In what ways can Buddhism be viewed as a reform movement to Hinduism?

For AP World History
BTW, this is NOT homework this is on a study guide that is not for a grade. I have an exam, and I didn't get this ? when I looked through the reading.

Because of the cast system.

Well, for instance, they both advocate people doing their own homework, but Buddhism emphasis es the importance of also not wasting time on message boards when it is homework-time.

Buddhism didn't intentionally reform the caste system. Lay Buddhists lived according to their social codes. Only monks and nuns got equality in general within the monks' union - they were called the sons of Buddha from Sakya clan (as the king of Sakya). A monk would call a nun 'sister'.


Sangha: lit.: congregation, is the name for the Community of Buddhist Bhikkhus. As the third of the Three Gems or Jewels ti-rattan and the Three Refuges ti-Saran,, i.e. Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, it applies to the Oriya-sangha the community of the saints, i.e. the 4 Noble Ones Oriya-pugga, the Stream-winner, etc.
http://what-buddha-said.net/library/Buddhist.Dictionary/dic3_s.htm

An old Brahman priest asked Buddha: "What should we do [to be saved]?

The Buddha answered, "....look for another Holy One who will come and help the world and all of you in the future."

Then the Brahman priest asked, "What will the characteristics of the Holy One be like?"

The Buddha answered him, "The Holy one who will keep the world in the future will be like this: In the palm of his hands and in the flat of his feet will be the design of a disk, in his side will be a stab wound; and his forehead will have many marks like scars. The Holy One will be the golden boat who will carry you over the cycle of rebirths all the way to the highest heaven [Nirvana]. Do not look for salvation in the old way [trying to merit salvation]; there is no salvation in it for sure. Quit the old way, and there will be a new spirit like the light of a lightening bug which will come down from the sky above to live in all of your hearts, and you will be victorious over all of your enemies. Nobody will be able to destroy you. If you die, you will not come back to be born in this world again. You will go to the highest heaven [Nirvana].

http://www.bibleprobe.com/buddhatoldofjesus.htm

When Lord Buddha appeared, the people of India, although following the Vedas, had deviated from the primary goal of Vedic philosophy. They had become preoccupied with performing ceremonies and rituals for material enjoyment. Some of the rituals included animal sacrifices. The people had begun to sacrifice animals indiscriminately on the plea of Vedic rituals and then indulged in eating the flesh. Being misled by unworthy priests, much unnecessary animal killing was going on and the people were becoming more degraded and atheistic.

The rituals that included animal sacrifices, according to the Vedas, were not meant for eating flesh. An old animal would be placed in the sacrificial fire and, after the mantras were chanted, it would come out of the fire in a new and younger body as a test to show the potency of the Vedic mantras. However, as the power of the priests deteriorated, they could no longer chant the mantras properly and, therefore, the animals would not be brought back to life. So in the age of Kali all such sacrifices are forbidden because there are no longer any Brahmans who can chant the mantras correctly. Thus, Lord Buddha appeared and rejected the Vedic rituals and preached the philosophy of nonviolence. In the Dhammapada (129-130) Buddha says, "All beings fear death and pain, life is dear to all; therefore the wise man will not kill or cause anything to be killed."

The Vedic literature also teaches nonviolence, but Buddha taught the people who used the Vedas for improper purposes to give them up and simply follow him. Thus, he saved the animals from being killed and saved the people from being further misled by the corrupt priests. However, he did not teach the Vedic conclusions of spiritual knowledge but taught his own philosophy.

...after the disappearance of Lord Buddha, the authority of the Vedas and Vedic culture was reinstated by such scholarly personalities as Shankaracarya, Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Nimbarka, Baladeva Vidyabushana, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and others.
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/buddhism_and_its_vedic_connections.htm