Hinduism and Buddhism (reject, mystic, beliefs, God, verse)

[TheWhiteWizard]

I was just wondering this question, and I decided to ask people who knew more about than myself. Can you be a devout Hindu and Buddhist? Are these two religions really very different? Because it has always seemed to me they hold many things in common. Someone please come and help me on this subject.

[Hema]

According to Hindu teachings all paths lead to the same destination. The Vedas say that Truth is one but is called by many names. There are some specific teachings that would vary between Hinduism and Buddhism but religion is a way of life and you can choose to live by the teachings that you believe in. If you are doing this, perhaps you can just say that you are influenced by both Hinduism and Buddhism.

[Don Penguinoini]

Well, you cant' Buddhism was based on hte rejection of god and the Vedas. But you can follow principles from either one, but you need a major belief in either one. Either way, its all good.

[MysticSang'ha]

I think this is only a tad bit debatable and not truly any point of contention. As Hema pointed out correctly, there are many similar teachings derived from the Vedas that are prominent in both Hinduism and Buddhism (concepts of karma and moksha, for example).

On the other hand, there are a couple of distinctions between the two paths that set each other apart. But as others have said, it's all good.




Peace,
Mystic

[Seyorni]

I see them as opposite sides of the same coin. Both are Karmic religions. Both posit transmigration of souls. Both see an end to this cycle upon the achievement of enlightenment. Historically, Buddhism may be (and is by many Hindus) regarded as a sect of Hinduism.

Both have a similar metaphysic, but where Hindus are constntly trying to describe the indescribable and explain the inexplicable, Buddhists devote little time to such futile endeavors and just recommend various exercises by which people might realize the Reality of things themselves.
Hindus use similar exercises, but feel compelled to go on and on with descriptions of the path, the milestones, the goals, &c.

Hindus describe a universe of undifferentiated everythingness, Buddhists describe undifferentiated no-thingness. It all comes to the same thing.

Hindus describe enlightenment as an expansion of awareness to encompass everything. Buddhists describe it as an expansion into no-thingness.

[Don Penguinoini]

I think that Buddhism openly rejects the Vedas, but a lot of beliefs come from it, i think.

[TheWhiteWizard]

Thanks to all of you, I was just curious as I accept numerous Hindu and Buddhist beleifs, and wondered how they differiantiated.

[Aupmanyav]

Seyorni, though this is an old thread, let me congratulate you for the excellent explanation. IMHO, barring semantics there is no difference between Buddhism and hinduism. But please note that his nothing-ness is also not real nothing-ness. Buddha refused to answer questions about God/Gods or nothing-ness as he did not consider that important. He asked his disciples to note what he did not answer and what he did answer.

[zenzero]

Friends,
Buddhism is an extention of Hindusim.
Hinduism is a way of life and open to everything. Hinduism encompasses all religions it is unfortunate that the limited human mind differentiates Hinduism as another religion.
meditation on Sunyata, Nirakar or formlessnes has been there in Hinduism too which Buddha finally took it to greater heights BY BALANCING between both the poles of duality and not siding with either.
Finally it makes no difference as once enlightened, it makes no difference which WAY / PATH one uses as they all become irrelevant.
Love & rgds

[Seyorni]

Good point, zenzero.
It makes no difference what religion Plato's troglodyte subscribes to. Remove him from the cave and he will perceive the same expanded reality irrespective of previous beliefs.