Comparison Buddhism and Hinduism

Comparing Hinduism and Buddhism is a difficult task. Both have many similarities and differences. But they are inter connected in many ways.

Asia has had many religions spring up. Out of these Buddhism and Hinduism are the most popular beliefs in the general population. Hinduism is the oldest known religion and is very rich with literally hundreds of gods, symbolistic rituals and beliefs. It is believed to have been established around 1500 B.C. but one person never founded Hinduism as it evolved over a long period of time. Buddhism on the other hand has a definite founder, Siddhartha Gautama who is otherwise known as the Buddha or Enlightened One who lived from 565 to 483 B.C. Both these religions originated in India. Siddhartha Gautama was a Hindu who found Hindu theology lacking and after years of searching for truth created a religion now known as Buddhism. Because of these basic similarities, the two religions have much in common, but in the same light they differ immensely.

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). Hindus have many gods governing different aspects of Hindu life. The three main gods in Hinduism are Vishnu who is the sustainer; Brahma is the creator and Shiva the destroyer. They are referred as Trimuti. Most Hindu gods are associated with animals and therefore Hindus feel that being a vegetarian is vital. Cows are sacred in Hinduism and are worshipped as the divine mother, making eating beef taboo. Buddhism involves meditation and prayer. In Buddhism, one must understand the four noble truths which are the truth of suffering, the truth of the origin of suffering, the truth of cessation, and the truth of the path. These all follow the Eightfold path, which describes the ways in which one must live. Hindu scriptures advocate the pursuit of many goals in ones life including righteous living, wealth, prosperity, love and happiness. The ultimate goal is to achieve Nirvana. Following these steps and pleasing all these gods ensures ones ticket to achieving Nirvana.

Both religions believe that during life nonviolence is essential to reach Nirvana. Buddhists preach compassion, charity and nonviolence and while Hindus profess pacifism and ahimsa, which is the avoidance of harm to people and animals, they still believe war is justifiable in certain cases. They see it as their duty to fight in a just war. Harming others is wrong but if the war will cause undo suffering to others, then violent acts are justifiable. "There is no greater good for a warrior than to fight in a righteous war." (Bhagavad-Gita, Gita, 2:31) Many Buddhist beliefs and goals are similar if not the same as Hindu beliefs and goals. The concept in life that you should not act violently towards others is common to both religions, although they have some slight differences.

The concept of suffering and reincarnation is common in both religions. In Buddhism there is the concept of two extremes, one devoted to pleasure and lust and one devoted to mortification. Both are considered profitless and therefore one should take the middle path, which leads to insight. This means that people should not seek Nirvana too hard but should not seek it too little either. Hindus believe that life has no ultimate significance and is but a small part in a vast unending, and essentially meaningless cycle of life and death, and that everything has a soul or atman. Hindus believe in reincarnation and the transmigration of the soul and the concept of successive rebirths until one dwells in Brahman forever after the quest for the realization of truth. Although pleasure in moderation is all right, a Hindu must remember that life is suffering (because of reincarnation) which is also taught in Buddhism.

Hinduism and Buddhism have different speeds of expansion. Hinduism had no real expansion over the years and basically remained stable where it originated despite the influence of Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. Hindus appreciated and were attracted by the stress on intricate worship, which in turn turned others away from Hinduism. Buddhist expansion on the other hand was massive, making a significant foothold in India, hundreds of monasteries sprang up and from these centers, the message of the Buddha was spread "Buddhism spread rapidly throughout the lands of its birth." (Grolier 98, "Buddhism") Gautama was a great "campaign manager" as he avoided the elaborate ideals of the Upanishads. Many Hindus were converted easily. The acceptance by the great emperor in 3 B.C. helped to promote growth and spread Buddhism into Ceylon and parts of Southeast Asia, also making headway in Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. By the sixth century, it spread to Nepal, Tibet, Mongolia, China, Korea and Japan. Buddhism one could say "sprouted" out of Hinduism. Hinduism stayed the same for a long time whereas Buddhism grew rapidly throughout the world.

Although Buddhism had a whole new meaning without any god and with these new ideals, one could argue that the backbone stems from its original "mother" Hinduism. No two religions are the exact same and it is good to have diverse religions so that people have a choice of which religion suits them.

Throughout the history of mankind, most civilizations have had some kind belief system or religion. In Asia, two of the belief systems that they practice there are Buddhism and Hinduism. Hinduism and Buddhism are similar in many ways since Hinduism was derived from Buddhism. Both religions were polytheistic and had an ultimate goal of reaching a perfect state of being.

Though there are multiple similarities between Hinduism and Buddhism, there are still many differences between the two. First of all, the ultimate goals of the religions were different. Hinduism called their final place Moksha while Buddhism called it Nirvana. Another difference was that Hinduism regarded the caste system as a very important subject and had a major impact on the societies for being so strict. To achieve Moksha, a person would have to be born into the higher castes until they were in the highest one. Buddhism on the other hand was not so strict with their caste system and was not as enforced as much. A third difference is that Hinduism thought that some animals were sacred while Buddhism had different ideas.

Lastly, another difference was that over the years each religion existed, Buddhism spread among other countries and areas, while Hinduism generally stayed put and was contained mostly in India. Buddhism spread into many other countries and Hinduism did not because of two main reason. One main reason was because Hinduism was much more complex then Buddhism. More people converted to Buddhism because it was much more comprehendible and understandable than Hinduism. The other reason was because Buddhism accepted everybody openly. Hinduism on the other hand was not open to people who were not born into the caste system.

Hinduism and Buddhism are two of the most practiced religions. They are similar in many ways and are also different in some ways though. They both have a general basic belief and that is to be good and commit acts of kindness. Their differences are small, however the differences explain why Buddhism spread and why Hinduism did not.

Comparison of Buddhism & Hinduism

The following are the Ways in which Buddhism differs from Hinduism:

» In Buddhism, No need for priests (brahmins) or rituals.

» Anyone can enter Nirvana, no matter how lowly, whereas in Hinduism only the brahmins could achieve moksha.

» In Theravada Buddhism, there are no gods. The Buddha is not a god.

» In Buddhism, Karma is not earned by following the dharma of your caste. Instead you can      move toward entry into Nirvana by following the eightfold path.

» As the "middle way" Buddhism rejects extreme asceticism as well as great wealth. The      ideal in Hinduism is extreme asceticism.

The following are the Ways in which Buddhism and Hinduism are similar:

» Both hinduism and Buddhism, believe in reincarnation.

» Both believe there are many different paths to enlightenment.

» Both believe that our suffering is caused by excessive attachment to things and people in the      physical world.

» Both believe in an ultimate spiritual reality beyond the illusions of the physical world.

» Both practice meditation and other forms of yoga.

» Both believe that eventually all living spirits will achieve enlightenment and liberation, even if it      takes many      incarnations.Remember that in Mahayana Buddhism, the original teachings of the Buddha are assimilated to Hindu      practices,        including prayers, gods (even the Buddha as god in all his many incarnations). Mahayana Buddhism also      introduces the      idea  of         (temporary) heavens and hells.