Question

A major difference between Buddhism and Hinduism was that-
A. Buddhism denied the need for caste, rites, and sacrifice to achieve Nirvana
B. Hinduism was monotheistic and Buddhism was polytheistic
C. Buddhism denied rebirth, reincarnation and emphasized the real world
D. Buddhism encouraged its followers to renounce the political world
E. Hinduism taught respect for all living things and prohibited killing

Answer 1

Hint: We need to remember that Hinduism is a religion which originated from India and Buddhism follows the same. Although, both religions talk about attaining a state of enlightenment, about karma, and how karma affects the cycle of birth- death and rebirth, there are still big differences between both religions.

Complete answer:
We need to know that Hinduism is a religion that emphasizes understanding the existence, from within the “Atman” (meaning soul or self). Buddhism on the other hand does not talk about finding the Atman.
Although both of the religions originated from the same country- India, still there are ample differences in both.
Hinduism involves the practice of yoga, offerings in the temple, meditation, yoga, contemplation, etc. but Buddhism involves the practice of meditation, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right mindfulness, and concentration.
While Buddhists declined the existence of the omnipotent creator of the world –God, Hindus believe in the existence of many gods but they also believe that they all reside in an individual and they all come from within (Atman).
In Hinduism, statues of gods and pictures as well are used to pray them and to pay any offerings while in Buddhism, the statues are particularly used as a medium of meditation.
Buddhists never believed in caste systems and never divided the religion while Hindus believe in the caste system and the religion is divided into main four casts- Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras.
The path of enlightenment in both religions also differs a bit but both of the religion talks about doing good deeds in order to free oneself from an infinite cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Hinduism has the concept of “karma” telling that actions of a person will bring subsequent reactions i.e. if you do good deeds, you’ll be freed from the cycle of birth-death and reincarnation but if you do bad deeds, you’ll be trapped in the cycle forever.
On the other hand, Buddhists emphasize meditation and doing good deeds to attain the state of “Nirvana”.
Both of the religions talks about attaining enlightenment and freedom for the cycle of birth, death, and reincarnation. Hindus call this process “Moksha” and Buddhists call it “Nirvana”.
So, the correct answer is Option A.

Note: We must know that besides the beliefs of both the religions, both of them accept atheists. Also, both of the religions believe that reincarnation can be achieved only when you do good deeds and both of the religions also agree on the concept of “karma”. As we know that both religions have beautiful architecture that is colorful and vibrant. Buddhists have a choice to believe in Monotheists, Atheists, or Polytheists but Hinduism only believes in Polytheists.