COMPARE AND CONTRAST HINDUISM AND BUDDHISM

Both Hinduism and Buddhism two of the world’s great religions, trace
their origin in India. Throughout its long history, Hinduism became the
source of three other religions, namely, BUDDHISM, JAINISM, and
SIKHISM.
Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion w/ around 15% of the
entire population practicing the Hindu faith. It is the world’s oldest
organized religion that began on the Indian subcontinent with no
specific moment of origin and no specific founder. Hindu followers vary
in their set of beliefs and practices as they accept the pluralistic nature
of their traditions.
In Hinduism and Buddhism (Mahayana and Theravada), dharma is an
integral concept. In Hinduism, dharma refers to the religious and moral
law governing a person’s conduct. It is also one of the four Hindu goals
of life. Hinduism is said to be the most tolerant of all religions as there
are numerous ways to manifest one’s set of Hindu beliefs. In short
Hindus themselves differ in the manner of practicing their religion.
Most Hindu adherents hold several key moral values such as karma and
dharma. Buddhist moral thoughts and action principally guided by the
“Four Noble Truths” and the “Eightfold Paths”.
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. In Buddhism, the principal purpose
of one’s life is to terminate all forms of suffering caused by attachment
to impermanent entities. The destiny of all Hindus involves
reincarnation until such time they gain ultimate enlightenment.
Hinduism believes that w/in the human is an internal soul (atman) that
is being reborn millions of times and in many forms subject to the
moral law of karma. On the other hand, Buddhism holds that no soul is
being reborn because there is no permanence in anything.
Honoring woman in Hindu society as a fundamental teaching has been
laid down in one of the supplementary arms of the Vedas, the
Manusmriti or “The Laws of Manu”. Women have enjoyed considerable
freedom in their religious life in Buddhism as compared to Hinduism.
In Buddhism, women should not be treated as inferior to men because
both are equally valuable in society.