[Zoxeeoy]

Hi Twinkie,

In teaching the path of liberation, the Buddha re-defined many Hindu ideas, taking existing terms and concepts and giving them a more practical meaning relevant to understanding the origin and cessation of suffering.

Over the course of the past two and a half millenia, some Hindu ideas seem to have found their way back into certain forms of Buddhism, at least as perceived by people whose understanding of those forms of Buddhism is not well-developed. For instance, rebirth is a deeply misunderstood subject. The Buddha's notion of rebirth differs substantially from the theory of reincarnation proposed by Hinduism. As should be evident from any reading of the core teachings of the Buddha, no where did the Buddha support the existence of a permanent self that persists from life to life, like a soul. He discouraged needless speculation on the matter, deeming it unnecessary to ending suffering. Hinduism, on the other hand, revolves around the notion of the immortal Self which is eternally reincarnated in various forms. This is a rather large discrepancy between the two.

Kamma/karma is another idea with different meanings in Buddhism and Hinduism. According to Hinduism, a being is destined to be forever born into the same tier of the social hierarchy due to karma. This fate is inescapable and unalterable. Karma from the standpoint of Hinduism served to justify the Hindu caste system. The Buddha, however, proclaimed that it is not by birth that one attains a certain rank. It is by volitional actions in this very life that one is able to influence and change one's so-called destiny. Kamma/karma from the perspective of Buddhism is not fatalistic or deterministic. Only Hindu karma is.

These are just two of countless differences that exist between Buddhism and Hinduism. As this is the Buddhism for Beginners subforum, I've tried to keep the above as simple as possible.

This recent thread on the Bhagavad Gita might be of interest to you: http://www.buddhismwithoutboundaries...-Bhagavad-Gita

In terms of your final question, my answer is both. In my life practice, Buddhism is both a philosophy and a moral pathway. The Buddha emphasized the cultivation of wisdom, virtue, and meditative concentration. The way I practice Buddhism, all are given equal weight.

Hope that helps a little.

Abhaya