Hinduism & Buddhism
By: Shaniya burnside
Did you know their is two interesting religions that started in India and spread all over Asia then the world? These religions are Hinduism and Buddhism. Hinduism is a Polytheistic religion and provides a caste system, which is a society based on a persons birth, wealth, and occupation. Buddhism is a thought that teaches how people should live their. There are many similarities between these two even thought they are different.
Hinduism Religion!
To Begin With, Aryans society became unquestionably more complex, and the society was divided into groups. The rules gotten strict about how people couldn't communicate with other castes. The varans group were Brahmins or priest, Kshatriya's or rulers and warriors, vaisyas or farmers, craftspeople, traders,and Sudra's or laborers and non-Aryans. The lowest of the low are the Untouchables. Untouchables weren't even to look,see,communicate or even b e around the division groups. Only jobs were provided was tanning animals hides and disposing animals.The Aryans religions was based on the Vedas which there were four Vedas containing sacred hymns and poems. The oldest Veda is the Rigveda. Its was written before 1000BC. Aryans Brahmins written down there thoughts about the Veda and are known as today the Vedic Text. The writings are reflected on the Vedas be religious teachers and students. Also in Hinduism there is a reincarnation process.Reincarnation is when you die and be rebirth again. Karma was a enormous part in the religion too.Karma is a effect of good or bad actions have on a person.
Buddhism Religion
After a while, that's when Buddhism tagged along. Around 500BC Siddhartha Gautama that was once a part of the caste system, Siddhartha was a Kshatriya. He was a prince born in luxury, and had no struggles. He dropped out the caste system because he had no intress. So he began a journey therefore he didn't know why people suffered and didn't have any answers. Siddhartha spent 6 years traveling throughout India. He meditated under the tree of wisdom for seven weeks. After that it came to him and he finally known why people were suffering. It comes from three things: WANTING WHAT YOU LIKE BUT DON'T HAVE, WANTING TO KEEP WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE,and NOT WANTING WHAT WE DISLIKE BUT HAVE. He's thoughts spread then he gained followers, merchants and artisans ,therefore they called it the first sermon. So, he became Buddha '' The Enlightened One.'' He spent his life traveling and teaching people his ideas. There were guiding principles they had to follow for their religion. The Four Noble Truths, and The Eight Fold Path to reach nirvana. Nirvana is the state of perfect peace. The Eight Fold Path are: RIGHT THOUGHT, RIGHT INTENT, RIGHT SPEECH, RIGHT ACTION, RIGHT LIVELIHOOD, RIGHT EFFORT, RIGHT MINDFULNESS, and RIGHT CONCENTRATION. Buddhism was named after the Buddha and started to spread all over Central Asia and Southwest Asia because of his missionaries. After a while he died in his honor want to be remembered correctly. Buddhism began to fall a part after a few years and their were disagreements and other branches called Theravada and Mahayana.
Many Similarities
They're many similarities in Hinduism and Buddhism especially the temples. Early Hindu temples were small stone structures. They had flat roofs and contained only one ore two rooms. In Gupta period, thought temple architecture became more complex. Gupta temples were topped by huge towers and covered with carvings of gods worshiping inside. Buddhist temples of Gupta period are also impressive. Some Buddhist carved entire temples out of a mountainsides. The most famous such temples is beautiful wall paintings and sculptures. Hinduism and Buddhism temples are the most beautiful building remaining in the world today.Also they both believe in reincarnation to reach nirvana.
There are still many Buddhist and Hindus all over Asia today. The religions sound like a very difficult way to live? If you go to India I wish you good luck but they sound like interesting religions don't they?