What are the differences and similarities between the Hindu and Buddhist traditions?
Buddhism came out of Hinduism. Siddhartha, who was a Hindu prince, got disillusioned with Hinduism especially the caste system. The beliefs are pretty much the same except that Buddhists do not believe in the concept of god. Hinduism never spread beyond the boundaries of India because traditional Hindus believe that you have to be born a Hindu. It is not a proselytizing religion and doesn’t seek conversions to its ranks. Buddhism, on the other hand, failed to gain a foothold in India and many Buddhists were chased out of India into the surrounding nations. Being a proselytized religion, it soon gained converts.
