Hinduism Vs Buddhism Research Paper

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Hinduism and Buddhism are two religions that are quite similar, but also have significant differences. Hinduism has no founder, believes in several different gods, and has a caste system. Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, has no god or gods, and has no caste system. Despite this, Hinduism and Buddhism are also quite similar. They both believe in karma, rebirth, meditation, dharma, and both were founded in India. Although there are some important differences, these religions are more similar than they are different. Hinduism was founded before Buddhism, being created around 3,500 years ago. Hinduism has no founder. Hinduism believes in several gods, each of which are forms of brahman, or the supreme God. This is called polytheism. …show more content…

Gautama traveled across India, spreading his beliefs to many people. His followers called him the Buddha, or “enlightened one”. His beliefs eventually came to be called Buddhism. “He gave up his wealth, his family, and his life to ease in order to find the causes of human suffering.” (Jacobs p.119). Buddhism beliefs consisted of giving up selfish desires which the Buddha thought caused human suffering. The Buddha also believed in using meditation to look inward into one's mind and find spiritual awareness. The Buddha created something called The Middle Way, also known as the Eightfold Path. This path was meant to help oneself to give up guilty pleasures and desires for power or wealth, allowing one to be free from suffering. “The Buddha believed that selfish desires for power, wealth, and pleasure cause humans to suffer. By giving up selfish pleasures, a person can become free from suffering” (Jacobs p.120). Buddhism does not have a God or gods, instead looking up to the Buddha. Buddhists believe that once one is freed from the cycle of reincarnation, they will be in nirvana, or a state of peace where one realizes that they are an illusion. Nirvana is the main goal of Buddhists. Both of these religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, are quite different from each other. Hinduism has no founder, while Buddhism was founded by the Buddha. Hinduism believes in polytheism, or the belief in many