Hinduism and Buddhism, and Their Respective Elements

Two cognise eastern religions and philosophies shared the battlefield of India for centuries, which probably lasts up to this date. These two are Buddhism and Hinduism. Since some(prenominal) concept of Buddhism and Hinduism originated from a single source, it would be possible to identify similar concepts between the two, or at least some form of derivative of a concept belonging to one of the two mentioned religions and philosophies. The focus of this paper primarily entails the comparison between the two immense religion philosophies of Buddhism and Hinduism. There is bound to be a difference between them, as one of them originated earlier than the other.One cannot simply judge that the latter one is a mere copy of the one that existed earlier it. In relation to death and the after lifespan, there are two concepts which can be place in both Buddhism and Hinduism Reincarnation and Samsara, the Wheel of Life wherein transition is usually based. For now, it is outmatch if the both Buddhism and Hinduism be discerned and identified as a separate entity. The Two Eastern Religion Philosophies Buddhism and Hinduism As mentioned earlier, the two primary religions and philosophies that proliferated in India were Buddhism and Hinduism. Both of which had a significant amount of pursuit.Buddhism and Its narration. Basically, Buddhism is the basic religion to which its disciples and members follow the scriptures and teachings of Buddha. After Buddhas death, its followersmostly monkscongregated in order to discuss which scriptures and teachings would fit outstrip to the aims of Buddha and the proliferation of Buddhism around India, and in other parts of the world. Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism after witnessing a carnage he produced. After being converted, he dedicated his life and a whole lot of structures to Buddhism, and to Buddhahis life and death.He ordered the construction of numerous pillars which contained the scriptures and teachings of Buddha, sp reading it through these stone pillars (Boeree 1999). It was Emperor Ashoka who allowed Buddhism to proliferate across India and beyond its borders, displace messengers to promote Buddhism within those areas. Hinduism a Brief History. It has been mentioned by historians that Hinduism dates back around 5,000 years ago, proving that it is a much older religion than Buddhism. The word was actually derived from the river Indus, from an area of which it originated (Kolanu 2009).The daily lend oneselfs of the areas inhabitants gradually turned into a religion or concept, upon which it revolves around the peoples religious, philosophical, and cultural practices native to the Indian sub-continent (Kolanu 2009). It has had many names before Hindu. However, many of its followers would prefer to call it as Hindu, after the nameor at least a close version of itof the place wherein it originated. It would be later known in history as one of the main religions in India, which is still quite tru e todayIslam is the second main religion during the contemporary period.The quad Noble Truths of Buddhism. The Four Noble Truths is one of the basic doctrines that Buddhist follow. It basically involved the dispossession of material things, which Buddhist do not really need. The eldest Noble Truth entails the realization that every aspect of existence is unsatisfactory as these are all subjected to birth, decay, disease, and death (Lorentz 2007). The Second Noble Truth is the endeavour of dukkha. The Third Noble Truth entails the freedom from dukkha, wherein one is required to remove the craving of the senses.The Fourth Noble Truth leads to the end of the dukkha by following the Eigthfold bridle-path Perfect understanding, Perfect Thought, Perfect Speech, Perfect Action, Perfect Livelihood, Perfect Effort, Perfect Mindfulness, and Perfect Concentration (Lorentz 2007). Indias Caste System. Hinduism entailed a social hierarchy in which identified their society, based on social ran kings upon which was born into, or had been reborn into. When the Aryans came to the Dravidian-occupied Indian subcontinent, they implemented a caste system which separated them from the Dravidian.It composes of four major components wherein the stinkpot was reserved for the Dravidian people. The topmost was known as the Brahmin class, made up of religious officials. The second was the Kshatriya, which was reserved for warriors and rulers. The third was the Vaishya, which was reserved for artisans and other skilled workers kindred(p) farmers. The last one was the Shudra, wherein they serve the higher castes (Flesher 1997). Intermarriage was disallowed because they believe that it provide reduce their rank. One is also required to perform well, and promote goodness in order to maintain the rank or move upward when they are reincarnated.The opposite happens to those who promote evil. It has also been mentioned that some Buddhist from other areas practice the same Caste system impl emented by the Aryans. However, they implemented new ideas in order to promote equality among the classes, which is a chief principle of Buddhism. The Life of Buddha Who was He anyway? Buddha was said to prevail been born in the body of Siddhartha Gautama, the prince of Kapilavastu which was near the Indian-Nepalese border, during the fifth century B. C. (Delattre 2009).At around this time period, India had a prolific spiritual heritage, with Hinduism at the forefront. It has been described in spiritual scripturesprobably from Hindu sourcesthat an ascetic will be born and become the peachyest spiritual teacher. This ascetic would also befool the ultimate truth (Lorentz 2007). It has also been mentioned in Hindu scriptures that after the prince was born, seven Brahmin priests observed the baby, concluding that the baby will become a great spiritual leader who will leave his royal status behind him the basic principle of Buddhism.However, his father wished for him to become a Great King, giving him the best education which a prince deserved. His curiosity of the world beyond the walls of their palace urged him to sneak out and realize the truth about the world they lived in. After this realization, he vowed to financial aid the people by living life as an ascetic, leaving his royal status behind. While on his spiritual quest, he went under the wings of great teachers, to which he was able to surpass. Realizing that there is still dukkhas to be flushed away, he left his teachers and practiced by himself.He was able to attain his complete spirituality without the practice of extreme asceticism. For the next four or so decades, he ordained new followers and taught them what he had learned from his spiritual quest (Lorentz 2007) he became Buddha. destruction of the World at the Presence of Seven Suns In Buddhas sermon of the Seven temperatenesss, he envisioned that Seven suns would appear on the sky and wreak butchery towards the Earth, through a series of ca taclysmic events (Jayaram 2007). This will occur after many hundreds and thousands of years in the future as do all end-of-days prophecies.In Buddhas version, the carriage of the seven suns will cause the following first sun would cause severe drought second sun will evaporate streams and ponds third sun will evaporate great rivers like the Ganges fourth sun, after a long lapse, would evaporate the great lakes After another long lapse, a fifth sun will gradually drain oceans After yet another long lapse, a sixth sun will scorch the reality and cause volcanic eruptions After another long interval, the seventh sun will turn the earth into a ball of flame and then break open and disappear. A Slight Taste of Death and the AfterlifeBoth Hinduism and Buddhism believed in reincarnation, as the caste system which they followed required reincarnation to reward or punish people. However in Buddhism, one must attain Nirvanaenlightenmentin order to escape the endless cycle of reincarnation. I f the person failed to do so, he or she will be reborn into one of the following six states of life Heaven (has 37 different levels), Human life (under the caste system), Asura (Demi-Gods), Hungry ghost (taken literally), Animals (those who have killed animals), and Hell (the lowest level) (Tang, Urbandharma.org 2002). References Boeree, C. G. (1999). The History of Buddhism. Retrieved May 19, 2009 from Delattre, M. (2000, November 18). The Illustrated Life of the Buddha. Retrieved May 19, 2009 from Flesher, Paul. (1997, February 8). Social Organization The Caste System. Retrieved May 19, 2009 from Jayaram, V. (2007). Buddhas Discourse on the End of the World.Retrieved May 19, 2009 from Kolanu, P. (2009). The History of Hinduism. Retrieved May 19, 2009 from Lorentz, M. (2007). Buddhism. Retrieved May 19, 2009 from Tang, T. H. (2002, March 22). Buddhist View on Death and Rebirth. Retrieved May 19, 2009 from