| Hinduism and Buddhism are two of the five major | | | | Buddha believed |
| religions in our | | | | that you could live a perfect life and not have to |
| world. They are widely practiced, and have | | | | continue in the |
| survived for centuries. | | | | samsara. The basic way to this is the Eightfold |
| Both have similarities and differences, as do all | | | | Path, which says to |
| forms of religion, | | | | practice moderation by having the right mind set, |
| and I will discuss the practices and theological | | | | actively wanting to |
| aspects of Hinduism | | | | eliminate suffering, not lying, insulting or causing |
| and Buddhism.No one is completely sure of | | | | suffering with |
| where Hinduism was started and by whom. | | | | words. Also, to have the right conduct, means of |
| Today, it is the world's third largest religion. Many | | | | livelihood, |
| changes have | | | | endeavors, mindfulness and meditation. Buddhists |
| come upon Hinduism since they practiced it first. | | | | believe that if you |
| Hinduism includes | | | | follow this you will be enlightened.Many Buddhist |
| many different denominations and beliefs that | | | | beliefs are almost the same as a Hindu's. |
| have arisen. Though | | | | Buddhists do |
| there are many things in common with all of the | | | | not practice the caste system. One of the only |
| Hindu sects, their | | | | ways to achieve nirvana |
| basic beliefs are what tie them together. Their | | | | in one lifetime is to be a monk or a nun. If you |
| oldest written | | | | break an area in the |
| documents, the Vedas, were written down in | | | | Eightfold Path, then you cannot achieve nirvana. |
| 1000 B.C. but had existed | | | | Also, in order to |
| orally long before.The religion of Hinduism teaches | | | | follow the 4th part of The Eightfold Path, all |
| us that each living body is filled | | | | Buddhists are |
| with an eternal soul. Hindus say that the individual | | | | vegetarians. Killing of an animal is seen as causing |
| soul was a part | | | | suffering. Like |
| of the creator spirit, Brahma. It is each soul's job | | | | the Hindus, an animal has a soul.Despite all the |
| and wish to | | | | talk about suffering, Buddhism is really about the |
| eventually return to Brahma. It is not possible | | | | absence of suffering. Buddhism is a way to |
| because of sins and | | | | develop the ability to love |
| impurities from the world; they are no longer | | | | the entire universe, simply because it is. By |
| pure and holy to return. | | | | understanding that the |
| The process of becoming pure is so difficult that | | | | universe exits inside a blade of grass, just as the |
| no soul can | | | | blade of grass |
| accomplish it in one lifetime. The soul is forced to | | | | resides within the universe. All things are |
| live life after | | | | inter-connected.Both Hinduism and Buddhism |
| life until it is pure enough to return to Brahma. | | | | accept and believe that there is one |
| The Hindus call the | | | | creator spirit. Each of them recognizes Brahma |
| cycles of rebirths samsara, or the Wheel of Life. | | | | or a version of Brahma |
| When a soul is | | | | as the creator spirit. Though they also recognize |
| finally cleansed enough to break free of samsara | | | | other gods, Brahma |
| it is called moksha. | | | | is the ultimate god. All praise goes to him, no |
| The soul returns to Brahma for an eternity of | | | | matter which god you |
| contentment and ecstasy.There is no one | | | | are praising. This is a significant similarity between |
| incorporating creed in Hinduism. A follower may | | | | the two |
| choose | | | | religions.The two religions of Hinduism and |
| any god as their personal god, or may worship | | | | Buddhism believe in the process of |
| several of them. | | | | reincarnation. Reincarnation is being reborn again |
| Although, to be a Hindu there are certain things | | | | with one soul. |
| that a follower must | | | | Inside this belief, they also believe that your |
| believe in and live by. These beliefs include a | | | | deeds, or activities, |
| belief in karma, | | | | during your life will determine where you will end |
| dharma and reincarnation after death. Also, that | | | | up. If you have |
| there are three main | | | | lived a good life, you will be rewarded by another |
| gods: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Vedas is also | | | | good life, or you |
| honored for sacredness. | | | | might be allowed finally to rejoin with Brahma. If |
| Aside from these three gods, Hindus are truly | | | | you've led a bad |
| monotheistic by | | | | life, you will remain on earth longer, and most |
| believing in a single god. The reason behind this is | | | | likely have a bad life |
| that everything | | | | when you are reborn.In the religion of Hinduism |
| comes from Brahman. It does not matter whom | | | | there are castes, or social classes. They |
| the worship is for because | | | | decide what your lifestyle will be like in that |
| it is ultimately Brahman. Brahman does not | | | | lifetime. If you are |
| reward or punish those for | | | | born a slave, you must stay a slave your whole |
| their deeds in life. All souls create their own | | | | life. Or, if you are |
| rewards and | | | | born a wealthy man or woman that is what you |
| punishments through karma. Dharma, on the | | | | must be all of your life. |
| other hand, is the ultimate | | | | To the Hindus, it is a sin to try to change what |
| commendable balance of all things living. It | | | | caste you belong to, |
| belongs to everything, | | | | as well as to associate with a person from a |
| including the universe. Every soul is responsible | | | | caste that is lower than |
| for balancing their | | | | yours.On the other hand, the teachings of the |
| dharma. The areas to balance in dharma are | | | | Buddha did away with the caste |
| religious, social, and | | | | system. A person is allowed to change their |
| within the family. They must keep promises, and | | | | social class. If they |
| remain faithful to | | | | follow the Eightfold Path, then this is permissible. |
| religious rituals, while also taking care of their | | | | It is an honor to |
| family. If a soul | | | | be a monk or a nun, for they are the ones who |
| loses this balance, then it will affect their karma. | | | | can achieve nirvana. |
| Dharma has been | | | | Buddhists also will mingle with those of less |
| called tradition, duty, and a custom, but to a | | | | importance then |
| Hindu it is spiritually | | | | themselves.Hinduism teaches that you must go |
| more than that.The society of Hinduism is strictly | | | | through samsara in order to finally |
| divided. The different levels, | | | | reach moksha. They do not believe that a soul |
| castes, do not mingle. The division is largely due | | | | can totally cleanse |
| to the practices of | | | | itself of all impurities in just one life. It is a gradual |
| dharma and karma. Both practices express the | | | | process |
| idea that if someone is | | | | involving dharma, balancing one's life, and karma, |
| born into a specific lifestyle, they must stay | | | | weighing the deeds |
| there. It would be bad | | | | of a lifetime. Meanwhile, the Buddha again went |
| karma to attempt to leave that lifestyle. Within | | | | and brought question |
| the caste system, | | | | to samsara. He found that it is possible to |
| there are four levels along with two groups that | | | | cleanse oneself in one |
| are apart from the | | | | lifetime and return to Brahma; he called it nirvana. |
| castes. Every caste comes from Brahma, with | | | | In order to |
| the highest level being | | | | achieve nirvana, a Buddhist must follow and |
| the Brahmin. This level is the priestly caste, but | | | | accept The Four Noble |
| also included | | | | Truths, and the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path |
| teachers and keepers or the religion. The next | | | | serves as an |
| level, the Kshatriyas, | | | | instructional guide as how to keep oneself on the |
| were the kings and soldiers. The third level is the | | | | right path to |
| Vaisyas. They | | | | nirvana.Hinduism and Buddhism also have several |
| occupy the jobs of merchants, artisans, and | | | | smaller differences. The area |
| farmers. The fourth and | | | | of greatest concentration for Hinduism is India. |
| final caste is Sudras. These people are the | | | | India is where |
| manual workers, | | | | Buddhism originated, but Hinduism eventually was |
| represented by Brahma's feet. It is considered a | | | | a more appealing |
| sin to associate with | | | | religion and became dominant. Buddhism is found |
| people of a lower caste than you. So each caste | | | | mostly in East Asia, |
| is made up of a | | | | inside China and Mongolia. These areas prefer |
| different level of the society.There are also two | | | | having small gods, as |
| groups outside the caste system. One group is | | | | opposed to the Hindus only having three major |
| for | | | | ones and then smaller, |
| foreigners. They might be a nonbeliever or | | | | less important gods. Buddhism was founded by |
| anyone who receives special | | | | Suddartha Gautama, or the |
| treatment from the Hindu society. The second | | | | Buddha. Hinduism was started gradually; no one |
| outcaste group is known | | | | knows for sure who |
| as the Untouchables; these people are considered | | | | founded it; most likely, it was many people. Both |
| nonhuman and cannot | | | | practice meditation, |
| participate in any Hindu practices. They do the | | | | butthey practice it in different forms. A Hindu will |
| work no one wants to | | | | meditate obtaining |
| do and do no associate with anyone that is of a | | | | inner peace through the charkras of the body. |
| higher caste.Siddartha Gautama founded Buddhism | | | | Once all of the charkras |
| and became the Buddha. His | | | | have been balanced, a white light is said to be |
| intentions were not to form a new religion, only | | | | above the person's |
| to modify an older | | | | head, and they are enlightened. Buddhists |
| one. Brahmanism, or Hinduism, had become very | | | | meditate similarity, but |
| mainstream. Siddartha | | | | have different variations of how it is preformed; |
| was a minor king of northern India. He ventured | | | | their main goal is |
| outside the palace | | | | to end suffering.The two religions of Buddhism |
| walls one day and saw how life really was. | | | | and Hinduism are very alike, and yet |
| Inspired, Siddartha left | | | | very different. To accept their way of thinking, |
| his home, and family to discover the meaning of | | | | one must put aside |
| life. For years he | | | | their own religion. They strive for an inner peace, |
| listened to and studied with the Indian wise men; | | | | and finally to |
| he then turned to | | | | reach heaven through either moksha or nirvana. I |
| meditation. Discouraged by not finding the | | | | being a Christian, |
| answer he desired, he sat | | | | have found in some ways it hard to understand |
| under a fig tree for 49 days. When the answer | | | | the process of |
| finally came to him, he | | | | reincarnation, and Brahma. Though, I can see |
| became Buddha. Therefore, Buddhism was | | | | how that for people of |
| founded.Buddhism is a reformed version of | | | | another culture, these religions are very |
| Hinduism. Buddha discovered the Four | | | | supportive, and soothing. |
| Noble Truths, which are the foundation for all | | | | Culture plays a big part in determining your |
| forms of Buddhist | | | | beliefs. Obviously, they |
| philosophy. There is suffering, suffering is caused, | | | | are very deep-rooted for surviving longer than |
| eliminating the | | | | Christianity. I admire |
| causes of suffering can extinguish suffering and | | | | their strong faith and their desire to become |
| the way to extinguish | | | | pure and unblemished. |
| the causes of suffering is to follow the Middle | | | | Hinduism and Buddhism are two major religions, |
| Way stated in the | | | | firmly planted in theirThe article was produced by |
| Eightfold Path.The Eightfold Path also comes from | | | | the member of |
| Buddha; it teaches to practice | | | | Sharon White is a senior writer and writers |
| moderation. If followed, one may achieve true | | | | consultant at term papers. Get some useful tips |
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| nirvana. Nirvana is reaching Brahma in one lifetime. | | | | |