Buddhism, Hinduism, and the Comparisons Between Each Most individuals would say Buddhism and Hinduism are very similar, which in some cases they are, but in certain aspects they are immensely different. The ideas of Buddhism developed around the year 450 B.C.E, during the life of religious leader and icon Guatama Buddha. Buddhism emerged around the year 300 BCE. For Buddhism, the religious leader and almighty being that they worship is Guatama Buddha. People that have lived in India don’t think of Buddha as a god but more of a spiritual leader who set guidelines for a religious Buddhist life. Hinduism has three major gods, Vishnu, Shiva, and Devi who weren’t considered gods until sometime well after the year 200 BCE. In Hinduism the choice is up to the individual as which he or she wants to worship. The next three paragraphs will go in to more depth on Hinduism, Buddhism and the comparisons between the two. Guatama Buddha the founder and leader of the Buddhist religion was born as a prince in the year of 563 BCE. When Buddha was born he was predicted to be a very important member to India civilization, whether it was the ruler of an Indian empire or some kind of religious leader. He took the path of religion. Buddha searched his inner soul through years of self discipline and sacrifice to find the religious path he had spent years looking for. After much meditation and sacrifice Buddha finally found what he needed, and began sharing his religious ideas with others. At the core of Buddha’s philosophy are the four Noble Truths. Life is a suffering event from birth to death; suffering can be ended by over coming sacrifice; if you live a good, peaceful life suffering will be limited; and life is a cycle and death will bring rebirth. Buddhists believe that you will keep on going through the cycle of death and re- birth until you reach absolute nirvana (the state of consciousness beyond definition). You fir...
