Rel 151 a Essay

Submitted By aartimody
Words: 2146
Pages: 9
Open Document
Aarti Mody

REL 151 A

Final Paper

Buddhism meets Hinduism; where they meet and where they part

There is no dispute that the roots of Buddhism lay in Hinduism. The dispute, however, arises over how these roots are placed. Some people argue that Buddhism was an offshoot of Hinduism and that the Buddha was a part of the Hindu pantheon, a view, which for obvious reasons, is not acceptable to many Buddhists. Their belief, one that is widely held, is that Buddhism gained popularity in India because it released people from the oppression and tradition of orthodoxy. Therefore, they propagate, it cannot be an offshoot of the religion that it was created to repudiate. Clearly, one way or the other these two religions manage to achieve a unique feat; they appear to be both, incredibly alike and dissimilar at the same. While both these religious titans of the East greatly contrast with the religions of the West, they also widely contrast each other. Their relationship is, no doubt, a peculiar and multilayered one, of which a close examination is bound to reveal important aspects of both religions’ dispositions, and the ways in which they align or separate themselves from one another.

Hinduism was, indisputably, one of the major influences in the life of the Buddha. It is clear then that the relationship between these two religions was borne even before the inception of Buddhism. In around 600 B.C, Hinduism was governed by the dogmatic and rigid principles of a stringent caste system, segregating society into different roles, and prescribing duties within each. Many individuals, born into households governed by Hindu philosophies, found themselves stuck in a rut of unhappiness. This misery laid a fertile ground for the growth of Buddhism and its subsequent popularity. Additionally, Gautam Siddhartha’s (Buddha’s) father, King Suddhodana, had an ardent desire to ensure his son was crowned king, and confined him to the palace grounds (Thera, 9). But when Siddhartha did eventually venture out of the palace, he came to understand the cycle of suffering by being exposed to the suffering of ordinary people. Thus began the Buddha’s journey to bring about the cessation of suffering. After seeking knowledge from famous Hindu religious Masters of the time, trying all measures of meditation, the Buddha came to find that he was nowhere close to his goal, and his pursuit continued (Thera, 14). This shows that Buddha could not find the component he required to feel complete from Hinduism, and rather had to cultivate this for himself. After ceaseless wandering, meditation and asceticism, it was in Bodh Gaya that he was able to completely overthrow all his mental obstacles and attain complete enlightenment. Hence, we are able to realize that although Buddhism’s roots lie in Hinduism, there was a quality missing in the religion, that prevented the Buddha from achieving his ultimate goal; Nirvana.

Nevertheless, there are some similarities between the two faiths, which are inevitable, given the geographic and cultural commonalities that bind them. Both Hinduism and Buddhism give immense importance to meditation and yoga, as a means to attain liberation. The notions of dharma, one’s duties, and karma, one’s deeds, are also common to both religions. Further, both also focus on an endless cycle of suffering, from which one is required to break free and release into Nirvana, which equates to the Hindu idea of Moksha. Nonetheless, the two faiths deal with these concepts, and several others, in very different ways, even though they might seem similar on a surface view.

Hence, while Hinduism and Buddhism may run parallel to each other in terms of some beliefs and aspects of culture, they do not really intersect, as they show a strong sense of divergence in theory and practice. The basic social structure of the two religions is different; Hinduism's caste system perpetuates a fatalism and apathy toward social rights
Show More

Related Documents: Rel 151 a Essay

What Were The Events That Led To The Meeting Of The Constitutional Convention?

1. What were the events that led to the meeting of the Constitutional Convention? Alexander Hamilton got the representatives to urge Congress to call a special convention to be convened at Philadelphia the next year to consider ways to "render the constitution of the Federal government adequate to the exigencies of the union." 2. When and where did the Constitutional Convention meet? Independence Hall in Philadelphia, but it was May 25,1787 before a quorum of seven states arrived. 3. Who…

Words 2531 - Pages 11

Quiz study guide Essay

opposing needs to cling close with their caregiver at times and explore the world separate from their parent/caregiver at others. Needy parent may cling too much while an overburdened parent might push the child away too soon. p. Object Constancy: 151, 36 mo and older-Establishment in the psyche of a relatively stable and positive representation first of the mother and then of others. Provides security and strength from the feeling that the self can endure and be well whether or not the object is…

Words 4165 - Pages 17

Corporation (Fisch) Outline Penn Law Essay

Table of Contents I.) INTRODUCTORY PRINCIPLES 2 A.) Efficiency and Other Concepts 2 B.) Agency and Partnership Law 2 II.) INTRODUCTION TO THE CORPORATE FORM 16 A.) Formation and Structure 16 B.) Debt, Equity, and Valuation 22 III.) CONTROL OF CORPORATE DECISIONS 32 A.) The Role of the Shareholder 32 B.) Management Obligations 50 1.) Duty of Care 51 2.) Duty of Loyalty 56 3.) Duty of Fairness: Parent-Subsidiary Relationships 63 4.) Duty of Good Faith 64 5.) Management Obligations…

Words 62789 - Pages 252