Buddhism and Hinduism, both born in the spiritual crucible of ancient India, share many cultural elements and philosophical ideas.

Yet they diverge substantially in their understanding of divinity—a split that fundamentally shapes their practices and the way followers interact with the spiritual world.

Hinduism: Polytheism, Monotheism, and Spiritual Practice

Hinduism is often described as polytheistic due to its multitude of gods and goddesses—Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Durga, and countless others. However, the tradition also contains strong threads of monotheism and monism:

• Monotheism and Monism:
  Many Hindus believe in one supreme, all-encompassing reality called Brahman. The countless deities are seen as diverse manifestations or aspects of Brahman, leading to practices like bhakti (devotional worship) directed toward a chosen form of the divine.

• Practical Influence:

  • Ritual Worship (Puja): Temples and homes are filled with images and idols, and rituals honor deities who are approached for blessings, protection, and guidance.

  • Personal Deity (Ishta Devata): Practitioners may select a "personal god" for devotional practices, believing this divinity is the most direct conduit to the ultimate reality.

  • Festivals, Offerings, and Chants: Elaborate ceremonies, recitation of sacred mantras, and participation in colorful festivals express love and reverence for the gods.

  • Philosophical Contemplation: Through yoga and meditation, practitioners seek union with Brahman—the absolute, impersonal, infinite reality.

Summary:
Hindu monotheism and polytheism allow worship to be both intimate and vast. Devotion can be directed toward a personal god, all gods collectively, or Brahman itself; meditation and ritual reflect these layers.

Buddhism: Non-Theism and Spiritual Practice

Buddhism differs sharply. While it recognizes a vast cosmology populated with gods, celestial beings, and spirits, it is fundamentally non-theistic:

• No Supreme Creator:
  The Buddha taught that liberation (nirvana) is not achieved through the favor of a creator god or worship of deities, but through personal insight, ethical living, and self-cultivation.

• Practical Influence:

  • Meditation and Mindfulness: Central to Buddhist practice are techniques designed to cultivate awareness, concentration, and insight—without reliance on a divine intermediary.

  • Ethical Living: The Eightfold Path provides a framework for right action, right speech, and right livelihood, with progress based on one's intentions, deeds, and wisdom.

  • Rituals and Monasticism: While rituals exist (especially in Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions), they focus on purification, advice, and aspiration rather than supplication to gods.

  • Role of Deities: Deities in Buddhism are typically understood as advanced beings or symbols; they may offer protection or inspiration, but they are not objects of ultimate devotion or providers of salvation.

Summary:
Buddhist non-theism means that spiritual authority is internal and experiential. Practice revolves around self-transformation, not appeasing or uniting with a divine will.

Key Differences Shaping Practice

Mutual Influences and Adaptations

Both religions have adapted and syncretized over centuries:

• Hindu schools have adopted meditation and philosophical inquiry akin to Buddhist mindfulness.

• Some forms of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism adapted deities and rituals while still upholding non-theism, stressing that all forms are ultimately empty or symbolic.

Conclusion

The nature of divinity in Hinduism and Buddhism profoundly shapes how practitioners approach spiritual life, ritual, and liberation. Hindu practice integrates devotion to many gods or ultimately one supreme reality, with ritual, worship, and philosophy as bridges to transcendence.

Buddhist practice, grounded in non-theism, centers on personal effort, ethical conduct, and direct experience as the route to freedom.

Understanding these distinctions not only explains the diverse spiritual landscapes of South and Southeast Asia but also reveals the enduring power and adaptability of both paths in meeting human needs for meaning, connection, and self-realization.