Abstract:
The purpose of this research is to study the concept of karma, one of the significant concepts of Buddhism and Hinduism. A comparison will be made to show the similarities and differences of this concept in both religions. The result of a critical and analytical study reveals that the doctrine of karma is one of the significant teachings of both systems and relates necessarily to their metaphysics. The concept of karma of Budhism and Hinduism is similar in the general considerations but different in some particular details. The two religions agree on the point that the law of karma which is the law of cause and effect is both the law of nature and the law of morality. As a natural law it maintains that everything comes into being according to the nature of its cause. In its status as the law of morality it has a general rule that the result of a mans action is to be regarded as good or evil, Buddhism and Hinduism have some points of difference and similarity, e.g. Buddhism regards every intended killing of animal as a sin while Hindusim holds that the killing of animal in the sacrificial ceremony is not a sin. Buddhism maintains that the law of karma exists by its own nature depending neither on God nor on any other Supreme Bing. But Hindusim holds that the law of karma is the law determined by God and He is its Lord. According to Buddhism what and how a man will depends on what he did in the past and is doing at present. To Hinduism everything including man comes from Brahman; what and how a man will depends on both his own karma and the grace of God. To conclude, this research has revealed that the doctrine of karma is significant to both Buddhism and Hinduism. In the scope of this doctrine the two systems agree in general aspects of the law and differ in some particular details.