Comparision of Two Religions

Comparison of Two Religions

By: Matthew Dane

Religion 212

Mr. Owen Miller

11-3-2013

For this paper I was asked to compare and contrast two of the different Religions we have studied over the last four weeks. I learned about about some religions I knew nothing about so this is going to be interesting. I am going to do the paper on Hinduism and Buddhism.

In Hinduism you are to worship many Gods. They do only believe in one Supreme Being, Brahman; but they pursue knowledge of Truth and Reality; they strive for moral order and right action; and they promote tolerance. They follow the Vedas very closely. 1“The Vedas are the Hindu scriptures that contain revelations received by ancient saints and sages.” Hindus believe that the Vedas are without beginning and without end; when everything else in the universe is destroyed, the Vedas remain. So by this the Hindus believe the Vedas are the ultimate authority. These people also believe that everyone should achieve Dharma. Unfortunately there is no true translation for this word, so this is the closest we can find. 2“Hindi word “dharma,” often translated into English simply as “religion,” refers to a broad complex of meanings, encompassing duty, natural law, social welfare, ethics, health, wealth, power, fulfillment of desires, and transcendental realization.” Anyone who makes dharma central to one’s life strives to do the right thing, according to one’s duty and abilities, at all times. In the world today, millions of people are practicing some form of Hinduism today, be it yoga, meditation or even vegetarianism.

The original Buddhism as taught by the Buddha is known as Theravada Buddhism or Hinayana Buddhism. The followers of this do not worship images of the Buddha nor believe in the Bodhisattvas. The Mahayana sects consider the Buddha as the Supreme Soul or the Highest Being, akin to the Brahman of Hinduism and worship him in the form of images and icons. The founder of Buddhism was a Hindu who became...