Hindu and Buddhist Dharma

The concept and specifics of dharma varies between Hinduism and Buddhism. Dharma is
a complex subject that includes within it other layered concepts such as samsara and karma.
While Hinduism and Buddhism share these concepts in a very general sense when these subjects
are looked at a little more closely you can see the many ways that they are different in practice
and belief.
From the perspective of Hinduism dharma is the law of the universe. It is how an
individual is meant to act for the good of the whole, for the good of society. It encompasses
many aspects of life such as social welfare, duty, and health. 1 According to dharma in Hinduism
there are moral virtues that all Hindus should strive to live by. In addition to this general view of
dharma, there is an individual aspect to it as well. A persons dharma can differ from someone
elses based on their age and on their stage in life. And someones dharma traditionally is linked
to their caste.
If you dont live according to your dharma Hinduism teaches this will affect your karma
which in turn can have an effect on the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth or samsara. By not
following dharma you may have bad karma which can affect you in this life or another life as
your inner self (atman) moves to another existence through rebirth. Hindus believe that through
the cycle of rebirth a persons self remains intact. Ones soul or inner self has Brahman as its
source. Brahman is the Supreme Reality in Hinduism.
In contrast to the Hindu view of dharma, Buddhism defines dharma as the teachings of
the Buddha which include the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. Unlike Hinduism

Mary Fisher, Living Religion, (8th Edition.), Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. Pearson, 2011, p. 73

where ones dharma varies depending on your caste and your age or stage in life, Buddhism sets
forth the Dharma as something that applies to everyone. The Buddhas teachings are universal.
By following his teachings one will be lead toward enlightenment and can come to realize truth
about existence.
The Dharma in Buddhism teaches that suffering, dissatisfaction and stress exist because
of ignorance, craving, and attachment to material things or even a false sense of self. By
adhering to the Dharma a person will be following the Middle Way which leads to becoming free
of ignorance and suffering. This liberation is nirvana.
The process toward nirvana includes a cycle of birth, death and rebirth similar to what
Hinduism teaches. But samsara in Buddhism differs with Hinduism in that there is not the
concept of someone having an eternal soul or self that endures through this rebirth process.
Buddhism teaches anatman or that people have no individual, unique, eternal soul.
Instead a person is an impermanent composite of interdependent physical, emotional, and
cognitive components. 2 Accordingly, there is no lasting self, there is only impermanence.
Nothing exists in and of itself. Everything is interdependent and so things change from moment
to moment. Ones actions brings about the cause and effect cycle of karma.
Hinduism existed before the Buddha achieved enlightenment and started teaching others
what he came to know. Buddhism does share some of the same concepts as Hinduism in a
general sense. But when looked at more in-depth the fundamental differences between the
teachings and philosophies of the two religions come apparent.

Ibid p. 142

Bibliography
Fisher, Mary Pat. Living Religions. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2011.