A Comparative Study of Life in the Four Noble Truths of Theravāda Buddhism and the Purusārtha of Hinduism

Abstract

This research article pursues three objectives: 1) to examine life as understood through the Four Noble Truths in Theravāda Buddhism; 2) to investigate life in accordance with the Purusārthas in Hinduism; and 3) to conduct a comparative analysis between these two frameworks. Employing a qualitative documentary research design, the study applies content analysis and descriptive interpretation, drawing on primary sources—the Tipiṭaka (Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Edition), the Upaniṣads, and the Bhagavad Gītā—alongside relevant secondary academic literature. The findings reveal that: 1) the Four Noble Truths provide a diagnostic and practical framework for understanding and overcoming suffering (dukkha) through the Noble Eightfold Path, ultimately culminating in Nibbāna as both provisional liberation (momentary release from defilements) and ultimate emancipation (complete freedom from saṃsāra). 2) In Hinduism, the Purusārthas—Dharma, Artha, Kāma, and Mokṣa—offer an integrative framework for balancing material and spiritual pursuits, with Ātman as the essential self and Mokṣa as the ultimate realization of union with Brahman. 3) Both traditions converge in their recognition of suffering and the cultivation of ethical and spiritual discipline as the path to liberation, yet diverge in their metaphysical doctrines: Theravāda Buddhism emphasizes anattā (non-self), while Hinduism affirms the eternal and unchanging Ātman.
The study contributes new insights by demonstrating that both frameworks can be applied meaningfully across the human life span—from childhood to old age—when adapted to contemporary contexts. Such integration fosters a life grounded in morality, mindfulness, balance, and profound spiritual values, thereby benefitting both individuals and society at large.