differences between Hinduism and Buddhism
... every trace of individuality”. However; this teaching contradicts the Hindu belief in Atman, the eternal soul or, the ultimate self. Buddhists also taught that the world was constantly in flux, essentially, that nothing last forever. The idea of this concept not only refutes Atman, but it also refutes the Hindu concept of Brahman, which essentially is, eternity in nature. For Buddhists, there can be no Atman. Another significant difference between the two religions is the structure of each of its social system. There exists a fourfold caste system called varna, which you are born into, and which provides the basic class structure, which exists within Hinduism. These are called Brahman varna, Kshatriya varna, Vaishya varna, and Shudra varna, each caste with its own responsibilities, obligations, careers and tasks to be performed within daily life, which varied from class to class. It was understood that interaction outside of your varna, was unheard of. Below those four fundamental varnas or castes, stood a class of untouchables. In order to achieve enlightenment, or Moksha, one must live their life, according to the Dharma of their caste, which in turn, leads to advancement up the caste system, making it easier to achieve Moksha, and break free of the cycle of Samsara, or suffering. Within Buddhism, however, there is “…very little room for social or political structure of a society” . Buddhists do not differentiate between caste, race or gender. The denial of caste in Buddhism is the rejection of the idea of the ‘self’. Buddhism primarily focuses the detachment of the self from all things, and existence as part of a whole. From this, “...Buddha taught that the concept of "I" was the source of every single ill in society and showed others this truth.” Although, there is to a degree much suffering and p...