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Comparing and Contrasting Eastern Religions

Hinduism

sculpture of the Shiva
The Shiva is a primary deity in Hinduism

Hinduism is a religion that originated in India and developed gradually over a long period of time. Unlike religions such as Judaism, Christianity, or Islam, you cannot trace Hinduism back to one founder with a single set of ideas. Most of the information known about the origins and beliefs of Hinduism are in the sacred writings called the Vedas and Upanishads. Written in Sanskrit, these sacred writings give insight into how Hindus view God. Specifically, Hindus believe in one god that takes many forms. Three of the many forms of god that Hindus worship are Brahma, the creator of the universe, Vishnu, the protector of the universe, and Shiva, the destroyer (fixer) of the universe.

Reincarnation is the rebirth of the soul into another form. It is determined by karma, the belief that a person's individual thoughts and actions in life impact how he or she is reborn in the next life. According to Hinduism, people live many lives and gain many experiences before they can reach a state of perfection. This belief is reflected in the caste system. For example, people who have good karma will move up in the caste system in their next life. Conversely, people who have bad karma will move down in the caste system in their next life. Moksha is the state that all Hindus seek to achieve. When someone achieves moksha, he or she no longer gets reincarnated, but rather becomes one with the universal spirit. In Hinduism, all living things are part of the universal spirit.

Hinduism was spread along major trade routes, and is the third largest religion in the world today. Most observers of Hinduism live in South Asia.

Buddhism

Who is the Buddha?

Although many people believe Buddhism originated in China, it actually began in India near the Himalaya Mountains. In contrast to Hinduism, Buddhism traces its roots to a founder - a prince named Siddhartha Gautama. After feeling overwhelmed by the sadness in the world, and having a transformative religious experience, Siddhartha Gautama became known as the Buddha, or "the enlightened one." In this interactivity, you will discover how Siddhartha Gautama transformed into the Buddha. Click the player button to begin.

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Religious Doctrines

statue of the Buddha
The Buddha on Lantau Island, Ngong Ping

The Buddha's beliefs are found in the doctrine, The Four Noble Truths. These include the following:

  1. All life is full of suffering.
  2. The cause of this suffering is desire.
  3. The cure is to overcome desire.
  4. To overcome desire, one must follow the Eightfold Path.

The second religious doctrine is the Eightfold Path to Enlightenment. Buddha describes the full path as a moral code for Buddhists to live by. To be in line with the Eightfold Path, one must have the following:

Buddha believed that people will reach nirvana if they follow both the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Nirvana is the final stop for Buddhists, where they achieve union with the universe and are released from the cycle of rebirth.

The Spread of Buddhism

The spread of Buddhism during Asoka's rule, 260 - 218 B.C. (B.C.E.)
The spread of Buddhism during Asoka's rule, 260 - 218 B.C. (B.C.E.)
Buddhism was well-liked in India because it rejected the caste system. However, it never gained a large number of followers. Think back to your studies of ancient India and Prince Asoka. This leader waged war and destruction to gain land and riches from present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. He eventually realized that his conquests caused suffering to his army and victims. This led Asoka to embrace the teachings of Buddha, and send Buddhist missionaries across East and Southeast Asia to spread the teachings in local languages of these countries. Today, Buddhism is mainly practiced in these regions.

Comparing and Contrasting Eastern Religions Review

Comparing and Contrasting Eastern Religions Review Interactivity

review iconNow that you have explored Hinduism and Buddhism, review your knowledge in this interactivity. Click the player button to get started.