Similarities between Hinduism and Buddhism

Discover the shared threads of wisdom woven between Hinduism and Buddhism in this exploration of their similarities. This meta description invites you to discover the commonalities that span these ancient traditions, from their historical roots in India to the basic concept of karma and the cycle of rebirth.

Immerse yourself in the shared philosophical principles of nonviolence, compassion, and the pursuit of spiritual liberation that resonate in both Hinduism and Buddhism. Explore how these religions have interacted and fostered a cultural and spiritual connection that transcends their divergent paths. Through this comparative journey, gain a deeper understanding of the shared heritage and profound insights that unite Hinduism and Buddhism in the rich tapestry of ancient Indian spirituality.

Similarities between Hinduism and Buddhism

Historical Facts	Similarities between Hinduism and Buddhism
Origins	Both originated in ancient India.
Founder of Hinduism	No single founder; diverse origins
Goal	Attainment of Moksha (liberation)
Reincarnation	Belief in reincarnation (samsara).
Karma	Emphasis on the law of karma.
Ethics	Moral principles guide conduct.
Sacred Texts	Vedas, Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita
Deities	Varied pantheons with major gods (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva)
Temples	Temples are dedicated to various deities.
Non-violence	Dharma is a central concept that emphasizes duty and righteousness.
Dharma	Dharma guides righteous living.
Meditation	Meditation is a common practice.
Cycles of Time	Time is cyclical (Yugas).
Founder of Buddhism	Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
Goal	Attainment of Nirvana (liberation from suffering)
Reincarnation	Reincarnation is a central concept (samsara).
Karma	Karma plays a significant role in both, influencing future existence.
Ethics	The Eightfold Path guides ethical behavior.
Sacred Texts	Dharma is a central concept that emphasizes duty and righteousness.
Deities	No supreme deity; emphasis on self-realization.
Temples	Focus on meditation; no centralized worship.
Non-violence	Non-violence (ahimsa) is a fundamental principle.
Dharma	Dharma is a central concept, that emphasizes duty and righteousness.
Meditation	Central practice for achieving enlightenment.
Cycles of Time	Emphasis on impermanence and the cycle of birth and death.

Introduction

Despite the fundamental differences between the two religions, Hinduism and Buddhism have influenced each other in many ways. The Buddhist concept of non-harm and compassion for all living beings took deep roots in Indian soil, while Mahayana Buddhism evolved from traditional Indian methods of devotional worship. Buddhism influenced the growth and development of Indian art and architecture and contributed richly to the practice of breathing and meditation in achieving mindfulness and higher states of consciousness. Hindu Tantra influenced the emergence and development of Vajrayana Buddhism, which became popular in Tibet.

Similarities

Hinduism and Buddhism share some of the following similarities.

The World

Both Hinduism and Buddhism emphasize the illusory nature of the world and the role of karma and desire-driven actions in keeping beings bound to the cycle of birth and death.

Slavery and Suffering

According to Gautam Buddha, desire is the main cause of suffering, and eliminating desire in all its forms leads to the cessation of suffering. A similar view is held by almost all Hindu philosophical schools and sects. Hindu texts such as the Upanishads (Isa), the Vedas, the Tantras, and the Bhagavad Gita suggest that actions accompanied by desire and attachment to worldly things are responsible for our slavery and suffering, while performing actions as a sacrifice without desiring their fruits should be the result of our liberation.

Doctrine

Both Hinduism and Buddhism are dharmic religions. Dharma is central to both, though its meaning and purpose are different. Both religions believe in the concept of karma, the cycle of birth and death (samsara), reincarnation or rebirth of beings (or souls) according to their previous karma.

Virtues

Both emphasize the importance of cultivating compassion, non-violence, and selfless service to all living beings to attain liberation.

Heavens and Hells

Both believe in the existence of several hells and heavens or higher and lower worlds that beings can enter after death according to their desires and past deeds. However, they also believe it delays liberation and does not solve suffering.

Gods

Both believe in the existence of gods and celestial beings in different planes. The names of several deities like Indra, Brahma, Yama, Varuna, etc. are also common.

Practice

Both believe in the importance of certain spiritual practices to attain liberation, such as yoga, the practice of meditation, mindful breathing, concentration, mindfulness, the cultivation of certain bhavs or states of meditative absorption (Jhanas), and so on.

Purity and Character

Both believe in detachment, renunciation of worldly life, non-possessiveness, and cultivation of virtues like non-violence, truthfulness, taking vows, etc., as prerequisites for attaining liberation.

Desire

Both regard desire as the main cause of suffering and renunciation of desire as the main solution to liberation.

Emptiness

The Advaita philosophy of Hinduism is similar to the Shunyavada (emptiness) theory of Buddhism in some respects.

Impermanence

Both believe in the impermanence (Anitya) of the world as the cause of aging, disease, death, and decay and the suffering that results from them. They also think that apparent reality or objective reality (not self) is a temporary phenomenon or illusion.

Tantra

Buddhism and Hinduism have their versions of Tantra and ancient shamanic practices. Both have traditional right-handed and unconventional left-handed ritual practices.

Origin

Both originated and evolved in the Indian subcontinent. The founder of Buddhism was a Hindu prince who became the Buddha. Buddhism is ancient India’s greatest gift to the world. For almost two millennia, Buddhist teachings prevailed in many parts of the world and influenced the culture and civilization there.

Symbolism of Death

Both Hinduism and Buddhism recognize death as an inevitable and inescapable aspect of life. Both personify Death as a deity and refer to him as Kala, Yama, Mara, etc. Death is equated with time in both traditions.

Liberation

Both believe that liberation, not rebirth or heavenly life, should be the highest goal and the best and permanent solution to the problem of suffering and slavery.

Cosmology

The cosmologies of both religions have several features in common. Both recognize a four-level universe of many worlds and spheres. Hinduism recognizes an underworld, a mortal world, a middle realm, and the immortal world of Brahman. Buddhism recognizes the underworld, the earth, the middle region of the gods and heavens, and the highest level of the Brahma Lokas.

The Universe

Both religions consider the earth to be the center of the universe, resting on Mount Meru, surrounded by seven concentric rings of high mountains and seven oceans, with the hells of the asuras below and the worlds of the devas above. Both regard the Indian subcontinent as a sacred land and call it Jambudvipa.

Subtle worlds

Both believe in the existence of gross and subtle worlds. Gentle words can be experienced by people in meditation.

Supernatural Powers

Both believe in the human potential to attain supernatural or divine powers and to retain and recall impressions from past lives.

Theology

Both religions are liberation theologies. They consider liberation (moksha or nirvana) from the cycle of birth and death to be the highest meaning of human life.

Diversity

Both Hinduism and Buddhism have numerous schools, sects, and sub-sects. With some exceptions, both religions approve of the ritual and spiritual worship of deities. They also have many identical beliefs and opinions regarding the nature of existence, reality, true knowledge, states of consciousness, etc.

Buddha’s attitude towards Hindus

Before his enlightenment, Buddha was brought up in a traditional Hindu family. Before finding his path, he went to Hindu gurus to find answers to the problem of suffering. He followed meditation techniques and ascetic practices prescribed by Hindu scriptures and Hindu yogis of his time. It is said that after he became the Buddha, he showed special regard for the higher caste Hindus, especially the Brahmins (priests) and Kshatriyas (warriors) because of their knowledge, teachings, and karma from past lives. Therefore, he especially advised his disciples to treat the Brahmins with respect and consideration because of their spiritual bent of mind and the inner progress achieved during their previous births. Certain categories of Brahmins are said to have had free access to the Buddha, and some Brahmin ascetics were admitted to the monastic discipline without undergoing the rigorous examinations which were otherwise compulsory for all classes of men. The Buddha converted many Brahmins to Buddhism and saw their involvement as a sure sign of the progress and popularity of his nascent movement. A few hundred years later, we find an echo of a similar sentiment in the inscriptions of King Ashoka, who exhorted the people of his empire (the Mauryan empire) to show due respect to the learned Brahmins.

Conclusion

We can safely say that in the first few centuries after Buddha’s nirvana, Buddhism was an integral and significant part of the complex religious character of the Indian subcontinent. There were several religions, sects, sub-sects, ascetic movements, and schools of philosophy with regional and cultural variations. Historians of the British era collectively and rather mistakenly included them all under the general name of Hinduism.

(FAQ) Questions and Answers about Similarities between Hinduism and Buddhism