What Buddhism & Hinduism Share

Dhammapada 220

“There is no fire like passion, no shark like hatred, no snare like delusion, no torrent like craving.”

Dana (giving) as spiritual practice

Bhagavad Gita 17:20

“Charity given out of duty and obligation to the right person at the right time and in the right manner is considered to be in the mode of goodness.”

Dhammapada 219

“The gift of truth surpasses all other gifts; the taste of truth surpasses all other tastes.”

Bhagavad Gita 17:20-22

“That gift which is given at the right time in the right place to a worthy person is considered to be in the mode of goodness.”

Dhammapada 25

“With spiritual friends, the journey to enlightenment becomes clear; the sangha supports the path of the Buddha's teaching.”

Bhagavad Gita 10:10

“To those who are constantly devoted and worship with love, I give the yoga of understanding by which they attain me.”

Dhammapada 5:1

“Hatred does not cease by hatred at any time. Hatred ceases by love. This is an eternal law.”

Bhagavad Gita 12:13

“He who has no ill will toward any being, who is friendly and compassionate... such a devotee is dear to Me.”

Kalachakra Tantra

“The cosmos arises and dissolves through the endless cycles of time and consciousness.”

Cyclical view of cosmic manifestation

Rig Veda 10.129

“In the beginning there was neither existence nor non-existence... The One alone existed without a second.”

Nasadiya Sukta reflects on cosmic mystery

Tibetan Book of the Dead

“At the moment of death, the consciousness experiences the clear light of reality; recognition of this nature leads to liberation.”

Bhagavad Gita 2:22-25

“As a person sheds worn-out garments and wears new ones, so too the soul casts off a worn-out body and enters a new one.”

Dhammapada 172

“Be a lamp unto yourself. Be your own refuge. Seek not external salvation.”

Inner enlightenment

Bhagavad Gita 10:11

“I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who perfectly engage in My devotional service and surrender all their results to Me are certainly the best yogis.”

Digha Nikaya 26

“When the age of decline reaches its nadir and human lifespan shrinks to ten years, the future Buddha Maitreya will arise in the world, fully enlightened, endowed with wisdom and compassion, and will teach the Dharma again.”

Bhagavata Purana 12.2.1

“At the end of the Kali Yuga, when righteousness has nearly vanished, Kalki, the final avatar of Vishnu, will appear on a white horse, wielding a blazing sword, to destroy the wicked and usher in a new Satya Yuga.”

Dhammapada 183-184

“Do not follow evil; do not live heedlessly. Do not follow false views. Be not heedless in the pursuit of truth.”

Bhagavad Gita 16:7-12

“The divine qualities lead to liberation; the demonic qualities lead to bondage. Know that the godly are destined for freedom.”

Dhammapada 185

“The restraint of speech is good; good is the restraint of mind. The restraint of body is good; good is restraint in all things.”

Bhagavad Gita 6:16-17

“Yoga is not for him who eats too much, nor for him who eats too little, nor for him who sleeps too much, nor who stays awake too long.”

Dhammapada 185

“The ascetic practices mindfulness in eating, taking food for sustenance rather than gratification, cultivating equanimity.”

Bhagavad Gita 17:12

“Austerity practiced with discipline and restraint purifies the body and develops spiritual power.”

Dhammapada 235

“The disciple who honors the worthy, whether living or dead, gathers merit and awakens to the dharma.”

Bhagavad Gita 9:27

“Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever sacrifice you offer, whatever you give, offer it all to me with devotion and gratitude.”

Dhammapada 259

“The bhikkhu who delights in mindfulness, who sees danger in heedlessness, advances like a fire that leaves nothing behind.”

Bhagavad Gita 13:8-12

“Humility, absence of arrogance, and recognition of one's limitations lead to knowledge of the eternal self.”

Metta Sutta

“May I be free from fear. May I be free from pain. May I be free from sorrow. May all beings be filled with lovingkindness.”

Bhagavad Gita 12:13-14

“He who hates no being, who is friendly and compassionate, free from attachment and ego, balanced in pleasure and pain, and forgiving, is dear to Me.”

Dhammapada 252

“The Tathagata (Buddha) dwells in the world but transcends it, like a lotus flower untouched by water, demonstrating the miraculous nature of enlightenment.”

Bhagavata Purana 10.6

“Krishna as an infant performs miracles, lifting the Govardhan mountain on his finger to protect his people from the storm.”

Dzogchen Tantra

“The direct recognition of the empty, luminous nature of mind is the union of wisdom and compassion, leading to enlightenment.”

Upanishads

“Tat tvam asi (Thou art that) - the ultimate realization is the identity of Atman (the soul) with Brahman (the divine reality).”

Dhammapada 308

“The contemplative mind, seeing nature as it truly is without grasping, finds the path to peace and enlightenment.”

Rig Veda 1.164.46

“The truth is one; sages call it by different names; some call it fire, some call it wind, some call it water.”

Mahavamsa 1.1

“The Buddha's bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya becomes the destination for pilgrims seeking enlightenment and connection to the Buddha's awakening.”

Mahabharata 3.84

“The pilgrim who visits the sacred sites and bathes in the holy rivers is purified of all sins accumulated over many lifetimes.”

Metta Sutta

“May all beings be happy. May all beings be safe. May all beings be peaceful.”

Loving-kindness meditation

Bhagavad Gita 12:6-7

“But those who renounce all actions in Me and regard Me as their only aim, worshipping Me with all their heart, are most certainly my devotees.”

Dhammapada 383

“This is the path to the Deathless: heed the teaching, guard the senses, and practice mindfulness and mental cultivation.”

Manusmriti 5:109

“Purity of body is attained through water; purity of mind through truth; purity of intellect through knowledge; purity of soul through austerity.”

Samyutta Nikaya 22:1

“The nature of conditioned things is to arise and pass away; through this arising and passing, the cycle of rebirth continues until nirvana is attained.”

Bhagavad Gita 2:20

“The soul is neither born, and nor does it die; all paths lead to the same truth, though it may seem different in appearance.”

Doctrine of reincarnation (samsara and moksha)

Dhammapada 12

“The Buddha's words are the dharma revealed for all beings to hear and practice, leading to the cessation of suffering.”

Brahma Sutras 1.1.1

“Brahman is that from which all beings originate, by which they live, and into which they ultimately return. The Vedas are the authoritative source of this knowledge.”

Dhammapada 387

“Let the sage kindle the light; the lamp is a symbol of enlightenment burning away the darkness of ignorance.”

Rig Veda 1.1.1

“Agni (the sacred fire) is the first among the gods, the messenger between heaven and earth, worthy of our reverence.”

Uposatha Observance

“The four lunar observance days mark sacred time for intensified practice and reflection on the dharma.”

Bhagavad Gita 2:25

“Festivals and sacred times mark the rhythm of the cosmos, honoring the cycles of creation and the seasons of devotion.”

Dhammapada 169

“Follow the path of virtue. Those who live according to dharma live in harmony with the world and its creatures.”

Atharvaveda 12.1.12

“Earth, in which the seas, the rivers and many waters lie, from which arise foods and fields of grain — bearer of all that breathes and moves.”

Four Noble Truths

“Life contains suffering (dukkha); suffering arises from craving (samudaya); there is cessation of suffering (nirvana); the path leads to cessation.”

Bhagavad Gita 2:14

“The contact between the senses and sense objects creates feelings of heat and cold, pleasure and pain; these are transient and must be endured.”

Dhammapada 289

“The Buddha teaches the way to enlightenment; the path must be walked by each individual through their own effort and understanding.”

Bhagavad Gita 4:34

“Seek a spiritual master who has realized the truth; approach him with reverence and sincere inquiry, and he will impart wisdom to you.”

Dhammapada 21

“Vigilance is the path to the Deathless. Heedlessness is the path to death. The vigilant do not die; the heedless are as if dead already.”

Nirvana as ultimate aim

Bhagavad Gita 2:22

“As a person sheds worn-out garments and wears new ones, so also the individual soul casts off worn-out bodies and enters new ones.”

Continuous cycle of rebirth

Pali Canon

“When the Buddha contemplated the rise and fall of the world through cycles of creation and destruction.”

Cyclical destruction and renewal

Matsya Purana

“The great fish Matsya appeared to warn Manu of the coming deluge and guided him to safety.”

Udanavarga 5:18

“A man should wander about treating all beings as he himself would like to be treated.”

Mahabharata 5:1517

“This is the sum of duty: do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you.”

Dzogchen Teaching

“The fundamental nature of all phenomena is the primordial purity and non-dual awareness - everything is of one essence.”

Chandogya Upanishad 6.2.1

“That which is the finest essence, that essence which all this world is made of - that is the truth, that is Atman, that is immortal.”

Dhammapada 15

“Wisdom is the path to the deathless; heedlessness is the path to death; the wise who choose the path reach Nirvana.”

Kena Upanishad 2.1-2

“That which speech cannot express, but which speech reveals, know that alone to be Brahman, not what people worship here.”