Essay on Buddhism vs Hinduism

Submitted By dinoooos
Words: 1581
Pages: 7
Open Document
In Reaching the Final Goal in Life: Hinduism and Buddhism
Course Code: RLGA01H3 | Professor Henry Shiu |

Hinduism and Buddhism are two distinct religions that originated from India. Hinduism and Buddhism share similarities such as that of karma and reincarnation. However, Hinduism and Buddhism greatly differ in their ideas of what the ultimate destination in life is. While Buddha founded Buddhism, Hinduism has no official founder. Both religions share the same spiritual philosophical essence that is not followed by a traditional religion such as that of Christianity. Some would say that because Hinduism was present in India before Buddhism, that Buddhism is possibly a continuation of Hinduism. Ideas present in both religions do share some homogeneity, although both can ultimately be distinguished. Through understanding the structure in which each religion explains their cycle of life and life goals one can separate the religions and realize similarities.

In Hinduism, the aims of life also know as the four Purusarthas of life include Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Moksha is the final step of the Hindu cycle of life, and achieving spiritual liberation. Artha signifies the materialistic enjoyment of living on earth. Artha is the motivations that one finds purpose to accomplish while living. Kama is considered one of the aims toward fulfilling sexual pleasure, and well as an aim in marriages. Dharma has many meanings but generally is considered one's purpose in life. Dharma is doing what is done to fulfill Kama and Artha, but more is required to meet the ends to Moksha, "A life that is dedicated to the unrestrained satisfaction of these urges is undesirable and even dangerous. It is consequently necessary that it should be regulated by the ideal spiritual realization, dharma," (Murty 2006). Dharma covers all aspects of religious and societal responsibilities given during life, which requires to be abided to do by following a life that is morally and ethically right.

Unlike Hinduism, Buddhism does not explicitly explain the aims of life other than to reach Nirvana. However, Buddhists follow the teachings of Buddha's Four Noble Truths, which explain the suffering humans, endure in their life. The first Noble Truth is Dukha, which explains there is always suffering in life and that happiness and pleasure are not permanent in life. The second Noble Truth is called Samudaya. Samudaya describes that all suffering come from ignorance. Nirodha, is the third Noble Truth explaining how suffering can end when one detaches themselves from ignorance and other emotions to reach the ultimate goal of life; liberation with Nirvana. The final Noble Truth is a path that leads to suppressing suffering, called The Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path is comprised of eight steps that will lead to the suppression of ignorance and open one's mind to reach Nirvana (Pal 2006). Similar to Dharma from Hinduism, The Eightfold Path follows a way in which a one goes through life doing good by others and themselves.

Hinduism believes in the concepts of heaven and hell. Heaven is seen as a realm where those after death can join the Hindu gods. Those admitted to heaven were those who participated in rituals, sacrifices, and offering to the god while they were still alive and on Earth. Most of those who enter heaven are priests and warriors. Those who were condemned to hell were considered to be the one who neglected their rituals. However, heaven and hell are not the final destinations in one's life, but transitioning states to re-enter the cycle of birth and death. One's karma during their given life may also determine what level of heaven or hell they will be admitted to. The goal and the permanent release from the cycle of life and death is when the soul has reached bliss of Nirvana, there the soul is then made united with Brahman, the divine reality and the final destination. Once one with Brahman, it is then there is a blissful closeness
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on Buddhism vs Hinduism

Hinduism Vs Buddhism Research Paper

Quade Darby Hinduism vs. Buddhism In the world today there are many different world religions and also smaller divisions of belief which are based on certain philosophies. There are three major religious beliefs in the world today. The largest two of these three are Christianity and Judism. Hinduism is the third largest world religion which is mainly practiced in India. Within this third main religion, we can find almost any form of religion from simple animism to elaborate philosophical systems…

Words 1352 - Pages 6

Hinduism Vs Buddhism Essay

different forms.Hinduism and Buddhism are two religion that originated in India.However,each religion had a different set of core beliefs that greatly impacted their followers.By learning more about hinduism and buddism you realize that each religion had different cultures, politics and economics depending on there nation or religion just like buddism and hinduism we will see how both of this religions have have greatly impacted society. The practice of hinduism and buddhism was significant in their…

Words 576 - Pages 3

Hinduism Vs Buddhism Research Paper

Hinduism and Buddhism both have many similarities and differences but there are three important similarities and two important differences that are going to be explained. One of the similarities that Buddhism and Hinduism have is both believing that their actions will find their way back to them. In other words, this is called karma, meaning that whenever you do something bad to someone or something, there will be something negative coming your way. Another thing they both have in common is that…

Words 383 - Pages 2

Hinduism Vs Buddhism Research Paper

Hinduism and Buddhism both share common beliefs and have their differences. There are many ways you can compare and contrast the similarities and differences of Hinduism and Buddhism. They share many cultural and common beliefs where they give significance to their life and believe their actions have consequences. Both of them believe in the concept of karma, which states that past actions affect future life. They also believe in the concept of dharma, which can be thought of as one’s role in the…

Words 398 - Pages 2

Essay about Buddhism vs Hinduism

Both Buddhism and Hinduism are well known religions, and are still practiced today around the world. With Hinduism being created first, Buddhism was born within the culture of it. Some believe that they have many similarities, since Buddhism grew through a Hindu culture, however, that is not entirely true. Through the competition of these two religions, there are many differences setting them apart from each other. Buddhism and Hinduism both originated from the same place, India. However, Hinduism…

Words 456 - Pages 2

Hinduism Vs Buddhism Research Paper

Hinduism and Buddhism are based off of the same basic foundation. Between both religions there are ample number of differences considering that Buddhism grew out of Hinduism. Hindu’s are monotheistic, only believing in one God. Technically, since they are monotheistic they believe in different variations of that one God. On the other hand, Buddhism does not believe in any god(s) because their faith is believed to be that humans do not need the help of supreme beings to reach enlightenment. It is…

Words 143 - Pages 1

Hinduism Vs Buddhism Research Paper

Hinduism and Buddhism are the two most practiced religions in India. They both trace back well into ancient times. The two religions are similarly tied close to India’s social structure and history, but they vary greatly in the details of their values and practices. Life in ancient India consisted of following the Dharma, and believing in karma. The Dharma is a list of rules one must follow. If Indians followed their Dharma, then they would receive good karma. Karma was what Indians believe decided…

Words 1617 - Pages 7

India Revision

India Revision Lecture Wk2 -Hinduism is probably the oldest of all the main world religions. -India is the most religiously oriented of all major cultures. -Hinduism –literally “Indianism” –is hard to define and the religious element is hard to separate from more general cultural practice. -The caste system is a Hindu practice but it is also observed by South Asian Muslims, Christians and Buddhists. -The functional units of caste were and remain “subcastes” or jatis usually connected with occupation…

Words 1668 - Pages 7

Essay on World Religion Report: Hinduism

Ta Kecia Daniels June 1, 2014 HUM 130 Dennis Ford University of Phoenix Hinduism is considered one of the oldest religions, said to have evolved from several other religious group since 1500 BC (Robinson, 2012). One practices many rituals from yoga to fasting and prayer. Hindu’s consider religious symbols such as the lotus flower very important forms of worship. When one says they are Hindu the belief system is one of one deity of many forms of gods and goddess.…

Words 1947 - Pages 8

RELIGION 100 STUDY GUIDE Essay

(Three-step process) a) Original Binding (Humanity and creator in direct relation with each other) b) Unbinding (relationship between created and creator is severed) c) Re-Binding (Religion) (GOAL: reconnect with the divine and make things right) Myth vs. reality: (Religion has mythical elements, includes aspects of ritual, morality, theology, and mystical elements. Cannot be reduced to a myth) What does it mean to be religious? a) Existentialism: a focus on being human/human tendencies. Grappling…

Words 1588 - Pages 7