Comparing Buddhism And Hinduism Essay

Buddhism and Jainism, originated and developed individually in the same geographical area of India with neither believing in the existence of God, but they do recognize a higher human form. All three religions believe in a cycle of birth, death and rebirth with the possibility of freeing themselves from this cycle. Buddhism calls this Nirvana, while Jainism calls it moksha and Hindu’s call it samsara. Buddhism believes in the path of

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.

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.

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.

Hinduism and Buddhism are two religions that are very open and tolerant of all people. They are religons that believe in acceptance of all and open-mindedness of other religons. Hinduism is the oldest religion on the planet that has been well established and still has a large following. To put it into perspective if religons were under 100 years old Hinduism would be 80 and Judaism and Christianity would still be in their 20s or 30s. Buddhism is also a long-standing religion and branches off of Hinduism which is why we can easily see some connections and conflict of ideas between both. Since both religons have been around for a thousands of years it is impossible to know everything and every interpretation of both religons. A simple starting point for beginning to learn about the religons is to look at the beliefs and customs -- how they connect/differentiate and some of the positive things that we can take away from both of the religons that may benefit the world we live in.

Southeast Asia, particularly India, is the birthplace of many religions. India is where these two religions arose: Buddhism and Hinduism. Hinduism is a very ancient belief system derived from the lifestyle of Southeast Asia. It still has a strong presence in its place of origin and it is characterized as a family of religions. An offspring of Hinduism, Buddhism is also a family of religions, except it has less of a strong presence in its place of birth. Yet, situated to the East area of the world, it is the leading denomination. Similarly, both religions utilize the term “Dharma”, the way of life and thought, to describe their customs. The only difference in this respect is that Buddhists link it to the teachings of Buddha, who is the founder of their faith. Both religions have a long history and are still active today and with one deriving from the other makes them comparable in some ways. However, Buddhism and Hinduism are also contrasting in aspects like each religion 's clergy, rituals, prayers, places of worship, and religious objects.

The role of karma, which kept people in the constant cycle of death and rebirth, was a key factor that kept followers destined on the earth for eternities. The use of statutes and pictures to portray and give credit to leaders or teachers was commonly found in both religions. Giant statues of Buddha can be seen in many countries where the philosophy has spread, and temples covered in many different Hindu gods and goddesses where seen throughout the India continent. Meditation, compassion for all living things, and the belief in non-violence towards animals and humans were some similar exercises seem. From a different aspect, the vast variety of followers of these religions where generally accepting of the same kinds of people. Anyone could follow the teachings of Buddhism or the words of Hindu gods, as long as they devoted their lives and personal self to embodying its principles. This often included the rare atheists that were able to partake in both these practices. In addition, the mythical perception of nature was a strong similarity. Hindus and Buddhists treasured nature and all that it brought them, and did all in their power to keep the earth intact and untouched as when they were first brought into the world.

Out of the worlds many beliefs and religions, Buddhism and Hinduism make of about 20% of them (The Future of World Religions: Population Growth Projections, 2010-2050). Hinduism and Buddhism are the most influential and popular in the eastern hemisphere, mostly in and around the Asian continent. These two religions have similar ideologies. So much so that many say that Buddhism is an appendage of Hinduism. Such religions have different religious structures, which allow broader interpretations to which religion to believe in or stick to. These two religions, being from the same region, have familiar roots. One of several aspects they share is the belief in the word Dharma and the power it has to guide its followers to enlightenment. Even though the word Dharma has separate meanings for the two religions, it plays an important role in both. Although Dharma in Hinduism and Buddhism has a similar end result, which is guidance of their followers to enlightenment or salvation, the two religions are different because they define Dharma in different ways and have different ways of achieving it.

There are many religions in this world. Some followed by millions, and some followed by only hundreds, to those individuals who follow these religions, it can be the foundation for their entire life. Religion to most is what gets them out of bed in the morning. It is in their every decision, for example, some Christians ask themselves the question “What would Jesus do”, and this helps them in their daily decision making. Religion is a way of shaping and molding your life. As stated before, there are many religions. That also means there are many different beliefs and not all religions have things in common. Take Buddhism and Hinduism, nothing alike at its foundational beliefs, but are similar in some aspects. Buddhism at its foundation is a non-theistic religion following the teachings of one man and following his lifestyle, non-theistic meaning that they do not have a god. On the other hand Hinduism (depending on how some look at it), can either be monotheistic or polytheistic (for the sake of this essay it will be discussed as if it is polytheistic), meaning it has one god or multiple gods. There are seven dimensions of a religion and this essay will be comparing and talking about three parts of Hinduism and Buddhism. In this essay we will discuss and compare Hindu and Buddhist myths, rituals, and ethics. It shall go over what they believe and myths they discuss and have written down in their texts, ethics that followers go by in their everyday lives to achieve higher

Buddhism believes in the process of reincarnation based on deeds of the present life. Hinduism also believes that everyone is a part of an impersonal world and therefore, one's soul reincarnates into another body of any being, based on the deeds of the present life.

Hinduism and Buddhism both have numerous gods and both follow the same paths to ultimately achieve Nirvana (a place where all the enlightened beings reside). "He set himself forty-eight vows to fulfill, which, he proclaimed, would allow him to reach Nirvana." (Encarta 98, "Amitabha,") This is about one man who makes rules for himself so that he can get into Nirvana. The concept of a god or gods in Buddhism is almost void and therefore in the eyes of some not even a religion. Hindus have many gods governing different aspects of Hindu life. The three main gods in Hinduism are Vishnu who is the

In this term, I started Faith Traditions class and we learned about the Hinduism and Buddhism and the eight elements of religion: Belief System, Community, Central Myths, Ritual, Ethics, Characteristic Emotional Experience. The way Belief System(world view), Ethics, and Sacredness in Buddhism can be compared and contrasted to my own philosophy is intriguing. I believe that I agree with not all, but some of the elements of Buddhism, but where I do differ, I differ greatly.

Buddhism is one of the world’s most diverse religions, and means religion of enlightenment. Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, who became a Buddha. This term Buddha refers to Siddhartha Gautama after his enlightenment. Buddhist believe that Siddhartha Gautama discovered the middle path, “a style of life between extreme self – denial and ordinary life, which can lead to enlightenment.” Buddhism, being founded on the life of Siddhartha Gautama, his life if known through scriptures. They were written hundreds of years after his death. These scriptures describe having four key elements in Buddhist life: birth, enlightenment, first sermon, and death.” (112-114). While Hinduism on the other hand has no founder and has little unity. They do not have any core beliefs, or a common scripture to follow. Hindus will often control their bodies to pursue a spiritual reality seeking liberation from the endless cycle of rebirth (64). These religions have many differences from the way they believe in karma to the way rituals, worship, the way funerals are done, to their beliefs in god however, they do have some similarities including the reasons for meditation and yoga, and their practices in their temples.

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.

Buddhism and Hinduism share many similarities, such as the concepts of Karma (deed) and Dhamma (social conduct or law), a spiritual level beyond our physical world. Both see freedom of materialism as a way to reduce suffering (asceticism), practice meditation and yoga, and see the freedom of rebirth as the highest (spiritual) achievement. In Hinduism, Brahmins are the only ones capable of receiving mokṣa (liberation), and other humans and animals have to climb up the ladder to become a Brahmin first and then can get mokṣa. Whereas in Buddhism any living being can attain nirvana (liberation). Old Buddhist scriptures write: