Hinduism Vs Buddhism Research Paper

Subject: Hinduism and Buddhism

While Buddhism and Hinduism share many similar beliefs, these two religions differ in concepts of anatman and atman, especially in relation to path one must follow to nirvana. First we will explore the Hindu concepts of the soul based on the concepts found in the Upanishads. The Upanishads are texts that contain the concepts of Hinduism that were based on the Vedas. They are commonly referred to as the Vedanta, which is interpreted as “the highest purpose of the Vedas”. The Vedas are the 4 texts that are the oldest Hindu scriptures. In an effort to fully explore the many concept of the soul found in Hinduism I will go over each Veda and the concepts about the atman found in its correlating Upanishads, then I …show more content…
The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad,Isha Upanishad, Taittiriya Upanishad, and the Katha Upanishad. In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad it asserts that the world is more that matter it is also Atman or Brahman. In the first chapter it explores a non-dualist concept of atman and Brahman being on concept based on the verse “I am he” It goes on to explain that love is nothing more than the realization of self in the beloved. In the latter chapter they discuss the concept of Neti, Neti (not it, not it) which will later shape the Buddhist concept of the soul. The Buddhist teaching of the no-soul. The no-soul concept does not mean that you do not have a soul, it means that if you try to define the soul as something that is not the soul. The Buddha directs the monks not pinpoint the soul in order to break the cycle of rebirth. (Anatta-Lakkhana Sutta). In the Isha Upanishad, they talk about a unified soul in all things with no duality equating the Isha (lord) to the atema. Then it goes on to discuss liberation through action (karma) or knowledge of self (atman). The Isha sets the tone for the next Upanishad (Taittiriya ) to discuss the ethical duties of a Hindu in the ninth anuvaka. Those duties have to do with justices, study of the atman, rituals, obligations, hospitality, procreation, raising children, truth and other actions considered to be right. In the final Upanishad (Katha ) the tone changes from self-discovery through ethic and …show more content…
Buddhism also did away with the caste system and the need for priests (Brahmins) or rituals. “In Agganna Sutta of the Digha Nikaya , the Buddha brought out the detailed explanations to explain the development of the society and the development of the caste system in terms of occupations. It means whatever a person does for his earnings, he will be known as such, i.e., a person whose job is to look after the cow should be known as cow-boy” (Nagasen sraman). Which gave a path for anyone to enter nirvana, not only the priests or higher in cate. In Hinduism only the priestly caste can reach moksha. Hinduism is polytheistic whereas Buddhism has no gods. The concept of karma is also different, in Buddhism you remove yourself for the cycle of reincarnation by following the eightfold path (right view, right aspiration, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration) instead of the dharma of your caste like in Hinduism. Buddhism reject asceticism and the search of worldly pleasure and embraces a middle path between the two. To me Buddhism was a natural progression to the underlying concepts of Hinduism way to detach oneself from the illusions of construction of “reality” and work on being in line with the true nature of oneself