1. The Culture and Diet of Buddhism and Hinduism
Christina Ferraiuolo
Colleen Lynch

2. Objectives
Identify the history and dietary practices of Buddhism and their origin.
Identify the history and dietary practices of Hinduism and their origin.
Compare and contrast the Buddhist and Hindu cultures.

3. Students will demonstrate their understanding of the diversity of values, beliefs, and practices of individuals and groups over time.
SS:WH:12.5.2: Examine the role and impact of religious ideas on daily life and social norms. i.e. dietary practices

4. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the physical and human geographic features that define places and regions as well as how culture and experience influence people’s perceptions of places and regions.
SS:GE:12.2.5: Recognize that places and regions serve as symbols for individuals and societies. i.e. Hindu and Buddhist beliefs tied to the land and living creatures.

5. Origin of Buddhism Nepal, India Bihar, India
Buddha means the awake one, or the enlightened one.
Buddha was born in Nepal, but Buddhism originated in Bihar

6. Buddhism Beginning
6th Century B.C.E BCE Life of Siddhartha Guatama, the historical Buddha.
4th Century -Second Buddhist Council at Vesali, India (386)
3rd Century- Indian Emperor Asoka ( ) converts and establishes the Buddha's Dharma on a national level for the first time.
4th century BC- about 100 year after the Parinirvana.- second Buddhist council -First schism of the Sangha (association of Buddhism) occurs in which the Mahasanghika school (earliest) parts ways with the Sthaviravadins (teaching of the elders) and the Theravadins.
One suggested cause of the Great Schism were the disagreements in the five theories about an Arhat (enlightened one) supposedly put forward by Mahādeva (a controversial figure in buddhism) , who later founded the Mahāsāṃghika. The monks who rejected the five theories named themselves as "Sthaviravāda" to differentiate from the Mahāsāṃghika-the schism resulted from the majority (Mahāsaṃgha) refusing to accept the addition of rules to the Vinaya (discipline of Buddhism) by the minority (Sthaviras).
The Threavadins are the oldest surviving branch of Buddhism, and derives from the ancestral Sthaviravāda – with which they descended from.
3rd century- Dharma- the regulatory order of the universe, or natural law- through behaviors. A third Buddhist council is formed- This is the same time the Great Wall of China was erected.

7. Buddhism Beginnings 2nd Century BC-The beginning of the Mahayana
1st Century CE-Buddhism enters Central Asia and China.
2nd Century CE- The Age of Indian Buddhist
Mahayana is an umbrella term for a variety of schools: from the Tantra school (the secret teaching of Yoga) well represented in Tibet and Nepal whose essential teaching is that salvation can be attained only through absolute trust in the saving power of Amitabha, longing to be reborn in his paradise through his grace, which are found in China, Korea and Japan. Ch'an and Zen Buddhism, of China and Japan, are meditation schools.
Zen Buddhism professes that there is no god who can assist a seeker in achieving enlightenment (satori) or final extinction (paranirvana). Yet other Mahayana schools emphasize that Gautama Buddha was a mere earthly manifestation of a transcendent, celestial Buddha, who is the highest deity. Ultimate Reality is sunyata (the void)-an impersonal cosmic force that expresses itself through various gods, Buddhas and bodhisattvas who are worshipped.
Pure Land Buddhists worship Amida Buddha (different than the Gautama Buddha) as a personal savior god. He is also called Amitabha. He was originally a monk, Dharmakara, who attained Buddhahood. 
Nichiren Buddhists place their faith in Nichiren, a thirteenth century Japanese monk, who is believed to be a reincarnation of Jogyo Bosatsu. According to this sect, Jogyo was a bodhisattva (one who attains Buddhahood but delays passing into Nirvana in order to bring spiritual assistance to others through his boundless supply of good merits).
Tibetan Buddhism promotes worshipful devotion to a long line of Dalai Lamas. The most recent one, Tenzin Gyatso, is the fourteenth and is presently exiled from Tibet. All Dalai Lamas are considered to be bodhisattvas, as well as incarnations of their predecessors. Tibetan Buddhists worship a pantheon of innumerable Buddhas, bodhisattvas, gods, goddesses and divine beings. Image worship is spurned in some branches of Buddhism, yet promoted in others.
CE- Common Era, same as AD.

8. Teachings of Buddha

9. The Self
The Western notion of the individual self (or shall we say "selfish individual") is distinctly "un"-Buddhist
“He who lives only for pleasures, and whose soul is not in harmony, who considers not the food he eats, is idle, and has not the power of virtue - such a man is moved by MARA (evil one), is moved by selfish temptations, even as a weak tree is shaken by the wind.”

10. Karma Karma- We are affected by a collective karma
Bad karma from not following the moral code causes a person to be reborn as a lesser being
Good karma from following moral precepts will be born a higher being.

11. Holy Days in Buddhism Vesak or Visakah Puja ("Buddha Day")
Buddhist New Year
Ulambana (Ancestor Day)
Many of these holidays celebrate the birthdays of Bodhisattvas in the Mahayana tradition or other significant dates in the Buddhist calendar.
Buddhist festivals: lay people will go the local temple or monastery and offer food to the monks and take the Five Precepts and listen to a Dharma talk. In the afternoon, they distribute food to the poor to make merit.
In May on the night of the full moon, Buddhist all over the world celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha over 2,500 years ago.
The New Year is celebrated at different times all over the world depending on when Buddhism was adopted into their culture. All relate to the full moon in either April, January, in accordance to the lunar calendar.
the first to the fifteenth days of the eighth lunar month. It is believed that the gates of Hell are opened on the first day and the ghosts may visit the world for fifteen days. Food offerings are made during this time to relieve the sufferings of these ghosts.

12. The Buddhist teachings and tradition provide important "food for thought" to all of us.

13. Buddhist Meal Chant
First, let us reflect on our own work and the effort of those who brought us this food. Second, let us be aware of the quality of our deeds as we receive this meal. Third, what is most essential is the practice of mindfulness, which helps us to transcend greed, anger and delusion. Fourth, we appreciate this food which sustains the good health of our body and mind. Fifth, in order to continue our practice for all beings we accept this offering.
The first morsel is to cut all delusions. The second morsel is to maintain our clear mind. The third morsel is to save all sentient beings. May we awaken together with all beings.
There are several chants that are done before and after meals to express gratitude. Gokan-no-ge, the "Five Reflections" or "Five Remembrances," is from the Zen tradition.
From a Buddhist perspective, eating is more than just taking in nourishment. It is an interaction with the entire phenomenal universe. It is a gift given us through the work of all beings. We vow to be worthy of the gift and work to benefit others. Food is received and eaten with gratitude and reverence.

14. A Theravada Meal Chant
Wisely reflecting, I use this food not for fun, not for pleasure, not for fattening, not for beautification, but only for the maintenance and nourishment of this body, for keeping it healthy, for helping with the Spiritual Life; Thinking thus, I will allay hunger without overeating, so that I may continue to live blamelessly and at ease.
The Second Noble Truth teaches that the cause of suffering is craving or thirst. We continually search for something outside ourselves to make us happy. But no matter how successful we are, we never remain satisfied. It's important not to be greedy about food.

15. Buddhism Diet Restrictions
“A son of the Buddha shall not eat the flesh of any sentient beings. If he eats their flesh, he shall cut off great compassion, as well as the seed of Buddhahood within him.”
Buddhism, in general, fundamentally prohibits any and all animal meat or intoxicants at all times.

16. A Part of the Whole
The Buddha taught that all sentient beings are really a part of one original whole organism. Therefore, when one kills another, they are actually killing a part of themselves. They are also killing a part of their parents (also forbidden in Buddhism). So, in effect, eating meat is suicidal!

17. Vegetarianism and Veganism
“A natural and logical ramification of the moral precept against the taking of life" is a diet that includes no animal meat.
In modern terms, we might use the word "vegan" to describe the strict Mahayana diet.

18. Pure Bodhisattvas follow this ideal:
“[they] who do not wear silk, leather boots, furs, or down ...and who do not consume milk, cream, or butter, can truly transcend this world. Both physically and mentally one must avoid the bodies and the by-products of beings, by neither wearing them or eating them. I say that such people have true liberation.”
Bodhisattvas: Enlightened ones

19. Forbidden Foods
It is important to know why certain foods and drink fall into either the forbidden or appropriate categories
Vegetables that result in the death of the plant were not eaten.
"Five Pungent Spices", including garlic and onions, are forbidden.
If these five are eaten cooked, they increase one's sexual desire; if they are eaten raw, they increase one's anger.
Death of the plant include root vegetables.

20. Other Restrictions Proper times and amounts of food that can be eaten
forbiddance of raw foods
The observance of a diet that does not violate the moral precept of no killing is most important and universal.
Many only eat after dawn and before midday.
solid foods are disallowed outside of the morning period, other substances were allowed in the afternoon or evening
Strained fruit and vegetable juices are allowable in the afternoon, especially for thirsty monks and nuns. Then the five traditional Indian 'medicines' of ghee, oil, butter/cheese, honey and sugar were allowed in the afternoon as a 'tonic‘
Drinks like tea, herbal infusions, ginger, cocoa and coffee are also allowable in the afternoon.
Why don’t they eat at night?
"Once, revered sir, when monks were walking for almsfood in the dense darkness of the night, they would walk into a pond at the village entrance, or they would stumble into the village cesspool, or they would blunder into a thorny hedge or stumble into a sleeping cow, and they would meet young men up to no good and wanton women.” LATUKIKOPAMA SUTTA Monk

21. Ceremonial Food Offerings
In Theravada countries such as Thailand, monks still rely on receiving alms for most of their food.
Food may be simply and silently left on an altar, with a small bowl.
Zen make food offerings to the hungry ghosts.
The monks leave the monasteries early in the morning. They walk single file, oldest first, carrying their alms bowls in front of them. Laypeople wait for them, sometimes kneeling, and place food, flowers or incense sticks in the bowls. Women must be careful not to touch the monks.
The giving and receiving of alms creates a spiritual connection between the monastic and lay communities.
offering food on an altar is an act of connecting with the spiritual world. It is also a means to release selfishness and open the heart to the needs of others.
During Zen formal dinners, offering bowl will be passed or brought to each person about to partake of the meal. Everyone takes a small piece of food from his bowl, touches it to the forehead, and places it in the offering bowl. The bowl is then ceremonially placed on the altar.

22. "Five Moral Precepts"
Failure to follow any of the "Five Moral Precepts" causes harm to others, further clouds one's true seeing nature, and greatly decreases one's chances of being born a human again (a vantage point along the path to enlightenment).
NO killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, or partaking of intoxicants.

23. "Five Contemplations While Eating"
This is an exercise that forces the Buddhist to stop and think about the food they are eating.
What food is, why we eat it, where it comes from, and when and how we should eat it.
"think about where the food came from and the amount of work necessary to grow the food, transport it, prepare and cook it and bring it to the table.”

24. Killing or eating meat breaks several rules:
One who harms other sentient beings and restricts their path/chance to gain enlightenment/nirvana.
One also hurts one's self since all beings are a part of one whole.
One also spreads the bad killing karma, which will later cause one suffering, or propagate more killing.
One also enforces the suffering caused by the cycle of death and rebirth.

25. It is believed that the Buddha himself actually died from food poisoning.

26. Hinduism
The lotus primarily represents beauty and non-attachment. The lotus is rooted in the mud but floats on the water without becoming wet or muddy. This symbolizes how how one should live in the world in order to gain release from rebirth: without attachment to one's surroundings.

27. Origin
Originated around the Indus Valley near the River Indus in modern day Pakistan.
The religion of the majority of people in India and Nepal. Over 900 million practicing worldwide.
Hinduism is the religion of the majority of people in India and Nepal. It also exists among significant populations outside of the sub continent and has over 900 million adherents worldwide.
In some ways Hinduism is the oldest living religion in the world, or at least elements within it stretch back many thousands of years. Yet Hinduism resists easy definition partly because of the vast array of practices and beliefs found within it. It is also closely associated conceptually and historically with the other Indian religions Jainism, Buddhismand Sikhism.
The Indus Valley Civilization was a Bronze Age civilization that was located in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent, consisting of what is now mainly present-day Pakistan and northwest India. Flourishing around the Indus River basin (which flows through present day Pakistan), the civilization extended east into the Ghaggar-Hakra River valley and the upper reaches Ganges-Yamuna Doab; it extended west to the Makran coast of Balochistan, north to northeastern Afghanistan and south to Daimabad in Maharashtra. The civilization was spread over some 1,260,000 km², making it the largest known ancient civilization.
Inhabitants of the ancient Indus river valley developed new techniques in handicraft (carnelian products, seal carving) and metallurgy (copper, bronze, lead, and tin). The civilization is noted for its cities built of brick, roadside drainage system, and multistoried houses.
The Indus Valley was a developed urban culture similar to the civilizations of Mesopotamia. Two major cities have been uncovered, Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, which has given us the alternative name of Harappan culture. These cities housed about 40,000 people who enjoyed quite a high standard of living with sophisticated water systems; most houses having drainage systems, wells, and rubbish chutes. Grain was the basis of the economy and large grain stores collected grain as tax.
Religion in the Indus valley seems to have involved temple rituals and ritual bathing in the 'great bath' found at Mohenjo-Daro. There is some evidence of animal sacrifice at Kalibangan. A number of terracotta figurines have been found, perhaps goddess images, and a seal depicting a seated figure surrounded by animals that some scholars thought to be a prototype of the god Shiva. Others have disputed this, pointing out that it bears a close resemblance to Elamite seals depicting seated bulls.
There may be continuities between the Indus Valley civilization and later Hinduism as suggested by the apparent emphasis on ritual bathing, sacrifice, and goddess worship.
Indus Valley Civilization was thought to experience hot, dry summers, a monsoon season and 4 to 8 inches of rainfall in the winter—vital for the successful growing of wheat and barley. It is thought that a climate change was the cause of the collapse of this civilization.

28. Teachings
No single founder, no single scripture, and no commonly agreed set of teachings
The main Hindu texts are the Vedas and their supplements.
Veda- a Sanskrit word meaning 'knowledge'. Many scriptures discuss dharma, which can be rendered as 'code of conduct', 'law', or 'duty'
Unlike most other religions, Hinduism has no single founder, no single scripture, and no commonly agreed set of teachings. Throughout its extensive history, there have been many key figures teaching different philosophies and writing numerous holy books. For these reasons, writers often refer to Hinduism as 'a way of life' or 'a family of religions' rather than a single religion
Some Hindus define orthodoxy as compliance with the teachings of the Vedic texts (the four Vedas and their supplements). However, still others identify their tradition with 'Sanatana Dharma', the eternal order of conduct that transcends any specific body of sacred literature. Scholars sometimes draw attention to the caste system as a defining feature, but many Hindus view such practices as merely a social phenomenon or an aberration of their original teachings. Nor can we define Hinduism according to belief in concepts such as karma and samsara(reincarnation) because Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists (in a qualified form) accept this teaching too.
Although it is not easy to define Hinduism, we can say that it is rooted in India, most Hindus revere a body of texts as sacred scripture known as the Veda, and most Hindus draw on a common system of values known as dharma.
Hindu scripture
The Vedas
These are the most ancient religious texts which define truth for Hindus.
They got their present form between BCE and were introduced to India by the Aryans.
Hindus believe that the texts were received by scholars direct from God and passed on to the next generations by word of mouth.
Vedic texts are sometimes called shruti, which means hearing. For hundreds, maybe even thousands of years, the texts were passed on orally.
Contents of the Vedas
The Vedas are made up of four compositions, and each veda in turn has four parts which are arranged chronologically.
The Samhitas are the most ancient part of the Vedas, consisting of hymns of praise to God.
The Brahmanas are rituals and prayers to guide the priests in their duties.
The Aranyakas concern worship and meditation.
The Upanishads consist of the mystical and philosophical teachings of Hinduism.
Dharma
Dharma is an important term in Indian religions. In Hinduism it means 'duty', 'virtue', 'morality', even 'religion' and it refers to the power which upholds the universe and society. Hindus generally believe that dharma was revealed in the Vedas although a more common word there for 'universal law' or 'righteousness' is rita. Dharma is the power that maintains society, it makes the grass grow, the sun shine, and makes us moral people or rather gives humans the opportunity to act virtuously.
But acting virtuously does not mean precisely the same for everyone; different people have different obligations and duties according to their age, gender, and social position. Dharma is universal but it is also particular and operates within concrete circumstances. Each person therefore has their own dharma known as sva-dharma. What is correct for a woman might not be for a man or what is correct for an adult might not be for a child.

29. Beliefs
Most Hindus believe in a Supreme God, whose qualities and forms are represented by the multitude of deities which emanate from him.
Existence is a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, governed by Karma.
The soul passes through a cycle of successive lives and its next incarnation is always dependent on how the previous life was lived.
Karma and Samsara
Karma is a Sanskrit word whose literal meaning is 'action'. It refers to the law that every action has an equal reaction either immediately or at some point in the future. Good or virtuous actions, actions in harmony with dharma, will have good reactions or responses and bad actions, actions against dharma, will have the opposite effect.
In Hinduism karma operates not only in this lifetime but across lifetimes: the results of an action might only be experienced after the present life in a new life.
Hindus believe that human beings can create good or bad consequences for their actions and might reap the rewards of action in this life, in a future human rebirth or reap the rewards of action in a heavenly or hell realm in which the self is reborn for a period of time.
This process of reincarnation is called samsara, a continuous cycle in which the soul is reborn over and over again according to the law of action and reaction. At death many Hindus believe the soul is carried by a subtle body into a new physical body which can be a human or non-human form (an animal or divine being). The goal of liberation (moksha) is to make us free from this cycle of action and reaction, and from rebirth.

30. Holy Days Diwali- the Hindu festival of lights
Holi- originally a spring festival of fertility and harvest
Ganesh Chaturthi- the birthday of lord Ganesh
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is the most popular of all the festivals from South Asia.
The festival of Diwali extends over five days, ususally between October and November. Because of the lights, fireworks and sweets involved, it's a great favourite with children.
The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance, although the actual legends that go with the festival are different in different parts of India.
A spring festival, usually celebrated in March, Holi also celebrates Krishna, and the legend of Holika and Prahalad. The moral of the story is that good always wins over evil, and those who seek to torment the faithful will be destroyed. A very exuberant festival, with dancing, singing, and throwing of paint. Holi features gender rivalry, with contests between men and women, and public flirting. Bonfires are lit during Holi, and food offerings are roasted. During the evening of the full moon, bonfires are lit in the streets. These bonfires not only purify the air of evil spirits, but mark the story of Holika and Prahalad. The next day, people of all ages go into the streets for jollifications and paint-throwing.
On this day Hindus all over the world celebrate the birthday of Lord Ganesh, one of the most popular deities for worship. Ganesh is depicted with an elephant's head on a human body and in the Hindu tradition he is the son of Lord Siva and the Goddess Parvati. He is known as the Remover of Obstacles and is prayed to particularly when people are beginning a new enterprise or starting a new business. Ganesh is also known as the patron god of travelling. In certain parts of India, the festival is celebrated for ten days and is a joyous event and regarded as a public occasion. In other places it is simply celebrated at home and hymns are sung and offerings made to Ganesh. Sweets are also distributed because in Hindu legend Ganesh liked them.

31. Hindu beliefs emphasize the importance of living in harmony with nature, and having mercy, respect and compassion for all creatures. 

32. Dietary Practices
Ayurvedic dietary practices- under this system, certain foods are classified as hot or cold and can adversely or positively affect health conditions and emotions.
Hot foods-foods which are salty, sour or high in animal protein.
Cold foods- generally sweet or bitter.
Food is divided into three categories based on how they enhance or hinder physical and spiritual development.
The classification of foods as hot or cold is unrelated to temperature.

33. Three Categories
Tamasic foods- foods considered heavy, dull and depressive; Including meat, heavy cheese, onions, garlic, and mushrooms, old and stale food.
Rajasic foods- foods that are hot, spicy and salty are said to irritate and stimulate, often to a state of high agitation, anger and hate.
Sattvic foods- foods like many fruits, fresh yogurt and leafy greens, are supposed to bring clarity and perception and help unfold love and compassion in the consumer.
Some strict Hindus do not consume garlic or onion as the properties of these foods disturb spiritual practices such as meditation.
Tamasic food is leftover, stale, overripe, spoiled or other impure food, which is believed to produce negative emotions, such as anger, jealousy and greed.
Rajasic is food that is believed to produce strong emotional qualities, passions and restlessness in the mind. This category includes meat, eggs, fish, spices, onions, garlic, hot peppers, pickles and other pungent or spicy foods.
The most desirable type of food, Sattvic, is food that is non-irritating to the stomach and purifying to the mind; it includes fruits, nuts, whole grains and vegetables. These foods are believed to produce calmness and nobility, or what is known as an “increase in one’s magnetism.”

34. Vegetarianism
Hindus believe in the interdependence of life and will not eat any food that has involved the taking of life.
Many do not eat beef or beef products because the cow is held to be sacred.
Fish is a staple food product.

35. Preparation and Drink
Milk products are considered essential to a vegetarian diet and ghee (clarified butter) is a widely used frying medium.
Spices provide taste, aid digestion and promote good health.
The main meal, lunchtime, will typically consist of rice, sabji, dahl and chapattis.
Orthodox Hindus and most vegetarians are unlikely to consume alcoholic beverages.
Sabji- vegetables cooked with spices and curry flavors
Dahl- a dish or preparation of lentils or other pulses
Chapattis- A flat, unleavened, disk-shaped bread of northern India, made of wheat flour, water, and salt

36. Food and Worship
Food offered to the deities is thought to bestow considerable religious merit, purifying body, mind and spirit.
Temple cooks are usually brahmanas and follow strict standards of personal cleanliness.
There is a belief that the consciousness of the cook enters the food and influences the mind of the eater.
Hindus celebrate many holy days, but the Festival of Lights, Diwali is the best known.

37. Prasad
For true service to God, purity of food is necessary to maintain the desirable state of mind that leads to enlightenment. Food is consumed not only to survive but also to stay healthy and maintain mind/body equilibrium.
A true devotee will refuse to accept any food that is not offered first to God.
Before starting any daily meal, water is sprinkled around the plate as an act of purification.
Five morsels of food are placed on the side of the table to acknowledge the debt owed to thedevta runa (divine forces) for their benign grace and protection.
Hindus believe that for true service to God, purity of food is necessary to maintain the desirable state of mind that leads to enlightenment. Food is consumed not only to survive but also to stay healthy and maintain mind/body equilibrium. By eating a purer quality of food, such as a Sattvic diet, and regulating food consumption, one can ensure a pure heart, long life, cheerful spirit, strength, health, happiness and delight. Good and pure food promotes a peaceful—not agitated—mind, which is needed to see the Truth as the Truth. Sin, or an agitated state of mind, prevents the journey to moksha (divine supreme knowledge, which leads to freedom from the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth).
Some specific Hindu dietary customs and practices include the following:
A true devotee will refuse to accept any food that is not offered first to God. Gaining God’s blessing before consuming the food is essential. Hindus may do this is by placing their daily food before the particular deities they worship and by reciting shlokas(prayers). Once the food is offered to God, it is eaten as prasad or blessed food.
Before starting any daily meal, a devout Hindu first sprinkles water around the plate as an act of purification.
Five morsels of food are placed on the side of the table to acknowledge the debt owed to thedevta runa (divine forces) for their benign grace and protection.

38. Fasting
Fasting is seen as a means of purifying the body and the soul, encouraging self-discipline, and gaining emotional balance.
Practiced on specific days of the week, during festivals or on holy days, or in conjunction with special prayers.
It is not required for a Hindu patient to fast during hospitalization. However, some may wish to do so.
There is no specified way to fast. May choose to abstain completely from all food and drink or only abstain from certain foods.

39. Buddhism Both Hinduism
India, Nepal
No single founder
Vedas, Upanishad,
Puranas, Gita
dharma shastras
Perist and Brahmins
The five Jivas
Ashrama
Individual
Tibet, Sri Lanka
Siddhartha Gautama
Sutras, Pali canon,
Tipitaka
Eightfold Path
Vedas and the Brahmans
Atman
bodhisattva
Collective
Polytheistic
Reincarnation
Vegetarianism
Karma
Forbiddance of onions and garlic
Use of spices
Buddha was born to a Hindu family, Buddhism was formed in response to Hinduism. Buddhism gained popularity in India because it released people from the oppression of Hindu traditions. The teachings of Buddha created hope and aspiration for those without freedom of choice, as India and Hinduism was dominated by the cast system, ritual forms of worship and exclusive status.
They influences each other in many ways. The buddhist compassion for all living things became deep rooted in Hindu religion. Devotional worship from the Hindu religion became common place in sects of Buddhism. Meditation, higher states of consciousness and mindfulness became popular with Buddhism.
Eightfold path to self realization
Both believe in higher and lower worlds: planes of existence and gods and deities in each plane.
Both consider desire the chief form of suffering, and both utilize meditation, concentration, and detachment of worldly life.
Compassion and respect for all living beings
Atman: the immortal aspect of the mortal existence (the soul or “self”) that is hidden in every object of creation. Atman is Brahman, the supreme creator (all internal aspects of creation within a person- the supreme self).
Jivas: Humans are a type of Jiva –organisms have to reach the state of a human being (conscious thought) before improving their cosmic status.
Both are considered polytheistic, but these gods or deities make up “One” of the Eternal Law. Buddhism acknowledge some of the Hindu deities, but not all and is actually considered atheistic because Buddha did not train his disciples to worship any deity. However, “ancient Buddhist doctrines do not deny the existence of gods.” Buddha acknowledged the existence of gods inhabiting the cosmos, yet he insisted that they are “impermanent like all other living beings. Thus, they too must escape rebirth through nirvana.” they are projections of the deepest qualities of our own human nature.
Bodhisattva: Enlightenment

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