Essay on Comparing Hinduism and Buddhism

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 and Buddhism are different in a few ways. Hinduism was not founded by one particular person while Buddhism was only be founded by the Buddha. Hinduism follows the Hindu Scripture and Buddhism does not. Buddhists believe that their goal in life is to overcome sorrow and Hindus believe there are four goals – Kama, moksha, artha and Dharma. Both religions do however give emphasis to compassion and peace to all living things, in other words no harm shall come to humans or animals. Suffering can be caused by desires therefore I feel with this religion they tend to stay away from things that will cause them emotional suffering. For example: I make the conscious decision to keep a distance from those that may cause me to become more emotional

“If I were asked to define the Hindu creed, I should simply say: Search after truth through non-violent means. A man may not believe in God and still call himself a Hindu. Hinduism is a relentless pursuit after truth... Hinduism is the religion of truth. Truth is God.”

Hinduism and Buddhism have common origins in the Ganges culture of northern India around 500 BCE. We have to admit that they share a lot of similarities, but also involve tons of differences. For example, as Hinduism claims that Atman is Brahman, Buddhism reject the existence of Atman. Hindus think that the way to becoming enlightened is to union with God, but Buddhists pursue a throughout understanding of the universe by following the Noble Eightfold Path. Hinduism believes that Atman is changeless, while Buddhism tells people that everything is impermanent. Disagreement about permanence is a very apparent issue between Hinduism and Buddhism.

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.

At first glance the traditions of Christianity and Buddhism appear very different from each other. One centers around a God that was at one time physically manifest on earth in the human form of his "son" Jesus Christ, the other primarily worships a historical figure that gained divine status through enlightenment. This assessment is broad at best, especially in the case of Buddhism where the Theravada and Mahayana traditions differ significantly. Christianity also has division within itself, the most prominent being between the Roman Catholic and Protestant systems. There are however, despite obvious differences, some very interesting similarities between Buddhism and

On the surface, the Noble Eightfold Path ideals are incredibly vague and they're open to almost any interpretation. Buddhist sects view them differently, but generally follow the path by approaching the world with patience and joy, compassion, and contemplating the universe through meditation. The fundamental goals are to foster meditation (dhyana), morality (shila), and wisdom (prajna).

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).

The task at hand is quite impossible, especially in a ten-page paper. I am about to compare two entire religions, that is two entire belief systems that certain individuals have devoted their entire lives towards; that generations have sought to follow, further, and protect with their lives. I will attempt to do this, but please bear in mind that my personal views will inevitably surface to a great degree and I will be prone to taking sides. I believe in fact that these two systems are poles apart and have very few similarities indeed. In this sense I am forced to conclude that they are hugely incompatible and that very few people will be able to accept both. In other words, a person who is

Hindus believe in the four stages of life, but the Buddha do not share that believe. Whereas the Buddhists believe in the concept of Bodhisattvas, or the enlightened existence, but the Hindus do not. Buddhists must believe that the Buddha, Sangha, and Dhamma are the three most important requirements on the eightfold path, or the principal teachings of the Buddha. Hinduism has many different paths of self realization. Both religions believe in karma and reincarnation, but their terms and conditions vary, different in as many ways as they are similar. Buddhists have no priests or rituals like the Hindus do. Also, in the Buddhist religion, any follower than achieve Nirvana, but in the Hindu religion, only the Brahmins, or priests, could achieve moksha, the Hindu equivalent of Nirvana. Another large difference is that Buddhists do not believe in the Caste System, a main factor in Hinduism. This is one of their largest differences. Hinduism does not know their original creator, unlike most other religions; they’ve lost any information about their founder over the many years, whereas the Buddhists know their creator, Buddha. Buddhism is a much younger religion than Hinduism. The two religions are very much different.

free from the cycle of rebirth. However, under this religion moksha can only be attained is one 's

Although Buddhism evolved from Hinduism it differs from Hinduism in god beliefs. According to Buddhists there is no God, but they reverence the Buddha and his teachings as though he were one.

There are many shared similarities between the beliefs of Hinduism and Buddhism, but there are some differences as well. Some differences would be the way members of each religion achieve their goal of liberation from reincarnation and also the way members of each religion view liberation from reincarnation. Although the idea of moksha and nirvana seem very similar, there are

The world has many different belief systems including Christianity and Buddhism. Both are similar and different in many ways. These religions are used in different places around the world and influenced the lives of its followers and the society in which they are practiced. Christianity is more diverse and complicated in its beliefs and totally depends on faith. In contrast, Hinduism is a belief more based on the simplicity of culture and tradition.

The ultimate objective in following either the Hindu or Buddhist faith is to achieve enlightenment at the end of your days or some form of awareness similar to the idea of enlightenment. To be precise, enlightenment is the absolute discharge from the circle of rebirth, birth, and death. In Hinduism and Buddhism, everybody will one day achieve enlightenment, even if it takes several reincarnations. In the Hindu faith, this idea of enlightenment is also referred to as moksha, or “existence in the realm of the gods”. However, in the Buddhist religion, enlightenment is referred to as nirvana and it is a discharge from the cycle entirely, not a transfer of your spirit to another realm. Mahayana Buddhism, one of the two great schools of Buddhism provides a smooth, neutral ground amid these two extremes. These specific kinds of Buddhists characterize the Buddha as having three bodies, the Body of Bliss, the Body of Essence, and the Transformation Body. The Body of Essence which is the Ultimate Buddha, “underlies the entire universe and is identified with nirvana itself” (Wangu, 2002). So, while Buddhists and Hindus strive for something very alike by following their own faiths, the ultimate goal of each religion is actually very