The purpose of this research is to examine Buddhism and Islam. The plan of the research will be to focus on the assumption of the innate perfection of humanity in the two religions, including such basic concepts as cosmology, which are essential in both religions. Then the research will show similarities and differences between the two religions.
Buddhism came about in India as a religion in 528 B.C. (Corless, 1989). This was more than 1,000 years before Islam was established as a religion. Over many centuries it spread through Asia--mainly to China, Japan, and Korea. Islam and Buddhism developed somewhat differently in their early history. Also, they have very different ideas about what is basic to religious experience. However, the historical development of each religion shows that they overlap in various ways. In particular, it is important to see that both religions have an individual and political-cultural component. This will be seen clearly later in the research.
The main elements of Buddhist thought are based on the Fourfold Truth. This dogma emphasizes the very personal or spiritual aspect of Buddhism. Despite the increase of the cultural aspect of the religion as Buddhism spread over the centuries, the spiritual emphasis was always present.
The Fourfold Truth can be put simply in four Sanskrit words: duhkha (suffering), samudaya (arising), nirodha (stopping) and marga (path) . . . .
The first part of the Fourfold Truth . . . means that the normal events of life, from birth to death, and associated difficulties, whether physical or mental, are dukkha, and indeed the very fact of having been born at all (i.e., of being embodied) is dukkha . . .
The second part of the Fourfold Truth gives the etiology of the disease. Samudaya, arising, refers to the origin or the source of suffering. The root of suffering is upadana, grasping . . . Four types of grasping are traditionally identified: grasping at...