India China compare and contrast Essay

Hinduism and Buddhism were two very different religions that arose on the subcontinent of India. They were the building blocks of the most populated country in the world and still pose lasting impacts today. Indias Hindu and Buddhist roots play a major role in their actions today as a world super power. By extension, Hinduism and Buddhism played very different but equally decisive roles in the beginnings of Indias modern societal and cultural values. The influences on ships company of Hinduism and Buddhism differed in Hinduisms implementation of a rigid rigid coterie system and the Buddhist idea of having a single draw that influenced the people (a Bodhisattva), while they were akin in two giving the people who followed them a goal in life sentence because both religions promoted right living to achieve spiritual enlightenment.Hinduism and Buddhism differed in the societal impact of set implementation the Hindus strongly forced this stratified class system while the Buddhis ts discouraged it. This is one of the largest differences among these two religions and played a major role in the history of India. In India, before the life of Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha), the caste system was a way of life. Its strict and rigid implementation into the daily lives of all changed the fraternity through such varying social classes. The caste system divided people into very strict social classes, and relationships/intermarriage between castes was not allowed. This meant that the classes in India stayed the same, and moving up or down in caste was impossible. When Buddhism was introduced, the Buddha believed the caste system was not needed for enlightenment and as his followers accumulated, the impact of the caste system dimished, allowing for the eventual banning of it altogether.Both of these religions beliefs pertaining to caste regulation and social stratification forever changed the ideals of India and stay to today. Hinduism and Buddhism also differed in the existence of a single leader the Hindus had none, while the Buddhists followed the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. This difference impacted society because before the rise of Buddhism, the Hindus had no specific origin or leader to follow. When the Buddha began his teachings, the society of India experienced a monumental shift as umteen of the people previously lacking a leader had soulfulness to follow. This began the transitionto Buddhism as well as instigated other social impacts like the weakening of the previously dogmatic caste system and majority Hindu following in India. The Buddhas teachings and ideas were described in the allegoric novel, Siddhartha, which shows in part the Buddhas following, his rise in fame, and journey to enlightenment through life. The followers and fame of the Buddha gradually changed the values and beliefs of Indian society as nothing in several thousand years of Hindu dominance had.As a result, this changed Indian society in ways that we continue to see to this day. However, Hinduism and Buddhism were similar in giving their followers a goal (enlightenment) in life Hinduism and Buddhisms followers both reach out to achieve enlightenment or nirvana through Moksha, Karma, and Dharma, or through the eight-fold path. Either way, Indians have a goal in life, something with lasting impacts on societal values and the way of life of many Indians. Siddhartha, written as an allegory, displays this perfectly. The protagonist strives for enlightenment in life in the same way the followers of this religion do. As a result, this religion changes the society of India through living consciously to ones Dharma and practicing all aspects of the eight-fold path. alternatively of living life hopelessly, like the early Mesopotamians who had nothing to hope for after life on earth, Indians strive for the betterment of society through first bettering themselves and altering the society as a whole.