Contrasting Viewpoints of the Two Religions: Buddhism and Hinduism

The world religions are complex and differentiated in various aspects are given their historical backgrounds and way of life. Given such a realization, it is important to note that the existing world religions tend to assume and practice particular traditions that preserve the same cultures and identity (Brodd 166). A point to note, there exists various traditions, perception and practices that shape the religions within various spiritual paths. Given the scope of study during class readings, it is important to compare and contrast between Hinduism and Buddhism.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Buddhism is a word religion that has a central focus on personal spiritual development that revolves around a deeper understanding of the true nature of a way of life. Given such an introduction to the religion, there is a need to point that Buddhism has a particular approach to their religion. The approach is that the Buddhists are people who do not believe in the power of gods or deities. Class reading provides such an emphasis in the case that they provide a general understanding of the religion as a culture that practices development of morality. In simple terms, the religion is pivotal on mediation and the practice of wisdom (Brodd 147). Given such an understanding, it is right to point that Buddhisms view of life after death develops in the case that a person has to attain Nirvana before being reborn.

On the contrary, Hinduism is a religion that believes in the existence of an everlasting soul also referred to as the Atman. Importantly, the Hindu perspective of reincarnation develops from birth to birth. On the same note, the Hindus have mandates to worship various gods that exist within their religion. The belief of the various gods is that they represent a Supreme God on the overall belief and practice of their religion. Thus, their religious practice invokes the form of worshiping deities who stand for various protection and blessing of the Hindu believers. Evidently, Bhakti is fundamental religious practice for the Hindus. Conversely, they differ from the Buddhist, who do not acknowledge any god given that their central foundation of faith develops from personal practice of morality. The Buddhist believe of the existence of a supreme God is merely for the purpose of enlightenment and not for the function of worship practices

Subsequently, there is the belief that there is a place that a soul can join. The place or reincarnation line of thinking develops in the case that one believes in the Universal Divine Force. Thus, one would notice that there is a clear difference between the two religions of the world that develops from the way of worship and relation to the reincarnation and existence of a spiritual place or world. Evidently, Buddhists tend to practice the art of mediation and application of wisdom throughout their lives. This approach has a place within the Buddhists world in the case that they tend to abide by certain policies that generally exhibit moral uprightness (Brodd 213). Hinduism, on the other hand, is a world religion that fully focuses on the existence of Brahman, who controls the actions of the believers. In this view, the Hindu religion practices particular traditions that revolve around individual act in the universe. They tend to evaluate ones actions and judgment in the universe given the overall view of life to demand responsible deeds.

Similarities between the two world religions (Buddhism and Hinduism)

There is a connection between the two religions as noted from class reading that develops from the analysis of various aspects. The two religions share a common origin in the case that they both started and developed in India. As such, there is a clear line to understand the two religions on grounds that they share and borrow certain elements of practicing their religion. For example, the two religions believe in Polytheism in the case that it is an automatic provision for the Hindu societies (Brodd 198). On the same note, the similarity in such belief also exists in the Buddhists religion in the case that their believers have the choice to choose from Monotheism, Atheism and Polytheism. Such a comparison of the two religious further sheds more light into other similarities of the two religions.

Firstly, one would easily note that both Buddhism and Hinduism have a central emphasis on and endless cycle of life. Such a statement means that the two religions believe in the reincarnation of their religion. Evidently, the Buddhists perspective is that a person has to attain an outermost level of purity in the religion for them to be reborn. On the same ground, the Hinduism provides that reincarnation or the process of being reborn occurs from birth to birth upon the invocation of the gods (Brodd 175). Such reasoning encourages the documentation of a particular account on the two religions. Notably, one would realize that the two religions have provisions that comment about peoples behavior and their indulgence in certain behavior.

More importantly, there is the belief that certain actions by the society or group of people would result in certain disaster in life. Thus, the two religions believe that there is a need for mediation in the case that they would eliminate misfortune and challenges within their community. Such aspects of the two communities generally give a common trend amongst the two religious societies that explain a certain spiritual devotion. Instead of such understanding, there is a shared perception of Hinduism and Buddhism that includes higher enlightenment and spiritual liberation. Additionally, the two religions hold the thought and belief that every person is responsible for their actions. As such, a failure by a societal member to observe the spiritual law would eventual has negative consequences for both their families and community. For instance, they two share the view on Karma that dictates every persons moral judgment and way of life. Consequently, Buddhism and Hinduism are religions that practice a spiritual tradition that stretches far beyond the thinking mind to a state of relaxation and self-unconsciousness.

Conclusion

A good way to summarize the analysis of Buddhism and Hinduism as the world religions develops in the case that one concurs with the existing differences. Such acknowledgment gives more insight to enlightenment into the world of diverse religions. On the same note, there is a need to recognize certain elements that portray the two religions to have a connection in their way of life. Importantly, the review of their foundational belief such as the reincarnation is of fundamental value given that it restores credibility on the history of the two religions over the years.

Works Cited

Brodd, Jeffrey. Invitation to World Religions. New York : Oxford University Press , 2016. Print.

Borkataky-Varma, Sravana. "Invitation to World Religions. by Jeffrey Brodd, Layne Little, Bradley Nystrom, Robert Platzner, Richard Shek and Erin Stiles. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013. Pp. Xx + 555. $79.95." Religious Studies Review. 40.2 (2014): 77-78. Print.