In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “The essence of all religions is one. Only their approaches are different”. This Gandhi quote appears to be true, because one can take two completely different religions, and through reading, one will notice there are similarities. The differences only come in when one compares the way religions approach certain situations. This proves to be true between Buddhism and Hinduism. The Buddhist and Hindu approach to spiritual fulfillment differ in many ways, but have some similarities. In The Bhagavad-Gita and “The Sermon at Benares”, we see how Buddhism and Hinduism define human problems, as well as the suggested solution to the problem. Even though the text and values of these religions were created centuries ago,
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Also, in the scripture, Buddhist provides a solution to the problem to reach spiritual fulfillment. In “The Sermon at Benares”, one can see the basic guidelines to reaching spiritual fulfillment. There are two extremes in “The Sermon at Benares” that people must avoid. One of the extremes is self-indulgence and the other is self-mortification. The Buddha, or Tathagata, has found the path that avoids the two extremes and. In order to be on the right path to spiritual fulfillment, one must be on that “middle path”. The middle path must be followed because it “leads to peace of mind, to the higher wisdom, to full enlightenment, to Nirvana” (Sermon 68). One cannot simply choose to follow the middle path, though. He or she must first understand the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths explain that life is suffering and misery. And because of human’s actions, we will continue to experience this suffering through rebirth. The sermon says that “birth is attended with pain, decay is painful, disease is painful, death is painful” (Sermon 69). We experience this suffering and cycle of rebirth because of our own personal cravings, and to stop the suffering, we must cease craving. From the Sermon at Benares we know that to cease craving, we must follow the Eightfold Path: “right views; right aspirations; right speech; right behavior; right livelihood; right effort; right thoughts; and right …show more content…
If one is going through a life problem, Buddhism and Hinduism can provide an answer to what the person should do. Let us say that someone is looking for external help for their problems, and cannot find the answer to it. They are becoming discouraged and distressed because they are not resolving their problem at all. The person can look to Buddhism and gain strength. The Buddha teaches that you should rely on oneself, and oneself only. In “The Buddha’s Farewell: ‘Be Ye Lamps Unto Yourselves’”, the Buddha teaches that one is not to look for outside help. The Buddha says, “be ye lamps unto yourselves. Rely on yourselves, and do not rely on external help . . . Seek salvation alone in the truth. Look not for assistance to any one besides yourselves” (74). The person would then use this teaching to guide their life and give them ease of mind. If the person were to take the Hinduism approach to solving their problem, they would not rely on themselves at all. Hinduism teaches the person to turn to the Lord to solve their problem. The Bhagavad-Gita tells the reader that, “whatever the path that he takes, will nonetheless abide in me” (1297). No matter which religion the person chooses to use as a guide for this problem, they will find an
Also, in the scripture, Buddhist provides a solution to the problem to reach spiritual fulfillment. In “The Sermon at Benares”, one can see the basic guidelines to reaching spiritual fulfillment. There are two extremes in “The Sermon at Benares” that people must avoid. One of the extremes is self-indulgence and the other is self-mortification. The Buddha, or Tathagata, has found the path that avoids the two extremes and. In order to be on the right path to spiritual fulfillment, one must be on that “middle path”. The middle path must be followed because it “leads to peace of mind, to the higher wisdom, to full enlightenment, to Nirvana” (Sermon 68). One cannot simply choose to follow the middle path, though. He or she must first understand the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths explain that life is suffering and misery. And because of human’s actions, we will continue to experience this suffering through rebirth. The sermon says that “birth is attended with pain, decay is painful, disease is painful, death is painful” (Sermon 69). We experience this suffering and cycle of rebirth because of our own personal cravings, and to stop the suffering, we must cease craving. From the Sermon at Benares we know that to cease craving, we must follow the Eightfold Path: “right views; right aspirations; right speech; right behavior; right livelihood; right effort; right thoughts; and right …show more content…
If one is going through a life problem, Buddhism and Hinduism can provide an answer to what the person should do. Let us say that someone is looking for external help for their problems, and cannot find the answer to it. They are becoming discouraged and distressed because they are not resolving their problem at all. The person can look to Buddhism and gain strength. The Buddha teaches that you should rely on oneself, and oneself only. In “The Buddha’s Farewell: ‘Be Ye Lamps Unto Yourselves’”, the Buddha teaches that one is not to look for outside help. The Buddha says, “be ye lamps unto yourselves. Rely on yourselves, and do not rely on external help . . . Seek salvation alone in the truth. Look not for assistance to any one besides yourselves” (74). The person would then use this teaching to guide their life and give them ease of mind. If the person were to take the Hinduism approach to solving their problem, they would not rely on themselves at all. Hinduism teaches the person to turn to the Lord to solve their problem. The Bhagavad-Gita tells the reader that, “whatever the path that he takes, will nonetheless abide in me” (1297). No matter which religion the person chooses to use as a guide for this problem, they will find an