Hinduism and Buddhism Compared

Similiarities and differences between Hinduism and Buddhism.

Read more here: » Hinduism vs Buddhism: Hinduism and Buddhism Compared

buddhism:

non-orthodox form of vedic / aryan teaching founded by the buddha or enlightened one

(See also: buddhism, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Buddhism: The religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha (ca 624544 bce). He refuted the idea of man's having an immortal soul and did not preach of any Supreme Deity. Instead he taught that man should seek to overcome greed, hatred and delusion and attain enlightenment through realizing the Four Noble Truths and following the Eightfold Path.

Prominent among its holy books is the Dhammapada. Buddhism arose out of Hinduism as an inspired reform movement which rejected the caste system and the sanctity of the Vedas. It is thus classed as nastika, "unbeliever," and is not part of Hinduism. Buddhism eventually migrated out of India, the country of its origin, and now enjoys a following of over 350 million, mostly in Asia.

See: Buddha.

(See also: Buddhism, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Buddhism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, who lived in what is now Northern India and Nepal between 566 and 483 BCE. Buddhism spread throughout the ancient Indian sub-continent in the five centuries following his death. It continued to spread into Central, Southeast, and East Asia over the next two millennia. With approximately 708 million followers, Buddhism is a major world religion whose adherents are called Buddhists. Buddhist denominations are historically categ ...

Including:

• Buddhism - What is a Buddha?
• Buddhism - Origins
• Buddhism - Principles of Buddhism
• Buddhism - The Four Noble Truths
• Buddhism - The Noble Eightfold Path
• Buddhism - Practices of Buddhism
• Buddhism - Refuge in The Three Jewels
• Buddhism - The Five Precepts
• Buddhism - Meditation
• Buddhism - Buddha-dhatu Buddha-Principle, Buddha-nature
• Buddhism - Other principles and practices
• Buddhism - Vegetarianism
• Buddhism - Buddhist religious philosophy and branches
• Buddhism - Buddhism after the Buddha
• Buddhism - Principal schools of Buddhist philosophy
• Buddhism - Scriptures
• Buddhism - Relations with other Eastern faiths
• Buddhism - Buddhism in the modern world
• Buddhism - Buddhism and the West
• Buddhism - Buddhism
• Buddhism - Related systems and religions
• Buddhism - References and Links
• Buddhism - References
• Buddhism - Footnotes
• Buddhism - External links

Read more here: » Buddhism

The percentage of Buddhist population of each country was taken from the US State Department's International Religious Freedom Report 2004 [1]. Other sources used were CIA Factbook [2] and adherents.com [3]. The total population of each country was taken from census.gov [4] (2005 estimates). Some adherents give much higher figures: [5] Buddhism by country - By country. List of religious populations, Islam by country, Judaism by country, Hinduism by country, Roman Catholicism ...

Including:

• Buddhism by country - By country
• Buddhism by country - By region
• Buddhism by country - Top 20

Read more here: » Buddhism by country

Buddhism after the Buddha

Buddhism spread slowly in India until the powerful Mauryan emperor Asoka converted to it and actively supported it. His promotion led to construction of Buddhist religious sites and missionary efforts that spread the faith into the countries listed at the beginning of the article.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Buddhism after the Buddha

Hinduism is the religion of the Hindus, a name given to the Universal Religion which hailed supreme in India. It is the oldest of all living religions. This is not founded by any prophet. Buddhism, Christianity and Mohammedanism owe their origin to the prophets. Their dates are fixed. But no such date can be fixed for Hinduism. Hinduism is not born of the teachings of particular prophets. It is not based on a set of dogmas preached by a particular set of teachers. It is free from religious fanaticism.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hinduism: Distinguishing Features Of Hinduism

Twenty-five years ago, in the light of a full moon, I sat facing the lying Buddha in Polonnaruwa in central Sri Lanka. It was Buddha Purnima . I noticed the Buddha’s smile as he lay dying, and the concern on his disciple, Ananda’s face, standing before him.

Buddha’s last words were: “Be lamps unto yourselves”. As he left us, the Sakyamuni did not ask us to pray to him or believe in him as a messiah. Unfortunately, over time, his life and teachings have become encrusted in layers of religiosity.

(See also: Buddhism, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Buddhism: Origins of Buddhism

Legend has it that the Buddha to be, Siddhartha Gautama, was born around the 6th century BCE. His birthplace is said to be Lumbini in the kingdom of Magadha, in what is now Nepal. His father was a king, and Siddhartha lived in luxury, being spared all hardship.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Origins of Buddhism

Buddhism: Relations with other faiths

Some Hindus (primarily in the northern regions of India) believe that Gautama is the 9th incarnation (see avatar) of Vishnu; there are accounts of the Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu that are pro- and anti-Buddhist (i.e., either Vishnu "really meant" what he said while incarnated as Buddha or he was just messing with the Nastikas). This is not a majority view, however.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Relations with other faiths

Buddhism is a philosophy and/or religion based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Sanskrit; in Pali, Siddhattha Gotama), who lived between approximately 563 and 483 BCE. Originating in India, Buddhism gradually spread throughout Asia to Central Asia, Tibet, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, as well as the East Asian countries of China, Mongolia, Korea, and Japan.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Introduction to Buddhism

The main principles of Buddhism: The Three Jewels, The Four Noble Truths, The Noble Eightfold Path, The Five Precepts, The three marks of conditioned existence and vegetarianism.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Principles of Buddhism

It is commonly believed that Buddhism involves long hours of meditation and is devoid of elaborative pujas (prayers) and ceremonies associated with prayer-offerings. People also think that Gautam Buddha was against an organised religion and propounded Buddhism minus the offerings and ceremonies to undermine the priestly class who exploited the common masses with religious superstitions. But the fact is Buddhism has elaborate ceremonial prayer offerings, especially its Mahayana and Vajrayana forms.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Prayers In Buddhism

Indologist and scholar of Hindu jurisprudence, Gunther Dietz Sontheimer focused on living folk cultures and traditions. He created his own delicately balanced working model for the study of what the world identifies as 'Hindu’ civilisation.

His sophisticated approach avoided reductionist 'fundamentalism’ and positivistic 'simplification’ and was open to new findings and novel interpretations. His views are relevant not merely for their academic import; they are equally important in the context of the rise of Hindu fundamentalism and revivalism.

(See also: Hinduism, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

When Boddhidharma, was presented to the emperor of China, the ruler of the Middle Kingdom recounted the many great works of charity he had performed for his people, of the places of worship he had built and the religious ceremonies he had conducted.

“Tell me then”, he asked Boddhidharma, “having done all these good works, what is the merit I have earned for myself?” And the sage replied gruffly: “None whatsoever”. The Emperor was outraged. “Who is it who dares to speak to me in such an impudent manner?” he demanded. And Boddhidharma looked at the Emperor and said, “No one at all”.

This story is central to the teachings of Zen Buddhism that Boddhidharma took with him from India to China.

(See also: Zen Buddhism, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Buddhism: Uposatha Observance Days

Uposatha days are times of renewed dedication to Dhamma practice, observed by both lay people and monastics throughout the world of Theravada Buddhism.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Uposatha Observance Days

Hinduism: Definition of Hinduism

Hinduism is not a religion but a set of beliefs and traditions which have evolved over a period of time. It is a way of life based upon a group of religious movements evolved in the Indian subcontinent over a vast period of time. It is not based upon a single scripture or the teachings of a single prophet. There is no central organization like the Church of Christianity or the Order of Buddhism to control its movements or progress.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Definition of Hinduism

Korean Buddhism is distinguished from other forms of Buddhism by its attempt to resolve what it sees as inconsistencies in Chinese Mahayana Buddhism. Early Korean monks believed that the traditions they received from China were internally inconsistent. To address this, they developed a new holistic approach to Buddhism. This approach is characteristic of virtually all major Korean thinkers, and has resulted in a distinct variation of Buddhism, which Wonhyo (617–686) called the Tongbulgyo ("interpenetrated Buddhism"). K ...

Including:

• Korean Buddhism - Historical overview of the development of Korean Buddhism
• Korean Buddhism - Buddhism in the Three Kingdoms
• Korean Buddhism - Baekje
• Korean Buddhism - Kaya
• Korean Buddhism - Silla
• Korean Buddhism - Buddhism in the Unified Silla period 668-918
• Korean Buddhism - Buddhism as state religion in the Goryeo period 918-1392
• Korean Buddhism - Suppression under the Joseon dynasty 1392-1910
• Korean Buddhism - Buddhism during the Japanese occupation 1910-1945
• Korean Buddhism - Buddhism and Westernization 1945-present
• Korean Buddhism - Looking Ahead

Read more here: » Korean Buddhism

I am a Hindu because I was born in a Hindu home. The Hindu way of life appeals to me because it gives me freedom to think and act. It does not bind me to rigid codes or to some particular book, but only requires that I try to follow the first two parts of the eight-fold ashtanga yoga, namely, yama or abstentions and niyama or observances, expecting me to do nothing more than being a good member of society. Practice of the next six parts is optional.

(See also: Hinduism, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Hinduism and Tolerance

Hinduism is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. It is not a religion like Christianity or Islam or Buddhism because it is not founded by any one person or does not have an organized controlling body like the Church or the Order. Everything is acceptable in Hinduism because there is no single authority or organization either to accept it or to reject it or to oppose it on behalf of Hinduism. 

Read more here: » Hinduism and Tolerance: Hinduism and Religious Tolerance