Introduction
In all religions, a central concept generalizes all the postulates and rules that are the main values of a particular people. According to Nuthongkaew (2022), karma is one of such main aspects that govern people’s relationship with the world around them and other people. At the same time, this concept played an essential role in forming the basic concepts of the Eastern peoples’ religion and their values and traditions. The ethical and experiential factors of Hinduism and Buddhism took on a definite shape throughout their development, with the concept of karma as a central value.
Discussion
Hinduism and Buddhism are the two main religions that arose long ago in the Indian subcontinent and were most widespread there. At the same time, in both religions, there are similarities in this concept and distinctive features that were formed based on differences between peoples (Amore et al., 2018). A common feature for both religions is that the concept of karma played a crucial role in the formation of ethical norms. The difference in this aspect lies primarily in the fact that in Hinduism, Karma is inextricably linked with the concept of dharma, which means duty (Kiran, n. d.). Thus, karma determines how a person will live in the next life depending on their actions in the present. In Buddhism, karma is not consistent with rebirth but indicates a person’s intentions, thus measuring his positive and negative qualities.
Applying the Dimensions of Ninian Smart’s Analytical Model to this concept, one can say that karma is essential for the ethical and experiential aspects of Buddhism and Hinduism. Karma is a fundamental basic concept in both religions’ doctrinal/philosophical dimensions. In the emotional/experiential dimension, karma influences how a person will behave in the present and future (Amore et al., 2018). The greatest manifestation and correlation, in this case, can be traced in the first two dimensions, doctrinal/philosophical, since they are of paramount importance from the point of view of the concept of religion.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is essential to say that karma has a strong foundation in Hinduism and Buddhism and governs most aspects of the lives of believers. This category is the main one since it substantiates many traditions and beliefs while being different in the two religions. They differ in their interpretation of karma and how people react to it. The theological relation of this concept makes the most sense since it is directly the basis of two widespread religions.
References
Amore, R., Hussain, A. & Oxtoby, W. (2018). World religions: Eastern traditions, 5th ed. Oxford University Press.
Kiran, J. (n. d.). Understanding Hinduism and Buddhism as Two Important Religions. International Journal of Management, Administration, Leadership & Education, 450. Web.
Nuthongkaew, K. (2022). Buddhism and Hinduism in Sociological Perspectives: A Similar Comparative Study. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 10188-10192. Web.