Compare And Contrast Buddhism And Confucianism

Buddhism and Confucianism are two religions that have dominated China for many years. Although neither religions have a god in which they worship, each has infiltrated itself into the lives of those that practice Buddhism and Confucianism. Both religions propose a way or path for an individual to take to achieve happiness or minimal suffering and both religions assert that a person can be good by doing good. In short, Buddhism and Confucianism concur in origin but differ in focal points. Buddhism stems from India and was founded by a man named Siddhartha Gautama in the sixth century before Christ. Confucianism stems from China and was founded by Confucius. Both religions did not have immediate scriptures until later. For example, “The Enlightened

The key ideas of Buddhism are the struggle to escape suffering and attain nirvana, the end of samsara, and to become enlightened. Buddhism’s method for freedom from suffering is laid out in the Four Noble Truths. Gautama taught the following: Life is suffering and pain, pain is caused by desire and craving, the end of pain comes with the end of desire, and the eightfold path leads to the end of pain. Siddhartha Gautama believed that the way to happiness, nirvana, and end piece was the absence of pain and therefore desires. The pathway to attain the absence of pain is right understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration. On the other hand, Confucius taught that focusing on social order and the presence of a structured society was the key to happiness. Confucius focused on five relationships: ruler to subject, father to son, husband to wife, older brother to younger brother, and friend to friend. In addition to the emphasis on social order and the Five Confucian Relationships, Confucius also believed the reestablishment of traditional practices and virtues, such as ancestor worship, were essential to social success. In summary, Buddhism focuses on the end of suffering and the achievement of nirvana by the denial of desire while Confucianism hones in on the importance of social order and proper relationships between one