Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism

[ajay0]

There is not a great gulf of difference in fundamentals. I find myself wondering at this juncture if Buddhists and Jains shouldn't answer to being Hindus ourselves? This would accurately speak to the fundamentals shared among all Dharmic worldviews, and would serve as a unifying point at a time where the future of the Dharma has never been more uncertain.

I've read opinions from some authors that Buddhists and Jains could rightfully be calling ourselves Hindu and perhaps we should. That's why my religious description is now Dharmic/Buddhist. I have come to see Buddhism as less a division from Hindu thought, and more as another one of the many schools that forms a part of the rich tapestry of Indian pluralism and diversity.

Buddhists and Jains calling themselves Dharmic is okay, but Hindu is not such a good idea.

Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism have as their ideals equality and fraternity amongst all human beings and in practice as well.

In Hinduism this is just an ideal and is not in practice much due to the caste system. This is something Hindus have to learn from the other more progressive dharmic sects.

 

[Buddha Dharma]

Buddha separated himself from society and renounced the household life in order to seek enlightenment, so there is no reason to tie Buddhadharma back into Indian culture.

That's a fair point. I am not sure my intent was to emphasize culture quite as much as it may have seemed like. The limitations of words- argggh

I am saying that Buddhism is concerned with the same kinds of questions all Indian philosophies are, and that unlike Ajivika and Carvaka- Buddhism does not greatly depart from the ancient Indian philosophical framework that predates the Astika and Nastika categorizations.

I guess going about it from a Theravada perspective could open some new questions there though.

 

[Buddha Dharma]

Buddhists and Jains calling themselves Dharmic is okay, but Hindu is not such a good idea.

I thought that technically Buddhists and Jains are Hindu philosophical schools? They seem to be treated that way for scholarly purposes. I can actually understand why.

In Hinduism this is just an ideal and is not in practice much due to the caste system.

Yeah, I'll admit the caste system is one of the really ugly aspects of Indian culture.

 

[ajay0]

I thought that technically Buddhists and Jains are Hindu philosophical schools? They seem to be treated that way for scholarly purposes. I can actually understand why.

Due to the rejection of the vedas they were not seen as astika and are seen as nastika .

Buddhist and Jain scriptures were studied by some Hindu scholars though it was with the motive of refuting them.