Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism (rituals, tradition, virtual, reincarnation, beliefs)

[FerventGodSeeker]

What's the difference between the three of them? They all sound extremely similar in their views, but that's probably just because I'm an ignorant Westerner, lol. Can someone explain it?

FerventGodSeeker

[Green Gaia]

Well trying not to write a book, I found these descriptions:

Hinduism
The origins of Hinduism can be traced to the Indus Valley civilization sometime between 4000 and 2500 BCE. Though believed by many to be a polytheistic religion, the basis of Hinduism is the belief in the unity of everything. This totality is called Brahman. The purpose of life is to realize that we are part of God and by doing so we can leave this plane of existance and rejoin with God. This enlightenment can only be achieved by going through cycles of birth, life and death known as samsara. One's progress towards enlightenment is measured by his karma. This is the accumulation of all one's good and bad deeds and this determines the person's next reincarnation. Selfless acts and thoughts as well as devotion to God help one to be reborn at a higher level. Bad acts and thoughts will cause one to be born at a lower level, as a person or even an animal.

Hindus follow a strict caste system which determines the standing of each person. The caste one is born into is the result of the karma from their previous life. Only members of the highest caste, the brahmins, may perform the Hindu religious rituals and hold positions of authority within the temples.

Buddhism
Buddhism developed out of the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama who, in 535 BCE, reached enlightenment and assumed the title Buddha. He promoted 'The Middle Way' as the path to enlightenment rather than the extremes of mortification of the flesh or hedonism. Long after his death the Buddha's teachings were written down. This collection is called the Tripitaka. Buddhists believe in reincarnation and that one must go through cycles of birth, life, and death. After many such cycles, if a person releases their attachment to desire and the self, they can attain Nirvana. In general, Buddhists do not believe in any type of God, the need for a savior, prayer, or eternal life after death. However, since the time of the Buddha, Buddhism has integrated many regional religious rituals, beliefs and customs into it as it has spread throughout Asia, so that this generalization is no longer true for all Buddhists. This has occurred with little conflict due to the philosophical nature of Buddhism.

Jainism
The founder of the Jain community was Vardhamana, the last Jina in a series of 24 who lived in East India. He attained enlightenment after 13 years of deprivation and committed the act of salekhana, fasting to death, in 420 BCE. Jainism has many similarities to Hinduism and Buddhism which developed in the same part of the world. They believe in karma and reincarnation as do Hindus but they believe that enlightenment and liberation from this cycle can only be achieved through asceticism. Jains follow fruititarianism. This is the practice of only eating that which will not kill the plant or animal from which it is taken. They also practice ahimsa, non-violence, because any act of violence against a living thing creates negative karma which will adversely affect one's next life.


Also, you can check out the Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism forums here on RF.

[Seyorni]

Well it's a good thing that practitioners of the Indian traditions are not in the majority on RF, or we'd already have 200 posts taking exception to, protesting, or clarifying Maize' descriptions. But trying to describe religions with no official dogma or formal, organized church is problematic. There's little that can be said about the Eastern Religions that actually applies across-the -board.
I've met Jains who eat at McDonalds and polytheistic Buddhists. Hinduism's strict caste system is actually illegal in India.

This being said, I'll throw in my two cents.
The metaphysics and goals of these traditions are essentially the same. All revolve around the concept of enlightenment.
Enlightenment is the "expansion" of the mind to the point of directly perceiving a multi-dimensional quantam Reality. All three traditions aknowledge the impossibility of describing or even approaching any concept of such a Reality from a 3-D perspective.
Hinduism and its Jain and Buddhist offshoots differ in traditions and culture. Hinduism and Jainism are similar enough that Gandhi, for example, was perfectly comfortable with either label.
Buddhism has taken the impossibility of describing an 11-dimensional Universe to a 3-D mind to heart and does not even make the attempt. Traditional Hinduism, on the other side of the coin, is obsessed with trying to describe and depict the ineffable.

Metaphysically, all the Eastern Religions are comparable. Their differences are cosmetic.

[Comet]

Originally Posted by Seyorni

Well it's a good thing that practitioners of the Indian traditions are not in the majority on RF, or we'd already have 200 posts taking exception to, protesting, or clarifying Maize' descriptions. But trying to describe religions with no official dogma or formal, organized church is problematic. There's little that can be said about the Eastern Religions that actually applies across-the -board.
I've met Jains who eat at McDonalds and polytheistic Buddhists. Hinduism's strict caste system is actually illegal in India.

This being said, I'll throw in my two cents.
The metaphysics and goals of these traditions are essentially the same. All revolve around the concept of enlightenment.
Enlightenment is the "expansion" of the mind to the point of directly perceiving a multi-dimensional quantam Reality. All three traditions aknowledge the impossibility of describing or even approaching any concept of such a Reality from a 3-D perspective.
Hinduism and its Jain and Buddhist offshoots differ in traditions and culture. Hinduism and Jainism are similar enough that Gandhi, for example, was perfectly comfortable with either label.
Buddhism has taken the impossibility of describing an 11-dimensional Universe to a 3-D mind to heart and does not even make the attempt. Traditional Hinduism, on the other side of the coin, is obsessed with trying to describe and depict the ineffable.

Metaphysically, all the Eastern Religions are comparable. Their differences are cosmetic.

As a Monist who claims no "religion" as his way, I understand 100% to what you are saying. Buddhism is the most different if you break it down. Yet it is similar to asking: What is the difference between a Catholic, Methodist, and a Baptist????
There are many differences on a small level that aren't seen from the outside looking in - or when put into terms to those that view things from a very different angle.

(Some scholars believe that Jainism is older than Hinduism) Just an interesting fact that Jainism is also viewed by the majority or religious scholars who have studied it as the least changed religion in the past 2000 years.

To the poster I would say that trying to explain a religion, let alone 3 to somebody would take a long time indeed. If you are interested in them, perhaps you should make time to read of any that interest you..... or start a PM converstation with Seyorni or another. Hope you got what you needed by 3 small replies though!

[FerventGodSeeker]

Originally Posted by Seyorni

Well it's a good thing that practitioners of the Indian traditions are not in the majority on RF, or we'd already have 200 posts taking exception to, protesting, or clarifying Maize' descriptions. But trying to describe religions with no official dogma or formal, organized church is problematic. There's little that can be said about the Eastern Religions that actually applies across-the -board.
I've met Jains who eat at McDonalds and polytheistic Buddhists. Hinduism's strict caste system is actually illegal in India.

This being said, I'll throw in my two cents.
The metaphysics and goals of these traditions are essentially the same. All revolve around the concept of enlightenment.
Enlightenment is the "expansion" of the mind to the point of directly perceiving a multi-dimensional quantam Reality. All three traditions aknowledge the impossibility of describing or even approaching any concept of such a Reality from a 3-D perspective.
Hinduism and its Jain and Buddhist offshoots differ in traditions and culture. Hinduism and Jainism are similar enough that Gandhi, for example, was perfectly comfortable with either label.
Buddhism has taken the impossibility of describing an 11-dimensional Universe to a 3-D mind to heart and does not even make the attempt. Traditional Hinduism, on the other side of the coin, is obsessed with trying to describe and depict the ineffable.

Metaphysically, all the Eastern Religions are comparable. Their differences are cosmetic.

Thanks for sharing. That's what I was thinking, because it seems as though they all basically teach the same things, but simply with a slightly different twist or different wording (although often with the same wording, too). That's why I wanted to know the specific differences.
You said that Ghandi was comfortable with being called either Hindu or Jain...was he a fruititarian like Maize described Jains as being?
also, the religion you ascribe to is Vedanta. I'm assuming that's also an Eastern religion; how is it different from the other three? Or is it a subcategory?

FerventGodSeeker

[FerventGodSeeker]

[quote=Comet]

As a Monist who claims no "religion" as his way

Sorry, what's a Monist?

Yet it is similar to asking: What is the difference between a Catholic, Methodist, and a Baptist????

I suppose it is similar in some ways, although in practice, liturgy, and even theology and soteriology, the three are quite different, even from an outsider's perspective.

To the poster I would say that trying to explain a religion, let alone 3 to somebody would take a long time indeed. If you are interested in them, perhaps you should make time to read of any that interest you..... or start a PM converstation with Seyorni or another. Hope you got what you needed by 3 small replies though!

Well I did learn some things, but I hope to keep learning more, as always. I didn't expect a detailed analysis of each religion, I was just looking for some basic differences between the three, since it seems to me that they are virtually identical in actual teaching.

FerventGodSeeker

[Booko]

Originally Posted by FerventGodSeeker

What's the difference between the three of them? They all sound extremely similar in their views, but that's probably just because I'm an ignorant Westerner, lol. Can someone explain it?

FerventGodSeeker

Buddhism has its roots in Hinduism as Christianity has its roots in Judaism.

Jainism is a prehistoric religion, but since its origin is on the Indian subcontinent, it has influenced Hinduism, and thus Buddhism as well.

Hope this helps.

[FerventGodSeeker]

[quote]

Originally Posted by Booko

Buddhism has its roots in Hinduism as Christianity has its roots in Judaism.

Well Christianity has its roots in Judaism because it is the continuation of Old Testament Judaism through the fulfillment of Jewish prophecy...is that the kind of relationship Hinduism and Buddhism share? How specifically did Buddhism emerge out of Hinduism? I've heard that the Buddha was part of a Hindu family, but beyond that I don't know much.

Jainism is a prehistoric religion, but since its origin is on the Indian subcontinent, it has influenced Hinduism, and thus Buddhism as well.

Oh, Jainism is older than Hinduism? I guess there seems to be some debate as to which is more ancient.

FerventGodSeeker