Compare and Contrast: the Concept of Self in Hinduism and Buddhism

Every religion has their own idea of Self. No two religions utterly trust each other or have the same ideas regarding Self. Though Buddhism is associated with Hinduism at some degree, Gautam Buddha himself being from Hindu religion and raised in a very Hindu society, left the principles of the religion to show his own philosophy. Let's make a compare and contrast analysis between Hinduism and Buddhism in this essay to discuss some concepts through perspectives of both religions. 

One of the important difference between Hinduism and Buddhism is of Self. Hinduism affirms that living beings possess a self known as Atman whereas, Buddhism negates the self and strictly upholds the idea of Anatman. In Hinduism, Atman is something that is not physical, and it is what makes a living being who they are and not the body. Atman virtually means that one’s true self. It can also be explained as an immortal side of any living being. Atman is separate from the body; it does not describe the body but the self within. It travels from one body to another once its dead and is eternal in nature. To break free from worldly nature and come back to Brahman is the fundamental aim of Hindu teachings. Atman can be achieved by oneself through meditation and yogic practices and is considered as highest level of wisdom. However, in Buddhism, they believe in Anatman or Anatta which in Pali means that there is no-self. Human components are taught in Buddhism such as matter, feelings and character but, none of these are considered as self. A judgement will be made on the basis of the arguments presented on which of these is more plausible.

Let’s start by conversing the Hinduism view on self. There are several analogies involved in understanding the Hindu argument on self. A decent analogy that is used is the diver in his vehicle. The driver often considers the vehicle as a part of themselves. For instance, when another vehicle hits their vehicle, the driver says that “he hit me”. Whereas, he never really hit them but instead hit their vehicle. Similarly, Humans determine their body as a part of themselves yet, it does not make their body the self by this. Just like the vehicle is bound to some laws like speed, similarly our self is also bound to some laws like walking or using our hands. According to some prominent propagators like Shankara, to know the self is to know the Brahman. This is how significant self is in Hindu religion.

According to Buddha, nothing in this world is perpetual and each object is subject to alter from the time of its formation to the time of its destruction. Buddhism also believes that the universe is destitute of self and there is no self, not for somebody or for any being. They believe that with self comes attachment and then restrictions from gaining the truth. The early Buddhists believed that a human should understand the process of continual change and should be aware of becoming instead of being known by their name and this will help him to stay away from all the sorrows and sufferings in life. “Whether past, future or present, internal or external, gross or subtle, inferior or superior, far or near, ought to be seen as it actually is with right wisdom thus: ‘this is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self’’. Some features of the human self are illustrated by Buddhism to prove their point as well. The primary and communal argument given is regarding the suffering. People and plenty of animals are given six senses that are materially impermanent. Then the argument presented is that the sufferings can be experienced with the use of these functions and thence something that involves suffering can not be ours. This is the reasoning provided by Gautama Buddha and it relies on the body as being as the self and not any soul or spirit. There is another instance where Gautama Buddha tells about the self. Once, he was questioned by wandering mendicant about ‘no self’. Gautama’s reply to that was in disagreement to eternalism and annihilationism which shows Buddhism is in between those two ways in which it conforms to arising knowledge of science and different disciplines that are more empirically founded. Modern Buddhism usually borrows the speculation of western thinker Hume. ‘Mind is a series of processes and not substances’ is the best way to describe his theory. Science says that the truth is all which may be verified by proof or evidences and replications whereas, Buddhism edits this definition of science and says that continuous experiences is what is truth and what people are and not an attached self. Buddha wanted to relieve the suffering and pain of people and this no-self theory aims to relieve people from their misery. Each human being should indulge themselves in detachment to achieve the ultimate goal of the truth, according to the theory. Meditation is a vital side of all Buddhist teachings and also plays an important role in clearing up the mind from all that is not needed. This theory presents some contradictions with the idea of rebirth that is accepted by Buddhist. Also, this theory is instantly accepted by most Buddhist but it’s still not clear on when this theory was preached by Buddha himself.

After longing enough resources and texts that deals with insights of each Hinduism and Buddhism, it will be over that each of the religion are quite similar in some thoughts, however, understand each element of being with totally different purpose of views. Whereas, Hinduism isn’t simply one faith or based by one saint or prophet, it appears to be associate integration of assorted thoughts and religions. Just in case of Buddhism it’s not going to be faith However, a bunch of thoughts and experiences that were gained by Gautam Buddha throughout his life. Both of these religions bring their own arguments to support their views. But an honest argument is that which may arise to scrutiny. Hindus don’t believe the self ever dies, however is all living even as Brahman or their conception of god and self-awareness is their main aim Whereas, Nirvana is the aim for Buddhism. The Analogy doesn’t mention the man’s relationship with God, as a result of different religions and beliefs emphasize the distinction between man and a God. The school of Vedanta teaches that Brahman and Atman are equal in all aspects, but all the other schools of Hinduism does not agree with it. Every school has their own different teachings for instance, The Vshistadvaita that Atman and its creation is reflection of Brahman and the Dvaita teaches that Brahman and Atman are different sets of reality and are eternally distinct. The primary point of the no-self that Buddha provides to his emotional based arguments was suffering. Both our mind and body are affected by sufferings. However, it also affects the self which is non-existent according to Buddhism. However, according to Hinduism, the effects and causes caused by human do affect the self, if not in this life then in an afterlife. Th main aim of Buddha to people was to attain Nirvana. Even among the science world, it can be said that mind is processes which can be seen in the philosophy of Hume’s. So, it can be said that based on all these points, Humans are just a process and not a self that is us or something inside us. This point is addressed more clearly by Hinduism than Buddhism. Hinduism also shows ways to understand Atman. Whereas, the main focus of Buddhism is on Human beings and their functions. As, there are more strong and logical arguments by Buddhism So, Buddhism can be considered as closer to plausibility.

Both of these religions could contradict one another at some purpose or the opposite. However, are being accepted quite well and practiced by folks in harmony and not in India but all over world. The Hindu self and Buddhist self are totally different from each other and a great depth of matter can be seen by examining both these boundless world religions. Both of these religions taught us to focus on the reality for ultimate happiness and peace and not on the worldly pleasures. The theory of Karma is braced by both religions that is the law of consequences and that of rebirth. These arguments of the faith are criticized for over hundreds of years nonetheless individuals hold closely to those beliefs supported these respectable arguments. For some people it’s just more than plausibility.