indus River were called “Hindus” as a result. The primary goal Hindus hope to achieve is to become reincarnated – thus reaching closer and closer to the state of nirvana every Hindu is called to with each transformation after death.