Hinduism and Buddhism: An In-Depth Look

Hinduism and Buddhism may appear to have similar tenets — but there are major differences between the two religions. Hinduism is the third-largest religion in the world behind Islam and Christianity. There is no specific time or date when scholars can pinpoint a start of the Hindu religion; Buddhism is believed to have derived from Hinduism.

The purpose of life for a Hindu is to attain liberation via three major paths: devotion or bhakmarga, knowledge (jnanamarga), or work (karmamarga). Hindus believe a person has a soul within called Atman and that soul transfers from one person to another after death.

“Truth is one: Sages call it by different names.”

Unlike Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, the Hindus don’t identify one specific God that they worship; rather, they have three major gods: Shiva, Vishnu, and Shakti. In addition to these gods, there are numerous others that they worship. Hindus follow teachers called Brahmans, who are given the status of the priests.

Hinduism has not gained as strong a foothold in the West as it has in the East, but it has definitely influenced Western religion with Hari Krishna and the New Age philosophies, as Hinduism focuses on diversity of thought, religious practice, and acceptance of many paths to liberation or salvation.

One common Hindu saying captures the essence of  the religion and its appeal to those who feel religious belief should not be organized or set apart one from another: “Truth is one: Sages call it by different names.” That said, the purpose of life for the Hindu is to reach four distinct goals: fulfilling one’s purpose (Dhama); attaining prosperity (Artha); having desire, sexuality, and enjoyment (Kama); and reaching enlightenment (Moksha).

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Buddhism, on the other hand, is distinctly different from Hinduism — Buddhists reject the idea of a god. Worship is not a goal of Buddhism. The goal of its practitioners is very distinct: to achieve Nirvana, in which where one escapes all suffering and reaches a state of complete enlightenment. And suffering comes, they believe, when humans try to hold onto things that have no lasting value — material goods, relationships, and health. As people deny themselves dependence on these things, they become free from the suffering that they bring about.

Monasticism was seen as the surest way to attain enlightenment, as this lifestyle avoided material things and even relationships that would cause sorrow. Many think of Buddhists as wanting to attain reincarnation, but the ultimate state of Buddhism is one in which people escape reincarnation, which in itself can have suffering.

Buddhism is based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, who lived approximately 500 BCE. He was a young prince surrounded by wealth but left the comforts he enjoyed in order to find liberation from suffering for those he saw trapped in it. Buddha established in his teaching that the purpose of life was to avoid escape from suffering.

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Buddhists do not believe in a soul, like Hindus and other religious people believe. They believe in four noble truths. The first truth is that life involves suffering — we have life, disease, and then death. The second truth deals with cravings and aversion. It states that pain comes because of our expectations and desires and that once we learn to not have these, we can have peace. The third noble truth is that suffering and pain can be overcome. When we learn to live one day at a time and stop craving things, then we can achieve Nirvana. Finally, the fourth noble truth is that if one follows the eight-fold path, then suffering will end.

Most Buddhists follow the eight-fold path, which is about living a moral life in what one says and does, and being fully aware of one’s thoughts and actions and seeking to acquire wisdom through following the four noble truths. Ultimately, these lead a person to become more thoughtful and compassionate of others and less focused on the self.

Buddhists, like Hindus, may believe in gods and have articles they use in religious practice, but they do not worship idols or gods the way Hindus do. And while both believe in reincarnation, Buddhists try to avoid it by reaching Nirvana, while Hindus believe that salvation can be had as the soul of a person lives on after death.

Dr. Meg Meeker has practiced pediatrics and adolescent medicine for 30 years. She is the author of the online course, “The 12 Principles of Raising Great Kids,” which is part of The Strong Parent Project.