The goal of Buddhism is the cessation of suffering. Suffering, in Buddhism, is called Dukha, and refers to a sense of constant dissatisfaction that permeates our lives. This suffering results from Tanha—our craving to experience pleasurable things, and avoid unpleasant things. By eliminating our craving, we can eliminate our suffering. This goal of diminishing our desire, and ultimately our suffering, is achieved through the following of the Eightfold Noble path, a set of meditative and ethical teachings to guide the Buddhist follower on the path to enlightenment.
The cessation of suffering is called Nirvana, and in the context of Buddhism refers to liberation from the endless cycle of reincarnation called Samsara.
While early Buddhism emphasized the cessation of suffering for individuals, later expressions of Buddhism like the Mahayana tradition aim for the cessation of suffering for all living beings.
Hinduism, conversely, can be understood to have four goals—Kama, Artha, Dharma, and Moksha. Each successive goal is understood to be of greater value than the prior goal; i.e, Dharma is more important than Artha, and Moksha is of greater value than Dharma. Which goal any individual practitioner should follow depends on both their age and phase of life, and on their social place in the Hindu caste (Varna) system-- these four goals complement, not contradict, each other.
Kama can be understood as “pleasure” and refers to the sensual pleasures of life. Kama is an appropriate goal for a married couple. Western students might be familiar with this term from the famous Kamasutra, a text which focuses on the physical act of love.
Artha refers to the attainment of wealth and power. It is an appropriate goal for someone of a relatively high station in the caste system. It can be understood as financial security, success in one’s work and career life, or economic prosperity.
Dharma—roughly translated as “path,” or "duty"—refers to the fulfillment of one’s divinely ordained role here on earth. More spiritually significant than the achievement of Kama or Artha, all humans must strive to fulfill their Dharma, whether they be peasants, warriors, or Brahmans (priests). The fulfillment of Dharma is associated with the achievement of a moral, virtuous, and proper life.
Moksha, the last and most significant goal, can be translated as “liberation.” In some branches of Hinduism, it refers to escaping the endless cycle of death and rebirth, like Nirvana in Buddhism. In other interpretations, Moksha is understood as a merging of a soul, or Atman, back into the oneness of divine Brahma, the One Supreme Self from which all other selves come.
Sources:
Kent, Eliza. "Introduction to the Study of Religion." Class at Colgate University, 2010.
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