Sunday, 23 May 2010

Compare and contrast of Buddhism and Hinduism

Buddhism and Hinduism were mainly originated in India with similarities and differences of views respectively. Generally, both accept the belief of action and its due result, and the cycle of rebirth after death. With regard to some points of views, however, both are persistently holding their views in opposite ways. This paper will outline some of the key differences, such as the concept of soul, reincarnation and final goal.

First of all, dealing with the concept of soul according to Hinduism, the soul can never be perished regardless of any causes, which means that the ego of individuals is everlasting all the times. On the contrary, to look at from Buddhist point of view connected with soul, there is no soul at all in the universe. What Buddhists believe in is non-soul, non-ego and non-self. Furthermore, living beings and non-living beings are well classified in Buddhism that the former consist of two phenomena which are mentality and materiality, whereas the latter are composed of just one thing--materiality.

Secondly, owing to such a concept in connection with soul or ego, the reincarnation of life after death has been strongly held by the Hindu believers. Reincarnation means the transmigration of soul into anther form of life after being expired—the same soul, but different form of body. To be reborn in the higher family or lower caste is totally based upon what those have done in their past existences. However, though Buddhism accepts rebirth system, it is much different from the idea of reincarnation of Hinduism. Buddhists hold steadfastly that a person comprises only function of mind and matter. Both mind and matter are always changing time by time which means that everything is dying every moment. Just as a proverb goes—one cannot jump into the same river twice-, even a person is dying every instant and the river is also flowing all the times as well. In addition, three characteristics are the major theories of Buddhism regarding the concept of non-soul, namely impermanent (anicca), suffering (dukkha) and non-soul (anatta). Everything is under the law of the nature of these three characteristics.

Thirdly, Hinduism has its final goal, which is to be united with Brahman, the Supreme Spirit eternally, after fulfilling all good things in the cycles of rebirth. Nevertheless, what main aim of Buddhism is to achieve the state of blissful peace (Nibbana= no attachment at all) through eightfold noble paths such as, right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.

In conclusion, these two religions existed together in the same lands over thousands of years, therefore, some views are interrelated each other such as the concept of compassion, non-violence, hells and heavens. Some views, however, are totally different between them such as the concept of ego, Brahmam, and Buddha. Finally it is convinced that in spite of some different points, Buddhism and Hinduism can harmoniously go together in the future if their views are adjusted one another.

This essay is composed viewing the passages given in the text.


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