Since the beginning of life people have always believed in a higher power. Whether it is God, moksha, karma, or jina every religion has a goal in life for its followers. Everyone is searching for the meaning of life, the greater picture, their destiny, but many people have no clue where to start. So, many seek out a religion. Religion helps people find their goal for life through a structured environment. When you examine each religion and it's goal for life it seems as if each religion has something different to say. In reality each religions goal is the same, the steps to reach the goal are just carried out differently. The common theme is that one should live a good life and eventually die and end up in a peaceful place.
             Buddhism has a very structured idea of the goal of life. They have this because they believe life is in constant change and as humans we don't expect it and we settle. By settling one never can achieve the ultimate goal of life or Nirvana. Buddhist believes that people are in a constant state of Samsara. Samsara is rebirth. There is only one way to obtain release from samsara. First, one has to follow the four noble truths; to live is to suffer, desire is the cause of suffering, ending suffering can happen by ending desire, and ending suffering happens by following the eight fold path. The eight-fold path has three main goals; face life objectively, be nice, and cultivate inner peace. The eight fold path is right; understanding, intention, speech, action, work, effort, meditation, and contemplation. It is believed that by following these steps one can be free form samsara and have obtained Nirvana. The only problem is that Buddhist say reaching nirvana rarely happens.
             Hinduism and Buddhism are very much alike. Hindu's believe there is Maya. Maya is something that keeps us from seeing the world as it really is. As humans we naturally assume the world is permanent, but in reali...