Compare and Contrast: Hinduism and Buddhism

Compare and Contrast: Hinduism and Buddhism

By: Kelley Cranor

Everyone has a religion and beliefs. Comparing and contrasting the beliefs of Hinduism and Buddhism, the factors that changed both of the religions, and how they affect the world today shows how each one is different and alike. And also see how the religions have changed over time.

Both the Hindus and the Buddhists believed in reincarnation and that there are two places that you could go after death, either a good place or a bad place. A difference is that Hindus believe in the caste system, which lead to arranged marriages, because they could not marry outside of their caste. But the Buddhists did not believe in the caste system and tried to see past it. The Hindus had four Vadas, which were Samhita which were prayers and hymns, Brahmans which were rituals and theology, also the caste system was ordered here, and Aranyanka and Upanishads which were works of philosophy and mysticism. While Buddhists followed the Eight Fold Path and Four Noble Truths, which were suffering, greed, selflessness, and to follow the eight fold path.

Both Hinduism and Buddhism have been affected over the years and their ways of practicing the religion have changed. For example the Hindus were not vegetarian originally, but now they are. Both religions were affected by invasions. The Buddhists were affected by the Chinese invasion of Tibet and Hindus were affected by an Islamic invasion. One factor that affected both of the religions was when Ashoka, leader of the Marians, converted to Buddhism. This spread Buddhism even more. Also, after Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, died Buddhism split into two different types of Buddhism: Mahayana, which enabled more people to be Buddhist, and Theravada. Hinduism battled monotheism, which could have changed the beliefs of some.

Buddhism altered the world when it spread to China and Neo-Confucianism rose to intellectual and cultural dominance. Another factor that altered the rest of the world was when Gandhi spread nonviolent protesting, which had an impact on many all over the world. Both the religions have affected other parts of the world and have spread over the decades that they have been around.

Both religions have had an impact on others and have changed people. For example Gandhi had a huge affect on people all over the world, even all the