Compare and contrast various views of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism.

Hinduism is polytheistic, which means that its adherents worship a lot of deities. Two different views on the nature of God coexist within Hinduism: on the one hand, he is manifested in the trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva); on the other hand, God is impersonal, omnipresent, and at the same time distant from the human world.

Buddhism does not have any gods or rituals to please them. In this way, it is both similar to and different from Hinduism because Theravada Buddhists claim that God does not have any impact on a particular individual and his ability to reach nirvana, whereas Mahayana Buddhism is more in line with classical Hinduism because it stresses the importance of divine providence in human life.

Taoists stand closer to Buddhists in their respect for Buddha as a sage (though Lao Tzu stands higher). Both religions state that humans are trapped in the endless circle of reincarnation, but Buddhists believe that it can be interrupted when a person reaches nirvana, whereas Taoists think that one can stop sufferings only if he/she follows the Tao. Like classical Hinduism, Taoism is based on the belief in human potential to gain immortality by serving one life’s purpose. However, Taoism does not acknowledge any kinds of deities and is more concerned with ethics.

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Academic.Tips. 2022. "Compare and contrast various views of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism." September 13, 2022. https://academic.tips/question/compare-and-contrast-various-views-of-hinduism-buddhism-and-taoism/.

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Academic.Tips. "Compare and contrast various views of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism." September 13, 2022. https://academic.tips/question/compare-and-contrast-various-views-of-hinduism-buddhism-and-taoism/.

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