Similarities and Differences between Buddhist and Hindu views on Life after Death

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  • Created by: Kat
  • Created on: 04-01-16 22:49

Similarities and Differences between Buddhist and Hindu views on Life after Death

Similarities

  • Both religions hold a dualist perspective and believe in rebirth
  • Both religions believe that to end the cycle of rebirth, they must understand the nature of the ultimate reality
  • Notion of karma in both Hinduism and Buddhism

Differences

  • Hindus believe the soul will live again whereas Buddhists believe the nama rupa (name-form made up of four elements) will live again
  • Buddhists believe that to achieve Nirvana (ending of rebirth) an individual must fully understand the nature of suffering, impermanence and anatta (no-soul). However, Hindus believe the only way to achieve union with Brahman is through good karma.
  • Buddhism place more emphasis on the intention behind moral actions whereas Hindus emphasise the notion of karma
  • Buddhists believe that no aspects of the previous being is transferred to the new one whereas Hindus believe that karma determines what kind of being a person is reborn as

Overall comparison

Although the main principle that re-birth is the same in both religions, the path taken to achieve re-birth in either religion is different.

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