Buddism Vs Hinduism

Buddhism vs Hinduism

Hinduism and Buddhism are the two main religions of Ancient India. Both religions share

Common beliefs but also have their differences. Some differences are the deities worshipped, the founders of the religions, sacred writings observed, and meditation practices. Through out this essay we will explore and compare the similarities and the differences in both of these religions.

Hinduism Religion

In the Hindu religion, the founder was not one person alone. It is believed by historians that the Aryans developed Hinduism over 3500 years ago. The Hindu religion was developed around the caste system. The caste system was the social class of India. At the top to the caste system were the Brahmins or the priests. Below them were the warriors followed by the merchants, the farm workers and lastly the laborers or “untouchables” (Zysk 1996). Important books of the Hindu religion are the Vedas. The Hindus are polytheistic, or they believe in many gods (Fisher 2002). The ultimate goal in the Hinduism religion is to escape samsara (karma wheel of birth, death, and rebirth) and achieve moksha or the liberation from the limitations of space, time, and matter through realization of the immortal Absolute (Fisher 2002). The Hindu religion has many priests and religious rituals. Some of these rituals include, yoga. There are four main yogic paths; raja, jnana, karma, and bhakti. Raja yoga, attempts to attain the highest consciousness using physical postures and breathing exercises. The goal is to make the mind absolutely calm and clear. Jnana yoga “the way of wisdom”, addresses the rational mind by asking one self “Who am I” and developing spiritual virtues. The ultimate wisdom is spiritual insight rather than intellectual knowledge (Fisher 2002). Karma yoga is service rendered without any interest in its effects and without any personal sense of giving. And the last path is Bhakti yoga, the path of devotion, to share a relationship with the Supreme. Though there are many deities worshipped in the Hindu religion there are three major groupings: Vaishnavites, who worship the god Vishnu, Saivites who worship the god Siva, and Saktas who worship a goddess (Fisher 2002). Hinduism is still important and followed by the people of India today.

Buddhism Religion

In the Buddhism religion, there was only one founder. Siddhartha Gantina founded Buddhism in 560 B.C. At the age of twenty nine Prince Siddhartha renounced his wealth and position as heir to his fathers throne, left his wife and baby, shaved his head, put on a robe and started his spiritual journey (Gyatso, 2007). After Siddhartha experienced Supreme Enlightenment he became a Buddha, an enlightened being. Buddhists rejected the caste system. Instead they focused on individuals. Important literatures of the Buddhist religion are the Pali Canon. Buddhists have no gods and the ultimate goal is to achieve nirvana (Gyatso, 2007). They believe if you follow the Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Path, you will live a great life and obtain nirvana. The Four Noble Truths state: Life inevitably involves suffering, is imperfect and unsatisfactory, suffering originates in our desires, suffering will cease if all desires cease, and there is a way to realize this state: the Nobel Eightfold Path (Fisher, 2002). The Noble Eightfold Path includes: first, one should have a right understanding, or ability to comprehend reality correctly through deep realization of the Four Nobel Truths. Second, is to have right thoughts or motives, uncovering any “unwholesome” emotional roots behind our thinking. Third, is right speech, gossip, tale bearing, harsh word, lying and boasting is not to be practiced. Fourth, is right action, observing the five basic precepts for moral conduct: avoid destroying life, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants. Fifth is right livelihood, being sure that one’s way of making a living does not violate the five precepts. Sixth, is right effort, continual striving to cut off “unwholesome states,”