Buddhism and Hinduism

Hinduism is not merely a religion; it is an umbrella term encompassing a vast array of practices, beliefs, and traditions that originate from the ancient Vedic texts. The Vedas, which are among the oldest sacred scriptures of humanity, consist of four main collections: the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda. These texts are extensive and complex, containing hymns, rituals, philosophical discourses, and guidance on various aspects of life and spirituality.

Due to their profound and intricate nature, the Vedas are challenging for most people to fully comprehend in a single lifetime. To make the teachings of the Vedas more accessible and understandable, the Upanishads were composed. The Upanishads are a collection of texts that serve as commentaries and philosophical explorations of the Vedic teachings. They were written by various Sages and scholars who sought to distill the essential wisdom of the Vedas into more comprehensible forms.

The word "Upanishad" itself means "sitting down near," referring to the tradition of students sitting close to their teacher to learn. These texts capture the essence of the discussions and instructions given by the teachers to their students. The Upanishads delve into profound concepts such as the nature of reality, the self (Atman), and the ultimate truth (Brahman). They emphasize knowledge (Jnana) and the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.

In essence, the Upanishads serve as a bridge between the complex Vedic hymns and rituals and the more personal, philosophical understanding of the divine and the universe. They encapsulate the insights and interpretations of ancient sages, making the profound teachings of the Vedas more approachable and applicable to everyday life.

The teachings of the Vedas are indeed complex and typically accessible only to scholars well-versed in Vedic principles. For the common person, understanding these teachings can be quite challenging. To bridge this gap, the wisdom of the Vedas is conveyed through the Puranas, which are a genre of ancient Indian texts that present the teachings in the form of engaging stories and parables.

The Puranas are written in a narrative style, making them easier to understand and more relatable for people from all walks of life. These stories encompass a wide range of themes, including the creation of the universe, the genealogy of gods, goddesses, heroes, and sages, as well as moral and ethical teachings. While the surface-level narratives are accessible and enjoyable, each story in the Puranas carries deeper, symbolic meanings rooted in Vedic principles.

The true depth of these stories can vary based on the intellect and insight of the reader. For those with a keen understanding of Vedic philosophy, the Puranas reveal profound truths and spiritual principles. For others, the stories provide valuable lessons and moral guidance. This dual-layered approach ensures that the teachings of the Vedas are available to everyone, regardless of their level of intellectual or spiritual development.

So we find that Puranas, Upanishads, Ramayana, and Mahabharata all are laid down on the principle of Dharma defined in Vedas and this word Dharma means the way of living. Although these are various ways suggested by Vedas. So the way of living is not a fixed line like modern world religions but it’s a complex network of various paths suggested to engage in divinity. There are paths for people who even do not want to engage in divine perspective and live a comfortable life. That shows that Vedic theory understood that human is a complex creatures and that everyone can not be directed to one particular path. These paths were adopted by different schools of thought called Mathas, even Mathas have subdivisions and are called Akhadas. Akhadas are like specializations where some people from a particular school will have an interest in one subject and others will have an interest in some different subject. Any teacher has the freedom to introduce his own Matha and if his prescribed norms appeal to people it is called Matha.

Buddhism is closely related to Vedic traditions and shares many underlying principles. In fact, Buddhism initially emerged as a matha (school of thought) within the broader framework of Vedic culture. The term "Buddha, which means "enlightened one," is derived from the same Vedic scriptures. There are numerous references to Buddhas in various Puranas, indicating that the concept of enlightenment and the role of enlightened beings predated Gautama Buddha. This suggests that Buddhism, as a philosophical system, was already in existence before Gautama Buddha's time.

Gautama Buddha, originally named Siddhartha Gautama, was born into a princely class, and his father was a king. Like many others of his time, Gautama sought a teacher to guide him in understanding the divine and the nature of existence. He joined the matha of Āḷāra Kālāma, an accomplished teacher who instructed him on how to attain Jhanas. In Vedic literature, Janas or Jhanas (or dhyānas) refer to profound meditative states that lead to higher planes of existence, or lokas. These states allow beings to comprehend the ultimate truths, including the concept of the Trinity.

By engaging in deep meditation, individuals on earth can reach these elevated states of consciousness where the truths of life are revealed. Gautama Buddha, after achieving these meditative states, began teaching others about his insights. His teachings focused on the principles he had realized, which emphasized the path to enlightenment and the nature of suffering and its cessation.

As Gautama's teachings gained popularity, the matha evolved into a pantha, a more established and widely followed tradition. Thus, Buddhism can be considered a pantha that propagates a particular stream of dharma. In the Pali language, this dharma is referred to as dhamma. The teachings of Buddhism, therefore, are not entirely distinct from Vedic traditions but are rather an extension and elaboration of them, focusing on the path to enlightenment and the alleviation of suffering.

This Pali scripture contains an important prayer in Buddhism, traditionally recited by those who become followers. People also consider these stone inscriptions as Buddhism symbol.  The prayer goes as follows:

"Buddham Saranam Gacchami" (बुद्धं शरणं गच्छामि)

I go to the Buddha for refuge.

"Dhammam Saranam Gacchami" (धर्मं शरणं गच्छामि)

I go to the Dhamma for refuge.

"Sangham Saranam Gacchami" (संघं शरणं गच्छामि)

I go to the Sangha for refuge.

In this prayer, the term "Dhamma" corresponds to "Dharma," as prescribed in Vedic theory, and "Sangha" refers to a community or group of people who share specific beliefs. Gautama Buddha himself referred to his community of followers as the "Sangha," distinct from the mainstream Dharma. The Sangha represents those who follow a particular path within the broader scope of Dharma.

Throughout history, many different Panthas (paths or schools of thought) have emerged from the mainstream Vedic Dharma. Over time, some followers of these paths have criticized the mainstream Vedic tradition. Such conflicts are common, but true seekers of truth ultimately recognize and understand the underlying reality.

This article aims to clarify these points and help those who may be deviating from the original teachings to understand the true nature of these traditions and act accordingly. By fostering a deeper comprehension of the interconnectedness of these paths, we can promote greater harmony and respect among various spiritual practices. Buddhism and Hinduism are like same febrick of one thread hope my article acts as a platform for the Hinduism Buddhism Union. 

Readers' comments and criticism are most welcome. Your feedback is invaluable in fostering a deeper understanding and promoting thoughtful discussion.

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