Hinduism Vs Buddhism

Every religion has a different viewpoint on the afterlife. While there may be some similarities, the differences are vast. Specifically, Hinduism and Buddhism differ in the way they approach the idea of the afterlife. That is the main difference; how they interpret death. However, a common theme across these religions is that a life well lived on earth today brings an eternal reward tomorrow. They believe in a better realm being promised once someone passes on. Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions, going back more than 3,500 years. It is a complex and diverse system of philosophies and traditions. Although there are numerous gods and goddesses one can worship, the emphasis is on an individual spiritual experience. Today, there are nearly one billion Hindus, making Hinduism the world’s third largest religion (Heaven: How Five Religions See It, JJ Streaming Films). When a death takes place in Hindu society, the body is prepared for viewing by laying it out with the hands across the chest, closing the eyelids, anointing the body with oil, and placing …show more content…
For most Buddhists, cremation is the preferred form of body disposition, but earth burial is also frequently practiced. In Buddhism, unlike Hinduism, there is no “soul”-both the body and the idea of a soul distract from the proper meditation and attainment of nirvana (Leming & Dickinson, 387). During and after the funeral, family members will make offerings through the priests to the spirit of the deceased. When a typical Buddhist person dies, the body is cleaned, dressed, and placed in a casket. The casket is kept either within the home or at the temple for a period of three days. During this period, monks come every evening to chant the Buddhist scriptures. Friends also attend these services and offer gifts of floral tributes. On the fourth day, the body is taken to the cremation