Buddhism vs Hinduism

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Hinduism is about understanding Brahma, existence, from within the Atman, which roughly means "self" or "soul," whereas Buddhism is about becoming awakened (Buddhi) by recognising, experiencing and validating the four noble truths. In Hinduism, attaining the highest life is a process of removing the bodily distractions from life, allowing one to eventually understand the Brahma nature within. In Buddhism, one follows a disciplined life, meditates, and discards wrong views. In so doing, one either realises peace (Nirvana) or instead becomes a Buddha and continues to liberate all beings from suffering.

Hinduism is Vedic, and Buddhism is non-Vedic. Hinduism is Brahmanical, and Buddhism is non-Brahmanical.

Buddhism, like Jainism and many other Indian traditions are Śramaṇic traditions which originally referred to several non-Brahmanical ascetic religions parallel to but separate from the Vedic religions of India such as Hinduism. The Śramaṇa tradition includes primarily Jainism, Buddhism, and others such as the Ājīvika.

It is a mistake to consider that Hinduism or Buddhism are the progenitor of the other. Buddhism stems from the non-Vedic Śramaṇa, whereas Hinduism remains Vedic but also strongly influenced by the Śramaṇa many traditions.

(see, for instance Patrick Olivelle's detailed book on this subject)

Comparison chart

Buddhism versus Hinduism comparison chart
	Buddhism	Hinduism

Use of statues and pictures	Common. Statues are used as meditation objects, and revered as they reflect the qualities of the Buddha.	Common
Belief of God	The idea of an omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent creator is rejected by Buddhists. The Buddha himself refuted the theistic argument that the universe was created by a self-conscious, personal God.	Many gods, but realize that they all come from Atman.
Place of worship	Buddhist monasteries, temples, shrines.	Temple (Mandir)
Place of origin	Indian subcontinent	Indian Subcontinent
Clergy	The Buddhist Sangha, composed of bhikkhus (male monks) and bhikkhunis (female nuns). The sangha is supported by lay Buddhists.	No official clergy. Gurus, Yogis, Rishis, Brahmins, Pundits, priests, priestesses, monks, and nuns.
Founder	The Buddha (born as Prince Siddhartha Gautama).	Not credited to a particular founder.
Literal Meaning	Buddhists are those who follow the teachings of the Buddha.	The followers of Vedas are called as Arya, noble person. Arya is not a dynasty, ethnicity or race. Anyone who follows the teachings of Vedas is considered Arya.
Life after death	Rebirth is one of the central beliefs of Buddhism. We are in an endless cycle of birth, death and re-birth, which can only be broken by attaining nirvana. Attaining nirvana is the only way to escape suffering permanently.	A constant cycle of reincarnation until enlightenment is reached.
Practices	Meditation, the Eightfold Path; right view, right aspiration, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration	Meditation, yoga, contemplation, yagna (communal worship), offerings in the temple.
View of the Buddha	The highest teacher and the founder of Buddhism, the all-transcending sage.	Some Hindu sects claim Buddha was an avatar of Vishnu. Others believe he was a holy man.
Marriage	It is not a religious duty to marry. Monks and nuns do not marry and are celibate. Advice in the Discourses on how to maintain a happy and harmonious marriage.	Man may marry one woman. However, kings in mythology often married more than one woman.
Human Nature	Ignorance, as all sentient beings. In the Buddhist texts, it is seen that when Gautama, after his awakening, was asked whether he was a normal human being, he replied, "No".	Depends on sects.
Means of salvation	Reaching Enlightenment or Nirvana, following the Noble Eightfold Path.	Reaching enlightenment by the Path of Knowledge, the Path of devotion, or the Path of Good Deeds.
Goal of religion	To attain enlightenment and be released from the cycle of rebirth and death, thus attaining Nirvana.	To break the cycle of birth, death and reincarnation, and attain salvation.
Followers	Buddhists	Hindus.
Population	500-600 million	1 Billion.
Original Language(s)	Pali (Theravada tradition) and Sanskrit (Mahayana and Vajrayana tradition)	Sanskrit
Scriptures	Tripitaka - a vast canon composed of 3 sections: the Discourses, the Discipline and the Commentaries, and some early scriptures, such as the Gandhara texts.	Vedas, Upanishad, Puranas, Gita. Smrti and Sruti are oral scriptures.
Confessing sins	Sin is not a Buddhist concept.	Repentance for unintentional sins are prescribed, but intentional sins have to be repaid through karmic consequences.
Religious Law	The Dharma.	Dharma shastras
Geographical distribution and predominance	(Majority or strong influence) Mainly in Thailand, Cambodia, Sri lanka, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, Japan, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Vietnam, China, Mongolia, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Other small minorities exist in other countries.	Mainly in India, Nepal and Mauritius. Has significant population in Fiji, Bhutan, UAE, etc.
View of other Dharmic religions	Since the word Dharma means doctrine, law, way, teaching, or discipline, other Dharmas are rejected.	They believe that Buddhists, Jains, & Sikhs should reunite with Hinduism (which is the original Dharmic religion).
Religion which atheists may still be adherents of	Yes.	Charvakas and Sankyas are atheistic groups in Hinduism.
Symbols	The conch, endless knot, fish, lotus, parasol, vase, dharmachakra (Wheel of Dharma), and victory banner.	Om, Swastika, etc.
Status of Vedas	The Buddha rejected the 5 Vedas, according to the dialogues seen in the nikayas.	Vedas are generally regarded as sacred in Hinduism. Post-Vedic texts like the Gita are also revered.
Authority of Pope	N/A.	N/A.
Views on Other Religions	Being a practical philosophy, Buddhism is neutral against other religions.	Believe all religions have some truth in them.
Holy days/Official Holidays	Vesak day in which the birth, the awakening, and the parinirvana of the Buddha is celebrated.	Diwali, Holi, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, etc.
Goal of Philosophy	To eliminate mental suffering.	Salvation, freedom from the cycle of birth and reincarnation.
Place and Time of origin	The origin of Buddhism points to one man, Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha, who was born in Lumbini (in present-day Nepal). He became enlightened at Bodhgaya, India and delivered his first set of teachings at a deer park in Sarnath, India.	Indian Subcontinent, beginning with the Vedic civilization circa 3000 BC
No. of Gods and Godesses	Numerous deities. No supreme creator.	Ultimatly monotheistic, however it believes in infinate representaitions of their god.
Status of women	No distinctions between men and women. Women are equal to men, and men are equal to women in the Sangha. The Buddha gave Men and Women equal rights and a major part in the Sangha.	Women can become priestesses or nuns. Women are given equal rights as men.
Principle	This life is suffering, and the only way to escape from this suffering is to dispel one's cravings and ignorance by realizing the Four Noble Truths and practicing the Eightfold Path.	To follow dharma, i.e. eternal laws
Time of origin	2,500 years ago, circa 563 B.C.E. (Before Common Era)	circa 3000 B.C.E
Can atheists partake in this religion's practices?	Yes.	Yes.

Buddhism vs. Hinduism

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