What were the primary similarities and differences between Hinduism and Buddhism?

Answer 1

Similarities:

Both are Dharmic religions.

Both believe in reincarnation and karma.

Both have numerous gods.

Differences:

Hinduism has no founder. Buddhism was founded by (who else,) the Buddha(who was Hindu).

Hinduism believes in a Creator God.

Buddhism does not have a Supreme Creator.

Answer 2

Similar: Both originate from India, Lord Buddha being born in Gaya, Bihar; Lord Rama in Ayodhya, and Lord Krishna in Gokula, U.P

Both use chanting of prayers and mantras to purify, focus and instruct the mind.

Both meditate on and worship Deities (Sri Murti), which tallies with the Beatitude "Blessed are the Pure in Heart, for they shall see God". Some (many) in the Mosaic faiths (Moses 10 commandments) consider this idolatry, but we assert that, it is not those who meditate on the picture or statue of God or the gods (angels, Lord Jesus, saints, Buddhas, Ganesh, Hanuman, etc.) who are At Fault, but rather those who criticize them, and certainly those who destroy temples of any faith, are condemned by the Lord.

Differences: Buddhism seeks to attain Nirvana which is cessation of suffering as does Hinduism, but many sects (actually on both sides) consider nothingness to be the goal, which is rejected by personalists of the Bhakti school who want to be with God, rather than merge into him or simply cease to exist.

Buddhist texts are derived from Pali, the language of north India 2500 years ago (and thence into local languages, especially Tibetan, Burmese, Thai, Simhala, Chinese & Japanese).

Hindu texts mainly originated in Sanskrit, a more ancient language, but also in medieval Hindi like Tulsidas' Ramayana, or classical Bengali like Sri Chaitanya-Caritamrta (1486-1534AD).

Buddhists all shave their head clean, while Hindus adopt many styles showing their ashram, such as dreadlocks, or shaved but keeping a tuft or larger portion of hair at the back, called a sikha.

Hindus also wear markings on their foreheads, and bodies if they are sadhus, which display which tradition they belong to and whom they worship. Buddhists are more plain & simple in this regard.

Some Buddhist traditions use the chanting mala, rosary (eg. Tibetan) while others don't (eg. Zen, the impersonalist school). But again, some Hindus chant while others do silent meditation. Hinduism is an collection of very many religions and traditions from mountain to ocean, desert to plains, forest to jungle. It cannot be defined as a single religion. Buddhism also has its Mahayana and Hinayana traditions, Theravada, Chinese & Japanese schools (Ch'an - Dhyan - Zen - all mean meditation).

One big difference is that Buddhism professes that there is no God, but then proceeds to worship Buddha and the gods in that indirect way. Both traditions tend to be vegetarian but there are relaxations due to modernism or to remote location such as Tibet.

To summarise, we believe Hinduism gave birth to Buddhism, in some ways as a protest movement against animal sacrifice, casteism, & the suffering of the masses while the priests and kings enjoyed. Buddha led a movement to reform this, to show compassion to others, human and otherwise. There are many variations of both traditions, many areas of overlap and some bones of contention - but at root both share meditation, worship, and loving kindness at the core of their philosophies.

Answer 3

Both Buddhism and Hinduism are rich and varied traditions with a range of schools and holy texts, so I can only try to make comparisons in the most general sense. Comparing and contrasting all Buddhist and Hindu traditions simultaneously cannot be done with any accuracy. I offer my own basic understanding; I give all respect to all traditions.

Buddhism has developed into varied distinct traditions for a number of reasons, not least because of the way it has now spread across the globe. For example the Buddhism practised in Korea, Japan or Mongolia might be very different from Buddhism in India or Europe. Hinduism also contains different traditions but generally speaking they are strongly rooted in Indian culture. Both Buddhism and Hinduism can be regarded as world religions'.

We can say that both Karma and reincarnation are central aspects of these systems, there is also a view that a particular way of behaving (virtue) will lead to an improved state (Nirvana) in a future life. Both Buddhists and Hindus therefore see a cause and effect taking place, how we act now in our present condition (Samsara) being directly related to what happens to us later. Both Buddhism and Hinduism originate from and were initially developed in the Indian sub-continent, both also hold to the idea that the soul/mind is an eternal/indestructible phenomenon.

The ways in which these two religions differ are almost countless, we should be clear that different sects of the same religions do not hold identical spiritual views on all matters.

Some of the major differences include:

• Hinduism is at least partly regarded as a religion whereas most Buddhists see Buddhism as a philosophy or an exposition of the way things are.
• Buddhists do not worship any gods in a devotional sense; while Hinduism to a greater or lesser extent is a religion of many gods and can be regarded in part as polytheistic.
• In a direct sense there is no Caste System in Buddhism, rather what happens to us is the direct result of cause and effect which we can influence at any moment.
• Hinduism has a creation story but Buddhism relies on cause and effect to explain all phenomena.
• In Buddhism there is a less structured approach than large parts of Hinduism which generally means there is a more flexible hierarchy; there is no direct equivalent to the Brahmin class in Buddhism.