Buddhism and Hinduism Ethical Systems - Essay Example

Buddhism and Hinduism Ethical Systems Introduction Religious ethical systems meaning of life remains a crucial topic in the world’s religions today. Therefore, religious practices, spiritual and philosophical ethics and other religious events are worth understanding since they do not only explain the purpose of spiritual existence but also serves as a turning point in which theological and scientific ethical speculations are laid (Gwynne, 2011). Conversely, most people from the ancient period to a period of modern civilization place religious ethics system and practices as their guideline in planning and implementing their daily events. However, religious ethics has been used in most parts of the world to influence all aspects life beginning from political decision, practicing basic laws, judgment, cultural and social activities (Molloy, 2008). Analysis presented in this paper is helpful in understanding the Hinduism and Buddhism religions ethical systems with respect to their similarities and differences. On a broad front, comparisons and contrasts between the Buddhism ethical systems has been presented to indicate how the religions has used their religion to uncover their spiritual world, as well as their daily practices. On the similar account, the paper focuses on the subject of ethical system principles and guideline to explore across all the five universal codes, marital moral ethic as well as relationships ethics (Schweiker, 2012). Hinduism and Buddhism religious, ethical systems uncover the spiritual meaning to the peoples’ lives. For example, religious values are used subjectively by the associated people to provide a common good, solve a social problem, as well as satisfying life, or making life worthy. Buddhism ethical values are centrally based on the enlightenment of Buddha and his followers (Sharma, 2005). Therefore, the Buddhism ethical system only complies with the Buddhist scriptures that serve as a guideline in shaping the people’s lives. The Buddhism ethical principles and practices act in a way that prevents harm to the people by helping the people to move through life (Molloy, 2008). In comparison, Hinduism ethical systems are mainly personal or subjectively designed. Thus, Hinduism ethical systems are only purposed to maximize the people’s highest goodness and personal values. The Hinduism religion ethical system conceptualizes the Dharma or duty principles as a guideline to equip the society with subjective actions that eliminate self-centeredness, greediness and other vices such as cruelty (Gwynne, 2011). In addition, the Hinduism ethical system creates a suitable environment that transcends the society as well as promoting the highest good of the people. From a different point of view, the Hinduism ethics complies with the particular universal standards that are applicable to all individual regardless their stage of life or the holding position in the society while the Buddhism religion ethics operates under five precepts as distillation fundamental principles (Sharma, 2005). Their ethical system serves as principles of teaching that are taken freely with much sensitivity and intelligence and not implemented as rules or commandments. The five precepts of the Buddhism religious ethics are those that protect the people from stealing, killing, sexual misconduct, intoxication as well as lying (Van, 2005). In contrast, the Hinduism religion ethical system provides a point of reference in which the community conducts itself. For example, subjective and personal designed principles direct the Hindus people in the way they related to each other. For instance, the Hindu values affect the community education system and through the fundamental human laws (Schweiker, 2012). From a different perspective, Hinduism and Buddhism have demanded a considerable influence or impacts in the Indian people’s life, ethics as well as ethical aspects. It worth noting that, Buddhism and Hinduism religious, ethical systems complies with the five universal a code that includes killing, sexual misconduct, intoxication and lying. In addition, the moral system complies with marriages, parental bonding as well as spousal relationships. On a broad scope, Buddhism ethical systems integrate actions and moral thoughts that are universal to the public systems. In simple words, Buddhism ethical systems such Buddhist morality, determines the people’s social status and spiritual life through self-realization and self-efforts (Gwynne, 2011). In addition, Buddhism, ethical systems concentrate on spiritual and moral development based on a holistic approach without any hidden agenda. In contrast, Hinduism ethical systems are based on the caste system presented by the Manu laws and the Dharmastutras principles. On a different point of view, the Hinduism ethical systems focus on the rebirth, purification, Karma and restoration of bad and good people (Sharma, 2005). In respect to the killing ethic, Buddhism ethic system considers killing as a greatest offense for both lay individuals as well as the ordained ones. Life is being considered as holy and short, and it should not be eliminated by incitement, suicide, and abortion or killing. However, according to Hindus ethical systems, killing is only considered as the greatest offense when the priests or Brahmin is killed regardless of who is committing a crime (Schweiker, 2012). In addition, killing other individuals in the Hinduism ethics is considered as a minor offense which can be exposed to forgiveness. From a different point of view, in Buddhism religion, stealing and cheating are considered as a grave offense to whoever commits the crime. In contrast, Hinduism religion accepts stealing forgiveness and fines depending on the position of the person committing a crime (Gwynne, 2011). In reference to the act of lying, the Buddhism religion ethic recognizes the consequences of lying by advising the monks and other people not to deceive others. In contrast, Hinduism ethical system with respect to lying ethics encourages the people to practice kindness and truthiness. In general, both ethical systems act on similar reprimands when lying, sexual and marriage crime are committed but differ in rewards of practicing truthiness, marriage and sexual misconduct (Sharma, 2005). In relation to sexual conduct and behavior ethics, Buddhism monastic Vinaya emphasizes on the sexual purity of monks by abstaining and advice the lay people from illicit sexual practices. In addition, any violation of the sexual a code is regarded as a great offense and harsh punishments and judgments are subjected to the violator (Sharma, 2005). In contrast, social caste system contained in the Hinduism rules of conducts has different judgment levels depending on the social position of the code violator. For example, a priest violation of the rule of a code of sexual behavior is judged and punished slightly and differently than when the sexual behavioral a code was violated by a lay person (Gwynne, 2011). In general, although the Buddhism approach to sexual conduct or sexual misconduct condemn is similar to that of Hinduism ethical system, Buddhism advocates on equal responsibility, reward and punishment while Hinduism reprimands significantly on social hierarchal level on their degree of offensive ruling (Schweiker, 2012). Further analysis of the Buddhism and Hinduism intoxication acts, Buddhism ethical systems prohibit their highest hierarchy such as Monks from taking any intoxicant or drinks but the violation of the same is regarded as a minor offense. In contrast, Hinduism ethical systems prohibit its people from taking any intoxicant but regard other drinks to be the greatest crime than others (Van, 2005). For example, the ethical system accepts taking wine in secular engagement of life as normal and nothing wrong is associated to it at the same time considering liquor drinking as a greatest offence when committed by any of its follower. In general, there is a common Buddhism and Hinduism ethical systems acceptance in terms of prohibiting as well as warning their followers against gambling and alcohol drinking (Molloy, 2008). In relation to marital, relationships and spouses a code, Buddhism ethical systems are simple and straightforward since it its followers as equal with equal responsibilities and rights. In comparison, discriminative cast ethical systems in the Hinduism religions make the Hinduism marital and spouses a code more complex and sophisticated. For example, Buddhism ethical system codes considers marriage as secular partnership contract, non-sacred and dependent on the partners agreement whereas in Hinduism marriage is considered as sacred and determined by Hinduism caste system codes (Molloy, 2008). In simple terms, the Hinduism and Buddhism marital and spouses differ in their approach to the marital codes. For example, Hinduism ethical system advocates courtesy and respects for husbands to their wives while Hinduism ethical systems advocates’ husband-wife treatment discriminatively and differently according to their social caste system (Gwynne, 2011). However, although the Hinduism and the Buddhism marital and spouse’s codes differ significantly in some ways, their ethical marital and spouses’ codes share some common similarities. For example, both ethical systems advocated husband-wife faithfulness, respect and referred authority of the husband to their wives. Broad analysis of the Buddhism and Hinduism ethical systems for parents and their children relationships are quite essential. In reference to the Buddhism parents and their children relationship, Buddhism ethical system codes are quite comprehensive allowing children to comply with their duties and responsibilities regardless of their associated backgrounds. However, according to the Hinduism ethical system codes fail to define parents and children responsibilities but only define inheritance rights to children with respect to their social caste Sharma, 2005). Conclusion Hinduism and Buddhism religions ethical systems comparisons and contrast can only be understood through collective bargains. Therefore, although Buddhism and Hinduism ethical systems differ in a number of ways, their ethical systems share some similarities in another of way. For example, the codes for spouses are similar that advocates for faithfulness and transfer of authority from husbands to their wives. In addition, both religious has similar codification for their people’s way of life. In general, it is worth acknowledging that the two traditions share various differences and similarities in codification, views and approaches in which they govern their followers (Gwynne, 2011). However, since the two religions have a common geographical arena and provide a turning point in by can be compared and analyzed in terms of the ethical system. References Gwynne, P. (2011). World Religions in Practice: A Comparative Introduction. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. Molloy, M. (2008). Experiencing the worlds religions: Tradition, challenge, and change. Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education. Sharma, A. (2005). Religious studies and comparative methodology: The case for reciprocal illumination. Albany. Schweiker, W. (2012). The Blackwell companion to religious ethics. Malden, Mass: Blackwell. Van, V. R. E. (2005). Anthology of world scriptures. Princeton, N.J: Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic. Read More