Hinduism Vs. Buddhism

Everyone struggles to find perfect happiness, however most differ in the path that they choose. Hinduism and Buddhism have many of the same elements, stemming from similar cultural beliefs. Each one however differs greatly from the other at the same time. In both religions, essentially the goal is the same- to reach bliss.

In life, everyone has the aspiration to find perfect happiness. Hindus and Buddhists all over the world set forth everyday to achieve this. In Hinduism, a man can only hope to achieve moksha ("salvation"). Moksha allows this man to break the cycle of Samsara. (In Buddhism, as in Hinduism, Samsara is the constant cycle of rebirth and the everyday world of change.) He achieves a higher place out of the cast system. Buddhists struggle through life to be rewarded with Nirvana ("extinction"). Nirvana releases you from all suffering, allowing your exemption from rebirth. This is obviously consistent with moksha. Although these two achievements are similar in that aspect, they differ as well.

The caste system plays an important role in Hinduism. In order to pursue moksha, one must be a man of a high caste. If not, he/she needs to work for the opportunity. They can only hope to become something of a higher caste in their next life, for there is no chance in their present life. With the notion of nirvana, however, it is thought that an enlightened person has already been reborn many times but it is not a requirement. Thus, it can be any Buddhist's hope to reach nirvana, but only a Brahmin's hope to reach moksha. While the path to nirvana is not as discriminatory, it is not easily attained.