COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

SUBMITTED BY:
MHEGAN A. RAVINA
HUMSS 11 – CASTILLO
 RELIGION HINDUISM
Hinduism is considered as the oldest and
most complex of all world religions.
Hinduism belief may have begun around the
third Millennium B.C.E. The term “Hindu”
originated from the Persian word hindu
which means river. Hinduism evolved and
developed during the ancient Indus Valley
civilization. Hinduism was originally known
as “Arya Dharma” or the “Aryan Way”.
Hinduism has no precise moment of origin
Origin of the Universe and Humankind and no one specific founder or prophet.
Hinduism became the source of three
religion namely Buddhism, Jainism, and
Sikhism. Hinduism has pre- Aryan and
Aryan elements.
Hinduism is said to be the most tolerant of
all religions. Hindus themselves differ in the
manner of practicing their religion.
However, while the Hinduism may
seemingly lack a cohesive system of beliefs
and practices, most of its adherents hold
several key moral values such as karma and
dharma. The concept karma involves the
accumulation one’s pest deeds that have a
Morality direct effect on one’s present condition.
Karma is closely linked to the Hindu belief
of reincarnation or the cycle of life, death
and rebirth. People are born in this world
with specific duties to perform in
accordance to their status in society. By
performing one’s dharma correctly, one
gains good karma. Dharma brings morality
and ethics in Hinduism.
THERAVADA BUDDHISM
Buddhism also traces origin in northern
India around the sixth century B.C.E as
another interpretation of the Hindu belief.
This religion is linked to its founder,
Siddhartha Gautama who is also refeered as
the Buddha or the “enlightened one” when
he abandoned his palace to discover the
remedy to universal suffering he observed in
this world. He preached mainly in the
eastern part of Indian subcontinent such as
in Magadha and Kosala. Theravada
Buddhism is the school of Buddhism that
draw its scriptural inspiration from the Pali
Canon or tipitaka. Theravada Buddhism
with 150 million adherents followed in
Myanmar, Thailand and Sri Lanka. The
teachings of him includes the Four Noble
Truths, Eight Fold Path, Impertinence of
things and Dependent Origination.
The cycle of rebirth persists in Buddhism
and succeeding lives may be affected by the
moral laws of cause and effect or karma.
Until one has achieved enlightenment, one’s
deed in the present lifetime will affect the
course of future rebirths. Buddhist moral
thoughts and actions are guided by the Four
Noble Truths, along with the basic guide
called the Eight Fold Path that are divided
into three categories, namely, right view,
right conduct, and right practice.
Unhappiness of life is principally caused by
people’s unending desires. People are
advised to scrutinize their motivations and
ponder upon the outcome of their actions
keeping Buddha’s teachings.
MAHAYANA BUDDHISM
Mahayana Buddhism has diverged into
numerous schools with each developing its
own canon and rituals since its founding
more than two thousand years ago. It is also
known as the “Great Vehicle”. It emerged
out of monastic rule and doctrinal
differences within the original form of
Buddhism. Like the Theravada, Mahayana
also originated from the foundational
teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, their
difference is their methods and search for
deliberation from the cycle of reincarnation.
The Mahasamghika, one of the early
Buddhist Schools may have been the source
of Mahayana Buddhism especially during
the Second Buddhist Council that occurred a
hundred years after Buddha’s death.
Mahayana Buddhism advanced the radical
idea that Siddhartha was not the only
Buddha. There are other devine beings that
came to our world even before him.
Mahayana Buddhism moral thoughts and
actions follow the Four Noble Truths and
the Eight Fold Path that are divided into
three categories, namely, right view, right
conduct, and right practice. Unhappiness of
life is principally caused by people’s
unending desires. People are advised to
scrutinize their motivations and ponder upon
the outcome of their actions keeping
Buddha’s teachings. Anything harmful to
others, indeed and in thought must always
be avoided.
 All Hindus aim to achieve the four-fold
purpose of life that includes dharma, artha,
kama, and moksha. Dharma means to
behave appropriately and act righteously.
Artha pertains to the pursuit of legitimate
Purpose wordly prosperity. Kama refers to the
pursuit of legitimate pleasure as one obtains
enjoyment in life, such as those related to
dance and music. Moksha is the final
meaning of life that involves enlightenment ,
self- realization or union with God.
The destiny of all Hindus involves
reincarnation until such time they gain
ultimate enlightenment. Hinduism believes
that within the human is an eternal soul that
is reborn millions of times and in many
Destiny forms subject to moral law of karma. Hindu
practices to achieve enlightenment involves
yoga, meditation, proper worship, rituals,
devotion to gods and goddesses, pilgrimage
to sacred shrines, and performing one’s
duties.
Even though the Manusmriti states that
women should be honored in Hindu society,
women have always been considered
inferior to men in all aspects of life. A
woman’s life revolves around the men in her
life. Women are relegated to perform
Views on Women
household chores and expected to become
loyal to their husbands even if after
husbands die. As a married woman, she
must become a good wife and treat her
husband as god.Women must attend
ritualistic practices.
The principal purpose of one’s life is to
terminate all forms of suffering caused by
attachment to impermanent entities, such as
material things, friends, and health. In
Theravada Buddhism, the monastic way of
life ensures the path toward enlightenment.
They must be reborn as monks for them to
be eligible for enlightenment. As members
of the leity performs good deeds, good
karma may bring forth a pleasant condition
in the next life.
In Theravada, the trainings on the
development of ethical conduct, meditation,
and insight assist in eradicating all forms of
evil in order to acquire goodness and purify
the mind. By following the Middle Path and
practicing the basic doctrines of Buddhism,
there is a realization that desire can be
terminated and suffering reduced. With the
help of Buddha’s teachings, the journey
toward nirvana becomes possible.
In Buddhism, both sexes are seen as equally
relevant in society as they share equal
responsibilities in their family duties.
Husband and wives must equally share
duties and responsibilities in the family with
the same zeal. Wives must familiarize
themselves in trades and business dealings
so that they can also handle these affairs.
Mahayana Buddhism offers enlightenment
to anyone, not only for the members of the
monastic order, but also for those with
families and secular careers. Moreover, the
Mahayana branch of Buddhism attracts
followers because it offers a faster route to
enlightenment than the Theravada sect.
Mahayana sect devotes much attention to
the bodhisattvas or “enlighted beings” who
delay their own enlightenment for them to
benevolently aid other beings to reach their
ultimate end. All beings can follow the path
of the bodhisattvas which is the ideal way of
all Buddhists to live. Well- known
bodhisattvas in the Mahayana are
Avalokitesvara, Manjusri, Ksitigarbha and
Samanthabhadra.
For Buddha, men are not always wise and
women can also be wise. In Buddhism,
women should not be treated as inferior to
men because both are equally valuable in
society. Women as wives and mothers have
roles to fulfill in the family and society.
Wives must familiarize themselves in trades
and business dealings so that they can also
handle these affairs.
 RELIGION CONFUCIANISM TAOISM SHINTOISM
Origin Of The Universe and Humankind
Morality
Purpose
Destiny
Views on Women