Albekir Cydric Z.

Sawali
November 9, 2015

3LM3
LIT 103

Hinduism is about understanding Brahma, existence, from within the Atman, which roughly
means "self" or "soul," whereas Buddhism is about finding the Anatman "not soul" or
"not self." In Hinduism, attaining the highest life is a process of removing the bodily
distractions from life, allowing one to eventually understand the Brahma nature within. In
Buddhism, one follows a disciplined life to move through and understand that nothing in
oneself is "me," such that one dispels the very illusion of existence. In so doing, one realizes
Nirvana.
In Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's words,"Buddhism, in its origin at least, is an offshoot of
Hinduism."

Buddha being born from a Hindu family reached enlightenment after 48 days of
meditating and concluded that the root of suffering was desire, and in order to attain Nirvana,
one must release oneself from such desires. After becoming the Buddha, he taught his teaching to
many people and converted many Brahmins into Buddhists. Buddhism incorporates most of the
teachings of Hinduism, specifically the concepts of karma, the transmigration of souls, and the
cycle of births and deaths for each soul and many more Hindu teachings. The main differences
are that Buddhism believes that there is no need for priests or teachers because one cannot be
taught to be mindful, one must find the path on his own in order to enter Nirvana. Secondly,
Buddhism believes that anyone may enter Nirvana no matter how lowly, thus rejecting the Hindu
belief that only Brahmins could only enter moksha. Thirdly, Buddhism does not believe in gods,
Buddha is not a god but a teacher, where was in Hinduism believe of Brahma and his many
aspects further dividing into other god and deities, and also incorporating the Buddha as a Hindu
god. Lastly, Karma is not earned by following the dharma of ones caste; Brahmins, Kshatriyas,
but through following the eightfold path of Buddhism.
Hinduism greatly affected Buddhism evidently manifesting itself in the both follow the
same principles and observe the same manners of conduct, but differs in the process of attaining
Nirvana for Buddhism or moksha for Hinduism.

Sources:

Buddhism & Hinduism Compared. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2015, from

http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/wcsyllabus/buddhind.htm
Buddhist Studies: Hinduism. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2015, from
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/dharmadata/fdd48.htm
Radhakrishnan, D. (n.d.). Buddhism vs Hinduism. Retrieved November 8, 2015, from
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Buddhism_vs_Hinduism
V, J. (n.d.). Hinduism and Buddhism. Retrieved November 8, 2015, from
http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/h_buddhism.asp