Why Is There Conflict Between Hindus and Buddhists?

Since Buddhism was born in the Indian subcontinent, it has been largely at odds with earlier Hindu institutions. The conflicts that have occurred between the two faith systems have resulted in conflicts ranging from social and civil rights conflicts to all-out war. An understanding of the roots of these conflicts is key to understanding contemporary Buddhist and Hindu communities.

Hinduism

Hinduism refers broadly to a body of different religious and philosophical belief systems that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Hindus are polytheistic, and although there are many different Hindu scriptures and traditions, most Hindu traditions are all connected to the Vedas, a group of authoritative ancient texts. Hinduism is profoundly intertwined with a specific social and cultural order, which includes a strict caste system and a set of rituals.

Buddhism

Buddhism also originated in the Indian subcontinent, and soon was at odds with popular Hindu religions, particularly Brahmanism. Buddhists are also diverse, but tend to be atheist, rejecting all anthropomorphic deities, and emphasize achieving salvation in life rather than after death. They also reject the importance of sacrifice and many other core Brahman principles, including the Brahman caste system.

Early Conflicts

In the third century B.C., the emperor Ashoka became an advocate of Buddhism and outlawed the ritual sacrifice of animals. This enraged many Brahmans, to whom animal sacrifice was a core ritual. Furthermore, the institutional acceptance of Buddhism made it a real threat to Brahman authority. Thus, after the end of the Ashoka dynasty in the second century B.C., Buddhists became a target of Brahman persecution, as they were viewed as legitimate threats to the Hindu way of life.

Modern Conflicts in India

The last two centuries have seen a growing Neo-Buddhist movement in India that can be very anti-Hindu, while Hindus have begun seeing Hinduism more as a national identity and less as a religion. These nationalist Hindus are usually more tolerant of traditional Buddhists, though India lacks any real dialogue between Buddhists and Hindus, and many followers see the two systems as mutually exclusive.

Modern Conflicts in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a predominantly Buddhist country and largely anti-Hindu. The Sri Lankan constitution gives Buddhists a privileged place in society, relegating Hindus to second-class citizenship. Sri Lankan Buddhists think of Sri Lanka as "Buddha's country," even though Buddhists and Hindus have struggled over Sri Lanka since the second century B.C.

References

• Facets of the Relationship Between Hinduism and Buddhism