Question asked by Gary King
I am a substitute teacher who recently accepted a class studying World History Geography and Civilization. In the chapter about India, there is a section entitled "Principles of Buddhism." One sentence in the reading selection states:
"Achieving wisdom is a key step in achieving nirvana or ultimate reality– the end of the self and a reunion with the Great World Soul. "
An item on a test was to be answered: "In Hinduism and Buddhism, respectively, the single force governing the universe was called Brahman and the Great World Soul."
Are these accurate statements? (I am unable to find other references outside the textbook to this concept which a student found doubtful.) How should I clarify or explain the beliefs on this topic?
Dear Gary King,
Thank you for your question, and thank you for educating the next generation who will influence the world. The text book you have cited is somewhat in correct, and actually deals with one of the significant differences between the two world religions. While Hindu’s believe that the highest spiritual achievement is to re-unite with what the textbook calls “Great World Soul” or Brahman. This is basically the concept that the individual soul or “atman” is part of a greater whole and the goal of Hindu spiritual life is to re-unite with this greater whole. Therefore Hindu’s believe in an eternity of the soul or self. Buddhists, however, do not have this concept of the eternity of the soul. Rather Buddhists believe in transcending existence altogether, which is known as complete enlightenment.
Hindus also worship gods and goddesses who are believed to be the embodiments of the concept of this “Great World Soul”. On the other hand, even though the Buddha did not explicitly deny the existence of such gods and goddesses, the Buddha preached that it is futile to search for or seek something which an individual is not even aware of.
Experiencing the world after having been extremely sheltered for the majority of his life by his father, the king, Prince Siddhartha became disillusioned and sought the truth. After undergoing many austerities and meditation, the prince discovered the truth and became enlightened. Thereafter he was forever known as the Buddha or awakened one. The Buddha went on to preach that life is full of many types of sorrows and the only way that one can overcome these is to attain the state of nirvana or enlightenment which transcends existence itself. This is in contrast to the belief that in Hinduism that one unites with Brahman.
Though both religions believe in karma, or the theory that good actions with good motivations lead to positive states of being, while bad actions with bad motivation lead to negative states of being, there have differences. In Buddhism karma can only truly be negated once you have attained enlightenment, whereas in Hinduism it is attained through unification with Brahman.
The Hindu path is marked by various forms of yoga and meditation aimed at a union with a particular god, and demand fulfilling the duties of your position in the human world and culture, prayer, devotion and knowledge. The Buddhist path is marked by the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Noble Path, and the Six Paramitas, the understanding that existences is permeated with suffering, that these sufferings are due to desires, that the search for eternity only worsens human suffering and that in order to attain nirvana once must overcome the mistake desires.
In essence Hindu’s believe in the concept of an eternal soul and the “Great World Soul” as the text book you mention labels it, whereas Buddhism denies the existence of an eternal soul. I hope this helps. Thank you.