| Hinduism (reincarnation) | Buddhism |
| believed that the world known to our senses
is an illusion called Maya which betrays
people. gives people sorrow and pain.
People can be delivered from their suffering
if they can identify Maya, but this requires
lifetimes of experience acquired through the
process of reincarnation.
Dharma-fulfillment of one's moral duty so the soul can make progress Karma-the present condition of a person's
life reflects what a person did or did not do
during a previous life.
Caste System |
Buddhists believe that salvation came from
following the guidelines for conduct embodied in
the Four Noble Truths.(must see life with
imperfections, renounce greed, attain nirvana) to
reach nirvana must follow eightfold path sort of an
ethics code.
|
Caste System
| Upper class | Brahman:Priest scholars
Kshatriyas: ruler, warriors |
| Middle class | Vaisyas:merchants, traders |
| Lower Class | Sudras:peasants bound to the land |
outcastes: untouchables
are outside the class system. Although outlawed in the 1950s this system is still present in unoffical capacity.