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Introduction to World
Religions and
Belief
Systems
Quarter 4 – Module 5
Comparative Analysis of
Hinduism, Theravada Buddhism,
and Mahayana Buddhism
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Introduction to World
Religions and
Belief
Systems
Quarter 4 – Module 5
Comparative Analysis of
Hinduism, Theravada Buddhism,
and Mahayana Buddhism
3
Department of Education ● Republic of the Philippines
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
Module 5 – Comparative Analysis of Hinduism, Theravada Buddhism,
and Mahayana Buddhism
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Comparative Analysis of
Modul
e Hinduism, Theravada
5 Buddhism, and Mahayana
Buddhism
In the previous lessons, you have learned what Hinduism is all about, how this
world's oldest religion is considered a diverse and complex religion, and how Hindus
manifest their spirituality amidst the variety of their traditions and freedom of beliefs.
You have also learned what Theravada Buddhism is about, how its followers'
belief of salvation is attained without the assistance of any supreme or supernatural
being, and have cited the life story of Siddhartha Gautama and its influence
on the teachings of Buddhism. You also have learned the tenets of Mahayana
Buddhism, how it paved the way for the establishment and development of a variety
of Buddhist schools and, how Mahayana Buddhism seems to have an interesting
appeal to a vast majority of followers.
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3. Do the activities to fully understand each lesson.
4. Answer all the given tests and activities.
5. Write all your answers in your notebook.
WHAT I KNOW
Direction: Choose the letter of the best answer and write this on your answer sheet.
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5) is said to be the most tolerant of all religions as there are numerous
ways to manifest one’s set of beliefs.
a. Hinduism c. Theravada Buddhism
b. Mahayana Buddhism d. Daoism
6) The concept of involves the accumulation of one’s past deeds that
have a direct effect on one’s present condition; the universal law of causality.
a. dharma c. reincarnation
b. karma d. yoga
7) People are born in this world with specific duties to perform in accordance to their
status in society. This is the concept of wherein people must accomplish
their tasks so that society can prosper as a whole.
a. dao c. karma
b. dharma d. samsara
10) All Hindus aim to achieve the four-fold purpose of life that includes dharma,
artha, kama, and moksha. The four desirable goals of life is known as
.
a. dharma c. noble eightfold path
b. dukkha d. purushartha
11) is the final meaning of life that involves enlightenment, self-
realization, or union with god. For the Hindus, this is the most difficult goal of life
to accomplish.
a. artha c. kama
b. dharma d. moksha
12) In Buddhism, the principal purpose of one’s life is to terminate all forms of
caused by attachment to impermanent entities.
a. evil c. suffering
b. hunger d. temptation
13) In , the monastic way of life ensures the path toward enlightenment
a. Hinduism c. Mahayana Buddhism
b. Judaism d. Theravada Buddhism
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15) Honoring women in Hindu society as a fundamental teaching has been laid down
in one of the supplementary arms of the Vedas, the .
a. Lotus sutra c. Purushartha
b. Manusmriti d. Torah
WHAT’S NEW
Hinduism
Theravada
Buddhism
Mahayana
Buddhism
WHAT IS IT
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Hindu followers comprise 80% of India’s population of more than a billion or about
14% of the world’s population. Meanwhile, there are more than 370 million Buddhists
around
the world that represent about 6% of the entire population. Quite interestingly, while
Buddhism began in India, it almost died out as a living religion in its place of origin
(Coogan 2005). Majority of its followers can be found in China Japan, Korea, and
Indochina Peninsula. The major sects of Buddhism include Theravada and
Mahayana schools of thought.
ORIGIN
Both Hinduism and Buddhism, two of the world’s great religions, trace their
origin in India. Believed to be the oldest living religion in the world, the early
beginnings of Hinduism with its forms and themes may have begun around the third
millennium B.C.E. (Hopfe 1983). As the precise time of its founding is very much
difficult to determine, Hinduism evolved and developed during the ancient Indus
Valley civilization. It is widely regarded that both pre-Aryan and Aryan elements are
found in Hinduism (Brown 1975). A timeless religion as it is and a way of life for its
adherents, Hinduism has no precise moment of origin and no one specific founder or
prophet unlike most other world religions. Throughout its long history, Hinduism
became the source of three other religions, namely, Buddhism, Jainism, and
Sikhism.
Buddhism also traces its origins in northern India around the sixth century
B.C.E. as another interpretation of the Hindu belief. This religion is closely linked to
its founder Siddhartha Gautama who is also referred to as the Buddha or the
“Enlightened One.” A son of a Kshatriya chief, the once affluent Siddhartha
abandoned the comfort of his palace and family as he set to discover the remedy to
universal suffering he observed in this world. After long periods of abstinence and
meditation, he finally reached enlightenment (nirvana) and became known as the
“Buddha” or the “enlightened one.” He preached mainly in the eastern part of the
Indian subcontinent such as in Magadha and Kosala. About 500 years after
Buddha’s enlightenment, a schism within the Buddhist religion resulted in the
emergence of two major branches around the first century C.E, namely, the
Theravada and Mayahana schools of tradition. Both schools owe their fundamental
teachings to the Buddha whose life has become an inspiration to millions of followers
all over the world.
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MORALITY
Hinduism is said to be the most tolerant of all religions as there are numerous
ways to manifest one’s set of Hindu beliefs (Hopfe 1983). In short, the Hindus
themselves differ in the manner of practicing their religion. However, while Hinduism
may seemingly lack a cohesive system of beliefs and practices, most of its adherents
hold several key moral values such as karma and dharma. The concept of karma
involves the accumulation of one’s past deeds that have a direct effect on one’s
present condition. Karma is closely linked to the Hindu belief of reincarnation
(samsara) or the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Bad deeds, including actions and
thoughts, may result in one being born into an unpleasant circumstance in the next
life. On the other hand, good deeds generate an enjoyable disposition in one’s next
life. In short, karma is the universal law of causality.
The notion of balance and order in this universe is integral to the Hindu belief.
People are born in this world with specific duties to perform in accordance to their
status in society, such as those elements related to gender and caste. This is the
concept of dharma wherein people must accomplish their tasks so that society can
prosper as a whole. Evidently, dharma is a complex term that could mean law, duty,
order, justice, or norm within Hinduism. To disregard one’s dharma is tantamount to
reaping bad karma that could have an adverse effect in the next life. By performing
one’s dharma correctly, one gains good karma. Essentially, dharma brings morality
and ethics in the Hindu belief system.
Buddhist moral thoughts and actions are principally guided by the “Four Noble
Truths” formulated by the Buddha, along with the basic guide called the “Eightfold
Paths” that are divided into three categories, namely, right view, right conduct, and
right practice. Unhappiness of life (dukkha) is principally caused by people’s
unending desires. People are advised to scrutinize their motivations and ponder
upon the outcome of their actions keeping in mind Buddha’s teachings. Anything
harmful to others, indeed and in thought, must always be avoided. The two major
schools of Buddhism, the Theravada and Mahayana sects, follow the “Four Noble
Truths” and the “Noble Eightfold Path.”
PURPOSE
In Hinduism, there are four desirable goals of life (purushartha). All Hindus
aim to achieve the four-fold purpose of life that includes dharma, artha, kama, and
moksha. Dharma means to behave appropriately and act righteously. In essence,
dharma is a path toward a pleasant rebirth through fulfillment of one’s destiny that is
often defined by class, family, social status, age, and gender. It also involves paying
debts to gods, fellow humans, and other living beings during their lifetime. Artha
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pertains to the pursuit of legitimate worldly prosperity or material well-being. Wealth
must be gained by way of lawful measures. As one pursues success, dharma must
always be kept in mind. Kama refers to the pursuit of legitimate pleasure as one
obtains enjoyment in life, such as those related to arts, music, and dance. This could
also include satisfaction of one’s desire or sexuality. Moksha is the final meaning of
life that involves enlightenment, self-realization, or union with god. For the Hindus,
this is the most difficult goal of life to accomplish. While some can accomplish
moksha in just one lifetime, others may take several reincarnations in another
physical form just to be liberated from the cycle of rebirth. While ignorance and
illusion hinder the enlightenment of sentient beings, they can still escape these
bondages. In essence, the main purpose of their life is to obtain release from the
cycle of reincarnation or at least a better rebirth.
In addition to the four goals of life, traditional Hindus often pass the four
stages of life (ashramas). The first stage of Hindu life is that of being a student
(brahmacarya). As a bachelor, he lives in the house of a guru and studies sacred
scriptures under his guidance. The second stage is that of being a householder
(grihastha) wherein he takes in a wife, raises children, and contributes to the well-
being of society (Brown 1975). During the third stage (vanaprastha), he withdraws to
the forest with his wife as he undergoes meditation to understand the meaning of life.
Finally, the fourth stage (samnyasin) involves renouncing the world and all its
attachments as he now becomes a holy sage. The first three stages are obligatory in
nature while the fourth is only optional and not all men attain it.
In Theravada Buddhism, the monastic way of life ensures the path toward
enlightenment. For the Buddhist laity, they must first be reborn as monks for them to
be eligible for enlightenment. As members of the laity perform good deeds, positive
karma may bring forth a pleasant condition in the next life.
DESTINY
Simply put, the destiny of all Hindus involves reincarnation until such time
they gain ultimate enlightenment. Hinduism believes that within the human is an
eternal soul (atman) that is being reborn millions of times and in many forms subject
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to the moral law of karma (Bowker 1997). While the soul is immortal and naturally
blissful, it could plunge into darkness because of ignorance and delusion concerning
reality. Moral law enables souls to create their own destiny leading to a
pleasurable or repulsive state of existence. Hindu practices to achieve enlightenment
involves yoga, meditation, proper worship, rituals, devotion to gods and
goddesses, pilgrimage to sacred shrines, and performing one’s duties. For the
Hindus, the idea of an eternal heaven or hell is unfounded as it does not uphold
genuine moral behavior. In fact, the concept of heaven and hell can be exploited by
religious groups just wanting to lure or scare people.
Meanwhile, Buddhism holds that no soul is being reborn because there is no
permanence in anything (Bowker 1997). The Buddha preached to his followers to
achieve their own salvation conscientiously because external forces have no control
over their life and circumstances. They control their own fate as they are bound to
the law of causality. Buddhist destiny, therefore, is the direct result of natural law or
dharma and one’s accumulated deeds or karma. Here lies the glaring difference of
Buddhism as a dharmic religion when compared to other world religions that teach
the concept of fate or predestiny. For Buddhist followers, life and events are not
controlled by an all-powerful creator or universal force.
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“However innumerable sentient beings are, I vow to save them. However
inexhaustible the defilements are, I vow to extinguish them. However immeasurable
the dharmas are, I vow to master them. However incomparable enlightenment is, I
vow to attain it.”
VIEWS ON WOMEN
The status of women in ancient India leaves much to be desired as they are
always seen as inferior to men in all aspects of life. Restrictions abound with regard
to their daily activities; tending household chores would be their primary role. Women
are to be cared for by their parents in their childhood days, by their husbands when
they marry, and by their sons when they reach old age. Religious and educational
liberties for women are severely lacking.
Cases of having several wives also exist in Indian society that naturally breed
hatred and jealousies among the wives. More so, women are not allowed to remarry
after the death of their husbands. Shaving 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. Widows are personification
of all the negative characteristics of a woman, ill-fated and wretched. Widows are
brought to the Indian city of Vrindavan by their families who eventually abandon them
there. A widow can opt to commit sati or the act of killing herself by jumping into the
funeral pyre of her husband. 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. The practice of sati has now been banned in India especially
with the passage of Sati (Prevention) Act of 1988 that criminalized any type of
involvement in sati.
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female monastic members are bhikkunis. For the Buddha, men are not always wise
and women can also be wise. In Buddhism, women should not be treated as inferior
to men because both are equally valuable in society. Women as wives and mothers
have roles to fulfill in the family and society. Husbands and wives must equally share
responsibilities in the family with the same zeal. Wives must also familiarize
themselves in trade and business dealings so that they can also handle these affairs.
Men and women have equal status in Buddhist societies.
Goal of
Buddhahood via bodhisattva path Arhat
Training
Trikaya (3 Emphasized, including the
Very limited emphasis; mainly on
Buddha samboga-kaya or
nirmana-kaya and dharma-kaya
Bodies) reward/enjoyment body
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Buddha's Many bodhisattvas that are not Historical disciples described in
Disciples historical figures Scriptures
Buddha Emphasized, especially in
Not taught
Nature practice-based schools
Bardo
Taught by all schools Rejected
(Limbo)
Many, owing to local cultural
Rituals influences
Very few; not emphasized
Emphasized in Vajrayana;
Mantras and sometimes incorporated in other Some equivalent in the use of Parittas
Mudras schools
WHAT’S MORE
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Activity 5.2: Similarities and Differences
Use the Venn diagram to compare and contrast each of the three Dharmic
religions with each other.
HINDUIS
M
THERAVADA
MAHAYANA BUDDHISM
BUDDHISM
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WHAT I CAN DO
Hinduism
Theravada
Buddhism
Mahayana
Buddhism
POST ASSESSMENT
Direction: Choose the letter of the best answer and write this on your answer sheet.
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b. China d. Palestine
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11) Hinduism evolved and developed during the ancient . It is
widely regarded that both pre-Aryan and Aryan elements are found in
Hinduism
a. Egyptian civilization c. Indus Valley civilization
b. Greek civilization d. Yellow River civilization
12) Honoring women in Hindu society as a fundamental teaching has been laid
down in one of the supplementary arms of the Vedas, the .
a. Lotus sutra c. Purushartha
b. Manusmriti d. Torah
13) is the final meaning of life that involves enlightenment, self-
realization, or union with god. For the Hindus, this is the most difficult goal of
life to accomplish.
a. artha c. kama
b. dharma d. moksha
14) All Hindus aim to achieve the four-fold purpose of life that includes dharma,
artha, kama, and moksha. The four desirable goals of life is known as
.
a. dharma c. noble eightfold path
b. dukkha d. purushartha
15) People are born in this world with specific duties to perform in accordance to
their status in society. This is the concept of wherein people must
accomplish their tasks so that society can prosper as a whole.
a. dao c. karma
b. dharma d. samsara
I think the most important commonality among the three Dharmic religions is
because
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I think that Hinduism, Theravada Buddhism, and Mahayana Buddhism are
considered as Dharmic religions because
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
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REFERENCES:
Ong, Jerome A. & Jose, Mary Dorothy dL. Introduction to World Religions and Belief
Systems (Book). Quezon City: Vibal Group Inc., 2016
Ong, Jerome A. & Jose, Mary Dorothy dL. Introduction to World Religions and Belief
Systems (Teacher’s Manual). Quezon City: Vibal Group Inc., 2016
Religion Facts. Compare Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism. 2017. Accessed July
14, 2020. http://www.religionfacts.com/charts/mahayana-theravada
Religion Facts. The Big Religion Chart. 2012. Accessed July 14, 2020.
http://mhs.magnoliaisd.org/ourpages/auto/2014/8/24/59015366/The%20Big
20Religion%20Comparison%20Chart_%20Compare%20World%20Religion
%20-%20ReligionFacts.pdf
ANSWER KEY
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