Buddhism Hinduism

Practices Meditation, the Eightfold Path; right Meditation, yoga,

view, right aspiration, right speech, contemplation, yagna
right action, right livelihood, right effort, (communal worship), offerings
right mindfulness, right concentration in the temple.

Place of origin Indian subcontinent Indian Subcontinent

Belief of God The idea of an omniscient, omnipotent, Many gods, but realize that they
omnipresent creator is rejected by all come from Atman.
Buddhists. The Buddha himself refuted
the theistic argument that the universe
was created by a self-conscious,
personal God.

Life after death Rebirth is one of the central beliefs of A constant cycle of
Buddhism. We are in an endless cycle reincarnation until
of birth, death and re-birth, which can enlightenment is reached.
only be broken by attaining nirvana.
Attaining nirvana is the only way to
escape suffering permanently.

Use of statues Common. Statues are used as Common

and pictures meditation objects, and revered as
they reflect the qualities of the Buddha.

Marriage It is not a religious duty to marry.
Monks and nuns do not marry and are
celibate. Advice in the Discourses on
how to maintain a happy and
harmonious marriage.
Man may marry one woman.
However, kings in mythology
often married more than one
woman.

Place of worship Buddhist monasteries, temples, Temple (Mandir)

shrines.
Buddhism Hinduism
Founder The Buddha (born as Prince Not credited to a particular
Siddhartha) founder.

Clergy The Buddhist Sangha, composed of No official clergy. Gurus, Yogis,

bhikkhus (male monks) and bhikkhunis Rishis, Brahmins, Pundits,
(female nuns). The sangha is priests, priestesses, monks,
supported by lay Buddhists. and nuns.

Means of Reaching Enlightenment or Nirvana, Reaching enlightenment by the

salvation following the Noble Eightfold Path. Path of Knowledge, the Path of
devotion, or the Path of Good
Deeds.

Literal Meaning Buddhists are those who follow the The followers of Vedas are
teachings of the Buddha. called as Arya, noble person.
Arya is not a dynasty, ethnicity
or race. Anyone who follows the
teachings of Vedas is
considered Arya.

Human Nature Ignorance, as all sentient beings. In Depends on sects.

the Buddhist texts, it is seen that when
Gautama, after his awakening, was
asked whether he was a normal
human being, he replied, "No".

View of the The highest teacher and the founder of Some Hindu sects claim
Buddha Buddhism, the all-transcending sage. Buddha was an avatar of
Vishnu. Others believe he was
a holy man.

Followers Buddhists Hindus.

Goal of religion To attain enlightenment and be To break the cycle of birth,

released from the cycle of rebirth and death and reincarnation, and
death, thus attaining Nirvana. attain salvation.

Original Pali(Theravada tradition) and Sanskrit

Language(s) Sanskrit(Mahayana and Vajrayana
tradition)

View of other Since the word Dharma means They believe that Buddhists,
Dharmic religions doctrine, law, way, teaching, or Jains, & Sikhs should reunite
discipline, other Dharmas are rejected. with Hinduism (which is the
original Dharmic religion).

Holy days/Official Vesak day in which the birth, the Diwali, Holi, Janmashtami,
Holidays awakening, and the parinirvana of the Ganesh Chaturthi, etc.
Buddha is celebrated.
Buddhism Hinduism
Population 500-600 million 1 Billion.

Scriptures Tripitaka - a vast canon composed of 3 Vedas, Upanishad, Puranas,

sections: the Discourses, the Gita. Smrti and Sruti are oral
Discipline and the Commentaries, and scriptures.
some early scriptures, such as the
Gandhara texts.

Religion which Yes. Charvakas and Sankyas are

atheists may still atheistic groups in Hinduism.
be adherents of

Symbols The conch, endless knot, fish, lotus, Om, Swastika, etc.
parasol, vase, dharmachakra (Wheel
of Dharma), and victory banner.

Authority of Dalai Dalai Lamas are tulkus of the Gelug N/A.

Lama school of Tibetan Buddhism. They are
cultural figures and are independent of
the doctrinal basis of Buddhism.

Confessing sins Sin is not a Buddhist concept. Repentance for unintentional

sins are prescribed, but
intentional sins have to be
repaid through karmic
consequences.

Goal of To eliminate mental suffering. Salvation, freedom from the

Philosophy cycle of birth and reincarnation.

Geographical (Majority or strong influence) Mainly in Mainly in India, Nepal and

distribution and Thailand, Cambodia, Sri lanka, India, Mauritius. Has significant
predominance Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Japan, Myanmar population in Fiji, Bhutan, UAE,
(Burma), Laos, Vietnam, China, etc.
Mongolia, Korea, Singapore, Hong
Kong and Taiwan. Other small
minorities exist in other countries.

Religious Law The Dharma. Dharma shastras

Place and Time of The origin of Buddhism points to one Indian Subcontinent, beginning
origin man, Siddhartha Gautama, the with the Vedic civilization circa
historical Buddha, who was born in 3000 BC
Lumbini (in present-day Nepal). He
became enlightened at Bodhgaya,
India and delivered his first set of
teachings at a deer park in Sarnath,
India.
Buddhism Hinduism
Status of Vedas The Buddha rejected the 5 Vedas, Vedas are generally regarded
according to the dialogues seen in the as sacred in Hinduism. Post-
nikayas. Vedic texts like the Gita are
also revered.

Status of women No distinctions between men and Women can become

women. Women are equal to men, and priestesses or nuns. Women
men are equal to women in the are given equal rights as men.
Sangha. The Buddha gave Men and
Women equal rights and a major part
in the Sangha.

Principle This life is suffering, and the only way To follow dharma, i.e. eternal
to escape from this suffering is to laws
dispel one's cravings and ignorance by
realizing the Four Noble Truths and
practicing the Eightfold Path.

Time of origin 2,500 years ago, circa 563 B.C.E. circa 3000 B.C.E
(Before Common Era)

Can atheists Yes. Yes.

partake in this
religion's
practices?

Views on Other Being a practical philosophy,
Religions Buddhism is neutral against other
religions.
Some scriptures say the path
they describe is the only path to
God and salvation. Other
scriptures are more
philosophical than religious.
Beliefs vary. Some believe that
all spiritual paths lead to the
same God.