India's Two Religions: A Look at Hinduism and Buddhism
Two Influential Religions with Similar Foundation,
but Demonstrating Contrasting Emphasis on Life and Spirit
Although there is a huge difference between the two religions Hinduism and Buddhism,
there are still some similarities. The concept and morals of the two religions is almost
symmetrical, but the details are unbalanced. The religions impact the way people live
and think which in turn shapes the society's culture.
The aspects of the two significant religions that originated from India, Hinduism and
Buddhism, are very different but yet very much alike in multiple ways. A set of personal
beliefs, values, attitudes, and practices is what human beings strive to follow each day in
order to live more soothing and perfect lives; Hinduism and Buddhism are two large
religions that stress the importance of life. The religions greatly affect the Indian culture
and cultures of other countries.
Hinduism, the third largest religion in the world, is a combination of traditional Indian
beliefs and the beliefs of the Aryans. Complicated rituals and religious hymns and epics
are the basis of this religion; the Vedas, or "Books of Knowledge" includes the religious
document written in the writing system for their language, Sanskrit. Hinduism
encourages varnas, or rigid social classes, that includes the Brahmans (the priests),
Kshatriyas (the rulers and warriors), Vaisyas (the skilled workers), and lastly the Sudras,
the (unskilled workers). Because they were considered to be outcasts, the lowest slaves
of the lowest social class, the Pariahs, is not even included in the caste system. This
strict social system shapes society because people can only live in communities of their
class and can only marry within their class; people's lives formed with the caste system
because it determines people's occupations. Hinduism stresses the concept of Dharma,
or the duties people should follow that is proper for one's age, sex, or class. If people
follow their dharma, they will have good karma that in turns effects the quality of their
next life. Also to have good karma, people commit to religion and prayer, reject worldly
processions, practice ahimsa, and achieve self-denial by fasting. Only people of the top
social class may reach Moksha, or the release from pain and suffering or rebirth after
rebirth. Hindus worship their many gods including Siva, Grahma, and Vishnu. Hinduism
is and has always been the main religion in India.
Siddhartha Gautama founded Buddhism, the fourth largest religion of the world in 556
BC. Siddhartha Gautama, a once sheltered prince, lived in his palace with his wife and
child but abandons his noble life to seek truth about the pain and suffering of his
people. He thought that wealth and luxury did not guarantee happiness, so he explored
the different religions teachings and philosophies to find the key to human happiness.
He sat under his tree and meditated for years until he became enlightened and started
to spread his teachings to others who are suffering. The Four Noble Truths answers
questions about suffering; it states the following: all people suffer and know sorrow,
people suffer because of the pain of rebirth, people can end suffering by eliminating
desires, to eliminate desires follow the Eight Fold Path. The Eight Fold Path includes the
Siddhartha's principles: knowing the truth, resisting evil, saying nothing to hurt others,
freeing one's mind of evil, controlling one's thoughts, respecting life, working for the
good of others, and practicing meditation. By following these codes, people can reach
nirvana, or the state of freedom from the cycle of rebirth. Anyone may reach
enlightenment. Buddhism is a religion of tolerance so Buddhists do not preach or try to
convert others; it is a religion that focuses on individuals. Through wisdom, people can
understand others and themselves; however, with time there are now two branches of
Buddhism; one is Theravada where Buddha, or Siddhartha Gautama, is regarded as a
human teacher, and the other branch is Mahayana where Buddha is regarded as god.
Today there are many Buddhists in Asia, but very few in India as the caste system have
always prevented the spread of Buddhism. There are also many Buddhists in the West
and the number is growing, as people are more open to adopting Buddhist philosophies.
Devout followers in the movie industry include Richard Gere, Orlando Bloom, Keanu
Reeves, Goldie Hawn, and Uma Thurman.
Hinduism and Buddhism are also very much alike. Both religion states that there is
reincarnation or rebirth of the soul after death; also, human can reincarnate into
animals because all living things have souls. Animals are sacred so killing these creatures
is looked lowly upon. This emphasis on nature results in the encouragement of
vegetarianism. The two religions also states to have good karma in this life, one will live
a better life after rebirth. Meditation, non-violence, and compassion are greatly
encouraged in both religions. As a result, Hinduism and Buddhism teach people to live
moral lives.
Hinduism Vs. Buddhism
A Look into the Differing and Uniting Elements of Hinduism and Buddhism
Everyone struggles to find perfect happiness, however most differ in the path that they
choose. Hinduism and Buddhism have many of the same elements, stemming from
similar cultural beliefs. Each one however differs greatly from the other at the same
time. In both religions, essentially the goal is the same- to reach bliss.
In life, everyone has the aspiration to find perfect happiness. Hindus and Buddhists all
over the world set forth everyday to achieve this. In Hinduism, a man can only hope to
achieve moksha ("salvation"). Moksha allows this man to break the cycle of Samsara. (In
Buddhism, as in Hinduism, Samsara is the constant cycle of rebirth and the everyday
world of change.) He achieves a higher place out of the cast system. Buddhists struggle
through life to be rewarded with Nirvana ("extinction"). Nirvana releases you from all
suffering, allowing your exemption from rebirth. This is obviously consistent with
moksha. Although these two achievements are similar in that aspect, they differ as well.
The caste system plays an important role in Hinduism. In order to pursue moksha, one
must be a man of a high caste. If not, he/she needs to work for the opportunity. They
can only hope to become something of a higher caste in their next life, for there is no
chance in their present life. With the notion of nirvana, however, it is thought that an
enlightened person has already been reborn many times but it is not a requirement.
Thus, it can be any Buddhist's hope to reach nirvana, but only a Brahmin's hope to reach
moksha. While the path to nirvana is not as discriminatory, it is not easily attained.
There was one person who began the religion of Buddhism- Siddartha Gutama. Through
49 days of extreme meditation, he reached enlightenment. Although Siddartha, from
that point on, was known as "The Great Buddha", he is not considered a god. This is a
great difference from Hinduism, which has no founder. Most Hindus worship one being
of ultimate oneness (Brahman) through infinite depictions of gods and goddesses- over
300,000 of them. These various demonstrations of gods and goddesses come to life
within idols, temples, gurus, rivers, animals, etc. Buddhism remains more modest in
representations.
As the great Buddha teaches, the Noble Eightfold Path is the way to inter-peace. It
consists of the right understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort,
mindfulness, and action. Together they describe three main goals: to face life
objectively, live kindly, and to cultivate inner peace. In essence, this is living without
harm to him/her or others-karma. In order to achieve moksha, Brahmin too must have
positive karma towards them but they must engage in extreme self-denial. Buddhists do
not have to deny themselves. The act of asceticism would stray from the middle pathremaining neutral. The middle path is the way to reach enlightenment. Hindus must
avoid temptation, however this is not enough.
A physical way to move toward moksha is to practice the yogas. The word means
"union", and because they suggest roads to perfection, they can also be known as
margas ("paths"). There are several different types of yoga, however. Since the Hindus
recognize the "self", an individual's caste and personality type will help to determine the
appropriate yoga to practice. Meditation in Buddhism is very important as yoga is to the
Hindus. Since this was what the Buddha was practicing at the time of his enlightenment,
people are now encouraged to do the same. Strong meditation will help to answer the
main questions which Buddhists seek.
Hinduism asks the question: At the very deepest level, what really am I? I am clearly not
just my body- my height and weight and hair color, all of which are subject to
alteration....Or is there more? (Molly 81) For the person who understands reality at the
deepest level, everything is God. In Hindu belief, each person has and individual soul,
which confers uniqueness and personality. This is called atman, or "inner self". Differing
from this idea is Buddhism's anatta. The Buddha denied the existence of the permanent
identity of anything. In essence, anatta is the total opposite of Atman, seeing as
everything and everyone are constantly changing. In actual fact, this Sanskrit term
(anatman) actually means "no Atman".
Buddhism, since derived from Hinduism, has come a long and modern way. It is
interesting how many concepts the two religions have in common, yet certain things
that may possibly differ completely. Analyzing this subject would make one realize that
no matter which religion you believe in, or agree with, there are almost always
references and explanations behind it.