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Hinduism And Buddhism Comparison Essay

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There are plenty of similarities & differences between Buddhism & Hinduism. Too start this off, here are a couple of ways in which Buddhism & Hinduism are similar. For 1, Buddhism & Hinduism both believe in reincarnation, but the two religions take different approaches. Hindus believe that there is a soul, which they call Atman. As for Buddhists don’t believe in an individual soul, there is a connection in essence only. Buddhists & Hindus share the belief in samsara, the eternal wheel of death & rebirth. A second similarity that Buddhists & Hindus share is, that they both believe there are many different paths too enlightenment, such as they are different …show more content…

The founder of Buddhism was a Hindu who then became the Buddha. Both Buddhism & Hindus recognize earth as the center of the universe, resting on the mountain Meru, surrounded by at least 7 concentric mountains & 7 oceans. Both Buddhism & Hinduism emphasize compassion & nonviolence towards all living beings. They also believe in the existence of several heavens & hells or higher & lower worlds. Now for a couple differences, Buddhists anyone can enter Nirvana, no matter how lowly, but as in Hinduism only the Brahmins could achieve moksha. Nirvana is the highest state of enlightenment, meaning a person’s individual desires & suffering go away. As in Moksha this liberation can be attained while one is on earth. Most Hindu traditions consider moksha, the ultimate goal of life. The 3 other goals are considered temporary but necessary stepping-stones towards eternal liberation. Another difference is, in Theravada Buddhism, there are no gods. The Buddha is not a god. The Buddha was a man born as Siddhartha Gautama in Nepal around 2,500 years ago. He didn’t claim to be a god or a prophet. He was a man who became enlightened, understanding life in the deepest way possible. He was born into the royal family of a small kingdom on the Indian Nepalese

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