Hinduism Jainism and Buddhism - 3092 Words

HINDUISM Hinduism is the oldest and most complex of all religious systems. 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 existence and rejoin with God. This enlightenment can only be achieved by going through cycles of birth, life and death known as samsara. Ones progress towards enlightenment is measured by his karma. This is the accumulation of all ones good and bad deeds and this determines the persons next reincarnation.†¦show more content†¦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 oc curred with little conflict due to the philosophical nature of Buddhism. The Buddhas teachings can be understood on two distinct levels. One is logical and conceptual and is concerned with an intellectual comprehension of man and the external universe. The second level is empirical, experiential and psychological. It concerns the ever-present and inescapable phenomena of human experience -- love and hate, fear and sorrow, pride and passion, frustration and lation. And most important, it explains the origins of such states of mind and prescribes the means for cultivating those states which are rewarding and wholesome and of diminishing those which are unsatisfactory and unwholesome. It was to this second level that the Buddha gave greater emphasis and importance. JAINISM AND HINDUISM In matters like theories of rebirth and salvation, descriptions of heaven, earth and hell, and belief in the fact that the prophets of religion take birth according to prescribed rules, we find similarities between Jainism and Hinduism. Since the disappearance of Buddhism from India, the Jains and Hindus came closer to each other and that is why in social and religious life the Jaina on the whole do not appear to be much different from theShow MoreRelatedHinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism1904 Words   |  8 Pages Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism Simon Osorio Stanbridge College HUM 1020 (ITT/ITS) Daniel Else March 25, 2013 Assignment #1 Hinduism, Buddhism Jainism, and Sikhism are all Eastern religions with similar philosophical beliefs. In Hinduism you embrace a great diversity of different beliefs, a fact that can be easy confusing to western religions which are accustomed to creeds, confessions, and carefully-worded beliefs of statements. In Hinduism you can believe a wide variety of thingsRead MoreHinduism And Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, And Many Religions1067 Words   |  5 Pagesof religions such as Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Jainism, and many more. So many people in this world believe in numerous different religions. Some believe in one god, and others believe in hundreds. Hinduism and Buddhism are popular religions that are practiced around the world. The world’s oldest religion is Hinduism, it is considered a way of life. The Indus valley is where Hinduism originated. It is located near the river indus. Hinduism is a religion that has no one founderRead MoreJainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism: A Comparative Analysis760 Words   |  3 Pages RUNNING HEAD: Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism all stem from the same region the Indian Subcontinent, and for this reason, have traits that are very similar to each other. 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HoweverRead MoreDifferences and Similarities of Ancient Religions of India1042 Words   |  5 PagesHinduism, Buddhism and Jainism gained importance and popularity during a t ime of great religious exploration. While these religions have some similarities, they also have some distinct differences. The key to all three of these is enlightment. Let’s look at some other similarities between them. Buddhism and Jainism, originated and developed individually in the same geographical area of India with neither believing in the existence of God, but they do recognize a higher human form. All threeRead MoreJain Philosophy- Jainism1312 Words   |  5 PagesJainism is not the biggest of the Indian religions, but it is significant in todays world. Jain philosophy embodies the ideas that all beings have a soul, multiple aspects and non-attachment. Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism have significant differences in their belief of the universe in regrades to karma. Understanding these differences in these religions concerning karma allows one to distinguish the individuality of Jainism from other Indian religions prominent today. As well as knowing the contrastsRead MoreThe Origins Of The Harappan Civilization1060 Words   |  5 Pagesregion of Eurasia. In India, it led to the founding of religions that rejected aspects of the existing Brahmanic teachings. Namely, these religions were J ainism and Buddhism. In response to the opposing religions, Brahmanism evolved to please the people of India. The new form of Brahmanism was called Hinduism, and it kept the caste system. Although Hinduism did not ignore the caste system, all three religions collectively changed the lives of their adherents by altering the meaning of life: A followerRead MoreEssay on Apwh Ch.9 Study Guide732 Words   |  3 Pagesrealm by inscribing edicts in natural stone formations or pillars he ordered to be erected, established his capital at the fortified city of Pataliputra, created a central treasury to oversee the efficient collection of taxes, and he converted to Buddhism. How did the Gupta administrative practices differ from the Maurya? Ashoka had insisted on knowing the details of regional affairs, which he closely monitored from his court at Pataliputra. The Guptas left local government and administrationRead MoreReligion and Violence Essay examples1081 Words   |  5 Pagesreligious tradition can make many generalisations. In this essay it will discuss why some religious traditions in South East Asia oppose violence. In addition the rejections of violence have shaped and changed religious practices within Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism. There have also been many generalisations about the above traditions. Moreover I will try and answer why non violence has become a generalisation and how it has impacted India as a whole. â€Å"The trauma of the attacks on the World TradeRead MoreTypes Of Indian Religions : Indian Religion916 Words   |  4 PagesTypes of Indian Religions Throughout the world the universally known Indian religion is Hinduism. However, there are other religions, which no one has heard of such as, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism. Most people assume that just because your Indian you have to be Hindu but that’s not necessarily true. Although, these religions come from the same Indian culture they have different views and beliefs. For instance, Sikhism is the newest Indian religion. The religion was created back in 1500 A.D. The