Buddhism and Hinduism Project

[Orias]

Greetings fellow RFers, I am doing a project in Contemporary World Issues and I would love for your assistance.

Our class split into two groups of seven people, One side taking the Buddhist philosophy/religion and the other group taking the Hinduism philosophy/religion. In turn, we will all do our research and present what we know about our group to the other, and the other group will do the same.

I am in the Buddhist group and lack a proper understanding of Buddhism to compare it to other religions. I got most of the main questions down like who the founder is, who the main Gods/Godessses are, the religious icons and leaders, landmarks and traditions and such.

So, my question to you is...

What are some common misconceptions or stereotypes about the people who practice Buddhism?

How does Buddhism relate to other religions/philosophies (Hinduism included)?

Of course, our group is splitting up the work between us and I am only taking a small portion, but because of this site I feel as if I could do the whole project by myself.

Any and all answers will be greatly appreciated.

Best regards and Xeper,

Orias

 

[9harmony]

Dharma Music with Ravenna Michalsen « Project Conversion (click on the Buddhism link on the right and scroll down to see earlier posts)

Andrew Bowen has been immersing himself in Buddhism this month...you might find it helpful to read through this months posts.

 

[sky dancer]

Common misconceptions about Buddhists. That we're all calm and never get angry.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Greetings fellow RFers, I am doing a project in Contemporary World Issues and I would love for your assistance.

Our class split into two groups of seven people, One side taking the Buddhist philosophy/religion and the other group taking the Hinduism philosophy/religion. In turn, we will all do our research and present what we know about our group to the other, and the other group will do the same.

I am in the Buddhist group and lack a proper understanding of Buddhism to compare it to other religions. I got most of the main questions down like who the founder is, who the main Gods/Godessses are, the religious icons and leaders, landmarks and traditions and such.

So, my question to you is...

What are some common misconceptions or stereotypes about the people who practice Buddhism?

That Buddhists seek out or strive for enlightenment as if it's some separate external quality that needs to be firmly grasped, and unending bliss and tranquility as an end means your on the right meditative track.

How does Buddhism relate to other religions/philosophies (Hinduism included)?

There are similar traits that comparatively can be made with other religions and philosophies like kindness and helpfulness, yet essentially there is nothing that can be directly related other than perhaps some yogic postures that are used during meditation.

 

[iamfact]

There are similar traits that comparatively can be made with other religions and philosophies like kindness and helpfulness, yet essentially there is nothing that can be directly related other than perhaps some yogic postures that are used during meditation.

Ignore that comment.

Misconceptions?
All Buddhists are atheists. Tibetan Buddhism, and Vietnamese Buddhism come to mind, because these are certainly not atheistic.

Stereotypes?
Buddhists abstain from everything to avoid attachment... Detachment, in both Buddhism and Hinduism, means accepting the world as is and accepting it to be Maya (Illusion) in the sense that it is not absolutely real and very subjective to our limitations, and perspectives. It means accepting changing, and being a part of nature instead of against it.

How does it relate to other philosophies (Hinduism)?
Buddhism and Hinduism strive for the same goal, enlightenment.

Mahayana Buddhism, and Zen Buddhism are closest to Advaita Hinduism; I will be talking about these three in the following paragraphs.

Buddhism has the doctrine of emptiness (sunyavāda), meaning traditional Buddhists believe that the world has no absolute basis, saying that the universes appear out of emptiness, and go back to emptiness like the passing of temporary clouds. More over, Buddhism teaches that the self is not real, so one can eliminate suffering by realizing that simple fact. Thus we can conclude that traditional Buddhist teachings say that everything is full of emptiness, and our true nature is of emptiness. You must realize that "emptiness", in the Buddhist context isn't something bad. In fact, emptiness, to Buddhists is essentially bliss / nirvana.

Hinduism on the other hand has the doctrine of illusions (mayāvāda). Although illusions play a major role in Buddhism, they play an even huger role in Hinduism. Hindus believe that everything is a relative, illusory, and manifested form of the impersonal, absolute reality called Brahman. Hindus say that Brahman is beyond-comprehension but the basis of all existence (both being, and non-being). Advaita Hinduism is essentially non-dualism, which says that the only reason we experience plurality or duality in the universe is because of ignorance, and illusion. In short, Hindus say that everything is always full, because everything is always the One reality. Also, Hinduism teaches us that we are not the ego, and the body, but of the same nature as the One reality.

There is far more interpretations to both philosophies, but this is the best I could do to keep it short. In fact, Zen Buddhism is also non-dualism but in a different sense, and Advaita Hinduism has another aspect to it. Anyways, good luck with the class.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Ignore that comment.

I ought to be spanked.

In fact, emptiness, to Buddhists is essentially bliss / nirvana.

BTW Real tasty morsels those are. I admit. Yet dont let little 'ole me stand in the way of a persons enlightenment.

Jes saying...

 

[Ekanta]

Misconceptions?
That buddha ever said there is no self. What he said was that the 5 skandas are not the self. He very much praised the (real) self as his sole refuge.

This link is quite interesting and revealing:
Buddhists: the eternal, lexical rule, brahmanism

 

[DreadFish]

Misconceptions?
That buddha ever said there is no self. What he said was that the 5 skandas are not the self. He very much praised the (real) self as his sole refuge.

This link is quite interesting and revealing:
Buddhists: the eternal, lexical rule, brahmanism

Yes! Many people dont realize that. I also had to read a lot before I realized it. "Anatta" means "not self," not "no self." Somewhere, though I have been unable to find it, I remember reading that in the tripitaka, the Buddha says something along the lines of "the Self is luminous."

So yeah, I double Ekanta's statement.

 

[Metempsychosis]

yes! Many people dont realize that. I also had to read a lot before i realized it. "anatta" means "not self," not "no self." somewhere, though i have been unable to find it, i remember reading that in the tripitaka, the buddha says something along the lines of "the self is luminous."

so yeah, i double ekanta's statement.

++1.

 

[Akhilesh]

Hinduism and buddhist are same religion.lord buddha was a hindu prince .he is an avtar of lord vishnu .teaching of lord buddha is same in upanishad before lord buddha birth.many way same goal the goal is moksh nirvan thanks

 

[wmjbyatt]

I'd say the most common misconception is that "Buddhism" represents a cohesive doctrinal position. Buddhists are as doctrinally sectarian as Christians or other big religious groups. The difference--and what keeps the Buddhadharma the Buddhadharma--is that almost all Buddhist sects recognize that doctrine is just a leading path up to the truth, and we tend to have very, VERY similar notions of what truth is. That is, true masters of doctrinally opposed Buddhist sects will recognize each other as having the same enlightenment.

 

[Tathagata]

Hinduism and buddhist are same religion.lord buddha was a hindu prince .he is an avtar of lord vishnu .teaching of lord buddha is same in upanishad before lord buddha birth.many way same goal the goal is moksh nirvan thanks

This is blatantly and utterly FALSE. Please retract this false statement. It's a lie and a distortion of historical fact. What youve stated is not an opinion, its a verifiable falsehood.

 

[Satyamavejayanti]

This is blatantly and utterly FALSE. Please retract this false statement. It's a lie and a distortion of historical fact. What youve stated is not an opinion, its a verifiable falsehood.

wrong here is the Buddha being the Avtar or Vishnu, and maybe Hinduism and Buddhism being same religion, not sure about the Upanishad part.

But he was a Indian prince.

Hinduism and buddhist are same religion.lord buddha was a hindu prince .he is an avtar of lord vishnu .teaching of lord buddha is same in upanishad before lord buddha birth.many way same goal the goal is moksh nirvan thanks

 

[Tathagata]

wrong here is the Buddha being the Avtar or Vishnu, and maybe Hinduism and Buddhism being same religion, not sure about the Upanishad part.

Here where? I don't see anything that confirms that, wheres the evidence?

Here's a hint. What you claim is impossible. Buddhist doctrine directly contradicts Hindu doctrine. Just look at Brahman vs. No Brahman, eternal soul vs. no soul, etc.

But he was a Indian prince.

Complete and utter lie. Take your disinfo somewhere else. The Buddha was born in Nepal/Lumbini. NOT India.



.

 

[zenzero]

Friend Orias,

Besides the above would like to add One misconception about Buddhism is that it is considered by many as not being part of Sanatan Dharma [labelled *hinduism* by westerners].
Buddhism is an extention of Sanatan Dharma.

Love & rgds

 

[Tathagata]

Friend Orias,

Besides the above would like to add One misconception about Buddhism is that it is considered by many as not being part of Sanatan Dharma [labelled *hinduism* by westerners].
Buddhism is an extention of Sanatan Dharma.

Love & rgds

False.

Sanatan Dharma =/= Buddha Dharma

"Some Hindu texts say that the Buddha was an avatar of the god Vishnu, who came to Earth to delude beings away from the Vedic religion."
-- Gautama Buddha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The talk of these Brahmins learned in the Three Vedas turns out to be laughable, mere words, empty and vain."
-- the Buddha [Tevijja Sutta]


.

 

[zenzero]

Friend Tathagata,

Firstly one has to realise what Dharma is to understand what Gautama pointed towards.
Gautma followed Dharma which is Sanatan by breathing and living and being in the land where the concept of dharma itself arose from and so whatever one may perceive will remain a perception and like all perceptions will be an illusion [ripples].

Love & rgds

 

[zenzero]

Friends,

Tevijja sutta:

25. “In just the same way, VāseMMha, do the Brahmans versed in the Three Vedas—omitting the practice of those qualities which really make a man a Brahman, and adopting the practice of those qualities which really make men non-Brahmans—say thus: ‘Indra we call upon, Soma we call upon, Varuna we call upon, Isāna we call upon, Pajāpati we call upon, Brahmā we call upon, Mahiddhi we call upon, Yama we call upon!’ Verily, VāseMMha, that those Brahmans
versed in the Three Vedas, but omitting the practice of those qualities which really make a man a Brahman, and adopting the practice of those qualities which really make men non-Brahmans—that they, by reason of their invoking and praying and hoping and praising, should, after death and when the body is dissolved, become united with Brahmā—verily such a condition of things can in no wise be​

​

​

​

20.” ​

Just one stanza from the sutta makes it clear that Gautama was not against the VEDAS. He was against the way people perceived the vedas and practised! [personal understanding]

Love & rgds​

 

[nameless]

Buddhist doctrine directly contradicts Hindu doctrine. Just look at Brahman vs. No Brahman, eternal soul vs. no soul, etc.
.

Dear Tathagata,

Do you know the meaning of Tathagatha(in sanskrit)?

 

[nameless]

"The talk of these Brahmins learned in the Three Vedas turns out to be laughable, mere words, empty and vain."
-- the Buddha [Tevijja Sutta]

same like today's (so called)buddhists talk about teachings of buddha. They are mere words, empty and vain, since the understanding of words is seriously lacking.

words, empty and vain

you have successfully proved that buddha was not against the vedas, but the perception of vedas by the scholars.

who came to Earth to delude beings away from the Vedic religion."
-- Gautama Buddha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

sorry, but couldn't find the quoted text in the wikipedia page you linked.