Delgado 1

Devin Delgado

Prof. Kane
English 115 T/Th
11 September 2018
Oriental Philosophies
Buddhists viewed everything in existence “as momentary, being made up of discrete

particulars in various conglomerations”(Koller 2). In other words, Koller explains how the

beliefs of Buddhism oppose the substance view of reality, and instead accepted a view that

everything is made up of parts that momentarily exist within the universe. They shared views

that were common along the Vaibhashikas and the Suatrantikas, noting that “discrete particulars

which make up existence are “point instants” of force, or energy. (2) These “point instants” are

in a constant flux. (3) Arising and ceasing are inherent in existence. (4) The criterion for being

real is the ability to have effects: only that can be admitted to be real which produces effects; that

which does not produce effects could never be known to be real, for realities are known by their

effects. (5) And of course, both of these schools accept the universal Buddhist doctrine that the

order and regulation of the elements of existence is according to the principle of the dependent

origination (paticca samuppada), which is the law of arising and ceasing of elements of

existence”(Koller 2). According to the article, Buddhism is a religion based on dynamic elements

that changed the world around them, which made them more observant on the world than their

Hindu counterpart. Hindu philosophers took a rather substance view of reality, a reality that

accepted “(1) permanence, (2) universality, (3) identity, and (4) unity as the basic characteristics

of whatever really exists”(Koller 1). They believe that although an object may go through some

chemical changes, it is still the same object. For example, an animal that ages is still the same

animal, and Hindus tend to focus on the fact that it is still the same animal, and not the changes it
 Delgado 2

has gone through its lifespan. In essence, Buddhism is a religion that looks at reality very

carefully and adapts to the changes that are made in objects, while Hinduism revolves their world

around objects that are whole, firm, and that they are meant to be viewed from the human eye

and given an identity quickly. If I were to fall along the lines of one of these religions, I would

fall towards Buddhism, as a dynamic view of reality suits my beliefs, as it has helped mankind

adapt to certain epidemics that would have weakened our species. For instance, we observe

diseases to find cures to them, and look at what causes people to decay quicker and try to prevent

that, not to mention with success. Overall, I think Buddhism is the benefiting religion that the

world needs, if a religion needed to be chosen.