Hinduism and Buddhism

Global Studies 9Mrs. Hart and Mrs. Bernier

Founder and Region of Origin

• Hinduism has no single founder. It developed and changed over 3500 years, growing out of the varied beliefs of the diverse peoples who settled in India.

Founder and Origin• One of these

groups was the nomadic Aryans who entered India and settled along the Ganges River in about 1500 B.C.

Roots of Hinduism• Most of what

historians know about the Aryans, came from the Vedas, a collection of prayers, hymns, and other religious teachings.

Roots of Hinduism: The Vedas

• The Vedas show that the Aryans were polytheistic, worshipping forces of nature such as the sky and sun, storm and fire. They also honored animals such as monkey gods and snake gods.

Beliefs of Hinduism

• Hindus believe in one unifying spirit, Brahman. The goal of life is to achieve union with Brahman.

Beliefs of Hinduism: Different Gods• Hindus worship

gods that give concrete form to Brahman. The most important Hindu gods are Brahma, the Creator; Vishnu the Preserver; and Shiva, the Destroyer.

Beliefs of Hinduism: Reincarnation

• Most people cannot achieve this union with Brahman in one lifetime, so the soul of a person is reborn in a new body, after his or her death. This is called reincarnation.

Beliefs of Hinduism: Karma and Dharma• A person can come closer to

union with Brahman by obeying the law of karma. Karma consists of all the deeds of a person’s life that affect his or her existence in the next life. Good deeds involve following dharma, the moral and religious duties that are expected of an individual.

Beliefs of Hinduism: The Caste System• The caste system is an important part of Hinduism. Castes

are social groups into which people are born, and out of which they cannot move during a lifetime. A person may, however, by acquiring good karma, be born into a higher caste in the next life. The lowest-ranked people at the bottom of the social system were known as Untouchables.

Sacred Writings of Hinduism• Over several thousand

years, Hindu teachings were developed and recorded in a number of sacred texts. These include the Vedas and the Upanishads, philosophical writings about Hindu beliefs.

Buddhism: Founder and Region• Buddhism, like Hinduism was founded in India by

Siddhartha Gautama. He was a Hindu prince, who led an easy life. One day he came across a sick person, an old person, and a dead body. It was the first time in his life he became aware of human suffering.

Buddhism: Founder, Siddhartha Gautama• Gautama wandered for years,

fasting and meditating. One day he sat under a giant tree, determined to stay there until he understood the meaning of life. For 48 days he meditated, and then suddenly he believed that he understood the cause of and the cure for suffering and sorrow. When he got up again, he was Gautama no longer, but Buddha, the “Enlightened One”.

Beliefs of Buddhism FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS – The

central philosophy of Buddhism revolves around the Four Noble Truths. These are:

• 1. All life is suffering.• 2. Suffering is caused by desire • for things that are illusions.• 3. The way to eliminate suffering

is to eliminate desire.• 4. Following the Eightfold Path

will help people overcome desire.

Beliefs of Buddhism• THE EIGHTFOLD PATH –

The Eightfold Path involves right views, right intentions, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation. The ultimate goal is nirvana, union with the universe and release from the cycle of death and rebirth.

Buddhism: Sacred Book After the

Buddha died, his teachings were collected into the Tripitaka, or “Three Baskets of Wisdom”.

Buddhism accepts the Hindu ideas of karma, dharma, and reincarnation. However, Buddhism rejects the many Hindu gods as well as the rituals and priesthood of Hinduism. Buddhists do, however, accept the idea of religious communities that include monks and nuns. Buddhism also rejected the caste system.

Hinduism and Buddhism Compared