Buddhism From Hinduism, Both Religions Have Different Ideas Of Salvation

Category: Buddha, Hinduism, Philosophy
Last Updated: 09 Feb 2023
Pages: 4 Views: 79

While Buddhism originated from Hinduism both religions have different ideas of salvation. Salvation in general means reaching the highest point in a particular religion. In both Buddhism and Hinduism, the term for salvation is Moksha. While the road to Moksha has many different paths, one must choose one and devout themselves to it. In the Hindu religion, followers believe that their souls pass through a cycle of different lives. Each new life is dependent on the last. This is called Samsara. “The pure eternal Spirit dwells in the castle of eleven gates of the body. By ruling this castle, man is free from sorrows and, free from all bondage, attains liberation”. Based on the teachings of Hinduism Karma is established from your actions throughout life ps. How you behave in the universe determines Karma. “There is a path of joy, and there is the path of pleasure.

Both attract the soul. Who follows the first comes to good; who follows pleasure reaches not the end’. This quote helps distinguish karma from salvation. There are four ways to Moksha, action, knowledge, devotion and the royal road. “The first step on every yoga involves the cultivation of such habits as non-injury, truthfulness, non-stealing, self-control, contentment, self-discipline, and a compelling desire to reach the goal’’ (The World’s Religions). Action is the means of ceremonies and religious duties. Knowledge is the understanding and comprehension of Hinduism and the universe. Devotion is the true love for the gods. The royal road consists of yoga and meditation practices. The Hindu culture worships many gods. Murti is the term for these gods. Animals are also believed to be sacred and are worshipped.

Buddhism was created by a man named Siddhartha Gautama. He is famously known as Buddha. His teachings are based on life experiences as well as human suffering. There are four noble truths of which Buddha’s teachings come from, Dukkha, Samudaya, Nirodha and Magga. ‘’If you live contemplating the fair, unrestrained in senses, not knowing moderation in food, dull, of weak effort, Mara overthrows you as the wind an ill-rooted tree’’. For the concept of Nirvana, Nirvana is not pictured as heaven or even a place. Nirvana is not an object or pursued it is the state of being with out wanting. It is said that monks postpone reaching nirvana to help others reach it. “The ultimate truth is that nirvana is not infinitely distant but infinitely near, reaching gracefully toward us, as it were, and being the ground on which we already stand if we but knew this. Only the blinders of egoism hide this truth from us” (The World’s Religions).

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This sacrifice is one of dedication to Buddhism and selflessness. It is impossible to achieve Nirvana by wanting it or pursuing it. ‘’He is happy here; after death he is happy; in both places, the doer of good is always happy. He is happy, he is joyful, seeing his own action was pure’’. Nirvana is most easily described as the ultimate happiness. Until one reaches ultimate happiness, the samsara cycle of suffering and reincarnation will take place. The worst thing to do becomes comfortable in the samsara cycle. The cycle will never end, and you will eternally suffer. “Though you recite little scripture, if you go from dhamma to dhamma, abandoning passion, hatred and delusion, rightly knowing, with well-freed mind, not clinging either here or in the other world, you are a sharer in the wanderer’s life’’.

Buddha explained that a god didn’t create the universe. The great law of dharma runs through everything that exists. Dharma is used in both the Buddhist and Hindu religion. Buddhists commonly use Dharma to refer to all the teachings of Buddha. Buddha used Dharma to mean 'how the universe works.' The Hindu belief of Dharma is believed to be a person’s role in the universe. This concept includes not only one's participation in religious acts, but how they act in public and how they act toward their private responsibilities such as family. In Hindu culture, a person’s dharma is dependent upon their caste, and in what phase of life they are in. An elder man from a higher caste will more than likely have a different dharma than a younger man from a lower caste. The Hindu religion has thousands of gods. Each god is viewed as one manifestation of the Supreme God “One of deep understanding, wise, skilled in what is and what is not the way, who has reached the supreme goal, him I call Brahmin”.

Buddhism and Hinduism are very similar, but yet very different. To better understand the Buddhist and Hindu way of thinking, one should put aside the stigma of their personal religion being the best. I participate in daily yoga and enjoy the benefits of deep relaxation. As a Christian, I have found in some ways it hard to understand the means of reincarnation. I can see though how the teachings of buddha soothe the soul and allow followers to be at peace. I admire that both religions teach about being peaceful and civil in the world. Before writing this essay, I knew very little about Buddhism and Hinduism, while writing this essay I gained a whole new perspective on both religions in a very positive way. Being worldly in today’s society is extremely beneficial. Understanding the way others live and believe allows one to be more accepting.

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Buddhism From Hinduism, Both Religions Have Different Ideas Of Salvation. (2023, Feb 09). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/buddhism-from-hinduism-both-religions-have-different-ideas-of-salvation/

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