Buddhism and Hinduism Differences

Throughout the time, Indian people had elaborated many philosophical and religious visions that helped them explain the world. Each religion had it's own set of practices and beliefs that described their followers. The two main religions in India, Hinduism and Buddhism, had its own doctrines and even if they were distinct religions, some of their beliefs were similar and yet different, such as the belief of reincarnation and rebirth, and their perception about women.

Similarly, Hinduism and Buddhism believed that after death, people were going to live again in a new life, until they reached the state of enlightenment. However, the name given to this belief and the effects it had on its people were different. Hinduism called it "reincarnation". In the person's next life, he or she could live either as an animal, plant, or another human being; the body was not specifically a new human body. On the other hand, Buddhism used the term "rebirth". When a person was reborn, he or she was going to embody another human body; the person would come back as another human being, not as an animal or a plant.

Women in Hinduism and Buddhism were seen as inferior to men. Women could never be independent, they must have always depended on men, and worked mainly doing housework. Nonetheless, women in Buddhism could become free and independent if they became nuns. Nuns ran their own affairs, were forbidden to do household chores, and were devoted to the search of the awakening. Many Buddhist women said that they could finally feel free even if monks still had power over them. Unlike Buddhism, Hindu women didn't have a slight chance to become free nor independent. Men considered that they weren't allowed to reach the awakening because they were seen as useless. Women weren't allowed to have any positions related to religion and most of them weren't allowed to read or hear the Vedas.

Religion served people to understand the world and reality. It gave people a meaning to their life. Many of their beliefs were full of beautify and greatness, and brought peace to people; but other beliefs were unfair and rude causing ignorance and intolerance in their society. Hinduism and Buddhism were different religions but at the same time, they had similar beliefs. Up to now, these two religions are two of the most practiced religions and have millions of followers all around the world.