Buddhism vs.

Hinduism
Hinduism is about understanding Brahma, existence, from within the Atman, which roughly
means "self" or "soul," whereas Buddhism is about finding the Anatman "not soul" or "not self." In
Hinduism, attaining the highest life is a process of removing the bodily distractions from life,
allowing one to eventually understand the Brahma nature within. In Buddhism, one follows a
disciplined life to move through and understand that nothing in oneself is "me," such that one dispels
the very illusion of existence. In so doing, one realizes Nirvana.
Buddhism

Hinduism

Indian Subcontinent

Indian Subcontinent

Place of

Buddhist monasteries, temples,

Temple (Mandir)

worship

shrines.

Place of origin

Practices

Use of statues

Practices of the Threefold Training:

Meditation, yoga, contemplation,

Virtue, Concentration, and Wisdom,

yagna (communal worship),

a.k.a the Noble Eightfold Path.

offerings in the temple.

Common

Common

The idea of an omniscient,

Many gods, but realize that they all

omnipotent, omnipresent creator is

come from Atman.

and pictures
Belief of God

rejected by Buddhists. The Buddha

himself refuted the theistic

Buddhism

Hinduism

argument that the universe was

created by a self-conscious, personal
God.
Life after death

Rebirth is one of the central beliefs

A constant cycle of reincarnation

of Buddhism. We are in an endless

until enlightenment is reached.

cycle of birth, death and re-birth,

which can only be broken by
attaining nirvana. Attaining
nirvana is the only way to escape
suffering permanently.
Clergy

The Buddhist Sangha, composed of

No official clergy. Gurus, Yogis,

bhikkhus (male monks) and

Rishis, Brahmins, Pundits, priests,

bhikkhunis (female monks). The

priestesses, monks, and nuns.

sangha is supported by lay

Buddhists.
Means of

Following the Noble Eightfold Path.

Reaching enlightenment by the

Path of Knowledge, the Path of

Salvation

devotion, or the Path of Good

Deeds.

Founder

Gautama Buddha (born as Prince

Not credited to a particular

Siddhartha)

founder.

To attain enlightenment and be

To break the cycle of birth, death

released from the cycle of rebirth

and reincarnation, and attain

and death, thus attaining Nirvana.

salvation.

Buddhists

Hindus.

The highest teacher and the founder

Some Hindu sects claim Buddha

Buddha

of Buddhism, the all-transcending

was an avatar of Vishnu. Others

sage.

believe he was a holy man.

Original

Magadhiprakrit

Sanskrit

Buddhists are those who follow the

The followers of Vedas are called as

teachings of the Buddha in order to

Arya, noble person. Arya is not a

Goal of religion

Followers
View of the

Language(s)
Literal Meaning

Buddhism

Hinduism

become like the Buddha.

dynasty, ethnicity or race. Anyone

who follows the teachings of Vedas
is considered Arya.

Use of Statues

Used as meditation objects, and

Allowed

revered as they reflect the qualities

of the Buddha.
Human Nature

Ignorance, as all sentient beings. In

Depends on sects.

the Buddhist texts, it is seen that

when Gautama, after his
awakening, was asked whether he
was a normal human being, he
replied, "No".
Authority of
Dalai Lama

Dalai Lamas are tulkus of the Gelug

N/A.

school of Tibetan Buddhism. They

are cultural figures and are
independent of the doctrinal basis of
Buddhism.

Religious Law
Marriage

The Dharma.

Dharma shastras

It is not a religious duty to marry.

Man may marry one woman.

Monks and nuns do not marry and

However, kings in mythology often

are celibate. Advice in the

married more than one woman.

Discourses on how to maintain a

happy and harmonious marriage.
Scriptures

Tripitaka - a vast canon composed of

Vedas, Upanishad, Puranas, Gita.

3 sections: the Discourses, the

Smrti and Sruti are oral scriptures.

Discipline and the Commentaries,

and some early scriptures, such as
the Gandhara texts.
View of other

Since the word Dharma means

They believe that Buddhists, Jains,

Dharmic

doctrine, law, way, teaching, or

& Sikhs should reunite with

discipline, other Dharmas are

Hinduism(which is the original

rejected.

Dharmic religion).

religions

Confessing sins

Buddhism

Hinduism

Sin is not a Buddhist concept.

Repentance for unintentional sins

are prescribed, but intentional sins
have to be repaid through karmic
consequences.

Goal of

To eliminate mental suffering.

birth and reincarnation.

Philosophy
Population
Religion which

Salvation, freedom from the cycle of

300-350 million.

1 Billion.

Yes.

Charvakas and Sankyas are

atheistic groups in Hinduism.

atheists may
still be
adherents of
Status of Vedas

Geographical
distribution
and
predominance

The Buddha rejected the 5 Vedas,

Vedas are generally regarded as

according to the dialogues seen in

sacred in Hinduism. Post-Vedic

the nikayas.

texts like the Gita are also revered.

Theradava Buddhist countries,

Mainly in India and Nepal.

Myanmar, Laos, Thailand,

Cambodia and Sri Lanka are the
places of predominance of
Buddhism. The Noble Truths are
presently best heard in Myanmar
only.

Holy
days/Official

Vesak day in which the birth, the

Diwali, Holi, Janmashtami, Ganesh

awakening, and the parinirvana of

Chaturthi, etc.

Holidays

the Buddha is celebrated.

Symbols

The conch, endless knot, fish, lotus,

Om, Swastika, etc.

parasol, vase, dharmachakra

(Wheel of Dharma), and victory
banner.
Principle

This life is suffering, and the only

way to escape from this suffering is
to dispel one's cravings and
ignorance by realizing the Four

To follow dharma, i.e. eternal laws

Buddhism

Hinduism

Noble Truths and practicing the

Eightfold Path.
Status of

No distinctions between men and

Women can become priestesses or

women

women. Women are equal to men,

nuns.

and men are equal to women in the

Sangha.

Time of origin

2,500 years ago, circa 563 B.C.E.

circa 3000 B.C.E

(Before Common Era)

Can atheists

Yes.

Yes.

Being a practical philosophy,

Some scriptures say the path they

Buddhism is neutral against other

describe is the only path to God and

religions.

salvation. Other scriptures are

partake in this
religion's
practices?
Views on Other
Religions

more philosophical than religious.

Beliefs vary. Some believe that all
spiritual paths lead to the same
God.