Compare And Contrast Buddhism And Hinduism

Buddhism and Hinduism During 6th century BCE the some of the Aryan people started to become dissatisfied, with the Vedas, and the Upanishads. The people wanted a more equal religion, something that did not rely on a caste system, and selective religious knowledge. So the Aryan people began to look for something else, a religion that does not have a strict caste system as Hinduism has. Buddhism looks deeper into the purpose of enlightenment, when a person discovers the the truth of life and is not reborn again. Although Buddhism has a continuity with Hinduism because both of the religions belive in inner peace, not material rewards, the religions contrast because Hinduism has a rigid caste system and only the Brahmin has religious knowledge

Vedic beliefs were practiced by the Aryans who migrated to India from Southern Russia (Armstrong 3) during the pre-Axial age. Vedic beliefs are both perennial and Axial. Vedic Beliefs were perennial because they believed in many gods, Mithra, the god of storms and thunder, and rain. Mazda, the god of wisdom, and Indra the warrior god (4). This shows Aryan beliefs are perennial because they are polytheistic. Also Vedic Beliefs developed the brahman which is not a deva (divine being), but something of higher and deeper power (26). The brahman was the main principle that made things become strong and expand (26). “The Brahman was life itself(26).” The Brahman concept is an Axial trait because it means that people are deeply interested with the meaning of life (cheatsheet). Another early text is the Upanishads, the Upanishads goal is to break the cycle of samsara (rebirth) and gain moksha (liberation) (Textbook 74). These traits are more Axial because they are more concerned with inner peace rather than material rewards (Cheatsheet). The Upanishads are also Axail because they focus on individual rewards (Cheatsheet). Dharma (Duty to caste) and Karma (Ethical cause and effect) ). Both Dharma and Karma are both Axial traits but the caste system that Darmah mentions is very perennial. Just like Hinduism vedic beliefs are both Axial and

In The movie Little Buddha, says when Buddha's mother went into labor a tree bowed down to help her. Also the Buddha was first born he could walk and talk and when he walked lotus flowers bloomed at his feet. This show Buddhism connection to nature because nature was a big part in Buddha's birth story. Additionally in Hinduism the gifts that people give to the gods during worship are fruits that come from nature, and the main Gods are mostly connected to nature, for example Mithra is the god of storms and thunder. (Armstrong 4). Being connected to nature is a perennial characteristic (cheatsheet). This makes both Buddhism and Hinduism perennial. In contrary while Hinduism has no equality of its followers, all of Buddha's followers were equal and were not in any caste. The Axial sages publicize their findings unlike the brahmins who kept their knowledge to themselves (Armstrong 19). Also people began to resent the brahmins because the world was changing and the people wanted action now but the brahmins had said Karma would happen in the next life and the people did not like that (23). The people in this time period were thinking more Axially because the people and Buddha thought equality is important and that everyone should have religious