Indian philosophy

Explain: While both Hinduism and Buddhism understand philosophy as the practical
realization of truth, Hinduism stresses the way of discovering the self, and Buddhism
follows the four noble truths and the eightfold path with its main doctrine of anatman (no
self). Overall, both philosophies provide a deep understanding of the human person.

Life is suffering, this point can be considered as one of the general truths which both
Hinduism and Buddhism embrace. The two schools of thought clearly stated the reality of life,
but they have unique path to make life better. Unlike western thinkers, Hinduism and Buddhism
go into the self of person to find the solution. This makes their philosophies more practical.
On discovering the self, Hinduism teaches people to go back to the self “atman” because
the self can liberate people from the circle of suffering. Life is suffering because people keep on
looking for goodness outside the self. They look for peace in materiality, but everything from
outside changes continuously, that is that peace cannot be permanent. According to Hinduism,
the task of the self is to unite with the Ultimate reality “the Brahman.” And the present of the
Ultimate reality is not in the outside life full of suffering but from within. The truth for Hinduism
is to go back to the self where they have the path to unite themselves with the ultimate reality.
This might be considered as simple understanding compared to the modern thought that we need
to go out to see the beauty of life. Hinduism does not go again the practical need of people, but
the teaching points out the importance of keeping the self at the sacred level. Hinduism has
several ways to discover the self like yoga or meditation. This mental and physical practice can
help people to discover their selves among many distractions of life. In short Hinduism focus
more on self-discovery as the way to unite to the Brahman and to escape the circle of suffering.
Like Hinduism, Buddhism also accept life is full of suffering. In fact, the four noble
truths are about this problem. However, they have separate ways to solve compared to Hinduism.
Buddhism rejects the permanent of the self. They consider this an illusion of life. Self-
discovering is not the focus but in replace the discovery of nature of reality. They do not mean to
abandon the concept “self-discovery” but simply considered it as an illusion. The nature of
reality points out for them that life is a journey where things can change in numerous ways. In
Buddhism, the mindfulness and meditation practices are the way to realize the change or the
illusion of impermanent of all things including life. At the same time, they also stress the
interconnection of all things. There is the cause of suffering which they consider “desire.” A
person suffers because he keeps on attaching to things which are changing. Change here creates
impermanence and non-stop desire, it means the person only goes after the desire without
knowing where the destination of life is. Because of this impermanence of life, the process of
self-discovering which we discuss in Hinduism is also an act of desire or an illusion.
Buddhism follows the four noble truths and the eightfold path with its main doctrine of
anatman. The eightfold paths: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right
livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration can be understood in three paths:
wisdom, ethical conduct, and mental discipline. They are the way to discover and accept the
reality of life. The paths are tools to escape from the illusion of permanent self. At the same time,
this path ships the focus on the self to benefit others. For Buddhism, even the life which we are
having is also an illusion of permanent and so self-center is not necessary. Without clinging to
any self, we can cultivate true compassion for all beings. These beings are interconnected to us,
so the cause and effect can happen to all. If a person keeps on doing terrible things, the effect
will come negatively. By leaving the self, people can focus on ethical development and good
mental discipline. The role of humans in this life is not to find goodness for the self but for all, it
is like giving goodness and all things will pay back goodness to us. Suffering will be replaced by
goodness if people accept reality and unite themselves with all things, not to be higher than
anything because that is the sign of disconnected. The wisdom here is the fruit of the right view
and right intension. At this level, people can discover what is really an illusion for them, they are
transformed.
Hinduism and Buddhism have deep view in understanding human condition, even though
their way of solving the problem of suffering is different. They can be good points for us to
reflect upon. If we are going unite the two, the focus should not be the self but the practices.
Both philosophies understand life is full of suffering and so we need liberation to have a good
life. Ethical development is the frequent practice which we need to reflect on the two schools of
thought. This practice is important for both Hinduism and Buddhism because they give
disciplines for people to exist in the society of all things around. They also stress on the
important of Ethical development because it is the cause which measure their effect on the
present life and the next life which everyone must reincarnate if they are not perfect yet.
Through the two schools of thought, we understand deeper the goal of life in different
lenses. It can be a reminder that self- discovery might be important for these people but also not
for other people. We humans are living in the same world, so it is more important to balance our
personal life and the life of all things around us. This awareness will create a world of harmony
where everyone is part of and respected. We hope that we can find unity in diversity as Mircea
Eliade analyzes “coincidentia oppositorum” in the sacred and profane. We can also apply that
concept so that even if our lives are different from others, there is always to unite as we live
together.