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Asia in the World 2020

In what ways did Buddhism reflect Hindu traditions, and in what ways did it

challenge them?

Buddhism has been a major influential religion reflecting Hindu traditions. Buddhism

was historically founded by Siddhartha Gautama in the 6th century B.C.E.. Buddhism

is an influential religion in most countries of Asia, though particularly surfaced the

most in India. Buddhism reflects Hindu traditions significantly through the idea that

ordinary life is an illusion, and through the belief of dharma. Buddhism essentially

challenged the traditions of Hinduism primarily in its denial of a centralised religious

authority. The authority of Hinduism lays in members of priestlike classes called the

Brahmins, whose status was determined by family lineage. Buddhists disagreed on

this belief largely.

Buddhism reflects Hindu traditions through the belief that ordinary life is an illusion.

Buddhism encompasses a diffusion of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices in

large portions. Based entirely on authentic teachings attributed to the Buddha and

ensuing in interpreted philosophies. Within India, Buddhism survived for many

centuries (Murphey, 1992, 52-70). The distinction from Hinduism was progressively

imprecise, though Buddhism was reabsorbed slowly into the Hindu religion which it

had then sprung increasingly, influencing their traditions. Buddhism used traditions of

karma and moksha from Hindu teachings. The belief of karma allowed for an

individual to believe that they were reborn in successive existences, in forms

appropriate to their behavior in their most recent incarnations (Murphey, 1992, 52-

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70). As the belief of karma began to spread, good works were believed to have a

possible offset of bad conduct in the building of karma (Yü, 2015, 1-125). For

example, an individual could give money to finance a temple and make up for bad

karma (Murphey, 1992, 52-70). Buddhists claimed that every thought and action,

whether good or bad karma, is a manifestation of Buddha-nature (Yü, 2015, 1-125)

The cycle of rebirth, allowed for one to believe that their own soul is essentially

liberated from that cycle, and achieves moksha, a heavenly spiritual rejoining with the

god of creation. Moksha is a central concept with the aim to be attained through the

three paths of human life. These paths include karma-marga, jnana-marga and bhakti-

marga. According to (The New Indian Express, 2012), karma-marga refers to that

path of duty where there’s a discharge of social obligations, the jnana-marga which is

the path of knowledge where the use of mediation is incorporated and the bhakti-

marga, the path of devotion adherence to a personal god. Essentially, Buddhism

reflected Hindu traditions in the idea that ordinary life is an illusion, following the

concepts of karma and moksha.

Buddhism continued to reflect Hindu traditions through the incorporation of Dharma

within their beliefs. Buddhism and Hinduism was highly recognised and supported by

the Indian ruling leaders. Rulers such as Buddhist kings strictly adhered to Hindu

teachings. As they were heavily influenced, most of the Buddhist temples were built

in support of Hindu rulers. Hinduism rehabilitated its interpretation rather than the

religion as a whole. Hindus value many sacred writings as opposed to one specific

holy book. The primary sacred texts utilised by the Hindus is known as the Vedas,

composed around 1500 B.C. The hymns were written in Sanskrit, made up of the Rig

Veda, the Samaveda, Yajurveda and the Atharvaveda (History, 2017). People such as

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Shiva and Vishnu replaced Buddha in pujas of ruling. Shiva and Vishnu along with

Brahma, were considered to be the creator of everything to those who worship them.

Buddhism reflected Hinduism through aspects such as Dharma, it is a natural law,

duty, and an important factor spiritually and religiously. It was also considered as a

way of the higher facts or truth. Each person has his or her own duty or role in

society, and morality which lies in faithfulness to that prescribed role, knows as the

concept of dharma (Murphey, 1992, 52-70). However, in Hinduism, sanatana dharma

is defined as the eternal dharma resembling the Buddhism religion. Therefore, dharma

has contributed to the formation of philosophy basis, belief, and practices originating

in India. In traditions, Dharma was regarded as a way of living with harmony and

peace. Both in Buddhism and Hinduism, Dharma can be described as a religious duty,

social order, right conduct, or a virtue. Despite the similarities, Buddhism and

Hinduism had differences in terms of preaching practice. Buddhism taught purpose of

the cause of sorrow when death occurs, while Hinduism expressed detachment of

fruits of actions, as they considered death to be the journey of immorality which was

not practiced by Buddhism. Hinduism taught pain and sorrow came from the past

mistakes and actions, while Buddhism believed they can cure pain and sorrow. To

conclude, Buddhism reflected Hindu traditions of dharma, although some concepts of

this belief were incorporated differently in both Buddhism and Hinduism.

Buddhism challenged many aspects of the Hindu traditions, including the rejection of

their religious authority of the Brahmins, which they also ridiculed their rituals and

sacrifices. The founders of Buddhism pursued a path which reacted against the

increasing ritualization of Hinduism and its dominance by the priests and Brahmins

(Murphey, 1992, 52-70). The Brahminic sacrifices consisted mostly of the sacrifices

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of animals to initially please their gods. Individual’s against sacrifices used to ridicule

the Brahmins by saying, “If one could go to heaven by sacrificing an animal, why

should one not sacrifice his own father?”, believing that this would be a quicker way

of going to heaven (Ambedkar, B.R., 1995). The Buddha entirely agreed with this

statement, and the theory of sacrifices was repulsive towards them. Many Hindu’s

saw Buddhism’s rejection and returned to their own religion’s affirmation of life

(Murphey, 1992, 52-70). The strong Buddhist teachings allowed one to believe that

caste or gender should not be an obstacle to enlighten, and where roles should be

equal for both men and women. As the authority of Hinduism was particularly based

of a priestlike class, whose status was determined particularly based of off family

lineage, Buddhists strongly disagreed. Buddhist values are highly against the system

which the lower castes suffer from, so Buddhists essentially appeal to the lower class.

After being constantly challenged by Buddhism, Hinduism then expressed that

everyone can reach moksha not only if introduced to the high-class, changing their

religious values. Initially, Hinduism was challenged significantly by the Buddhist

values, especially by the rejection of their religious authority and rituals, influencing

them to change their views.

In conclusion, Buddhism reflected Hindu traditions through the idea that ordinary life

is an illusion, and through the belief of dharma. Buddhism fundamentally challenged

the traditions of Hinduism primarily in its denial of a centralised religious authority.

As this challenged Hinduism, religious values were changed to suit a majority of the

people.

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Reference List:

- Ambedkar, B.R. (1995) The Buddha and his Dhamma: the buddha and his

Predecessors (1st edition) The education department, government of

Maharashtra.

- History.com. (2017) Hinduism: Hinduism Beliefs. History. Accessed at:

https://www.history.com/topics/religion/hinduism Accessed on: 25th May,

2020

- Murphey, R. (1992) A History of Asia: Asian Religions and their Culture.

Pearson Education, Limited.

- The New Indian Express. (2012) The three paths of Hinduism. The New

Indian Express. Accessed at:

https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/spirituality/2012/jun/17/the-

three-paths-of-hinduism-377884.html Accessed on: 21st May, 2020.

- Yü , C. (2015). Buddhism (vol. 5) Columbia University.

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