Comparing Buddhism and the 8 Fold Path

Comparing Buddhism And The 8 Fold Path
Throughout the year, my understanding of religion has grown immensely. Growing up I had a fairly
closed mind on the extent of what religion meant. I've grown up in a moderately religious family,
but religion hasn't been the center of our attention. When I was young, I'd been taught to pray before
eating dinner and again before bed, I wasn't influenced by the Bible specifically but more by the
morals. I have attended the Youth Group of Grace Church since I was in 8th grade and stopped this
year. I had a connection this year that helped with my understanding of what religion means. As
we've studied five different religions, I have come upon the same pattern. Religion focuses on
having quality morals. To me, there's a bit more to religion than believing in a god or higher power.
A great factor of religion is having concrete examples of the ethical things to do and how to better
yourself as a whole and the people ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
With a base of good morals, religion can grow. In Buddhism, the first Noble Truth shares Life is
Dukkha (suffering). As known, the 8 Fold Path consists of 8 sections which will release one from
suffering and brings them to enlightenment. When reading each section, I begun to better understand
the reasons why religion is apparent in our everyday life for most humans. The 8 Fold Path created a
set of guidelines/morals that I would like to incorporate into my life. Two divisions that expressed
themselves the most were right speech and right intention. These two I've worked to improve in my
life, but recently I understand that people incorporate all these and follow them everyday. Again, I
see the connection between meeting the end goal of enlightenment and being a better person.
Buddhists connect through the 8 Fold Path, create morals and live day in day out by them. If not
taken directly from, one can create others within the guidelines previously
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Comparing Doaism and Mahayana Buddhism
When it comes to comparing Doaism and Mahayana Buddhism very few similarities exist. Although
both religions are practice based, opposed to religions based on faith, the ultimate goal of each
religion are vastly different. In Daoism it is believed that the spirit is eternal after death while In
Mahayana Buddhism we see that there is an end to the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. However,
there is one similarity in both that is incredibly important to the practice of both religions. This
similarity is the concept of emptiness. By observing the proper practices of Bodhisatvvas in
Buddhism and the ideal ruler in Daoism we can see how both religions have a very similar view on
the importance of emptiness, and also how they differ. In the Daoist text the Tao Teh Ching, there is
mention of the idea of an empty bowl. This concept is very important and can be applied to many
aspects of Daoist practice. When thinking of a bowl we understand it as something that is to be
filled. However, as it is referred to in the Tao Teh Ching it is the empty space inside the bowl that
gives it purpose. Metaphorically the bowl is a representation of our mind. If we fill our mind and in
turn close it off to any new understanding we our limiting our potential. One of the most important
concepts in Daoism is Wei Wu Wei, or, action without action. Like water bending and moving
through a stream it is believed that people should act accordingly to nature not challenging or trying
to act

Comparing Buddhism And Hinduism Essay
Alexandra Madar
July 19, 2015
REL 3027
Midterm Exam – Question 3 Relating Buddhism & Hinduism
Religions throughout the world all come together at some point with similarities and differences
whether it be the same God that they worship or their belief system is different, one thing is certain
that traditions and practices are remained as sacred and honorable. Of the religious groups that have
been taught up until this point, Hinduism and Buddhism are the most connected in every aspect of
their traditions, practices, and history.
Hinduism is known as the one of the world's oldest religions. However, when unraveling the facts
behind its historical development, it remains a bit cloudy not knowing its specific founder or date.
One thing that is certain is that Hinduism was formed from a culture that was inhabited into India
around the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The original teachings of Buddha are assimilated to Hindu practices, where the idea of heaven and
hell stemmed. The uses of statues and pictures to worship in practice and tradition are heavily
utilized in the teachings of both of these religions. All throughout Asia, where these religions are
heavily practiced, many people will come across Buddha statues and palaces where those who
practice Hinduism gather to worship. Though Buddhism and Hinduism maintain the ultimate goal of
salvation from life and death, they differ in the cycles. In order to attain enlightenment and to be
released from the cycle of rebirth and death, Buddhists must attain Nirvana, a place of peace and
happiness. Whereas, the goal of religion in Hinduism is to attain salvation in order to break the cycle
of birth, death, and reincarnation. Once freedom from this cycle is reached, a Brahmin will
ultimately reach Moksha

Essay on Comparing Hinduism and Buddhism
Comparing Hinduism and Buddhism
Hinduism and Buddhism have different similarities and are in some ways connected to each other.
Some of the practices of the two religions are similar in various ways and there are several examples
to show this.
Hinduism first started in India around 1500 BC. The word Hindu comes from the Sanskrit word
sindhu, or river. The Hindu community define themselves as "those who believe in the Vedas", or
also "those who follow the way, or dharma, of the four classes and the stages of life. The four
classes being the varnas and the stages of life being the ashramas.
Like Hinduism, Buddhism also started in India. It is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama,
who is called the Buddha or ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
These are the Sutra Pitaka, which is a collection of discourses, the Vinaya Pitaka, which is the code
of the monastic discipline, and the Abhidharma Pitaka, which contains all different philosophical,
psychological, and doctrinal discussions and different classifications.
The Sutra Pitaka is made up of dialogues between the Buddha and his people and consists of five
different texts. The first is the Digha Nikaya, then the Mijjhima Nikaya, the Samyutta Nikaya,
Anguttara Nikaya and the Khuddaka Nikaya.
The Vinaya Pitaka has over 225 rules of conduct for the Buddhist monks and nuns, each which ha a
story to explain. The Abhidharma Pitaka has seven separate works, which include "detailed
classifications of the psychological phenomena, metaphysical analysis, and a thesaurus of technical
vocabulary."
Hinduism also has many texts but the most important of all is the Vedas. The oldest is the Rig–Veda,
which was developed in an ancient form of the Sanskrit language in northeast India. It consists of
1028 hymns to many gods. Two other Vedas were added to the Rig–Veda, the Yajur–Veda which is a
book for sacrifice, and the Sama–Veda which I the hymnal. A fourth book added around 900 BC,
which is a collection of magic spells, is called the Atharva–Veda. The Brahmans, long Sanskrit texts,
were also composed around this time and the Upanishads were composed around 600 BC. These
Vedas and writings are considered revealed canon or

Comparing Siddhartha Gautama And Mahayana Buddhism
If history has taught us anything, is that whoever has the power gets heard the most. Minorities get
pushed aside unless aided by a higher voice. Likewise with the universal relgions of Mahayana
Buddhisma and Christanity, Ashoka and Constantine served as vessels of higher authority in the
spreading of their respective religions. Without political support, the spread of new concepts like
religion have a harder time seeping into the mindsets of societies. Often these ideas undergo
discrimination, if not termination altogether.
Siddhartha Gautama, or Buddha, was responsible for the philosophy of Buddhism. With the caste
system in place in India, it was difficult for the people in that civilization to do much that was
considered outside their

Comparing Buddhism In Ancient China And Japan
First, Comparing Buddhism in ancient China and Japan. Buddhism in ancient Japan was similar to
Buddhism in China because, it was the Chinese who introduced Buddhism to Japan in the first place
and when the Chinese introduced this idea it "...became immensely popular, at least with the upper
classes." Another way that Buddhism in Japan was the same in China is because in Japan, when
Buddhism was introduced it taught people to achieve Buddhahood through the eightfold path, and in
China when it was introduced between 1 and 100 AD it taught the teachings of Buddha which is
basically the same fundamentals with different names. Some examples of the teachings are the
search for the truth of things such as what is your motivation to do things and ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Ritual announcements by the emperor came to embody elements of both Shinto and Buddhism..."
This shows how different Buddhism in Japan is to Buddhism in China. Another reason why
Buddhism and Shintoism get along so well is because the doctrines of the two religions complement
each other very well. The two religions complement each other is because at "...birth and marriage
are Shinto, whereas funerals and communion with the dead are within the purview of Buddhism."
This shows how Buddhism in Japan connects with Shintoism and makes Buddhism in Japan much
different from Buddhism in China. Another example of Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan connect is
"... the principal kami of Shinto came to be regarded as Buddhist deities in different forms, and
Shinto shrines were ever amalgamated with Buddhist temples." Next, let's see how Buddhism in
China is different from Buddhism in Japan. First, when Buddhism was introduced to the Chinese
people from traders and merchants from India it caused "... Some early devotees of Buddhism to
regarded it as an exotic form of Taoism." In the later years of Buddhism in China a popular version
of Buddhism in China that strayed away from Buddhism that is practiced in India, has the concept of
a bodhisattvas, who is a

Comparing Buddhism And Christianity : Buddhism Vs....
According to Paul Carus, "religion covers man's relation to the entirety of existence. The
characteristic feature of religion is conviction, and its contents a world conception which serves for
the regulation of conduct." In other words, with a little more grammar, religion is used to explain
worldly phenomenon, our purpose for existence, what becomes of us when we pass, why we even
are, and to bring peace to our minds. If we cannot find peace in our existence and our eventual
"non–existence," we will eventually be driven mad by our quest to understand, leading us to an
existential. Religion, then becomes our gateway to sanity and quality of life. Along with peace of
mind in what is to come, it forces rules upon us which allow us to live together in peace; most
religions have a standard on how we should treat other people, and how we shouldn't. There are a
vast majority of religions, some which idealize a god or gods, some which look to science and
nature for answers, and some which deal with magic. Two specific very interesting, and highly
contrasting religions however, are Buddhism, and Christianity.
Buddhism is a religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) between the sixth and fourth
centuries BCE. Buddhism is a way of life to about 300 million people around the world, their path
can be described as: leading a moral life, being mindful and aware of their thoughts and actions, and
developing wisdom and understanding ("BuddhaNet Basic Buddhism Guide: A Five Minute

Buddhism Vs. Islam : Comparing Buddhism And Islam
Buddhism and Islam are both prevalent religions in the world today with Buddhism originating
around 2500 BCE in India, while Islam began around 700 CE in the Middle East. Buddhism began
when Siddhartha Gautama became enlightened and started spreading his teachings of what he
learned throughout India. Islam began through the teachings of their main and highest prophet,
Muhammad. Islam and Buddhism are similar through their beliefs in a singular founder and a set of
ethical standards which they live their lives by. On the other hand, they differ in many ways,
including the fact that Buddhists do not believe in any gods, while Muslims are monotheistic.
Moreover, they differ in what happens after death, the Buddhists believe when one dies they are
reincarnated as many times as necessary to reach Nirvana. Muslims do not believe in reincarnation
as they believe that people should only live one life at a time. Both Buddhists and Muslims have
many similarities in their religions. Both the Buddhist and Islamic faiths are similar to the fact that
they believe in one singular founder to which they credit the beginning of their religions. For
Buddhism their founder is Siddhartha Gautama ("Buddha"), who spent a major portion of his life
meditating and then, in turn, became enlightened. This lead to him realizing many things about his
religion and spreading his knowledge and teachings to other people. Very similar to Gautama,
Muhammad, was also meditating and then came to the

Comparing Stoicism And Buddhism
Stoicism and Buddhism are two popular belief systems pertaining to life and living. Stoicism, a
philosophical school which arose in 300 BCE (Lecture [Oct 17], Slide #5), speaks of "living in
accordance with nature" and otherwise understanding that everything happens for the well being of
everyone and everything as a whole (Lecture [Oct 17], Slide #7–8). This is shown through
distinguishing between what is and is not in your control and putting a barrier of sorts between you
and what is not in your control (Lecture [Oct 17], Slide #10). Stoics as well view friends as a
positive thing to have, as they benefit the whole, but are easy to replace and not a necessity.
Buddhism, a religion that does not preach on our relation to a God, but emphasizes teachings of our
relationship to one another and the end of suffering. Buddhist views revolve around everyone being
interconnected and striving for the destruction of craving in order to end suffering for you and in
turn everyone who is connected to you, the ultimate goal being to transcend karma allowing you to
exit the cycle of rebirth (Lecture [Oct 24], Slide #6). Buddhists and Stoics both show their own
views on ethics and friendship, although overlapping in respect to understanding oneself in relation
to others, but have quite different views on how you should be living and the purpose and the need
for friendship.
Buddhists and Stoics have quite radically different approaches to living and how to live correctly. A
significant part of Buddhist beliefs is rebirth and nirvana, which is the end of suffering and exiting
of rebirth. Rebirth has six forms, humans, gods, titans, animals, hell, and ghosts, which are
determined by karma although ultimately, exiting the cycle of rebirth requires transcending karma
(Lecture [Oct 24], Slide #5–6)."Kamma is the field, consciousness the seed, and craving the
moisture." (BR1), explaining how in order to transcend karma you must eliminate the craving so
karma is unable to grow. Buddhists live to eliminate suffering, a by–product of ignorance of
dependent arising which causes craving, allowing you to enter nirvana which could be a total
extinction of your person or existence in a realm without craving (Lecture [Oct 24], Slide #16).

Essay on Comparing Hinduism and Buddhism
Comparing Hinduism and Buddhism
While Hinduism and Buddhism come from the same cultural backgrounds, they are extremely
diverse in their beliefs on afterlife, deity, and rituals. Both religions believe in reincarnation, but it is
where an individual goes after he or she gets off the endless cycle that differs. These religions also
part when it comes to whom they do or do not worship. Every religion comes with rituals and
Hinduism and Buddhism are no exceptions.
Hindu followers have no doubt they go to moksha after they accomplish redemption, but Buddhists
believe that the main goal is to achieve nirvana in the afterlife. A Hindu can conquer redemption by
living a life of asceticism. After becoming a Sadhu, or holy man, and renouncing ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Eight–Fold Path essentially states pupils should have the right knowledge, speech, aspirations,
behavior, livelihood, efforts, mindfulness, and know self–concentration. Following the Eight–Fold
Path leads to achieving nirvana.
Another distinction between Hinduism and Buddhism is their concepts of deity. Although Hinduism
claims to be a monotheistic religion, worshiping only Brahma Nerguna, Hindus worship 33 million
other gods that are aspects of Brahma Nerguna. Some of the most common gods or aspects are
Ganesha, Vishnu, and Shiva. Ganesha is the god of good luck, Vishnu is the god of families, health,
and children, and Shiva is the destroyer. Buddhism has different branches that seem to contradict its
original teachings. Some Buddhists worship Buddha, while the remainder of Buddhist think of
Buddha as just a man and follow his teachings.
An additional polarity of Hindus and Buddhists are their unique rituals and practices. The most
fundamental ceremonies for every Hindu are those that involve the rites of passage. These begin
with the first time a child eats solid food. The last rites are the funeral ceremonies and the yearly
offerings to dead ancestors. Rotating prayer wheels is a ritual of Tibetan Buddhists. The prayer
wheels have inscribed mantras or sacred chants. The wheel is believed to release benevolent forces
and acquire merit for the worshipper.
Hinduism and Buddhism have a variety of different beliefs. In Hinduism you become one

Comparing the Philosophy of Life in Christianity and...
Comparing the Philosophy of Life in Christianity and Chinese Buddhism
Chinese Philosophy not only is the fruit of thinking of the Chinese nation, but also is the important
component part of world culture. In Chinese philosophy, there are three main parts: Confucianism,
Buddhism and Taoism. Among them, Chinese Buddhism, which came from India, experienced a
course of sinicization under the influence of Chinese traditional culture represented mainly by
Confucianism and Taoism , so it keeps the general features of Buddhism ,and also formed its
Chinese characteristics. The changes of Chinese Buddhism from "going out of this world " to "being
in this world " and "building pure land in this world " fully manifested the humanistic spirit ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In this way , in actual life, there are often conflicts and struggles between goodness and evil in
human nature. So Christianity stresses that human beings should believe in God, and depend on
God's power to ensure tending towards goodness, and entering the paradise after their death.
Buddhism, starting from its basic teaching "arising through causation (Pratityasamutpada)", believes
that all things are naturally formed from causes and condition (Hetupratyaya), man is also the
combination from Five Classifications (Pancaskandha), under given conditions and the result of
ignorance (Avidya). As for "man is the result of ignorance", it's a bit similar to Christian "original
sin ". but influenced by Confucius "goodness of human nature" and Taoist "return to nature and true
", Chinese Buddhism specially emphasizes the inner basis of "free from world ", and stresses that
human nature, which is naturally pure and enlightened but dirty and befuddled because of being
hoodwinked by desire. Only when man could see mind and enlighten nature by practicing
Buddhism, then he is free from world and become Buddha.
Comparative speaking, both Christianity and Buddhism have the tendency of paying close attention
to what happens

Comparing Buddhism And The Four Noble Truths
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion based off the practice of traditions, beliefs, and spiritual practices from the
teachings of Buddha. Buddha taught people to challenge their thinking of the way people exist and
to teach compassion for their suffering. Siddhartha Gautama, the creator of buddhism, received his
name Buddha, which means the enlightened one, after being exposed to the true pain and suffering
of the world and nature. Most religions focus on either Gods or Goddesses, but Buddhism is non–
theistic, which mean their religion does not focus on any gods. Buddha taught his followers that
believing in gods was not helpful when needing enlightenment. Buddhism originated from india but
today has spread all over different eastern countries. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Buddha taught that in everyday life all actions have consequences, known as karma. The
consequences of acts done in your lifetime will be portrayed in the next life, in a process known as
reincarnation. Buddha also created the wheel of life, which they believed represented what their
after life was going to be. A life reborn as a human was considered a very pleasing thing. It was also
every buddhists mission to mediate, and educate themselves on a daily basis in order to reach
Nirvana. Nirvana is a place of peace and happiness. Buddhists believed this was the highest place
one can reach for enlightenment and for one's individual desires and suffering to go away. Buddhism
also believes that our life situations are created by our internal minds. This is also true for our health
and body state. Many Buddhists use meditation, mantras, and prayers as a type of medication to help
heal themselves. All Buddhists live by five simple rules, called the Five Precepts: do not harm or kill
living things, do not take things unless they are freely given, lead a decent life ,do not speak
unkindly or tell lies and do not abuse drugs or drink alcohol. The most important Buddhist festivals
and holy days are Buddhist New Year, which celebrated the death of Buddha in his honor. And
festival of the tooth is a celebration where they think Buddha's tooth is a temple, they have a big
parade and celebration for the

Comparing Mennonites And Zen Buddhism
To shun a religion is a way of not being open to any new ideas. To mind your own
business and stick to your beliefs is the only proper and correct way. Zen buddhists maintained
their own religion by distancing themselves from christianity and catholicism, Sticking to their
own beliefs, being open to new ideas but not believing in them. The Mennonites maintained their
own religion forming communities where their believers could live, they made it clear that the
mennonite religion did not want anything to do with other religions, the Mennonites did not agree
with the concepts of other religions. Zen Buddhism is the main religion in Japan, China, South
Korea and India. Buddhism influences; peace, mindfulness and care for all ... Show more content on
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Mennonites believed that everything has to be kept the same and simple in
order the the communities around the world to work and be successful. The Mennonites
shunned the Christians and Catholics the most because they did not like the newly acceptance
of homosexuality ( allowing them to get married, and allowing them in churches), did not like the
advancements in society ( technology, machinery, clothing, housing), Lastly they still did not like
being kicked out of western europe for their beliefs, or being afraid that they would be persecuted
by christians and catholics. The Mennonites stick to their beliefs and do not let anyone or religio
try to drive them out of a country ever again.
In conclusion the Zen buddhists (a non western society) shunned mainstream religions
by practicing their religion in a community called a Monastery, they stayed away from other

religions and lastly by practicing their faith every day to remember why they are buddhism,

Comparing Buddhism And Christianity
Between 600 BCE, and 600 CE, Buddhism and Christianity were spreading across India and the
Middle East, but the two religions have a lot in common, yet each have their differences.
Both Buddhism and Christianity believe in the idea of life after death.While Christians believe in
heaven and hell, Buddhists believe in the idea of reincarnation, until reaching nirvana. Although the
two religions have different interpretations of the afterlife, they both believe in the concept of life
after death. Both Buddhism and Christianity set guidelines to a holy life. In Christianity, the
guidelines are set by Jesus in the Bible, while Buddhism's guidelines are set in a collection of
teachings. Through these teachings, the followers of each religion learn

Comparing Daoism, Confucianism, And Buddhism
The religions and cultures of Asia have come to be thought of as mystical by western civilizations,
yet the ideologies of these religions are prominently stereotyped in western culture. In these Asian
religions, there are three main teachings, Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Although all three
of these religions are classified as their own, many people that practice one of these religions will
also identify with another. When it comes to Asian religions, the western world creates vast images
and conceptualizes religion in a satirical way. While most people in western cultures like the United
States and United Kingdom will believe that Buddhism is a religion, most do not associate Daoism
and Confucianism as a religion. A required high school class, World History, goes over world
religions, yet when the topic of Buddhism comes up, teachers mention Daoism and Confucianism
almost as an afterthought. Due to this initial false idea, many stereotypes are created and ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Although the two religions differ greatly when magnified, they become similar when looking from
the perspective of a monotheistic religion. The three most popular religions in the west: Islam,
Judaism, and Christianity, offer an example of religion to the cultures of the west. Through the scope
of these three religions, both Daoism and Confucianism are stereotyped as philosophies rather than
religions. This similar stereotype is derived from the western culture's definition of religion.
Although everybody may have a different definition of religion, the fact that Prothero uses a whole
chapter to differ a philosophy and a religion shows that there is a deep root to the idea that a religion
must talk about creation and destruction instead of the idea that a religion should talk about how to
live just your current life, which is what Daoism and Confucianism both

Comparing Shintoism And Buddhism
The main goal of any religion is to gain an idea of understanding and reasoning in one's life.
Religion is a vast hole with endless conceptions concerning the purpose for existence, as well as
moral principles for how individuals should live their one life. Religion is sacred and vital in the
Japanese society. Japan is a remarkable country with endless temples and shrines for praying,
donating, and ceremonies. Yet, the modern lifestyle and urbanization in Japan continues to emerge.
This realization had me contemplating the notion of how people can adjust towards contemporary
ideals and newly–found social orders, but continue to keep ancient beliefs and teachings like
Buddhism. Buddhism arrived in the sixth century in Japan from the Kingdom of Baekje in Korea,
roughly 552 A.D. However, it began in India with Siddhartha Gautama. Siddhartha lived within a
royal family and was protected from the "real world" for most of his childhood until he witnessed
the trials of sickness, aging, and death from a local monk. He wanted to find a way to live his life
with those trials, or somehow accept them. Siddhartha craved for a life of no pain and suffering, so
he left his comfortable home and strived to live towards Hindu teachings and nothing else. He
desired to reach enlightenment and after meditating for ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Roughly 80% of the Japanese population practice either Shintoism or Buddhism, yet only a small
percentage identify themselves to the religions. Though many Japanese do not traditionally or
actively commit to Buddhism, it is viewed as a communal and significant faith. This paper will
focus Buddhism reflecting towards the culture and community in Japan, even with contemporary
futures filling in. Ultimately, there is a decline of affiliation with Buddhism in Japan. To consider
this decrease it is necessary to examine the use of traditions, individuality, and modernization, which
are clashing with one

Comparing Buddhism and Hinduism Essay
Comparing Buddhism and Hinduism
As mentioned at the first meeting of our seminar, I originally took this class to fulfill a requirement
set forth by the Hutchins School. However upon a little investigation and contemplation of my own,
I have begun to think that I might find myself truly enjoying this class.
Never having been much of a religious person, I suppose I've shied away from the ideas of
organized religion. Though this may always be the case for me, I have recently developed a craving
to learn why so many people, perhaps the majority, flock to one categorization or another. I feel that
I have a little bit of an upper hand in these investigations of religion; this is due to the fact that I do
not have any current ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Perhaps it was because of this shock that these images made such an impact. It was at this time that
the young Buddha got the idea that life was a transient thing. Something that was ever changing and
cyclical.
I think that in our own way we all turn away from things we do not wish to see. Maybe it is this
reaction by default that helps us get through the "day by days." For some, it is enough to ignore
these misfortunes for others such as Buddha, finding personal guidance in his own life helps him
recognize these upsets. For this, he made personal sacrifice in the "Six years that followed, during
which his energies were directed to this end." He began his teachings, seeking the guidance of others
when he left for enlightenment in the forest. What he found there was others seeking the truth. It
was then that the realization came that he needed to find his inner peace on his own.
It was at this time that the notion of a "middle way" became apparent to the young Buddha. "Was his
body holding him back? He would crush its interference." Having tried both extremes; living a
material life and indulging himself as a young ruler, and then to shift to the extreme opposite by
starving himself for devotion. Finding this "Middle Way" was only possible for Buddha after having
tried both existences. I am appalled and envious of the discipline that Buddha found within himself.
After learning about the teachings of Buddha I am again reassured as to

Comparing Buddhism And Hinduism
India has been the root of many civilizations, groups, and philosophies ever since humans arrived
there. The ancient civilizations of India were diverse and evolved quickly, and they still have a
major impact on our world today. One such impact is the creation of Hinduism and, later, of
Buddhism. These two religions and philosophies are similar in many ways, but also have significant
differences. An important element of ancient and modern Indian society, as well as of Hinduism, is
the idea of a caste system, separating the social classes with very little possibility for change. The
caste system has an important role in Hinduism, and Buddhism came about as a reaction to the
inequality present in Hinduism. Hinduism and Buddhism, while similar, ... Show more content on
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Buddhists do not believe in a caste system that is essential to life and society because Buddha
himself did not promote the caste system and actually advised giving up material wealth, which goes
against the Hindu goal of artha, the pursuit of wealth. The concept of dharma, or duty within society,
is different in Hinduism and Buddhism. In Hinduism, dharma relies on proper actions within the
caste system and within a person's proper role in society. In Buddhism, a person's duty is to cultivate
virtue and work towards nirvana, the release from the cycle of death and rebirth, through Buddhist
teachings such as the Eightfold Path (Hayes). Both Buddhism and Hinduism have an idea of karma,
believing that your actions in a past life influence a person's position in the current one, but
Buddhism does not tie this into a rigid social system (Barrett). The caste system has little to no
effect on Buddhism because Buddhism does not have the Hindu beliefs that strengthen and
perpetuate the caste

Buddhism And Jainism : Comparing Buddhism Vs. Buddhism
Buddhism and Jainism are two of the non–Vedic religions that have stemmed from the Indus Valley
Civilization (India). Both of these contrasting religions are non–theistic and have common systemic
beliefs in meditation, yogic practices, reincarnation, and liberation. Consequently they also have
very defined differences, such as the belief in the soul, cosmic cycles, and styles of teaching.
Jainism and Buddhism both originate from the Indus Valley Civilization, with Mahavira and the
Buddha living in the time frame of 500 BCE. "Jainism's major teach for this age is Mahavira or
Mahavir (The Great Hero). He was a contemporary of the Buddha and died approximately 527
BCE."(4) Much like the Buddha, Mahavira was also a prince of the Kshatrya clan. While we do
have more information about Mahavira, "there are few factual details of the Buddha's life,"(2) as his
teachings were likely not written down until several hundred years later.
Next, let's explore the foundations of the Jain and Buddhist teachings. The "Jain teaching recognize
that we humans are imperfect, but hold out the promise that through careful control of our sense and
thoughts we can attain perfection, freedom, and happiness."(1) "The Buddha taught about earthly
suffering and it's cure...that liberation from suffering depends on our own efforts. The Buddha taught
that by understand how we create suffering for ourselves we can become free."(2) It appears that the
Jain approach is one of acknowledging imperfection

Comparing Hinduism And Buddhism: Siddhartha Guatama
There are several differences between Hinduism and Buddhism. Buddhism was started by a man
named Siddhartha Guatama. He wanted to find enlightenment so he could stop suffering. Hinduism
is the 3rd largest religion. It originated around 14 or 1500 B.C. in India. Buddhism was started by
Siddhartha Guatama. He was a prince, but he wanted to stop his people's suffering. He became an
ascetic, living alone in the wilderness. He allowed himself one bowl of rice per day, and he
meditated. Guatama realized that to live is to suffer, suffering is caused by desire, to eliminate desire
you must follow the 8–fold path. The 8–fold path dictates that you must have the right view,
intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, meditation, and concentration.

Comparing Hinduism And Buddhism
Both Hinduism and Buddhism have components of religion and philosophy intertwined, but for the
purposes of examination, a cohesive philosophical argument cannot hinge on the religious
metaphysics of the discussion. Hinduism and Buddhism both have similarities when describing life
and death. They share ideas of self, impermanence, and lack of attachment, but their metaphysics
create glaring differences when they describe how to live life, how to view life and death separately
or as a process, and how to deal with the suffering associated with life and death. Buddhism, when
examined through a contemporary western lens, explains life and death in a helpful and
understandable way, and has a more fortified philosophical argument.
To understand ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Reality is Atman and Brahman, and this embodied self is simply one part of the whole
chariot[CITE]. Therefore, value is placed on Atman and Brahman because they are eternal, while
jiva (the body) is impermanent and not reality. The reality of life and death uses Brahman as its
apex. "He [Atman] is never born, nor does he die at any time, nor having once come to be does he
again cease to be. He is unborn, eternal, permanent, and primeval" (Bhagavad–Gita, 108, verse 19).
There is no real life and death because Brahman is what is real, so the advice is to not focus on the
'life' jiva lives. In Western thought, strong value is placed on self, and it would take a gigantic leap
of faith in order for this outlook on life to guide a person on a daily basis because it is dependent on
Ātman being

Comparing Buddhism, Vipassana Meditation And Beliefs
Meditation is a practice where an individual focuses on calming the mind by concentrating on their
breathing. In the Buddhists tradition, meditation is practiced as a way to be liberated from suffering
and to reach enlightenment. This essay will go more into detail about some of the Theravada
meditation practices such as Samādhi, Vipassana, and The Four Immeasurables.
The human mind has three basic functions: to think, feel and crave. The mind consists of thoughts
and emotions that are often times unstable and always fluctuating to the point that there is never
truly a peace of mind. Constant desires for satisfaction leaves the mind unable to remain still.
Meditation is often practiced to put an end to cravings, intrusive thoughts, and ... Show more content
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The mind often fabricates false ideas and perceptions about the world and people around them,
however, by meditating, one gains awareness of one's thoughts and truly understands the true nature
of things by developing wisdom. The development of awareness from insightful meditation is what
makes people capable of removing oneself from ignorance (Swearer 98). Ignorance is the lack of
truly knowing or misinterpreting the truth about a person or situation. What Vipassana meditation
does is helps an individual to truly see things for what it is without the mind's false illusions. For
instance, in America, students are constantly pressured by parents to compete and do better than
classmates in order to be eligible for medicine. Students often times will do as their parents say but
fail to realize that while it may seem that their parents want what is best for their children, the
parents are actually guiding their children to a path of unhappiness. Pressured choices most often
always end up in dissatisfaction. In other words, students are being pressured to be materialistic
individuals and will have set up for themselves a future of unhappiness. In this context, students are
pursuing certain careers because a high paying career will provide more objects that one might think
will bring happiness is a choice based on ignorance. Further, insightful meditation allows an
individual to truly understand existence and omit the illusioned idea of the self (Swearer 99). Often
times, those who are driven by material, greed and desires consider themselves superior to others.
When people shrink their sense of self, is when one is truly able to see the world for what it actually
is, it is then that people are able to enjoy and appreciate their lives fully. The illusion that the self is
superior to others is eliminated from meditation. Vipassana meditation eliminates unwholesome
states of

Comparing Buddhism, And Buddhism
Lotus is a type of flower with powerful image and a spiritual symbol that consists of many different
meanings in different religions due to various myths and legends. The three religions that share
similar meaning of the lotus flower are Hinduism, Buddhism, and Egyptology. They considered the
lotus a sacred flower. Hinduism and Buddhism have more in common to one another than to
Egyptology. In the Asian religions and cultures, Buddhism and Hinduism, lotus is the perfection that
defines the soul to embrace the beauty of life. The differences and similarities between the three
religions are as follow:
In both Hinduism and Buddhism, the lotus is one of the most well–known symbols that has an
important image in purity, spiritual awakening and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It represents the energy centers of our body and is associated with beauty, fertility, prosperity,
spirituality, and eternity. The white lotus is the most common lotus form. Also, many of the gods and
goddesses are linked to this white lotus flower. The white lotus flower has special significance in
Hinduism, its meaning is strongly associated with Lakshmi (goddess of properity) and Brahama
(god of creation). It usually depicted the gods or goddesses as being seated on top of a fully open
lotus flower or holding a lotus flower in their hand. The lotus if serve as the seat of the gods and
goddesses, signifying their divinity and purity. For example, Brahma is depicted as emerging from a
lotus that crawls from the naval of God Vishnu to re–create the universe. The unopened bud is
representative of a folded soul that has the ability to unfold and open itself up to the divine

Comparing The Similarities And Differences Of Christianity...
All around the world religion is a significant aspect of what impacts the daily lives of humans.
Though the root of the one religion may vary greatly from another, there may also be many
similarities and overlaps within them. Even with all the differences, many people rely on religion to
provide a structure for their lives. Religion is perceived as a guideline for how one should live their
life and overall helps define one's purpose of life. Religion has brought unity within cultures, but
differences in religions have also led to much separation and division. It has become a way that
people identify both themselves and others and because of these identities, religion makes up a huge
part of everyday lifestyles and beliefs. Within this paper I will be comparing the similarities and
differences between the religions Christianity and Buddhism, both of which fall in the top 6 most
popular religions widely practiced around the world. (Juan) To begin with, a very significant
similarity both Christianity and Buddhism share is one spiritual figure, or founder, in which they
look up to. The Christian faith is based on the life, death, resurrection and teaching of Yeshua, or
Jesus, whom is considered its originator. Jesus was born to a woman named Mary. The story of the
birth of Jesus begins with a dream that an angel, Gabriel, tells the virgin Mary that she was going to
have the son of God. Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit. Born of the Holy Spirit, Jesus lives his life

Comparing Buddhism And Taoism
Images & Symbols; Religious Art in Buddhism and Taoism Religion is defined by one's belief and
experience. One's experience is something that cannot be seen nor touched. Religious art and
symbols trigger the mind and allow the invisible experience to be remembered, seen, or honored.
While exploring Buddhism and Taoism, there are different symbols that trigger a different
experience and practice. Although both religions share the same goal, Buddhism and Taoism use
different practices and symbols to get there. By the same token, the two religions also share
similarities in symbolism through their religious practices embracing sacred gods, symbols, and
places of worship. Symbols of Buddhism, such as the "Wheel of Life", are mentioned ... Show more
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Its delicate grace, beauty and symbolic inner strength, symbolize similar meanings, as well as many
of the same traits and characteristics both religions embrace in their practices. Not only do
Buddhists and Taoists symbolically share the lotus in their religious practices, the two religions also
share sacred worshiping grounds. These worshiping grounds are known to the Taoists as The Five
Sacred Mountains and to Buddhists as The Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains. These mountains
became the primary location of both China's masses and ruling elite, developing into great centers of
scholarship, art and philosophy, with hundreds of temples and thousands of monks and nuns. Taoist
believed "immortals" lived from 400 to 800 years old while living deep in the mountain wilderness.
These areas were believed to be sacred and also the doors to the heavenly realm. These sacred
mountains were claimed by the Buddhist due to the monks preferring the quiet mountains and deep
forest for their meditative

Comparing Christianity And Buddhism : Christianity Vs....
Introduction According to our text, Huston Smith believed that all religions were essentially the
same, whereas Stephen Prothero believes that they are all fundamentally different. These two
differing opinions can be looked at further by comparing two of the world religions: Christianity and
Buddhism. I believe that all religions are a mixture of both; religions are essentially the same and
are also fundamentally different. Christianity and Buddhism both have similar aspects within them,
and they have different aspects as well. In order to make sense of the world, one needs to have
knowledge of religion and the implications it has on society (Prothero).
Prothero's Four Points Within Christianity According to Prothero's Four–Part approach, within
Christianity, the problem is sin; the solution is salvation; the technique to achieve salvation is
combining faith and good works; and lastly, the exemplars are the saints in Orthodoxy and Roman
Catholicism, and ordinary people in Protestantism. The Four–Part Approach is important because it
describes that the problem within the world is sin, the way to get rid of sin is through salvation, the
way to live according to God's will is through faith and good work, and the exemplary figures are
saints and ordinary people.
Christianity
Christianity centers on a teacher and preacher named Jesus of Nazareth, who was said to be the Son
of God. Jesus began ministering to the public at age 30 which consisted of him doing things like:

Comparing Confucianism, And Buddhism
Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism:Which is the better philosophy?
Philosophy is defined by Webster's Dictionary as "The study of ideas about knowledge, truth, the
nature and meaning of life, etc." Three popular schools of philosophy amongst China are
Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Buddhism, a very popular philosophy in China, was founded
by Siddhartha Gautama (otherwise known as the Buddha) in the late sixth century. Some may argue
that Confucianism or Taoism are superior schools of philosophy, but Buddhism has the best
approach to life because it supports individual well being and worldly knowledge. Buddhism has the
best approach to life because it supports individual well–being. A main goal of the buddhists is to
reach enlightenment, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In the Taoist philosophy, observing nature is very important because it is known to be complex and
wise. Taoists believe by doing this people are able to begin to understand the Way, also known as the
Tao. An additional reasoning behind observing nature is, "...we are part of the natural world all
around us and, therefore, the correct understanding of the laws of nature gives us enlightenment and
clarity about ourselves." In the confucian philosophy, structure is very important. Confucius, the
founder of Confucianism, wanted to emphasize human life and daily interactions. "In fact,
Confucianism built on an ancient religious foundation to establish the social values, institutions, and
transcendent ideals of traditional Chinese society." Although confucianism and Taoism have many
benefits, the negatives outweigh the positives. In Taoism, although understanding nature may be
important in the philosophy, education and knowledge are not as highly valued. Additionally,
Confucianism may have structure within society, but too much structure can limit creativity and
individuality. In confucianism, people are born with a specific role in the society and cannot alter

Similarities And Differences: Comparing Hinduism And Buddhism
Hinduism and Buddhism hold a tendency as two very similar religions considering Buddhism was
based on many of the core concepts of Hinduism but as with many religions, the two contain
differences. Hinduism is considered one of the oldest living religions in the world and originated in
India. Hinduism is a Polytheistic religion that believes in many different Gods and use Karma,
Dharma and Reincarnation as a guideline of how to live their lives. It is believed that the good deeds
that are performed in this life will be rewarded to you in your reincarnation, but will punish you if
no good deeds have been achieved. A snail or a slug is an example of what you can become in your
next life is you have not had an exemplary lifestyle. Hinduism focuses on what good you have done
in this life, which will grant you a better life after the reincarnation, whilst in contrast Buddhism
focuses on the happiness you can access in this life. The teachings of Buddhism came from the
founder Siddartha Gautama who later became known as Buddha; "The enlightened one". Buddhists
believe in Karma ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Hinduism is a polytheist religion, worshiping a multitude of deities whereas Buddhism does not
have any Gods but followers worship the Buddha who is "the enlightened one". A further difference
is the Holy books, as Hindus follow the vedas whilst the Buddhists follow the Tripitaka. In addition,
the equality of followers in the two religions is very different. Hinduism is divided by the caste
system which dictates different levels of importance in societies. In contrast, Buddhism has no caste
system as one of their key beliefs is equality. The positive aspects of both these religions is Karma
and Dharma, the showing of generosity and kindness which would lead to tranquillity and peace
either in this life or the other. This is one lesson everyone can learn from and should be applied in
everyday

Comparing Buddhism And The Buddhist Eightfold Path
Buddhism and Hinduism are two different religions, but they are actually somewhat similar.
Buddhism and Hinduism both believe in many deities. The two religions also have similar temples
and depictions of deities. Both religions also have somewhat similar sacred texts and scripts. For
instance, the Hindu Vedas and the Buddhist Eightfold Path both discuss how one should live their
life. Even though the religions are based on entirely different things, there are still some aspects of
both religions that are similar.
One area of comparison of the two religions is the people or gods that they believe in. Buddhism
does not believe in God, but treats the Buddha, Bodhisattvas and other Buddhist masters like they
are gods. Bodhisattvas are monks that are able to reach enlightenment, but delay their ability in
order to help others reach enlightenment. Hinduism believes in nine main gods, but all of those gods
are reincarnations of the one god, Brahmin. The nine main reincarnations of Brahma have a few
reincarnations of themselves, that makes Hinduism contain 32 total "core" reincarnated Hindu gods,
and one supreme god. For example, Vishnu is a reincarnation of Brahma and Matsya is a
reincarnation of Vishnu. Both of the religions are fairly similar because they both believe in many
deities or super ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Hinduism and Buddhism both worship in temples, but Buddhism also worships in monasteries. One
of the most famous buddhist temple is Wat Phra Kaew, in Bangkok, Thailand. At Wat Phra Kaew,
there is a buddha statue that is made out of one piece of green jasper. A famous Hindu temple is
Angkor Wat, in Cambodia. Angkor Wat is the worlds largest religious building. In Buddhist temples,
the Buddha is usually represented as a statue. Gods and Goddesses are represented with two
dimensional image art in the Hindu temples. Places of worship is the strongest area of similarity of
Hinduism and

Comparing Buddhism, Jainism, And Hinduism
In Asia, many religious outlooks are what set aside the life of individuals. The three main forms of
religion that is practiced are Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism, all of which began in India and
made their way around the world. Though these three religious teachings have similarities in terms
of Karma, religious laws, and places of worship, there are differences that are held, much like any
other forms of religion.
In Hinduism, the concept of the almighty God (Brahman, Vishnu, and Shiva), who created the
Universe and have the proper powers and possession to destroy it. God is in everything that Hindus'
seek. Buddhism and Jainism have different concepts, as there is no understanding of a God. Jainism
embodies Godliness, rather, and focuses on the practice of perfecting the knowledge of peace and an
infinite amount of bliss and power. Buddhists have continuously rejected an almighty God or gods.
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Hinduism allocates their followers to devote their attention and love to the various gods and
goddesses of Hinduism, ultimately following the dharma. Unlike Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism
focus solely on the teachings of their founder, rather than gods and goddesses. Jainism follows the
teachings of Mahavira, where Karma is played as a major role on life on earth and the outcome of
incarnations into the heavenly and hellish realms. The teachings of Buddhism are for Buddha, where
an eightfold path is practiced in order to escape to mental cravings that are unhealthy to our life. The
goal for Buddhists is to attain the enlightenment that the soul craves and to be released from the
cycle of rebirth and death, attaining Nirvana. This idea of oneness in Buddhism stemmed from
Gautama where enlightenment was not gained through torture, only through self–discipline and self
control

Comparing The Religions Of Hinduism And Buddhism Essay
Exam II
#2. Compare and contrast the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. What were the essential
differences between the two? What hope did they give to the common people of India ?
Both Hinduism and Buddhism are prominent religions in the ancient and modern world. They are
arguably two of the most popular polytheistic faiths as well. Most people make the mistake of
grouping them as one uniform religion, but this is inaccurate. Buddhism and Hinduism do split some
resemblance, but several aspects of these faiths cause them to be contrasting from one another. The
pair have been exceedingly significant throughout history, providing hope to the common people of
India.
Buddhism and Hinduism both derive from India. The two religions are centered around the concepts
of nature and awareness, but they also believe in extended variations of Heaven and Hell. Hinduism
and Buddhism believe in karma which is the sum of a person's actions throughout all their
existences, which in turn determines their future. Another similarity between the two faiths is that
they practice peace and nonviolence which ties into their compassion for nature. Common practices
between Buddhism and Hinduism are meditation and focus on clearing the mind. Desire is the
greatest source of misfortune among both religions. The two religions also share a plethora of
likenesses that pertain to their beliefs. They believe in reincarnation, paths to enlightenment, and
philosophy. They also take part in yoga and

Comparing Buddhism And Hindu's Vedas Path
"Look to this day, for it is life, the very breath of life...For yesterday is only a dream, and tomorrow
is yet a vision... Look well, therefore, to this day"(Ancient Hindu Sanskrit); "Do not dwell in the
past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment"(Buddha, n.d.).
Buddhism and Hinduism are similar in various ways, in that they both originated from the Indian
subcontinent and continued to spread across Asia. Each of them also believe in multiple paths to
enlightenment, represented in Buddhist Eight–Fold and Hindu's Vedas Path, and both believe in
reincarnation. They are different however in that Hinduism has a concept of sin, whereas Buddhism
does not. These religions are also different because Siddhartha Buddha founded Buddhism, but
nobody knows who founded Hinduism. The final reason that they are different is that their
philosophies differ. These two religions are homologous with how they are structured yet have
different characteristics in some areas. Buddhism and Hinduism are almost ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
One of those is the concept of sin between the two. In Buddhism, they do not believe in sin at all.
While in Hinduism, there are consequences for your actions and you can repent your sins if you
outway them with good kharma. Another difference is what their philosophy is. In Buddhism the
whole point in following it is to release yourself from mental suffering. But in Hinduism the goal of
it is to stop the cycle of reincarnation and to reach full nirvana. The final difference between
Hinduism and Buddhism is who founded it. The founder of Buddhism is none other than Buddha
himself. Hinduism however doesn't have a specific founder, most likely because it is one of the
oldest religions to exist in the world.(Information found from diffen.com/Hinduism–vs–Buddhism,
n.d.) These differences may be small but it still creates a diversity between the

Comparing Buddhism And Hinduism
In our world, religions professed by people are many and when you travel you can get in contact
with a lot of them. This article will talk about the two main religions in India subcontinental:
Buddhism and Hinduism. Hinduism and Buddhism influence each other in may ways; but the have
developed some differences. Let start from the beginning..
The Buddha is an important figure in both religions; he was born as Siddhartha Gautama, in a Hindu
family and grew up, not as a God or a prophet, he was a normal human being who became
Enlightened, understanding life in the deepest way possible. His teachings created hope and
ambition, in people had no hope of freedom. Hindus claim that he was an avatar of Vishnu and
Buddhists claims that he is the highest ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
They contain hymns, incantations, and rituals from ancient India, they give a unique view of
everyday life in India four thousand years ago. Bhagavad Gita is one of the central texts of
Hinduism, it is a philosophical dialog between the god Krishna and the warrior Arjuna. The Gita
discusses selflessness, duty, devotion, and meditation, integrating many different threads of Hindu
philosophy. And the Upanishads tell how the soul, Atman, can be united with the ultimate truth,
Brahman, through mediation and contemplation and they talk about the doctrine of

Comparing The Nature Of Suffering In Buddhism And...
Nature of Suffering in Buddhism and Christianity
Suffering is a component of many religions. The nature and purpose of suffering is different in
Buddhism from Christianity. Christianity has many examples of suffering from the sins we commit,
and the original sin that we are born with. Suffering is also deeply embedded in Buddhism. One of
the Three Marks of Existence in Buddhism is "Dukkha" which translates to suffering. Christianity's
most obvious examples of suffering are divided into two different categories, mortal and venial sins.
Venial sins are not as serious, while mortal sins are very serious. Both types of sins can

Comparing Buddhism And The Bhagavad
Comparing and Contrasting Early Buddhism and the Bhagavad Gītā
Early Buddhism and the Bhagavad Gītā have a wide array similarities and differences. Both
Buddhism and the Gita deal with an inner struggle. We see Arjuna dealing with the struggle of
whether or not he should murder his family in order to obtain a kingdom. In Buddhism, we see the
inner struggle as the quest to find nirvana and the pain that is the very act of living. Although there
are some similarities, the differences between Buddhism and the Gita are clear. One of the biggest
digressions between the two is how one deals with the notion of atman and how one must live their
life in order to reach the ultimate goal of nirvana or moksha. One of the most important divergences
between Buddhism and the Gita is how dharma is interpreted. In the Bhagavad Gītā Krishna is able
to shed some light on the significance of dharma. On the subject of dharma Krishna says: "It is
better to strive in one's own dharma than to succeed in the dharma of another. Nothing is ever lost in
following one's own dharma. But competition in another's dharma breeds fear and insecurity" (BG
3:35). Here Krishna is talking to Arjuna. Krishna is trying to get the point across that Arjuna is
always better off following his svadharma rather than adhering to what others want him to do. It is
important for Arjuna to follow his own path in order to reach moksha. Krishna is stressing that
Arjuna must follow the path that has been carved out

Comparing Buddhism and Christianity Essay
Comparing Buddhism and Christianity
In the early sixth century Christianity was evolving at a rapid pace. The spread of Christianity was
not only moving westward through Europe, but it was also moving eastward down the Silk Road.
The eastward spread of Christianity was primarily a form of Christianity known as Nestorianism,
after the teachings of Nestorius, a fifth century patriarch. By 635 Nestorian Christianity had reached
the heart of China spreading through all of Persia and India. During the middle of the seventh
century Nestorian churches were found in cities all along the Silk Road, though there were
unquestionably many fewer Christians than Buddhists in Asia Up until the turn of the sixteenth
century Christianity endured ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The sutra explains that salvation could be gained by calling on the name of Amitabha with absolute
faith in his vow of a pure land. It is said that with absolute faith in Amitabha he would appear at the
time of death to lead the faithful to paradise or the pure land. In China the beginnings of the Pure
Land Buddhism can be traced back as far as the fourth century. During the fourth century a well–
known scholar named Hui–yuan formed a society of monks who meditated on the name of
Amitabha. Hui–yuan a former Taoist promoted this school of Buddhism and in 402 AD he founded
the Fellowship pf the White Lotus from which Pure Land School was developed. During the sixth
and seventh centuries T'an–luan, Tao–ch'o and
Shan–tao spread the sect of Pure Land Buddhism and are recognized as the first patriarchs of the
school. Monks of the Tendai School later brought the Pure Land teaching to Japan. In 1133 AD
Honen was born and at the early age of thirteen he was ordained as a Buddhist monk. Honen spent
thirty year in training at the Tendai School on Mt. Hiei where he gained a large knowledge of all
forms of Buddhism. At the age of forty Honen broke away from his Tendai teaching and began to
write the foundations of Pure Land Buddhism. Honen completed his work in 1175 AD and began to
preach the faith of Pure Land. As a result of Honen simple religion of hope he became

Essay on Comparing Christianity and Buddhism
Comparing Christianity and Buddhism
The task at hand is quite impossible, especially in a ten–page paper. I am about to compare two
entire religions, that is two entire belief systems that certain individuals have devoted their entire
lives towards; that generations have sought to follow, further, and protect with their lives. I will
attempt to do this, but please bear in mind that my personal views will inevitably surface to a great
degree and I will be prone to taking sides. I believe in fact that these two systems are poles apart and
have very few similarities indeed. In this sense I am forced to conclude that they are hugely
incompatible and that very few people will be able to accept both. In other words, a person who is ...
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Indeed, though his personal suffering Christ has erased the sins of an entire civilization. Buddhists
believe this is not possible and that only through personal effort can good be produced and bad
reduced in the life of an individual. 'We save ourselves' is the very much the message of Buddhism.
In any case, Christians venture to say no one can be saved except through love for and faith in
Christ. This appears egotistic and self–centered. Buddhists do assert that certain saintly and highly
gifted people exist and can help us, such as the Buddha himself, yet they still maintain that personal
salvation will only occur though one's own individual effort. I would also contend that the
profoundly judgmental Christian concepts of sin, guilt and shame have been psychologically
damaging to the people who have come in contact with them.
Christians also believe in such polarities as good and evil, God and Devil, Heaven and Hell –– none
of which form an important part of any Buddhist teachings. Christianity is likewise authoritarian and
dictatorial –– "you must believe this or you will be condemned" –– whereas Buddhism tends to be
more liberal and allows people to believe more or less whatever they like. Christians ban certain
teachings as heretical, evil and harmful, but

Comparing Hinduism And Buddhism
Through out all of India, there are a variety of religions that are practiced daily: Islam, Sikhism, and
Jainism just to name a few. One thing that ties them altogether is that they have been greatly
impacted by two influential and important religions; Hinduism and Buddhism. Hinduism originating
first and a couple centuries later Buddhism arises, these practices have both distinct similarities and
differences that have survived thousands of years and are still exercised today. Between the
teachings from the Buddha and the role of the Bhagavad Gita sharing an outlook on the
Varhnashramadhrama, there are some clashing elements like dharma and murder but also some key
elements that hold them together. In Hinduism, man created a system that explains the natural order
of life and what roles each specific person should live by. This system is called Varnashramadharma
and is basically considered a social system based off of texts and ideas from the Upanishads. ...
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Krishna repeats many times that, "Even if you are the most evil of all sinners, you will cross over all
evil on the raft of knowledge."(BG 4:36). He also says, "Arjuna, when you have realized this, you
will not descend into delusion again; knowledge will let you see creatures within yourself and so in
me"(BG 4:34). Krishna is saying that even though your dharma might cause you to act in a "wrong
doing" because you followed dharma you will be rewarded. One extremely important lesson taught
in Buddhism is to not kill. Arjuna is choosing between following his dharma and going to war with
his family and Hinduism is telling him that the right choice is to follow his dharma. Buddha's
'Eight–Fold Path' from his first teaching of the 'Four Noble Truths,' number four is right action. This
includes not harming any living beings, taking what is not yours, and sexual misconduct. Killing
anyone at any given time would be seen as

Comparing Hinduism, Confucianism, And Buddhism
Hinduism, Confucianism and Buddhism are three of the world's most distinguished belief systems
of the past and for some, still in the present. The guidelines they provided influenced the social,
political and religious lives of people within the societies that followed them. Hinduism emerged
when the Aryans arrived in ancient India and began to combine their ideas with those of the
Dravidians, the native population. One major Hindu idea was the caste system, which influenced the
social lives of its followers and provided the state with political stability. Confucianism first saw an
emergence of numerous followers during the Warring States period, when many philosophers were
developing ideas for how to return order to China in this era of chaos. ... Show more content on
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It achieved this by promoting several ideas relating to government and loyalty. One major idea was
the virtues of Confucianism. Confucian principles such as Li (propriety and rules) and Shin (loyalty
and good faith) were encouraged, which helped with keeping the people faithful to their superiors
and following the rules. Another central Confucian idea was that the rulers should be kind and fair to
their people. If they fail to do so, the people have the right to rebel. Confucianism put great
emphasis on education and hard work, and allowed for social mobility, as education could improve
one's social class. This idea of social mobility along with the idea that rulers should be kind to their
people increased the people's trust in their ruler and ensured that the most educated people were the
ones that attained the higher social classes, which were often governmental positions. One society
that was largely Confucian was the Han dynasty in classical China. They brought about many
political reforms largely unique to this era, such as the introduction of the civil service exams. These
exams, if passed, could allow for a position in government, depending on the level of exam taken.
Another Confucian principle implemented by the Han was the idea that rulers should be kind to their
subjects, as seen when Han rulers such as Liu Bang ruled fairly by lowering the burden of taxes and
abolishing physical

Comparing Buddhism and the 8 Fold Path

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