I.

Historical Background
(History and Origin)

Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, following Christianity and Islam.
Hinduism stands for the faith and the way of life of most people who live in India. It
is unknown where Hinduism was started and by whom. The beliefs of the Hindu's is
very different than that of Christian's. Hinduism is based on beliefs in things such as
reincarnation, dharma and in three main gods. No one knows where Hinduism was
started or who started it. Their oldest written documents, the Vedas, were first
copied onto paper in 1000 B.C., they had however existed orally long before that
time. Hinduism is thought to have originated from the Vedas. Hinduism has changed
greatly since it was first practiced, there are now different sects, also known as
denominations, and new beliefs have developed.
There are still many things connected between the different sects of
Hinduism, their basic believes are what ties them together. The religion of
Hinduism teaches us that each living body, including animals, is filled with an
eternal soul. Hindus say that the individual soul was a part of the creator spirit,
Brahma or existence from within their own Atman, roughly soul. It is each
soul's job and wishes eventually to return to Brahma. It is not possible though
because by a soul's sins, and impurities from the world, they are no longer
pure and holy to return. Instead, a soul must become pure before returning
to Brahma, who is absolutely pure.
The process of becoming pure is so hard that no soul can become pure in only
one lifetime. The soul is forced to live life after life until it is pure enough to
return to Brahma. 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.
Basic Beliefs of the Hinduism Religion Hinduism teaches that the individual
soul of all living bodies, including animals, was part of the creator spirit,
Brahma. They believe that each soul’s job and wish is to eventually return to
Brahma. No soul can return to Brahma, however until becoming clean of all
impurities and sins of the world, they must be holy and pure to return to
Brahma.
The process of becoming pure enough to return to Brahma is not an easy task;
it takes more than one life to cleanse oneself. The soul is forced to live life
after life until it is pure enough to return to Brahma. The Hindus call the cycles
of rebirth samsara or the Wheel of Life. It is called moksha when a soul is
finally cleansed and ready to go back to Brahma. When a soul finally returns
to Brahma, it is there for an eternity of contentment and ecstasy. There are
certain things the one must follow in order to be a Hindu, they must believe
 these things and live by them. The first is a belief in karma which is the result
of one's good and bad deeds done in a lifetime. The second is a belief in
dharma and Hindu traditions.

They must believe in the three main Hindu gods: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
They must have a belief in reincarnation after death. They must have honor
for the sacred Vedas. They must have a belief that if lived a religious life, the
Wheel of Life can end ad achieve moksha. Hindu's worship many gods, but
they believe in a single god, Brahma. Everything comes from Brahma, it does
not matter who they worship, because ultimately all worship goes to Brahma.
Brahma does not punish or reward those for their achievements in life; every
soul creates their own rewards and punishments through karma. Karma rules
what each soul will be in the next lifetime, it is formed by the persons good
and bad deeds in each life; if a person had more good deeds than bad deeds
then they have good karma, if they had more bad deeds than good, then they
have bad karma.

Buddhism is a religion that was founded by Siddhartha Gautama (“the Buddha”) more
than 2,500 years ago in India. With about 470 million followers, scholars consider Buddhism
one of the major world religions. The religion has historically been most prominent in East and
Southeast Asia, but its influence is growing in the West. Many Buddhist ideas and philosophies
overlap with those of other faiths.
Founder of Buddhism-
Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism who later became known as “the
Buddha,” lived during the 5th century B.C.
Gautama was born into a wealthy family as a prince in present-day Nepal. Although he
had an easy life, Gautama was moved by suffering in the world.
He decided to give up his lavish lifestyle and endure poverty. When this didn’t fulfill him, he
promoted the idea of the “Middle Way,” which means existing between two extremes. Thus, he
sought a life without social indulgences but also without deprivation.
After six years of searching, Buddhists believe Gautama found enlightenment while meditating
under a Bodhi tree. He spent the rest of his life teaching others about how to achieve this
spiritual state. When Gautama passed away around 483 B.C., his followers began to organize a
religious movement. Buddha’s teachings became the foundation for what would develop into
Buddhism. In the 3rd century B.C., Ashoka the Great, the Mauryan Indian emperor, made
Buddhism the state religion of India. Buddhist monasteries were built, and missionary work was
encouraged. Over the next few centuries, Buddhism began to spread beyond India. The
thoughts and philosophies of Buddhists became diverse, with some followers interpreting ideas
differently than others. In the sixth century, the Huns invaded India and destroyed hundreds of
Buddhist monasteries, but the intruders were eventually driven out of the country. Islam began
to spread quickly in the region during the Middle Ages, forcing Buddhism into the background.
II. Holy scriptures, sacred texts and Symbols

HINDUISM
Hinduism Symbols

There are two primary symbols associated with Hinduism, the om and the swastika. The
word swastika means "good fortune" or "being happy" in Sanskrit, and the symbol
represents good luck. (A diagonal version of the swastika later became associated with
Germany’s Nazi Party when they made it their symbol in 1920.)
The om symbol is composed of three Sanskrit letters and represents three sounds (a, u and m),
which when combined are considered a sacred sound. The om symbol is often found at family
shrines and in Hindu temples.
The most ancient sacred texts of the Hindu religion are written in Sanskrit and called the
Vedas.
Hinduism does not just have one sacred book but several scriptures. The Vedas scriptures guide
Hindus in their daily life. They also help to preserve the religious dimensions of family and
society. Hindus have developed their system of worship and beliefs from the scriptures.
There are two main categories of the Hindu scriptures:
Shruti ("that which is heard") consists of the four Vedas and Upanishads scriptures.
Smriti ("that which is remembered") composed of traditional texts, including the Dharma
Shastras (legal and ethical texts), the Puranas, and the folk/historical legends known as the
Mahabharata and Ramayana.
The Hindu Holy Scriptures are mainly comprised of the following works written in the Sanskrit
language:
1. The Vedas Rg-Veda (Rigveda), Yajur-Veda, Sama-Veda, Atharva-Veda (see further down)
2. The Upanisads - These consider the nature of the individual soul (Atman) and the universal
soul (Brahman.) One of the Upanishads contains the earliest reference to the reincarnation of
the soul in different bodies (transmigration) of the soul.
3. The Smrutis - (‘tradition) are the Laws of Manu (250 BC)
4. Ramayana - Contains the story of Rama and his devoted wife Sita. She is kidnapped by the
demon king Ravana but is later freed by Rama with the help of the monkey god Hanuman. The
poem is about how good will always triumph over evil and Rama and Sita are held up as role
models for the perfect husband and wife.
5. Mahabharata - An epic poem telling the story of a war between two branches of a family.
The Bhagavad-Gita forms part of this and means "The Song of God."
6. The Puranas - A collection of ancient tales about the different incarnations and the lives of
saints.
The Vedas are the oldest religious texts in Hinduism. The word Veda means knowledge. It is
believed that the Vedas were orally revealed by Brahma to certain sages, who heard them and
passed them down in an oral tradition. They were not written down; in fact this was prohibited.
Because of this earliest oral tradition continuing even now when the Vedas are available in the
written form, the Vedas are still known to be Sruti or shruti - ' that which is heard '.
The Vedas are mainly comprised of of hymns or mantras written in the Sanskrit language. They
cover various subjects, from nature to everyday life and behaviour, and form the basis of all
other religious writings. The books are so special that they are often kept in glass cases.
The four Vedas are:
The Rig Veda -"Royal Knowledge"
The Sama Veda - "Knowledge of Chants"
The Yajur Veda - "Knowledge of Sacrificial Rituals"
The Atharva Veda - "Knowledge of Incarnations"

Each Veda is divided into four sections:

The Samhitas - The oldest portion - Contains the mantras and hymns The Brahmanas - The
ritualistic teachings - They are written in prose and explain the hymns. The Aranyakas - The
meditational section
The Upanishads - The mystic and philosophical. They consider the nature of the individual soul
(Atman) and the universal soul (Brahman.) One of the Upanishads contains the earliest
reference to the reincarnation of the soul in different bodies (transmigration) of the soul.
The Vedas are the law. Most beliefs, concepts, and ceremonies are based on information
contained in the Vedas.
Symbols of Buddhism
Wheel of Life which symbolizes the cycle of life, death and rebirth. The eight spokes
remind people that the Buddha taught about eight ways of life.
The lotus flower symbolizes purity and divine birth.
The lotus flower grows in mud at the bottom of a pool, but rises above the surface to
become a beautiful flower. Buddhist say this is how people should rise above
everything which is dukkha. A flower may be very beautiful and have a wonderful
scent, but it soon withers and dies. This shows that nothing in life is perfect.
Images of Buddha
Statues of Buddha include lots of symbols. There are 32 symbols in Buddhism which
show that the Buddha was a special person. Any of these symbols can be used on
statues. For example the Buddha is often shown with:

A bump on the top of his head - a symbol that he had special talents. Around mark on
his forehead, which is his third eye - a symbol to show that he could see things ordinary
people cannot see.
Curled hair (the curls are actually snails that kindly covered his head-shaved because he
renounced the worldly life- to protect him from the sun as he sat meditating.) There are
a symbol that he was a very holy man.Long ears from the weight of his princely earrings-
now missing because he renounced his worldly life. (Sidhartha didn't just give up being
rich, but also, renounced being head of an army as a prince, which shows his non-
violence.)

The sacred text (Holy Book) of Buddhists

The sacred book of Buddhism is called the Tripitaka (called Tipitaka in
Pali). It is also called the Pali Canon, after the language in which it was
first written.
It is written in an ancient Indian language called Pali which is very close
to the language that the Buddha himself spoke. The Tripitaka is a very
large book. The English translation of it takes up nearly forty volumes.
Buddhism is based on Buddha's teachings. At first these were passed down by word of mouth
and later were compiled into two sets of scripture. One set by Council of Monks of the
Theravada school (the Tripitaka) the other by the Mahayana school (the Sutras). Both were
similar.
Both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhists generally accept the Tripitaka (called Tipitaka in Pali)
as the Buddhist sacred writings.
The three section of the Tripitaka (three baskets of Wisdom) are
 Vinaya Pitaka (the Discipline Basket) - A rule book for monks and nuns
There are 227 rules for monks,and more for nuns.
Sutta Pitaka (the Teaching Basket)- The actual experiences of Buddha
Abhidhamma Pitaka (the Higher Doctrine Basket)- An explanation on the teaching of
Buddha. Most of these are called Sutras
Parts of the Tripitaka such as the Dhamma-pada and the Sutta-Nipata are among the
most expressive religious books in the world. Some of Buddha's parables are very similar
to those used by Jesus.

III. Tenets of Faith

Hinduism is not an organized religion and has no single, systematic approach to teaching its
value system. Nor do Hindus have a simple set of rules to follow like the Ten Commandments.
Local, regional, caste, and community-driven practices influence the interpretation and practice
of beliefs throughout the Hindu world.
Yet a common thread among all these variations is belief in a Supreme Being and adherence to
certain concepts such as Truth, dharma, and karma. And belief in the authority of the Vedas
(sacred scriptures) serves, to a large extent, as the very definition of a Hindu, even though how
the Vedas are interpreted may vary greatly.

Here are some of the key beliefs shared among Hindus:

Truth is eternal.
Hindus pursue knowledge and understanding of the Truth: the very essence of the universe
and the only Reality. According to the Vedas, Truth is one, but the wise express it in a variety of
ways.
Brahman is Truth and Reality.
Hindus believe in Brahman as the one true God who is formless, limitless, all-inclusive, and
eternal. Brahman is not an abstract concept; it is a real entity that encompasses everything
(seen and unseen) in the universe.
The Vedas are the ultimate authority.
The Vedas are Hindu scriptures that contain revelations received by ancient saints and sages.
Hindus believe that the Vedas are without beginning and without end; when everything else in
the universe is destroyed (at the end of a cycle of time), the Vedas remain.
Everyone should strive to achieve dharma.
Understanding the concept of dharma helps you understand the Hindu faith. Unfortunately,
no single English word adequately covers its meaning. Dharma can be described as right
conduct, righteousness, moral law, and duty. Anyone who makes dharma central to one’s life
strives to do the right thing, according to one’s duty and abilities, at all times.
Individual souls are immortal.
 A Hindu believes that the individual soul (atman) is neither created nor destroyed; it has
been, it is, and it will be. Actions of the soul while residing in a body require that it reap the
consequences of those actions in the next life — the same soul in a different body.

The process of movement of the atman from one body to another is known as transmigration.
The kind of body the soul inhabits next is determined by karma (actions accumulated in
previous lives). Learn more about Hindu funeral customs.

The goal of the individual soul is moksha.

Moksha is liberation: the soul’s release from the cycle of death and rebirth. It occurs when the
soul unites with Brahman by realizing its true nature. Several paths can lead to this realization
and unity: the path of duty, the path of knowledge, and the path of devotion (unconditional
surrender to God).
As with Buddhism has various branches that hold different tenets of the faith. However, there
are two teachings from Buddha that are widely held as the foundation for the faith. We'll look at
these two teachings, known as the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

The Four Noble Truths, quite often noted as a summary of the Buddhist teachings, is identified as
the first sermon delivered by the Buddha after he attained enlightenment. By meditating and
coming to internalize these truths, Buddhists move closer to peace and enlightenment. The Four
Noble Truths are:

Life is suffering
Suffering is caused by desire
There is an end to this suffering, and
There is a distinct path to this end
The path that is described in the Four Noble Truths is the Eightfold Path, the other core beliefs of
Buddhism that we'll be examining. While described as a single path, Buddha was careful to
caution that there is no one path that will work for everyone. The components of the path are
the same for everyone, but how people chose to apply these steps define their individual
journey.

The eight pieces of the path are:

Right Understanding
Right Action
Right Attitude
Right Livelihood or Vocation
Right Speech
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration
Some Buddhist traditions are hesitant to use of the word 'right.' Use of the word can imply that
there is one right way to do these things. Again, this set of teachings is designed to be a path that
individuals apply in a way that works for them.

In addition to these two key teachings, Buddhists believe that you must live by the Middle Way
to know these truths and become enlightened. The Middle Way is simply living in a way that
allows you to avoid the extremes in life. By living this way, Buddhists believe that one can avoid
suffering because you are neither living recklessly or in an overly cautious way.

IV. ISSUES
HIDDUISM
Besides caste, many other well-advertised social anomalies have developed in India.
Since the 19th century, increased recognition of social abuse has promoted ideas of reform.
Some Hindus, possibly more inclined to Western thought, opted to purge Hinduism of what
they considered dated and superstitious features. Others acknowledged the potential viability
of ancient principles and practices which, according to their vision, had become degraded over
time. The following are a few of the social practices and phenomena that prompted social
reform and had a signicant influence on Hindu lifestyles.

Poverty
The affluent world often perceives a simple, rural life as abject poverty, and a sign of social
retardation. Hindus traditionally considered it virtuous to voluntarily accept an uncomplicated
life for spiritual purposes. With different views on wealth, poverty and success, the West is
prone to hastily dismiss India’s socio-religious practices as backward and irrelevant.
Nonetheless, poverty remains a real problem in many areas.

The role of women

Hindu texts stress the importance of stable family ties and valuing and protecting women.
Nonetheless, there has been – and there still is – wide abuse. Despite this, the tradition largely
rejects the post-modern notion that social justice is achieved simply through promoting
material equality.

Child marriage
Texts recommend marriage at an early age, particularly for girls in order to protect their
chastity. Sexual transgression is considered particularly detrimental to spiritual life. Many so-
called child marriages were actually a form of betrothal and marriage was not consummated
until the wife was of age.
Sati
Sati was voluntarily performed on the basis of overwhelming affection for the partner and a
desire to follow him into the next life. Hindu texts forbid its performance in Kali-yuga, the
present age.

Polygamy
Polygamy was made illegal in 1952. It was previously considered essential for a limited number
of responsible and qualified men to redress the gender imbalance in a society where practically
all women were supposed to get married and significant numbers of men remained celibate.

The dowry system

The dowry system was originally a sign of affection by the father for his daughter. The dowry
remained the wife’s personal property, not that of her husband or his family. This system has
been abused by unscrupulous in-laws who terrorise and even murder those brides who don’t
provide a sufficient dowry.

Personal Reflection
How do we view India and the above-mentioned issues?
Could there be any sense behind apparently dated practices?
What is our experience of people confusing religion with materiality?
Is religion a socio-political phenomenon or are there genuine spiritual forces at work? How do
we recognise the difference?

Common Misunderstandings
The principles behind Hinduism are now out of date, and contemporary Western values are
helping address the resultant social anomalies
Some Hindus now consider that Western researchers have unfairly dismissed many Hindu
practices without sufficient consideration of any possible rationale behind them. Misuse of a
principle does not negate it. One example is varnashrama-dharma. Caste abuse has even
prompted some writers to claim that varnashrama-dharma is inherently racist. In fact, caste is
quite different from varnashrama-dharma, for the latter simultaneously promotes spiritual
equality whilst acknowledging material diversity. Other phenomena require similarly sensitive
treatment in order to understand them better. Naturally, even the purer spiritual principles, as
distinct from later aberrations, may challenge or conflict with many post-modern values.

BUDDHISM

Global warming, Wall Street, and embryonic stem cells were not concerns during the Buddha's
life. On the other hand, there was war, sexism, and abortion 25 centuries ago. What does
Buddhism have to teach about these and other contentious issues?

Sex and Buddhism

 What does Buddhism teach about issues such as homosexuality and sex outside of
marriage? Most religions have rigid, elaborate rules about sexual conduct. Buddhists
have the Third Precept -- in Pali, Kamesu micchacara veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
-- which is most commonly translated "Do not indulge in sexual misconduct." However,
for laypeople, the early scriptures are hazy about what constitutes "sexual misconduct."
Buddhism and Abortion
The U.S. has struggled with the issue of abortion for many years without coming to a
consensus. We need a fresh perspective, and the Buddhist view of the abortion issue
may provide one. Buddhism does consider abortion to be the taking of a human life. At
the same time, Buddhists generally are reluctant to intervene in a woman's personal
decision to terminate a pregnancy. Buddhism may discourage abortion, but it also
discourages imposing rigid moral absolutes.
Buddhism and Sexism
Buddhist women, including nuns, have faced harsh discrimination by Buddhist
institutions in Asia for centuries. There is gender inequality in most of the world's
religions, of course, but that's no excuse. Is sexism intrinsic to Buddhism, or did Buddhist
institutions absorb sexism from Asian culture? Can Buddhism treat women as equals,
and remain Buddhism?
Buddhism and the Environment
Care of the earth and all living creatures has always been an essential part of Buddhist
practice. Which teachings connect directly to environmental issues?
Economic Policies and Buddhism
We don't normally link issues like banking, finance and the stock market to Buddhism.
But current events show us the wisdom of the middle way.
Church-State Issues and Buddhism
"Wall of separation of church and state" is a metaphor coined by Thomas Jefferson to
explain the religion clauses of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The
concept behind the phrase has been controversial for more than two centuries. Many
religious people argue that it is hostile to religion. But many argue that separation of
church and state is good for religion.

Morality, Ethics and Buddhism

The Buddhist Approach to morality avoids absolutes and rigid commandments. Instead,
Buddhists are encouraged to weigh and analyze situations to come to their own
decisions about what is moral.

War and Buddhism

Is war ever justified in Buddhism? It's a simple question with a complex answer
regarding Buddhist views on war.
 Antique National School
Senior High School
Humanities and Social Sciences

Comparative Analysis
Hinduism and Buddhism

Submitted by:
Mea P. Mondejar
Lovely Rose Z. Hiponia
Chrystelle Ann Geronimo

Submitted to:
Sir. Renante V. Regoita

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in Introduction to World

Religions and Belief System