Hinduism versus Buddhism - Essay Example

Hinduism versus Buddhism Religion determines the way people live and think eventually shaping the culture. People tend to follow certain beliefs, values, attitudes, and practices in order to achieve fulfilling lives. This paper will examine Hinduism and Buddhism religions and determine if the two are different religions or branches of the same religion. According to Molloy, religion is a living cultural wellspring that concerns itself with systems of belief and how such believers express them in their way of life.

Such ways of life may include ceremonies, food, clothing, art, architecture, pilgrimage, scripture, and music. Molloy (2009) argues, Hinduism and Buddhism have their origin in India where religion is a way of life. Religion plays a crucial role in the people of India and defines every aspect of Indians life including training and politics. Hinduism has more followers than Buddhism with about 80% of Indians practising Hinduism. Hinduism is a combination of traditional Indian beliefs and beliefs of the Aryans.

Religion does not have a specific philosophy that forms the basis of this faith. It is guided by “books of knowledge” written in their Sanskrit language. Hinduism is polytheistic religion and some of Hinduism Gods include Siva, Grahma, and Vishnu. This religion does not advocate for worship of a single deity. Persons belonging to this religion can believe in a “Supreme Spirit” or an immortal soul inside persons of this religion. The worship in this religion involves complicated rituals, religious hymns, and epics to some gods, spirits, or animals.

Hinduism encourages distinct social classes, which include the priests, the rulers and warriors, the skilled workers and the non-skilled workers. This shapes the way of life of Indians since religion only allows people to interact and marry those of their social class. In addition, Hinduism has a concept called dharma that depicts how different people should live according to their sex, age, and class. On following their Dharma, a person adopts good Karma that affects their live after death. Buddhism on the other hand is a religion that focuses on individuals.

It originated with a prince called Gautama, who abandoned his noble life to seek truth of the pains and suffering of his people. In his view, lots of money or wealth did not guarantee happiness and thus he set out to read different religion teachings and philosophies in conquest to true human happiness. After many years, Gautama came up with a solution and started spreading the gospel to others. He discovered four noble truths to suffering that include all people suffer and know sorrow, people suffer because of pain of rebirth, eliminating desires can end pain, and to eliminate desires follow the eight fold path.

The eight-fold path depicts that one has to know the truth, resist evil, free one mind of evil, say nothing to hurt others, respect lives, work for the good of others, control ones thoughts, meditate, and help others. Buddhism has two divisions. In Mahayana Buddhists take Buddha as their god, while in Theravada, Buddha is a human teacher. Additionally, Buddhism thrives in the law of impermanence. It depicts that everything is bound to change although some things may last longer than others may.

Buddhism and Hinduism are two distinct religions that share distinct origins. First, while Buddhism originated with Gautama, Hinduism has no basic origin. Secondly, Buddhists rests upon four noble truths that include suffering is universal, caused by desires, and yearning, it can be prevented. Eradication of desires can lead to removal of sufferings. Hinduism has no single resting grounds but teaches existence of many deities and its members are guided by the “book of knowledge” written in Sanskrit.

Hinduism also upholds some concepts called dharma for every age, class, and sex. Thirdly, Buddhism calls for treating all humanity in a good manner for one to find true happiness. On the other hand, Hinduism teaches divisions in accordance to social classes and every individual receives treatment due for his class. For instance, Persons from different social classes cannot intermarry (Asian info web) In conclusion, although Buddhism and Hinduism are distinct religions, they have some similarities.

Members of both religions believe in reincarnation after death. Both religions keep animals as sacred beings because to them human beings can reincarnate and become an animal. This makes people who believe in either Hinduism or Buddhism to choose vegetarian way of life avoiding to destroy sacred animals. The belief in life after death through incarnation determines the teachings of Hinduism and Buddhism. They teach on good morals while on earth because it determines the life one will lead after death.

Both religions use sculptures, arts, or architecture to represent their god who in most cases is a mortal being. To them, different gods serve different purposes. References Asian Info (2010). Indian Religion and Philosophy. Retrieved from, http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/india/religion.htm Molloy, M. (2009). Experiencing the World's Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change. India, McGraw Hill Education.