Shintoism Vs Buddhism

Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama in the late 6th century in India and has been a large religion that many people follow since its been around. Shintoism has no founder and also started in the late 6th century. Although Buddhism and Shintoism originate in Japan the two share similar qualities and beliefs but the two religions are very much different because they have their own traditions and different philosophies.

Although Buddhism and Shintoism seem different they both share some qualities that make them similar.The main focus of the belief of Shintoism is based around nature and polytheism and the simpleness of prayer and meditation. Buddhism shares qualities of mediation like Shintoism, and they share common traditions and rituals

Both religions share the importance of nature and meditation, they both take the main idea and then change and add their own importance of what they believe in and make them their own. For example the main focus of Zen Buddhism is the practice of meditation, Zen Buddhism was then later created and added in the aspect and importance of zen gardens. Zen gardens are made up of rocks and sand with moss and groomed trees and bushes and always has some aspect of water, either flowing or still. The main purpose of the Zen gardens is the importance of peace and the quintessence of the raked rocks and sand gives a flowing, peaceful feel to someone who is gazing upon the garden. It is used to make the mind clear and help with focus and meditation. Buddhism and Shintoism also drift when it comes to who the people pray and worship to, Buddhism is more about the understanding and learning of and about the path or enlightenment and four noble truths. The four noble truths go into the four key parts of getting out of the suffering humans go through day to day. The first being that all life has suffering that everyone has it, then it follows by saying that the suffering is caused by the human cravings and not being thankful for what you have. After stating that the only way to end the suffering is to end the craving, being thankful for what you have and being content with that. And the last noble truth is that the releasement of the suffering comes from following the noble eightfold path. Which is also known as the Middle Way or Middle Path. It is about eight segments or stages in which someone would take to reach the stage of enlightenment. While Shintoism believes in Kami, which are divine beings or gods.The Japanese, like the Christians believed that a man and a woman started the creation of humans. The Japanese believe in Izanagi and Izanami which are like Adam and Eve from the