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Hinduism and Buddhism
Hinduism and Buddhism are two closely related Dharmic religions[1][2] that
are in some ways parallel to each other and in other ways divergent in theology
and practice.
Hinduism, like Buddhism under Sakyamuni Buddha, is a post-Vedic religion and
some would say a post-Buddhist religion as mention of the Buddha is found in
most of the Puranas.[3] The word "Hindu" finds no mention in any pre-Gupta
period.
Hiuen Tsang who visited India country between AD 630 and 645 says that while the
word “Shin-tu” (Chine-se for “Hindu”) could be heard outside our borders, it was
unknown within the country.[4]
The word Sanātana Dharma ( सनातन धर्म ), is used by many Hindus to identify
their religion, but it was used by all Dharmic religions and found in the
Buddhist text, Dhammapada, with the Dhamma or law in Vedic thought being
identified as being eternal law and the King of Kings in such texts as the
Brihadaranyaka Upanishads. Buddhism has no singular founder by tradition as
Buddhism is a continuation of a long line of Buddhas, this is similar to the
claim of Jains and Hindus who claim their teachings are from a long line of
sages.
The Vedic, Buddhist and Jains also share a common regional culture situated near
and around north eastern India --- modern day eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and
Nepal. It was in this region that the first Upanishad, the Brihadaranyaka
Upanishad, considered to be the oldest Upanishad, under King Janaka of Mithila
was compiled. Both Siddhartha who became the Buddha and Mahavira who was latest
sage of Jainism also hailed from this region.
According to the Buddhist tradition, Siddhartha Gautama was born as a Kshatriya
prince to the Shakya clan in modern day Nepal, at the beginning of the Magadha
period (546–324 BCE), in the plains of Lumbini, modern day Nepal region of the
Indian subcontinent. Siddhartha Gautama is known as the Shakyamuni (literally
"the sage of the Shakya clan"). Under a fig tree (held sacred by most religions
and in India Vedic people know this tree as the tree of Vishnu) known to
Buddhists as the Bodhi tree, he vowed to meditate until he discovered the truth.
At the age of 35, he attained Enlightenment.
Siddhartha Gautama was then known as "Buddha", which translates to "the
enlightened one." For the remaining 45 years of his life, he travelled the
Gangetic Plain of central India, teaching his doctrine and discipline to a
diverse range of people.[5] Nastik Buddhists believe the Buddha, like Vidyaranya,
accepted and incorporated many tenets of Hinduism in his doctrine, but also
taught that to achieve salvation one did not have to accept the authority of the
scriptures or even the existence of God.[6] Many Indians converted to Buddhism.
Buddhism had a great influence on Hinduism, from the way it used parables and
stories as a means of religious instruction, to its influence on Indian art,
sculpture and education.
The
Four Noble Truths
Noble Eightfold Path
Bodhi
Refuge in the Three Jewels
Sila
Samadhi,
Vipassana, and Buddhist meditation
Prajńā
Wisdom
Early
Buddhism
Rise of Mahayana Buddhism
Emergence of
the Vajrayāna
Decline of Buddhism in India and
Central Asia
Southern Buddhism
Eastern Buddhism
Northern Buddhism
Buddhist
Texts
Hinduism and Buddhism
Similarities between Hinduism and
Buddhism
Buddhism and Eastern Teaching
God in
Buddhism
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Buddisim
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