How are Buddhism and Hinduism similar?

How are Buddhism and Hinduism similar?

• A. Both believe in ahimsa, the principle of non-violence
• B. One is monotheistic
• C. They originated in Europe
• D. They have no shared beliefs

Answer: (A)

Non-violence, or ahimsa, is a central thread that links Hinduism and Buddhism. In Hinduism, ahimsa is woven into dharma and karma: harming others is seen as generating negative karma and breaking the moral order, so followers strive to act with compassion toward all living beings, often choosing non-harmful practices like vegetarianism. In Buddhism, refraining from harming living beings is embedded in the Five Precepts and flourishes from the aim of reducing suffering for all beings, expressed through compassion and loving-kindness. This shared emphasis on not causing harm and on tending to the well-being of others explains why the two traditions align ethically, even though they differ in theology and practice. They did not originate in Europe, and Hinduism includes a diverse range of beliefs about gods while Buddhism is typically non-theistic, yet they share other fundamental ideas such as karma and rebirth that underpin their ethical outlook.

Non-violence, or ahimsa, is a central thread that links Hinduism and Buddhism. In Hinduism, ahimsa is woven into dharma and karma: harming others is seen as generating negative karma and breaking the moral order, so followers strive to act with compassion toward all living beings, often choosing non-harmful practices like vegetarianism. In Buddhism, refraining from harming living beings is embedded in the Five Precepts and flourishes from the aim of reducing suffering for all beings, expressed through compassion and loving-kindness. This shared emphasis on not causing harm and on tending to the well-being of others explains why the two traditions align ethically, even though they differ in theology and practice. They did not originate in Europe, and Hinduism includes a diverse range of beliefs about gods while Buddhism is typically non-theistic, yet they share other fundamental ideas such as karma and rebirth that underpin their ethical outlook.