Comparing Buddhism and Hinduism Essay

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.

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.

There are more than seven billion people living across the world and about 19 major religions with about 270 subgroups. In many states and countries, there are two or more religions that are being practiced by its residents. Hinduism and Buddhism are two of the 19 major religions, that are widely practiced. Hinduism and Buddhism both have common origins, and share similar beliefs. Both Hinduism and Buddhism are religions that focus on the way to live and the different paths to gain enlightenment. There are certain differences that make them different in terms of individual life time and its major principles (Silf).

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.

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.

Throughout the world, different nations have different beliefs or religion. Some religions evolve from others, and others are combination of other religions. Religion is a way of life, a lifestyle; it should dictate how you live your life. For instance, in India, Buddhism evolved from Hinduism, a religion were people believe in 300, 000 gods. Even though, Hinduism and Buddhism have different similarities such as believes in god, soul, and rituals, which in some ways connected to each other, both religions believe of what happens after life.

In the early sixth century Christianity was evolving at a rapid pace. The spread of Christianity was not only moving westward through Europe, but it was also moving eastward down the Silk Road. The eastward spread of Christianity was primarily a form of Christianity known as Nestorianism, after the teachings of Nestorius, a fifth century patriarch. By 635 Nestorian Christianity had reached the heart of China spreading through all of Persia and India. During the middle of the seventh century Nestorian churches were found in cities all along the Silk Road, though there were unquestionably many fewer Christians than Buddhists in Asia

Buddha: “I was born Siddhartha Gautama. I was the son of King Suddhodana and his wife, Maya. When I was young, a group of wise men told my father that I would ‘either become a great king, who would rule the entire world, or a great Buddha,’ an Enlightened One (Hopfe 130). Determined to make me a great king, my father shielded me from the human suffering and the four sights: a dead body, an aged person, a diseased person, and an ascetic monk. I lived a life of luxury until I was exposed to the suffering of my people at age twenty-nine. I made it my goal to ‘overcome old age, illness, and death’ (Chackal Buddhism 6). I lived my life as an ascetic and then as a

One of the most significant teachings of the Buddha that was evident throughout this film was his selflessness and renouncement of worldly pleasures. There were multiple instances throughout the film in which the monks of the monastery gave up something of their own for the

Hinduism and Buddhism are large eastern religions, which have many rituals and practices within them. Marriage is a large practice that is common between them. Hinduism’s concept of marriage is very complex and includes 9 stages/rituals. On the other hand, Buddhism has a very simple perception on marriage, they only have 4 stages/rituals which are very small compared to Hinduism. The importance of marriage is also different in these religions, Hinduism sees marriage vital and is represented in the Grihastha stage of life. Marriage in Buddhism esteemed in the same way as it is in Hinduism, it is perceived as more of an option and not fundamental. The concept of divorce and abuse is looked down upon in both Hinduism and Buddhism, both eastern

Hinduism and Buddhism are two of the most powerful and significant religions around the globe and both have comparative roots and rationalities. They have numerous similitudes, for example, thoughts and convictions, practices, and sacred writings. The word Hindu began, not as the name of a religion, but rather as a geological marker. Hindu comes from the Sanskrit word for river, sindhu, in which the Indus River got its name. At some point in the first thousand years B.C., the Persians misspoke Sindhu, and assigned the area around the river as hindu. Over a thousand years after the fact, the Muslims attacked the Indus Valley, and to separate themselves they called all non-Muslims Hindus; the name of the area got to be, as a matter of course, the name of the individuals and their religion. (Bass, 2004) Like the Muslims,

The Buddha was destined for greatness. From the miraculous events that occurred during his birth to him leaving behind the palace and his riches behind. Buddha was not like other individuals he viewed the world in a different perspective, he was well aware of his surroundings. His father raised in one of the most stress free environments, a pampered lifestyle, with luxuries beyond any average person's imagination. He was entirely sheltered from all the catastrophes in life. However, the Buddha knew that this was not the lifestyle for true eternal happiness. Under these conditions it was no surprise that he reacted in such shock to the real sufferings of life, he had finally come face to face with the fundamentals of human life. I believe that this added to his motive to achieve enlightenment. He was aware that the suffering of people could not be solved through social work and material items.

Similar to Siddhartha, the Buddha also lived a life of discontent and was also sheltered from the realities of the outside world. The Buddha initially had little understanding or knowledge of religion and the realities of humanity. It was not until he reached adulthood that the man who would become the Buddha first came across the realities of human frailty. He encountered a man of old age, a man suffering from disease, a decaying corpse, and finally an ascetic, who spoke to the Buddha of releasing his fears of death and suffering by renouncing the word and seeking enlightenment. Thus, like Siddhartha would eventually do, the Buddha renounced his life and left, embarking on a similar quest to understand the larger realities and truths of the world.

Within the variety of religions around the world are variations in beliefs and theologies. Some have minor differences, while others contrast in many elements of their overall core beliefs. Unlike denominational differences, religious differences create a deviation in the ideology of the religion, rather than just a disagreement of interpretation, such as in differing denominations. Buddhism and Christianity are two religions with significantly different viewpoints on religion and their overall beliefs. An evaluation of each religions ideologies concerning God, life after death, the purpose of life and the issue of salvation can provide insight into the differences in these two religions.

It is said that the Buddha was reluctant to accept images of himself, as he did not like to be viewed as a person. To symbolise the Buddha in the very early art, one used mainly the Eight Spoked Wheel and the Bodhi Tree, but also the Buddha's Footprints, an Empty Throne, a Begging Bowl and a Lion are used to represent him.