Confucianism And Buddhism Similarities
Although Buddhism and Confucianism differ in their founders, country of origin, and their philosophy of life’s end, they are both Oriental religions that claim to have the correct way of life and believe that one can achieve goodness.
Even though Buddhism and Confucianism were both originated in Asia in the 6th century, they were founded in different countries by two separate people. Contrary to common belief, Buddhism was begun in India by Siddhartha Gautama. Gautama was a wealthy young man who left his home at 29 on a journey, later called the Great Renunciation, to seek the answers to deep spiritual questions. While mediating under a Bodhi tree, Gautama became the Buddha which means “enlightened” or “awakened one.”
In 6th century China, a poor teacher known as …show more content…
Junzi can be thought of as a gentlemen of old England like Mr. Darcy and Mr. Knightly. Junzi was a constant behavior of “humanity, integrity, righteousness, altruism, loyalty, and an outward demeanor and propriety to match.” (p. 38) In the Analects, a collection of Confucius’ sayings, Confucius said, “Just desire the good yourself and the common people will be good.”
While Buddhists believe in samara, a continuous cycle of reincarnation, Confucians trust in a single birth and death. The goal of a devout Buddhist is to reach nirvana, which is the release of one’s soul from the system of samsara and karmic effects. (Karma is all of the good and bad actions which affect one’s next reincarnated form and station of life.)
However, contrary to Buddhism, Confucianism is strangely quiet about the afterlife and mainly deals with the present life. Confucius stressed living in the here and now, to do good, to be in harmony with nature, and to be the person one was meant to be. He is known to have said, “There is government when prince is prince, the minister is minister, the father is father, and the son is
Even though Buddhism and Confucianism were both originated in Asia in the 6th century, they were founded in different countries by two separate people. Contrary to common belief, Buddhism was begun in India by Siddhartha Gautama. Gautama was a wealthy young man who left his home at 29 on a journey, later called the Great Renunciation, to seek the answers to deep spiritual questions. While mediating under a Bodhi tree, Gautama became the Buddha which means “enlightened” or “awakened one.”
In 6th century China, a poor teacher known as …show more content…
Junzi can be thought of as a gentlemen of old England like Mr. Darcy and Mr. Knightly. Junzi was a constant behavior of “humanity, integrity, righteousness, altruism, loyalty, and an outward demeanor and propriety to match.” (p. 38) In the Analects, a collection of Confucius’ sayings, Confucius said, “Just desire the good yourself and the common people will be good.”
While Buddhists believe in samara, a continuous cycle of reincarnation, Confucians trust in a single birth and death. The goal of a devout Buddhist is to reach nirvana, which is the release of one’s soul from the system of samsara and karmic effects. (Karma is all of the good and bad actions which affect one’s next reincarnated form and station of life.)
However, contrary to Buddhism, Confucianism is strangely quiet about the afterlife and mainly deals with the present life. Confucius stressed living in the here and now, to do good, to be in harmony with nature, and to be the person one was meant to be. He is known to have said, “There is government when prince is prince, the minister is minister, the father is father, and the son is