What is the difference between nirvana in hinduism and buddhism

Hinduism worships Brahman — the supreme lifeforce from which atman souls and many other gods originate, however Buddhism worships incarnations of one god — Buddhas. Both believe in a continuing cycle of life, suffering, death, and rebirth , but for Buddhists the goal of enlightenment is call nirvana , while it is called moksha in Hinduism.

Hinduism and Buddhism are like twins sharing a lot of the same terminology and concepts, but each has its own distinguishing features. Let's learn the 3 major similarities and 7 major differences between Hinduism and Buddhism as below. It could be said that Buddhism emerged out of Hinduism because Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, grew up learning Hindu teachings before he became a traveling monk and gained enlightenment.

Considering this overlapping background between Buddhism and Hinduism, it is natural that both share common ideas. In both religions, you will come across similar vocabulary such as samsara the cycle of rebirth , karma cause and effect , or dharma moral order. Samsara refers to the endless cycle of birth and death. Both Hinduism and Buddhism see life as a cycle, which means that spirits are continually reincarnated into a new life after the end of their previous one.

This cycle can only be broken by achieving enlightenment. For Buddhists, enlightenment is referred to as attaining nirvana , while for Hindus this is referred to as moksha , or becoming one with Brahman, the supreme god. The concept of enlightenment is similar in the two religions, but they differ on the path towards achieving it. Karma is the concept that any action or thought will directly result in a fitting consequence in the present or future life state.

To put it plainly, if someone does bad things in this life, that person might be reborn in a less desirable state in the next life. Similarly, when good things happen to someone, karma states that it may be due to good deeds in a past life. However, the idea of karma for Hindus and Buddhists is slightly different. Hindus see karma as fitting behavior according to the role of the person, often this includes religious rituals, while Buddhists see it as correct intent and ethical actions.

Dharma is a difficult word to translate and it vaguely means natural law, duty, moral order, right conduct, or role in the universe. This concept is central to both Hinduism and Buddhism, but the interpretations in the two religions are different. In Hinduism, it is tied closely with the duty of a person, or how a person is supposed to conduct oneself according to their caste. In Buddhism, it often refers to the teachings of Buddha.

Apart from similar concepts, there are similar symbols that occur in both Hinduism and Buddhism, including mudra and dharmachakra. Mudra is a system of symbolic hand gestures with meanings, often used during meditation. Buddha is often portrayed using these hand gestures in statues or paintings.

Mudra is commonly practiced in both Hinduism and Buddhism but the positions, meanings, and uses are different. It is also called the Wheel of Law. In any case in his discourse on Simsappa leaves the Buddha says such questions are not answered by him, because they don't solve the problem of suffering.

The personal enlightenment model of Buddhism says the Arhat is liberated from further becoming, but this doesn't mean annihilation, neither is it further existence. Arhats and Buddhas are said to guide others to enlightenment after their bodily death too by appearing in dreams and visions of aspirants, and hence the existence of Reliquaries to them. The Tatagatha i. Buddha never answers this question: SN The Bodhisattva belief is that personal enlightenment is not possible until all beings are liberated.

See Arahants, Bodhisattvas, and Buddhas by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi. These two ideals may appear contradictory, but they are all compatible and become indistinct eventually. Both Buddhism and Hinduism agree that there is no end to the cycle of life per se, the universe or multiverse is created and destroyed perpetually despite all the many Arhats and Bodhisattvas, because they don't leave the system.

Hindus are not a single people, there are numerous ideas that all make one Hindu, since it is a Western classification of religion in the Indian subcontinent. Following this "dharmic" ideal, in Indian law there are no Buddhists or Jains in the Constitution, there are only those who follow Indian religions Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, various kinds of animistic and vedic traditions commonly called Hindus all referred to as Hindus of India , and non Indian religions such as Christianity.

Buddha statues sit side by side with Hindu gods in prayer rooms in homes in India, and Ganesha jostles with Buddha in Thailand, a Buddhist country. In any event, Hinduism and Buddhism are not an Orthodoxy but an Orthopraxy. There is no Hindu or Buddhist Pope who can lay down the law. Popularly though, it is common for Buddhists to believe Hindus are orthodox with rites and rituals.

Arhats and Bodhisattvas are not at war with creation, they are a part of creation, just as much as Samsara. There can be no left side without the right side, there can be no Nirvana without Samsara. Concept of Moksha is more analogues to birth in a higher plain of existence as per Buddhist Cosmology. Nirvana is to get out of the cycle of birth. The Moksha concept is that you achive the same when you merge with god.

The Hindus said that if you had good karma in your past life then you worked your way up the cast system to achieve moksha. The Buddhist said that if you had good karma then in your next life you would become something most pleasant. Their view of death was when your soul got to move on to the next person or next thing.

He was happy and well-educated. Then one day, it was said that great omens changed his view about existence. So he left his palace to wonder around and find an end to suffering. Then after years of wondering he became Buddha the teacher. Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe.

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