Seeing that Buddhism was born out of a Hindu culture, there are many similarities between Hinduism and Buddhism. Buddhism retained the Hindu concepts of Samsara, reincarnation, karma, dharma and nirvana. They believe that everyone progresses through the universe based on the karma that they accumulate and then with proper teachings (dharma) and actions they can escape the process of Samsara and reach Nirvana.
There are many things that Buddhism does not share with Hinduism though:
- Buddhists do not believe in the caste system. All people have equal opportunity to reach
enlightenment in their own lives, and are not limited to a class of society. You don't have to
work your way up the castes in seperate lives in order to reach Nirvana, anyone can.
- Buddhists have no set rituals that everyone must do to achieve progress towards nirvana. This
would have included the puja ceremonies, chants, and making offerings to gods. Buddhists try
to keep their lives free of meaningless ritual.
- Buddhists consider debates about theology issues useless, as there is no way to reach an
absolute answer until you reach enlightenment. Such debates are pointless.
- Buddhists disagree with using a religious language that only the high caste Brahmins could
know. Knowledge should be available to all people, not just a certain class.
- Buddhists believe that a person can reach Nirvana in one lifetime, not only after 100's. This
meant that anyone could escape samsara, and not just move up the ladder after a good life.
There are some unique concepts in Buddhism:
- Buddhism is a very personal religion. Everyone is responsible for their own salvation. Salvation
is achieved when you come to your own sense of peace with the universe through meditation
and simple living.
- There is no single set of beliefs or teachings in Buddhism. They teach the collection of
things which have helped others to reach enlightenment and end samsara.
- Women and men are considered equal in Buddhism, since both are generally delusions
anyway and everyone will have been reincarnated as a man or a woman at one time anyway.
- Violence is not tolerated towards any living thing.
- Buddha taught that everything has three basic characteristics:
Anicca - the state of impermanence. Everything is constantly changing.
Dukkha - the state of dissatisfaction. Everything experiences suffering and pain at
one time or another in life. True happiness is a fleeting thing.
Annatta - the state of no-self. There is no one way to describe yourself because
all people are more than just the sum of their parts.
Buddhists live by a moral code governed by the Five Precepts:
There are many things that Buddhism does not share with Hinduism though:
- Buddhists do not believe in the caste system. All people have equal opportunity to reach
enlightenment in their own lives, and are not limited to a class of society. You don't have to
work your way up the castes in seperate lives in order to reach Nirvana, anyone can.
- Buddhists have no set rituals that everyone must do to achieve progress towards nirvana. This
would have included the puja ceremonies, chants, and making offerings to gods. Buddhists try
to keep their lives free of meaningless ritual.
- Buddhists consider debates about theology issues useless, as there is no way to reach an
absolute answer until you reach enlightenment. Such debates are pointless.
- Buddhists disagree with using a religious language that only the high caste Brahmins could
know. Knowledge should be available to all people, not just a certain class.
- Buddhists believe that a person can reach Nirvana in one lifetime, not only after 100's. This
meant that anyone could escape samsara, and not just move up the ladder after a good life.
There are some unique concepts in Buddhism:
- Buddhism is a very personal religion. Everyone is responsible for their own salvation. Salvation
is achieved when you come to your own sense of peace with the universe through meditation
and simple living.
- There is no single set of beliefs or teachings in Buddhism. They teach the collection of
things which have helped others to reach enlightenment and end samsara.
- Women and men are considered equal in Buddhism, since both are generally delusions
anyway and everyone will have been reincarnated as a man or a woman at one time anyway.
- Violence is not tolerated towards any living thing.
- Buddha taught that everything has three basic characteristics:
Anicca - the state of impermanence. Everything is constantly changing.
Dukkha - the state of dissatisfaction. Everything experiences suffering and pain at
one time or another in life. True happiness is a fleeting thing.
Annatta - the state of no-self. There is no one way to describe yourself because
all people are more than just the sum of their parts.
Buddhists live by a moral code governed by the Five Precepts:
- In order to end suffering and lead a happier life, all Buddhists will follow the Middle Path that
Siddhartha discovered. This is also called the Nobel Eightfold Path.
Siddhartha discovered. This is also called the Nobel Eightfold Path.
The final assignment in the Buddhism section will cover some of the changes that Buddhism has gone through since the time of Buddha Siddhartha as the philosophy has spread throughout Eastern Asia and across the world.
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