What is similar about Buddhism and Islam?

Buddhism and Islam are two religions that are the most dominant in Asia. They have a lot in common. The followers of both of them believe there is one Supreme Being which oversees the activities of the people on the earth. Moreover, the two religions started with a man who found divine relations, which the people of their age did not have. Furthermore, they started as personal inspirations to understand the huge underlying power that governed the earth. Later, these incentives turned out to be directions about how human beings should behave towards each other. The individuals set out to spread the gospel they had received through revelations to alert their communities about the eternity after death. The latter was divided into two parts: heaven for the righteous people and hell for the evil ones. The disciples of both religions follow their respective models who received the divine insights for the appropriate way of life. Thus, Buddhism and Islam are similar in very many ways, and the following essay will analyze the features that are the alike concerning the religions under consideration: the belief in a Supreme Being, divine enlightenment, one-man divine revelation, emulating the models for the way and the belief in the hell and heaven.

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Similarly, Buddhism started with one man who received enlightenment through searching the depths of nature. Having attained Buddhahood, the individual had to shun all earthly desires and live following the true wisdom. According to Buddha, human beings live like ignorant sons who have a rich father that can afford to provide them with everything that they need. However, their nescience bars their rationale, and they end up striving for the negligible things that they can easily get from their fathers. Therefore, people should live in search of the true Supreme Being demonstrating audacity, and they will receive all the things that they require. In Buddhism, one who resists the worldly desires, attains enlightenment and leads others to it is worth of every good thing. These inspirations about good living virtues were revealed to Buddha due to long meditation and natural superior intelligence. To be able to perceive the concepts religion, one must have natural talent, which allows him to think beyond other human beings. In both religions, the people adorned with the ability for enlightenment are the chosen ones to convey and deliver the will of the Supreme Being to the lesser intelligent community. The revelations of the Supreme Being to Buddha and Muhammad are the foundations of the Buddhism and Islam respectively.

Secondly, Buddhism and Islam believe in a supreme being. Muhammad taught his followers that there was only one god (Donner 3). Similarly, Buddha taught his disciples that there was one Supreme Being, the Bodhisattva Perceiver of World’s Sounds (Guanyin). In both cases, the Supreme Being is responsible of everything that happens on the earth and can manipulate human lives beyond people’s understanding. Moreover, both religions argue that the followers should venerate the Supreme Being without wavering or swaying from the faith. The Supreme Being is able to protect human beings in different ways and offers help when the need occurs, and they ask for it. Finally, both Islam and Buddhism claim that people have to fulfill their duty living virtuous lives.

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Two of the world's major religions appear to be polar opposites at first glance; Buddhism advocates inward reflection while Islam mandates outward worship of a deity. However, the two share some moral beliefs and theological similarities, and single figures founded each one; Siddhartha Gautama founded the Buddhist faith when he presumably became the Buddha, or enlightened one around 500 B.C., and the Prophet Muhammad, who, according to Muslims, received revelations from God around 600 A.D., founded Islam. Sponsored Link Instant Grammar Checker Easily Correct All Grammar Errors. Enhance Your Writing. Try Now! www.grammarly.com The Afterlife

Muslims and Buddhists believe that life exists after a person has died, and actions people take in this life

They believe Siddhartha Guatama was not a god, but a human being who became the Buddha when he obtained enlightenment. Anyone can become enlightened. The religion does not advocate a relationship with an external god. In Islam, only one god, Allah, exists and has ever existed. He controls the entire universe and all of the people in it. Muslims believe Allah delivered his messages to Muhammad, who wrote them down in the Quran. Allah made specific commandments that he requires of all people. Muslims do not believe in looking inside themselves to achieve enlightenment. Charitable Works Buddhists follow five precepts, or rules to live by. The first precept forbids causing harm to other living thing, from animals to humans. Buddhists also believe in love and forgiveness and practice a form of meditation called loving-kindness. Islam also teaches the importance of humanitarian acts and charities. One of the five pillars, called Zakat, requires Muslims to donate a portion of their property and money to the needy as a charitable acts. Those who cannot fast during the month of Ramadan may make a charitable donation as an alternative.

Texts and Moral

Year 12 student, Jessica Robinson, argues that Islam and Buddhism are more alike than you think.

SINCE THE dawn of mankind, humans have attempted to answer the most complex and perplexing questions of the universe through religious beliefs. Questions such as why are we here? How did we come to be?

Religions worldwide set out a set of moral and ethical guidelines on how one should live and interact with the world. This leads to a vast number of teachings on peace and conflict, how to behave when at war and how to avoid it all together.

In today’s world, Islam is seen as one of the most violent and war-like religions. However, this is not the case. Many of their ancient scriptures and teachings from the Quran and from their prophet Muhammad talk of avoiding violence at all costs.

On the other side of the coin, Buddhism is seen as one of the most peaceful religions in the world. By all accounts it is. The Buddha preached love and kindness and the ending of all suffering. However, due to political and religious turmoil, many Buddhists have turned to violence and hate. Buddhist monks are now persecuting Muslims in Burma.

With Buddhism, there is an emphasis on peace and peaceful living but this comes from a focus on suffering and the ending of all suffering. The Four Nobel Truths are the centre of Buddhism. These truths centre around suffering, the cause of suffering, the end of suffering and how one can end suffering. Within Buddhism, there is a large focus on inner peace or “enlightenment”. Once one reaches enlightenment, you no longer suffer and your aim is to ease the suffering of others by aiding them in their path to enlightenment. The very basis of Buddhist teachings is one of peace.

If you wish to end suffering, the most obvious way to do that is to be peaceful.

To learn how Islam strives for peace, you must look to see when it was established and in what political and religious climate. The prophet Muhammad was born into an extremely violent tribal culture. In his thirties, Muhammad experienced “divine revelations” from God which led to the writing of the Quran. In these teachings, Muhammad said that God, or Allah, wished for peace for his people. These teachings also preached patience and kindness. These teachings were alien to pre-Islamic Arabia.

Muhammad advocated a policy of non-violent resistance and like Buddhism, Islamic teachings, at their core, call for peace and patience. The Holy Quran 49:10 states ‘Humanity is but a single brotherhood; so make peace with your brethren.’ The word ‘Islam’ even comes from the world ‘Salam’ meaning ‘peace’.

Today, members and leaders of the Islamic faith actively condemn acts of violence. They speak out against injustices and work together with other Abrahamic faiths in interfaith dialogues to aid the spread of understanding and peace. Muslim communities in Australia are working with the federal and state governments to combat the radicalisation of Muslim youths.

"The deradicalisation program is really about friendship." - Prof. Greg Barton explains... #sun7 https://t.co/m41vDU49VK

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) April 25, 2016

Obviously, the glaring contradiction is terrorist organisations such as Islamic State and Boko Haram. However, these organisations do not work in the name of Allah, or in any way embody the teachings of Muhammad. These contradictions result from a misunderstanding and misinterpretation of Islamic text. With all religious text, one must continually re-interpret it as society evolves.

In reality, the Quran is no more violent than the Christian bible, it just so happens that there are groups of people who insist on taking portions of the Quran out of context to fit their radical agenda.

In the modern world, Buddhism works with many people and religions in an effort towards peace. Organisations such as The Soka Gakkai International is a global movement of people who are connected through Buddhism. They attempt to bring a “revolution of peace” to the world. This organisation has roots leading back to the Cold War where they rallied against the use of nuclear arms. The then president of the organisation, Josei Toda, called for the complete prohibition of all nuclear weapons.

The Soka Gakkai organisation has always said that open dialogue among the various faiths and cultures is the key to peace. They published dialogues with the former soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, Indonesian Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid, and Chinese writer Jin Yong.

55th Anniversary of President Toda's Declaration Against Nuclear Weapons

Like Islam, there is still the radical sect of Buddhism who insist on interpreting the sacred texts to suit their own agenda. This is never more obvious than with the persecution of Muslims in Burma at the hands of Buddhist monks. The origin of this violence is vague at best and there are disputing claims as to why and when these persecutions began. The persecution included boycotting Muslim business and attacking and killing Muslims.

Some claim that the Buddhists of Burma became angry at the influx of Muslim migrants to the country. Others say that the Buddhist monks became angry at the accumulated wealth of the Muslims, effectively blaming them for the poverty of their own people. Whatever the origin, these events show that no religion is immune from violent extremism. But these episodes of violence should in no way over-shadow the good done by other Buddhists and Buddhist organisations.

BBC News - Why are Buddhist monks attacking Muslims? https://t.co/2c0b5bIqCD

— Sandi Keane (@Jarrapin) August 19, 2016

It is safe to say, that the goal for every religion is to reach a state of peace, whether it’s inner peace, or world peace. The radical sects of some religions do not speak for these religions as a whole, and the majority of adherents of these religions are appalled at the things done in the name of, say, Allah and Buddha. 

Through the teachings of Muhammad, Muslims are instructed to be patient, to be kind to those of differing faiths.

Buddhists have a similar view. They must not cause suffering and should shy away from violence. Much like Muhammad, they preach non-violent resistance.

Many people would be shocked to think of Islam and Buddhism being comparable in any way and yet if you look closely at their teachings, and their efforts towards peace, they are more similar than one may suspect. 

Jessica Robinson is a Year 12 student who has an interest in world religions. You can follow her on Twitter @Jessica_peta.

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