Hinduism And Buddhism

This book informs us about the basic essence of Buddhism in comparison to Hinduism. It is essential to start with the first chapter to understand the correct meaning of the basic spiritual terms used in this book. In most of the books spiritual terms may have been used differently. Many people think and propagate that all religions basically teach the same, and have same objectives, but may have different paths. But in fact, there are basic philosophical contradictions. Unless we understand these differences properly and try to remove them, the unity of all the religions may not be achieved. The aim of this book is understand the essence of Buddhism and its differences with Hinduism, if any. Why and how it spread in most of the countries? Why and how in India Buddhists adopt to Hinduism later? Basically Buddhism evolved from Hindu Dharma as Buddha was a Hindu. But he discarded God, soul, Scriptures and Brahmanism. More or less it was a contrast to Hinduism. Buddha has been controversial and misunderstood by many. Many people think that Buddha was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and his enlightenment was ‘Self-realization or God-realization’. But this does not seem to be correct. Is it not ridiculous to call some one as an Avatara of God, if he doesn't believe in God? The book clarifies the difference between 'Moksha & Nirvana' and 'Buddhist and Hindus meditations', which in fact differ in many respects. Author has also compared two more religions Jainism & Islam with Buddhism and Hinduism. But the comparison has been limited only up to philosophical level and not about traditional differences. Author has due respect to all the religions.

The renowned Sri Lankan metaphysician presents his enlightening insight into the essential kinship between Hinduism and Buddhism. In this probing work, Ananda K. Coomaraswamy examines the foundational myths and spiritual underpinnings of Hinduism and Buddhism. Discarding the Western narrative of philosophical divergence, Coomaraswamy instead explores the essential unity between these two major religions. In his perspective, one is merely an outgrowth of the other. Dividing the book into two parts, Coomaraswamy begins each section with an overview of each religion’s foundational myths. The section on Hinduism then covers concepts such as karma, maya, reincarnation, sacrifice, and caste. In the section on Buddhism, he demonstrates that Buddha never intended to start a new religion, but to deepen the spiritual understanding of the existing one.

Originally published in 1952. This volume, by discussing significant insights of Hinduism and Buddhism, answers the question "What is the meaning of life?" It illustrates the importance of Buddhist and Hindu teachings and their relevance to the West, as well as clarifying some of the religious and philosophical problems Western readers must grapple with.

Reconciles seemingly conflicting views of Asian transcendence and American freedom to argue that post-WWII American writers envision a more enlightened individualism.

Developing a framework to study "what makes a region," Amitav Acharya investigates the origins and evolution of Southeast Asian regionalism and international relations. He views the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) "from the bottom up" as not only a U.S.-inspired ally in the Cold War struggle against communism but also an organization that reflects indigenous traditions. Although Acharya deploys the notion of "imagined community" to examine the changes, especially since the Cold War, in the significance of ASEAN dealings for a regional identity, he insists that "imagination" is itself not a neutral but rather a culturally variable concept. The regional imagination in Southeast Asia imagines a community of nations different from NAFTA or NATO, the OAU, or the European Union. In this new edition of a book first published as The Quest for Identity in 2000, Acharya updates developments in the region through the first decade of the new century: the aftermath of the financial crisis of 1997, security affairs after September 2001, the long-term impact of the 2004 tsunami, and the substantial changes wrought by the rise of China as a regional and global actor. Acharya argues in this important book for the crucial importance of regionalism in a different part of the world.