Comparison between Hinduism and Buddhism

Comparison between Hinduism and Buddhism Introduction Religion has remained an important aspect in the civilization of mankind. Whereas religious practices and belief systems may vary, the presence of a supreme being who is always worshipped is common. The deities are given special preference in any form of religious worship. This essay compares Hinduism and Buddhism.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Comparison between Hinduism and Buddhism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Cultural and Geographical Origin The cultural and geographical origin of Hinduism can be traced back in the fourteenth century. The Afghans, Persians, and Arabs first used the term â€Å"Hindu† to denote the inhabitants of the aforementioned regions. The Indus River gave rise to the name Hindus and hence, people who used to reside close to this river were generally referred to as the Hindu (Fisher, 2014). Before the close of the nineteenth century, Hinduism became a religion. The te rm was used by the British colonial masters to describe all the religious groupings and practices that were dominant in this population. Nonetheless, the precise time when Hinduism began cannot be easily established. It has been described as a timeless religion. In other words, it is as old as humanity. According to historians, the early civilization that took place in the Indus valley contributed significantly towards the origin of Hinduism. Historical records indicate that northern India was the most likely origin of Buddhism. The fifth century B.C.E marked the first time when Buddhism came into limelight. However, the cultural origin of Buddhism is believed to be Gotama. He is the principal Buddha. The latter term refers to an individual who has been spiritually elevated and therefore more enlightened than other Buddhists. Buddhism has also been associated with the desire to alleviate human suffering across the world. Since the time it came into being, Buddhism has undergone seve ral modifications in terms of religious beliefs and practices. Specific Religious Practices The aspect of worship is one of the most vital religious practices in Hinduism. Worship entails seeking the attention of God and Devas. For instance, when they need blessings, Devas is believed to be the provider of good tidings. God’s awareness in Hinduism has been enhanced through worship. For instance, prayer, praise and invocations are collectively known as mantras (Flood, 2003). The meanings portrayed in the mantras can bring the presence of the gods close to them. Mantras also involve chanting and expressing full devotion to gods. A sacred river is used by those devoted to Hinduism to perform morning ablutions.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The second most important religious practice in Hinduism is the Bhajan. This entails singing to the deities as way of prai sing them. It is usually a devotional song that may be presented as a simple or complicated devotion. In most instances, Bhajans express love for the spiritual gods and may also be lyrical in terms of composition. The songs contain statements from scriptures and denote the supreme nature of the deities. Finally, Hinduism values rituals as part and parcel of religious practices. Rituals are executed regularly. Some of the religious rituals are done in homes a part form the usual places of worship. However, individuals, villages and regions carry out the various rituals in diverse ways. For example, rituals may be carried out after taking a shower or late in the evenings in order to appease the gods. When rituals are being carried out, the deities’ images are made available as a symbol of their presence (Michaels, 2004). Buddhists believe in the practice of meditation as the only way through which followers can be enlightened both in the physical and spiritual world. Buddhistsà ¢â‚¬â„¢ meditation also brings about spiritual freedom according to their belief systems. All the major practices of Buddhism often involve meditation because it is a central theme or pillar. However, different Buddhist nations have adopted various ways of meditating. Both tranquility (samatha) and insight (vipassana) are used in Buddhism in the process of meditation. The second common type of religious practice is the mantras. It entails hymns and chanting that are directed to the divine powers. The mantras are believed to contain powers that are beyond human understanding. The term has been derived from one of the Indian sub tribes. It basically means safeguarding the mind. Finally, the Mundras are also evoked through the mind by making use of certain images drawn from Buddha. During Buddhist meditation, particular ideas are supposed to be evoked in the mind. Ritual meditations also demand the use of mundras. The Buddha’s identity is symbolized by the mundras. Hinduism and Buddhism Practiced in the World Today The two forms of meditation in Buddhism may be used at the same time or separately. Sitting meditation has been adopted by Buddhist schools in both Japan and China as way of exercising religious freedom in worship. The Tibetan Buddhism is particularly notable in the practice of Mantras.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Comparison between Hinduism and Buddhism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This segment of the population that predominantly practices mantras has a strong belief that the presence of the deities can be brought closer when this religious practice is exercised. In other words, the deities are easily invoked through the mantras (Coogan, 2003). In addition, Hinduism has fundamental practices that are unique in each geographical location. In some regions across the world, religious customs in form of rituals can hardly miss during important events such as death, marriag e and birth. For instance, such rituals are common in India. Conclusion As can be seen, there are several similarities and differences between Hinduism and Buddhism. For example, both religions embrace meditation and mantras as ways of worshipping the deities. However, the Mundras exist only among the Buddhists. References Coogan, M.D. (ed.) (2003). The Illustrated Guide to World Religions. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Fisher, M. P. (2014). Living religions (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Flood, G. (2003), Blackwell companion to Hinduism. New York: Blackwell Publishing. Michaels, A. (2004). Hinduism: Past and Present (5th ed.). New York: Princeton University Press.Advertising Looking for essay on religion theology? Let's see if we can help you! 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10 Unexpected Realities of Self-Publishing Your Books

10 Unexpected Realities of Self-Publishing Your Books 10 Surprising Realities of Self-Publishing Your Books I know it seems easy.You’re probably thinking that self-publishing is nothing more than uploading a document to the web and hitting an all-powerful â€Å"PUBLISH† button.You’re far from the truth.In all honesty, self-publishing is certainly a process. There’s a reason big-name publishing houses have beenaround for so long; they take care of a lot of the work. You do all the creative thinking while they do the other heavy lifting.But that also means they get a (very) big cut of your earning. Your hard-earned income. But all of that’s already been discussed.Instead, we’ll talk about what you can actually expect when you decide to put yourself first and commit to self-publishing.And believe me, I know it’s a hard choice to make.Taking that leap can be difficult, especially if you’re not sure what to expect. Let us do some decluttering of your mind by cluing you in on some of the unexpected realities of self-publishing your book!#1 You’ll become a tech-savvy self-publishing whizA lot of technical coordination needs to happen in order to self-publish your book.You’ll have to:Write the bookGet it formattedGet a cover designedCombine into one productCreate online self-publishing accountsUpload materials to the accountsCoordinate your launch team in a single placeThere is more but I think you get the idea.Self-publishing involves a number of different technical capabilities you probably don’t know of before starting the process.And because you’ll be responsible for the entirety of your publishing journey, you’ll learn a lot about all of the different platforms you’ll need to make it happen which is made a lot easier with a program that shows you exactly what you need to do, when to do it, and how to get it done. #2 A lot more incomeYou probably think of self-published authors as the â€Å"starving artist† type, forever playing catch-up with bills and life in gene ral.In reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth.That fact is, self-publishing gets a really bad reputation for bankrupting those who pursue its path. And sure, some people may have spent a lot of time and money on their book only for it to tank.But those people often decide to go it completely alone instead of using a program or guideline of sorts to ensure they succeed.If you do work hard and pursue self-publishing by learning from those who have done it before, you can actually expect some cushy additional income.Why is that, you ask?Because you don’t have to fork over a chunk of your earnings to a publisher. Because you are the publisher. #3 You’ll learn a lot about yourselfThis is especially true if you’re writing non-fiction but it’s just as meaningful for fiction authors as well.Writing a book takes a lot of your own experiences, values, and meaningful content to you. That means you get to do some digging into your psyche to uncover the very core of who you are. And if youre writing a memoir, be prepared for a lot of this.That’s a bit deep, but I really want you to understand just how much you can learn about yourself from self-publishing a book.And it’s not even all about the writing itself, either.Self-publishing takes a lot of drive, ambition, and a very determined individual.It’s a challenge and whenever we enter into challenging times in our lives, we learn more about ourselves than ever before.Self-publishing a book is the same.Through your writing, editing, rewriting, marketing, and self-publishing journey, you can figure out more of who you are and what you want out of life.And that alone is worth it.#4 You’ll make amazing connectionsNetworking isn’t really something many people think of when they consider self-publishing.In fact, most people assume self-published authors are shut-ins who spend all their time shrouded in thick blankets with a steaming mug of spiked co ffee between their hands.But when you have to market and ask others for advice or even if you become a member of a powerful self-publishing group, you meet all kinds of people.And knowing talented, hardworking individuals will only help you reach your goals faster.The point is, self-publishing helps you build those connections you might not otherwise get. After all, self-published authors stick together.#5 You build almost-instant credibility The crazy thing about self-publishing is how much other’s view of you changes.Before, you may have just been a blogger with a business that just wouldnt take off. After you have a book available, others will see you as an authority figure in your field.They will feel more comfortable paying for your products or services simply because you wrote a book.It might seem a little silly because your knowledge base is the same, but when a potential customer can purchase your book, they instantly see you as someone with expert knowledge and this increases the likelihood that they’ll buy from you.Even if you’re not a business owner, self-publishing a book will still give you a boost in the eyes of strangers and even people you know well.#6 Opportunities will come knockingWe like to refer to self-publishing a book as opening the door to Narnia. Once you go through with the process, you will throw yourself into an entirely new world where opportunities basically fall into your lap.By this I mean that you might be contacted for speaking gigs, bring in more high-value clients, get requests for interviews, and more.Because publishing a book places you as an authority figure and heightens your credibility, more people will want to hear what you have to say on the subject.This could lead you down new roads, offer new business ventures (like this entire company!), and change your entire life just because you decided to take action and self-publish a book.#7 Your business will flourishThis is the amazing thing about self-publishing a book. When your credibility sky-rockets, so will your business.In fact, most aspects of your life will flourish but a book will directly aid your business (and even your side-hustle!).Take our alumnus Ashley Emma, for example. After the launch of her book, her business generated $24,000 specifically from her book Fearless Author.So if your business is struggling and you need a new way to bring in sales, writing and self-publishing a book is a fantastic method to do so.#8 You’ll want to write another book ASAPThe process of self-publishing can be a long and arduous one and you’ll still want to publish another book as soon as you can.Why? Because of everything you gain from it.Many of our students love what having a self-published book offers so much that they dive into the program again in order to write another one.In fact, one of our alumni (and now one of our Coaches!), Lise Cartwright, has self-published 26 books simply because of the opportunit ies she’s gained through doing so.One of the (arguably) best opportunities granted was becoming part of the Self-Publishing School team behind the scenes by teaching and helping other students find the same success she did.Bottom line: you might become addicted to writing books. #9 You’ll generate tons of new ideasWriting a book forces you into a quicksand-like imaginative headspace. The more you write, the more you understand what else you can be writing and you end up in a pit of creativity that releases your mind and allows you to think outside the box. You practically get sucked into creative thinking.Meaning, you’ll come up with so many new ideas for other books, blog posts, or even business ventures.Think of your creativity like a muscle and self-publishing as the gym.Each time you sit down to further your self-publishing progress, the more creative you will become.#10 You’ll become a routine-writerBefore you learn the real process of self-publish ing a book, you probably only ever wrote when you were inspired.And thats not always useful.You’ve always had this book idea and would spend bursts of time typing out so much contentonly to lose that inspiration the next dayand the nextand the next, until you basically forget all about it.When you actually self-publish a book, you learn that becoming an author isn’t just about writing when you want to but writing anyway.The best part about this?You write faster, become better, and can publish much sooner than if you waited around for inspiration to find you.Your Next Steps Toward Self-Publishing SuccessNow you know just how much you can expect to gain from self-publishing a book. But how do you get started? What steps do you need to takeright now?Ive got those answers right here for you:#1 Join your free trainingAre you ready to take the first step toward your self-publishing journey? Then make sure to save your spot and sign up for ourfree video training!Chandler Bol t, 6-time bestselling authorand our super knowledgeable CEO, will take you through exactly what you need to go from blank page to published author in 90 daysor even less if youre really ambitious!