What are the differences between the ten commandments and the eightfold path?

Answer 1

The eightfold path concentrates on the following: View, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration. The Buddhist path focuses mostly on attitudes creating correct outward actions. For the most part, intent is the important aspect of sprituality.

The ten commandments concentrate on: Honoring parents, holy Sabbath day, stealing, lying, murder, coveting, adultery, prohibition of image of God, prohibition of other gods, and the prohibition of speaking God's name. The focus is opposite, creating more specific rules of outward actions to improve the inner person and the correct relationship with God.

The eightfold path makes no specific mention of honoring parents, but is implied in the all-inclusive mankind. It also makes no mention of having a special day set aside for spirituality or worshiping other Gods. The Buddha is not considered a diety per se (with a few denominational exclusions), but a state of being for which to strive. Judeo-Christian belief is monotheistic and makes no mention of inner searching in the ten commandments (later passages cover the philosophy of inner peace and joy, but are a result of correct outer action in the Old Testament).

The similarities include the prohibition of murder, stealing, inappropriate sex, covetousness, and lying. Again, the commandments prohibit the act directly: Thou shalt not steal; whereas the path prohibits the act by a comparison: Do not conduct yourself in the manner of a thief. The result is the same, but the approach is opposite.

So in short the main difference between the two is the Buddhist inner leads to outer good, and the Judeo-Christian outer leads to inner good.

Answer 2

The five pillars of Islam are different than the ten commandments in their concepts and goals.

The five pillars of Islam are the bases of Islam religion and ritual worshiping. Denying any of them intentionally by any Muslim expels him/her out of Islam. The five pillars are:

1. Shahada or testimony that there is no God except one God and that prophet Muhammad is his Messenger and prophet.
2. Praying (or Salat)
   
3. Alms giving (or Zakat)
4. Fasting (or Sawm) Ramadan
5. Pilgrimage (or hajj)

You can refer to the related question below for more details on Islam five pillars of faith.
However, the Ten Commandments are a set of ten basic rules of behavior and morals, mostly negative in construction, that appear in the ancient Hebrew scriptures and are directed at the Hebrews. You may refer to related link for the details of the ten commandments.These rules of behavior and morals are referred to in Quran in different vesres. You can refer to the related question below for more details on Islam morals.

Answer 3

Here are the similaries and differences:

1. The First precept of Not Killing means that one does not kill any sentient beings, even animals. The biblical commandment, "Thou Shalt Not Kill" only applies to people, and then only the unlawful action of murder.
2. The Second Precept, Not Stealing, is identical to the commandment, "Thou Shalt Not Steal."
3. The Third Precept, Abstaining from Sexual Misconduct, includes the biblical commandment,"Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery". However, it also forbids having sex with betrothed women, and with girls who are still under the protection of their parents.
4. The Fourth Precept, Not Lying, includes the commandment, "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor", but it also forbids all other forms of lying.
5. The Fifth Precept, Abstaining from Alcoholic Beverages, is not found in the Ten Commandments.
6. All other commandments are not part of the Five Precepts. However, some of the other commandments are found in other teachings of the Buddha.
7. The Ten Commandments are imposed by God upon all of humanity. The Five Precepts are voluntarily taken by the practitioner onto oneself.

Answer 4

According to Western tradition, it is not and cannot be the same. Tradition states that the Ten Commandments were given by God in direct revelation to the entire assembled nation of the Israelites (Exodus ch.19-20). The teachings of Buddhism do not claim Divine revelation of their path; certainly not to an entire nation at once.

In terms of actual content, the eightfold path prescribes "the right outlook, the right intentions, the right speech and effort," etc., but does not specify their details. Each person is expected to apply their general direction to his/her circumstances.

The Ten Commandments, on the other hand, are direct and specific; and their further details are given in the Talmud. For example, the exact forms of work which are forbidden to Jews on the Sabbath are listed in the Talmud, Shabbat 73b.

See also:

Why_did_God_give_his_people_the_Ten_Commandments

Answer 5

Just to start, a copy of each:

10 Commandments (Note: There are several versions a general purpose version is used)

I am the Lord thy God, ... Thou shalt have no other gods before me.Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images.Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long.Thou shalt not kill.Thou shalt not commit adultery.Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.

Eightfold Path (With bit of expansion for each heading)

WISDOM (The Exercise of Judgement)

Right Understanding - Aspire to better the state of yourself and others

PERSEVERANCE ( Sound Ethical Discipline)

Right Thought - Think on that which is goodRight Speech - Be positive, honest, comforting and caringRight Action - Exert energy to do what you think is good for allRight Livelihood - Use your talents well for the good of humanityRight Effort - Do not exert effort in the pursuit of evil

MEDITATION (Concentration and Focus)

Right Mindfulness - Direct your attention to good & proper thingsRight Concentration - Be caught up in a life of good works and love

The Comparison:

The 10 commandments are based on a deity giving instructions, the Eightfold Path is a list of human activities developed by a human for other humans

The God specifies obedience and how you are supposed to act towards him, there is no Buddhist equivalent section as Buddhism needs no deityHuman to God relations are most important in the 10 commandments, at leas they come first. Human to human relations take a lower position.

The 10 Commandments is based on negatives - don't do this or that. The Eightfold Path is positive (Do's) with the exception of a general don't exert yourself to be evil.The Eightfold path does not micromanage - specific examples of not being good are not spelled outThe 10 commandments gives no examples on how to be good except how to be good toward God and your social superiors.. just how not to be bad. The list is limited to five wrong doings. The Eightfold Path offers a wider spectrum of activities through its generality.

Answer 6

Both the Ten Commandments and Eightfold Path delineates moral values to live by. Eightfold were set forth by the followers of Buddha. Ten Commandments were provided by God.

Answer 7

Maybe maybe not