Besides our textbook ( living religions 9th edition by mary pat fisher), you need to use other credible sources to back up your ideas. Since this is a reaction paper, you also need to justify your ideas by researching from credible sources. Hence, citations from the original/primary source which are the sacred texts or secondary ones like commentaries are important. There is no specific format of the paper but you need to state the source materials.
To write one whole essay, the following points/questions must serve as your guide in writing the reaction paper so all the three points are to be covered in your essay:
1. Introduce your essay by describing the founders’ motive and historical origin of both Hinduism and Buddhism.
2. Compare the beliefs, rituals, morals, metaphysical views that are similar and different from the two religions. Use source materials like the Vedas, Pali Canons, etc. to justify your answers. Besides the textbook, the following web link is recommended: Internet Sacred Text Archive and then click on Hinduism and Buddhism.
3. Which of the two religions would you think is more of an ideology than a religion? Explain your answer. Which of the two can easily relate with your own spiritual, moral, and philosophical outlook in life and why?
