Both Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta are both powerful ancient traditions . , full of important insights and guidance . Teachings of Buddha are similar to the teachings of many rishis and the ancient sages who composed the earliest Hindu scriptures . The relationship between Hinduism and Buddhism is bit complicated . All hindus look upon Buddha as a religious reformer , a free thinker and who rejected Hinduism 's excessive ritualism of that time and reinvigorated it with new teachings . In some Hindu scriptures Buddha is accepted as an avatara , i.e., ninth avatara of lord vishnu . But , Buddha rejected the authorities of all Hindu scriptures . He is the founder of a new religion which is rooted in Hinduism , but distinct from it. The fact is Buddha himself was raised in a Hindu family and learned from hindu teachers . Both hinduism and buddhism impart various beliefs , beliefs about , heaven and hell and how the universe is created . The meaning of vedanta is the spirit...