Reincarnation
In the Hindu and Buddhist religions, humanity is faced with a continuous cycle of life and death. In brief, Buddhism and Hinduism both believe in the concept of reincarnation, where one is reborn into a different body following death. This view on reincarnation holds that the soul does not die, but is preserved and reincarnated into either human or animal form depending upon the karma it holds from prior lives. In Hinduism, reincarnation is seen as evidence that the soul will ultimately gain liberation from the material realm and many individuals believe that depending on one’s karma or life’s work it will determine the form they are given in the next life. Similarly, in Buddhism, the concept of reincarnation is also an important underlying philosophical belief in the core of teachings of the religion. However, to reach enlightenment, it believes that one must escape the cycle of birth and rebirth into a higher form of existence.
Struggling with Illusions & Ignorance
Buddhism and Hinduism both emphasize the struggle of the soul with the illusions of the world and the understanding of religious truth. Both traditions encourage individuals to break free from the maya, or the cycle of birth-death-rebirth, as a method to reach spiritual liberation. In Hinduism, one must understand the truth of the atman, or the soul, to break free from the maya. Hindus believe that ignorance of the atman is the root of suffering and that by recognising its nature, one will be liberated from the cycle of reincarnation. Buddhists on the other hand reject the notion of an individual soul due to the lack of evidence of its existence, Rather, Buddhism focuses on the cycle of karma and that a person is made up of their experiences and their reality, and cannot be identified as a single soul. However, Buddhism still entails that ignorance is the root source of suffering and that to become liberated, individual must break free from the ignorance through meditation.
Non-Violence and Compassion
Non-violence and compassion are core values in both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Hinduism cherishes ahimsa, or the absence of intent to injure others, which is seen as a virtue in itself. Those who practice ahimsa attempt to cause no harm to any living creature and strive for a peaceful coexistence with all living things. Buddhism also embraces this concept of non-violence and extends it to even the thoughts in one’s mind. Buddhists reject violence and strive to achieve social peace by adhering to the middle path and by showing kindness and compassion towards all living beings. Buddhism also places emphasis on developing a compassionate outlook towards life and the suffering it may bring. Through the practice of non-violence and showing compassion, individuals in both religions strive for moksha, or ultimate liberation.
Universal Truths & Meditation
In both Hinduism and Buddhism, meditation is a core tenet in spiritual cultivation. Meditation is an important way of understanding universal truths and is highly valued within both religions. In Hinduism, meditation is seen as an effective way one can progress on their spiritual path. Hindus believe that by focusing one’s individual consciousness, they can begin to see the divine light and transcend their physical form. Buddhism also values the practice of meditation, yet it is not just an individual practice, but also an institutional one. Buddhists practice meditation to break cycles of desire and to reach a journey closer to the truth of the universe, as well as to understand their own mind. To achieve this, Buddhists meditate focusing on the breath, feelings and experiences that one encounter truly in the present moment, mindfulness.
Understanding Dharma
Both Buddhism and Hinduism believe in the concept of dharma. Dharma is the set of moral laws that govern our universe and bring us closer to our fundamental truths. In Hinduism, dharma is seen as the balance of life, where everyone is striving to live their life according to their Dharma, fulfilling one’s primary responsibilities. Similarly, in Buddhism, dharma is also seen as the moral order, however, it is primarily focused on the observance of the ideals of the Buddha and reaching understanding of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. In both religions, Dharma is that which brings balance to the material world and keeps us aligned with the laws of the universe.
Sacred Texts
Both Hinduism and Buddhism share a number of sacred texts which serve as the basis of their beliefs and provide insights into the nature of the universe. In Hinduism, the Vedas are seen as the most important and are an anthology of poetic hymns, rituals and philosophical texts, written in Vedic Sanskrit. The Vedas provide invaluable insight into the religion and describe its beliefs and teachings for living a fulfilled spiritual life. Buddhism also has a collection of sacred texts, known as Sutras, which are written in Pali and contain the words of the Buddha. The Sutras provide essential teachings for Buddhists to reach spiritual enlightenment in this lifetime through meditation and living in line with the Law of Karma.
The Role of the Spiritual Teacher
The importance of having a spiritual teacher is highly emphasised within both Hinduism and Buddhism. The spiritual teacher, or Guru, is a vital figure in both religions due to their ability to guide students on their spiritual path to enlightenment. Within Hinduism, the Guru is understood as a conduit for receiving spiritual knowledge from previous generations and is necessary for one to reach moksha. Similarly, in Buddhism, the spiritual teacher is also important, known as the King of Dhammas, and works as a guide for individuals to become enlightened. The guru of Buddhism is also seen as a protector, who protects the student from harm and danger as they traverse their individual journey towards spiritual liberation.
Understanding the Mantra
The repetition of mantras is a common technique used in both Hinduism and Buddhism in order to access a higher state of consciousness. Mantras serve to open the mind and individual to greater spiritual insights and understanding of true reality. In Hinduism, mantras are said to aid in the process of enlightenment and to allow one to unlock the depths of their consciousness. Similarly, in Buddhism, mantras are also used to assist practitioners on their journey towards understanding the truth of the universe. Through chanting, one can remove distracting thoughts and enter into a deeper meditative state to further the understanding of one’s true self and the nature of the universe.
The Role of Karma
In both Buddhism and Hinduism, the Law of Karma plays a predominant role in understanding one’s place in the universe and the creed of each religion. In Buddhism, karma is seen as a force that works as a moral judge, where one’s actions determine their destiny. It is believed that for positive deeds, one will be rewarded and for negative actions, one will be punished and held back from reaching enlightenment. Similarly, in Hinduism, karma is the law of cause and effect which is essential to overcome in order to reach moksha and global peace. Each action creates a reaction and the accumulation of cause and effect determines the life one has to face.
The Concept of Detachment
Detachment is also a core belief found in the Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Both religion seeks to facilitate a sense of non-attachment which frees individuals from the material possessions of the world and from their prior attachments to the material. In Hinduism, detachment is attained by understanding desire, one must understand and look deep into their motives and understand how their desire keeps them reeling in cycles of suffering. Similarly, in Buddhism, detachment is seen as letting go of all attachments that bind a person to the material world and releasing one’s attachments and desires to reach a higher level of consciousness. By doing so, individuals can begin to understand and live in the true reality of the universe.
The Eightfold Path
Finally, Buddhism and Hinduism share the common goal of spiritual liberation and both focus on the use of spiritual tools to accomplish it. Buddhism emphasizes the Eightfold Path, which is an eight-part ethical practice which serves as a guide for reaching enlightenment. The Eightfold Path consists of the Noble Truths and Right Action, Speech, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, and Concentration. Hindusim however, places emphasis on the Four Purusarthas, or the four aims of life, Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Dharma, Artha and Kama are all material aims, where the fourth aim of Moksha is the ultimate spiritual liberation of the soul. Both religions, share the goal of reaching liberation, however, the focus is on different spiritual tools to accomplish it.
