Dharmic Religions Comparative Analysis

Republic of the Philippines
MARINDUQUE STATE COLLEGE

LABORATORY HIGH SCHOOL
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Directions: Write a comparative analysis of the dharmic religions, it includes Hinduism, Theravada and Mahayana
Buddhism. Complet the table below with the necessary information..
Comparative Analysis
Hinduism Theravada Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism
Origin India, around 3,000 B.C.E. India, around 100 C.E.
Karma: The accumulation of one’s past deeds have Morality is guided by the "Four Noble Truths", along with the basic guide called the "Eightfold
a direct effect on one’s present condition. Paths", which are divided into three categories; right view, right conduct, and right practice.
Morality
Samsara (Reincarnation): The cycle of life, death, Dukkha (unhappines in life) is caused by an individual's unending desires, thus they must
and rebirth, which are based on one's Karma. analyze their motivations and think of the consequences of their actions, with Buddist
teachings in mind. Behavior that may result in harm to others must always be avoided.
Dharma: Specific duties that an individual have,
relative to the status they have in a society. They
must accomplish their
tasks so that society can prosper. Performing one's
dharma appropriately leads to good karma, and if
done badly or not at all; bad karma.

Hindus opt to achieve purushartha (the four The principle purpose of life is to terminate all The principle purpose of life is to
desirable goals of life), namely; dharma forms of suffering caused by attachment to terminate all forms of suffering caused by
Purpose (appropriate behavior and righteous act), artha impermanent entities. When one achieves so, attachment to impermanent entities. When
(pursuit of legitimate worldly prosperity or he/she begins to free one’s self from attachment, one achieves so, he/she begins to free
material well-being), kama (pursuit of legitimate reducing suffering and ending the cycle of rebirth. one’s self from attachment, reducing
pleasure as one obtains suffering and ending the cycle of rebirth.
enjoyment in life) and moksha (enlightenment, One must take the monastic path to achieve
self-realization, or union with the gods). enlightenment. Thus, a normal individual must Anyone can achieve enlightenment.
first be reborn as a monk to be eligible for said
Hindus also pass the ashramas (four stages of life). enlightenment.
The first one is brahmacarya (being a student), on
which one is living in the house of a guru and
studying sacred scriptures under the guru's
guidance. The second stage is grihastha (being a
householder), wherein an individual marries, raises
children and contribute to the well-being of
society. Next is vanaprastha, one takes his/her
spouse to the forest and undergoes meditation to
understand the meaning of life. The final stage is
samnyasin, which involves renouncing the world
and all its attachments as an individual now
becomes a holy sage. The first three stages are
mandatory, while the fourth is optional and not all
can attain it.
All Hindus are reincarnated, until they gain No soul is being reborn because there No soul is being reborn because there
Destiny ultimate enlightenment. is no permanence in anything. Buddhists aspire to is no permanence in anything. Buddhists

reach nirvana or the extinguishing of fires of aspire to reach nirvana or the

longing and suffering. With the extinguishing of fires of longing and
help of Buddha’s teachings, the journey toward suffering. With the
nirvana becomes possible. help of Buddha’s teachings, the journey
toward nirvana becomes possible.
By following the "Middle Path" and practicing
the basic doctrines of Buddhism, a perfected state All beings can achieve enlightenment, but
of insight can be accomplished. Therefore, an much emphasis is given on the
arhat (worthy person) that had achieved this must bodhisattvas (enlightened beings) who
be emulated. Theravada Buddhists can reach an delay their own enlightenment for them to
enlightened status through their own ways help others in reaching their ultimate end.
without any assistance from any divine beings.
Women are seen inferior to men in all aspects of Men and women have equal status in Buddhist societies.
Views on life.
Women In Buddhism, women should not be treated as inferior to men because both
Various restrictions are imposed to them with are equally valuable in society.
regards to their daily activities, and tending
household chores are their primary role. Women can participate in all major Buddhist rites and practices.
They are always looked after or cared for by The Buddha allowed women to join the monastic order and attain enlightenment in equal
someone; their father on their childhood, their footing with men. Fully-ordained Buddhist female monastic members
husband when they are married (on which they are called bhikkunis.
must treat their husband as a god, but their husband
must also treat their wife as a goddess) and their For the Buddha, men are not always wise and women can also be wise.
sons when they are old.
Men and women have the same responsibilities and rights when it comes to family and
Women's liberties also lag behind men when it business affairs
comes to education and religious activities. As an

example, they must attend ritualistic practices

despite the fact that they had no roles to play in
these activities.
Cases of having several wives also exist in Indian

society.
Widows are personification of all the negative

characteristics of a woman, ill-fated and wretched.
They are not allowed to remarry after the death of
their husbands and they shave their head is a
requirement to make them unappealing to other
interested men. The most difficult chores are given
to widows and they are forbidden to eat alongside
family members. A widow can opt to commit sati
or the act of killing herself by jumping into the
funeral pyre of her husband, though this act had
been banned in India since 1988. It is believed that
immolating one’s self assures immense rewards for
the family and gives a chance to the wife to be
with her husband in the next life.

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Republic of the Philippines

MARINDUQUE STATE COLLEGE

Hinduism Theravada Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism

Origin India, around 3,000 B.C.E. India, around 100 C.E.

MARINDUQUE STATE COLLEGE

MARINDUQUE STATE COLLEGE

reach nirvana or the extinguishing of fires of aspire to reach nirvana or the

MARINDUQUE STATE COLLEGE

example, they must attend ritualistic practices

Cases of having several wives also exist in Indian

Widows are personification of all the negative

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