Hinduism is a complex blend of religions that arose from the Indian sub continent . It is 4OOO years old and is a synthesis of many spiritual beliefs and practices. Buddhism emerged from Hinduism as a break away religion with the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama - the 'Buddha' 2,6OO years ago.
COMPARATIVE STUDY
Founder
HINDUISM
Founded by many holy maharishis or spiritually wise yogis
BUDDHISM
The Buddha means the awakened one
Belief in GOD
HINDUISM
3 main gods controling the universe BRAHMA the creator VISHNU sustainer SHIVA the destroyer
BUDDHISM
Holds no belief in God - is more concerned with ending human suffering on Earth than with the afterlife , uses a psychology of living skillfully - 4 Noble Truths & an 8 fold path to enlightenment
Reincarnation
HINDUISM
A constant cycle of rebirth until enlightenment- caste system restricts rebirth
BUDDHISM
No caste system. The wheel of samsara can be broken via 8 fold path to nirvana
The individual self
HINDUISM
Continuation of the atman or individual soul
BUDDHISM
No concept of individual seperate soul, rather a realisation that all life is inter- dependent through inter- being.
Religious Texts
HINDUISM
The Vedas and the Upanishads and many YOGA texts
BUDDHISM
Buddhas sermons and teachings were transcribed into many texts,
the basic teaching was the 4 Noble Truths and the 8 Fold Path
Religious clergy
HINDUISM
No official clerical hierarchy (like the Catholic Pope) but has independent gurus yogis rishis brahmins priests who teach the dharma - religeous duty in life
BUDDHISM
Has a Sangha of monks supported by the lay Buddhist
community who teach the dharma - spiritual purpose in life
Geographical distribution
HINDUISM
Mainly in India, Nepal and Mauritius. Has significant population in Fiji, Bhutan. Has a following in the west because of the practice of YOGA.
BUDDHISM
Mainly in Thailand, Cambodia, Sri lanka, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Japan, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Vietnam, China, Mongolia, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Has a wide following in the west because of the practice of MINDFULNESS MEDITATION.
THE BUDDHA
SHORT SUMMERY
PRINCE SIDDHARTA GAUTAMA WAS A WARRIOR PRINCE WHO LIVED IN NORTHERN INDIA 26OO YEARS AGO
HE LIVED IN LUXURY INSIDE THE KINGS PALACE WALLS NEVER KNOWING WHAT THE REAL WORLD WAS LIKE - HIS FATHER WANTED HIM TO RULE AS KING
ONE DAY HE LEFT THE PALACE AND SAW - A DISEASED MAN - AN OLD MAN AND - A DEAD BODY IN THE STREET
THIS SUFFERING AND DEATH TROUBLED THE YOUNG PRINCE - HE DECIDED TO LEAVE THE PALACE HIS WIFE AND CHILD AND TRY TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THIS EARTHY SUFFERING
HE MEETS SOME YOGIS AND PRACTICES MANY DIFFICULT SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
THEN ONE DAY BY HIMSELF HE ATTAINS A STATE OF ABSOLUTE PEACE IN HIS MIND HE UNDERSTANDS HUMAN SUFFERING - HE BECOMES ENLIGHTENED
HE BECOMES THE BUDDHA OR THE 'AWAKENED ONE'
FOR THE NEXT 4O YEARS HE TEACHES MONKS MEDITATION AND A PRACTICE CALLED THE 'DHARMA' OR 8 FOLD PATH
1. RIGHT UNDERSTANDING
2. RIGHT INTENTION
3. RIGHT SPEECH
4. RIGHT ACTION
5. RIGHT LIVELIHOOD
6. RIGHT EFFORT
7. RIGHT MINDFULNESS
8. RIGHT CONCENTRATION
THESE 8 STEPS HELP EASE THE SUFFERING IN A PERSON LIFE WHILE ON EARTH
HE WAS NOT CONCERNED WITH THE NEXT LIFE OR HEAVAN BUT HOW TO LIVE IN EARTH
THIS HE CALLED THE 'MIDDLE WAY' A WAY OF CLARITY AND PEACE
HE CONCLUDED THAT THE MAIN REASON FOR HUMAN SUFFFERING WAS 'ATTACHMENT' TO THINGS WE LIKE AND AVERSION TO THINGS WE DON'T LIKE
HE PRESCRIBED MEDITATION TO HELP THIS CONDITION
HE SAID EVERY ONE WAS EQUAL THEREFORE BANNED THE HINDU CASTE SYSTEM
ESSENTIALLY UNLIKE OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS HE WAS A 'MIND' PSYCHOLOGIST
FIX YOUR MIND AND YOU WILL END SUFFERING
NO RELIGIOUS GURUS CAN ULIMATELY HELP YOU - YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN MENTAL CONDITION TO BE A 'COMPASSIONATE' PERSON TO THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS
IN THE YEARS AFTER THE BUDDHAS DEATH 'BUDDHISM ' RAPIDLY SPREAD ALL OVER ASIA
HIS MEDITATION PRACTICE OF 'MINDFULNESS ' HAS SPEAD TO THE WEST TO THINK MORE CLEARLY AND BE MORE FOCUSSED
THE 2 BIGGEST SPIRITUAL EXPORTS FROM INDIA TO THE WEST
HAVE BEEN 'MEDITATION ' AND 'YOGA'
HISTORICALLY BOTH ARE CONCERNED WITH THE INNER SPIRITUAL LIFE AND NOT THE AQUISITION OF WESTERN SUCCESS IN CONSUMMERISM AND WORLD COMFORT
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