Buddhism: Connexion with Brahmanism,Hinduism and Contrast with Christianity

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Many think of Buddhism as a tolerant religion, one that recognizes the value of all religious traditions. The main difference between Brahmanism and Buddhism is the notion of the belief in there being a soul (Brahamism/Hinduism) and no soul or non-self (Buddhism). Buddhism and Hinduism agree on karma, dharma, moksha and reincarnation. They are different in that Buddhism rejects the priests of Hinduism, the formal rituals, and the caste system. Buddha urged people to seek enlightenment through meditation. The Western religion of Islam grew from the Jewish and Christian traditions. Muslims worship a single, external deity, and follows a strict moral code based on their holy book, the Quran. Buddhism and Hinduism are Eastern religions. Like Islam, Hinduism looks to an outward deity, while Buddhism advocates that practitioners look inside themselves to find enlightenment. In recent years, there have been growing numbers of Buddhist-Christian dialogues and Buddhist-Jewish dialogues. The present book is a valuable resource guide for students that provides an integrated introduction to the social and spiritual values at the centre of Buddhist thought compare to other religions.

Arun Kumar is Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at S.R.K.G. College, Sitamarhi, a constituent unit of B.R.A. Bihar University, Muzaffarpur. He has attended many national and international seminars. His several research papers have been published in reputed journals.

Many think of Buddhism as a tolerant religion, one that recognizes the value of all religious traditions. The main difference between Brahmanism and Buddhism is the notion of the belief in there being a soul (Brahamism/Hinduism) and no soul or non-self (Buddhism). Brahmanism holds with a permanent self or soul passing from life to life. Buddhism believes there is nothing permanent. Each life we lead is the outcome of karma from the immediate previous existence. It is likened to a flickering flame, passing from life to life. It is not reincarnation but rebirth there is a difference. Buddhism and Hinduism have common origins in the Ganges culture of northern India during the so-called "second urbanisation" around 500 BCE. They have shared parallel beliefs that have existed side by side, but also pronounced differences. Buddhism attained prominence in the Indian subcontinent as it was supported by royal courts, but started to decline after the Gupta era and virtually disappeared from India in the 11th century CE, except in some pockets.

Buddhism and Hinduism agree on karma, dharma, moksha and reincarnation. They are different in that Buddhism rejects the priests of Hinduism, the formal rituals, and the caste system. Buddha urged people to seek enlightenment through meditation. In recent years, there have been growing numbers of Buddhist-Christian dialogues and Buddhist-Jewish dialogues. The Dalai Lama has even commented on the gospels. This might suggest that Buddhism holds that all religions are one, that all spiritual paths lead to the same mountaintop. Nothing could be further from the truth. Buddhists have never proclaimed the unity of religions. Early Buddhist texts are filled with accounts of non-Buddhist masters claiming to have achieved enlightenment when in fact they have, at best, only achieved rebirth in the higher heavens of the immaterial realm (arupyadhatu); this was the fate of the Buddha's first meditation teachers, Arada Kalama and Udraka Ramaputra.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages