Hinduism and BuddhismHinduism and Buddhism

VocabularyVocabulary

HinduismHinduism p40p40 p62p62 Vedas Vedas p40p40 p59,62p59,62 UpanishadsUpanishads p40p40 p62p62 CasteCaste p40p40 p60p60 Atman Atman p41p41 DharmaDharma p41p41 p65p65 KarmaKarma p41p41 p63p63 BrahminsBrahmins p40p40 p59p59 BrahmanBrahman p41p41 p62p62 MokshaMoksha p41p41 p63p63 ReincarnationReincarnation p63p63 VishnuVishnu NirvanaNirvana p42p42

Red bookGreen Book

Origins of HinduismOrigins of Hinduism

No real origins to speak of,No real origins to speak of, believed to come form traditions believed to come form traditions

of the people from the Indus of the people from the Indus valley and the Religious beliefs valley and the Religious beliefs of Aryans mingledof Aryans mingled

Origins about 2500-1500 BCEOrigins about 2500-1500 BCE

Holy Books Holy Books Vedas (a collection of hymns & religious rituals).Vedas (a collection of hymns & religious rituals).

The Vedas are the oldest Hindu sacred text.The Vedas are the oldest Hindu sacred text. The Vedas were memorized & delivered as long The Vedas were memorized & delivered as long

hymns or songs by priest speaking Sanskrit hymns or songs by priest speaking Sanskrit (ancient Aryan language.)(ancient Aryan language.)The Vedas were passed down from The Vedas were passed down from

generation to generation in oral form and generation to generation in oral form and were not written down for hundreds of years.were not written down for hundreds of years.

Upanishads- is an explanation of Vedas that is Upanishads- is an explanation of Vedas that is in depth and breaks them down as well.in depth and breaks them down as well.

Caste System Caste System

Social class or social order of Indian Social class or social order of Indian civilization. civilization. Brahmin-highest level of the caste (priests) Brahmin-highest level of the caste (priests) It was also brought in by the Aryans.It was also brought in by the Aryans.Early on there were only 4 castes & one Early on there were only 4 castes & one

group outside the caste system called the group outside the caste system called the outcastes or untouchables.outcastes or untouchables.

Eventually many more castes developed Eventually many more castes developed usually tied to one’s job.usually tied to one’s job.

Central IdeasCentral IdeasMoksha (liberation) – state of perfect Moksha (liberation) – state of perfect

understanding of everythingunderstanding of everythingKarma – every action will affect rebirthKarma – every action will affect rebirthReincarnation – soul is reborn after Reincarnation – soul is reborn after

death of bodydeath of bodyVishnu (protector), Brahma (creator), Vishnu (protector), Brahma (creator),

Shiva (destroyer), and many other godsShiva (destroyer), and many other gods

Virtue and SinVirtue and Sin

Cardinal virtues:Cardinal virtues:Purity, self-control, detachment, Purity, self-control, detachment,

truth, non-violencetruth, non-violenceThree Deadly Sins:Three Deadly Sins:

Lust, anger, greedLust, anger, greed

Four Objectives in LifeFour Objectives in Life

Dharma (righteous path)Dharma (righteous path)Artha (material prosperity)Artha (material prosperity)Kama (worldly enjoyment)Kama (worldly enjoyment)Moksha (salvation)Moksha (salvation)

Spread of HinduismSpread of HinduismBecame dominant religion in India Became dominant religion in India

between 1500 and 400 BCEbetween 1500 and 400 BCESpread over South East Asia, but Spread over South East Asia, but

replaced by Islamreplaced by IslamReligion of 800 million IndiansReligion of 800 million IndiansShaped Indian culture for about Shaped Indian culture for about

3000 years3000 years

Branches Branches

TamolsTamolsVaishnavasVaishnavasShaivasShaivasShaktas (the last 3 are devoted to a Shaktas (the last 3 are devoted to a

particular god/ godess) particular god/ godess)

Hinduism TodayHinduism Today

There are almost 800,000,000 people There are almost 800,000,000 people worldwide practicing Hinduism.worldwide practicing Hinduism.

It is known as the world’s oldest organized It is known as the world’s oldest organized religion. (dating back to 1500BCE)religion. (dating back to 1500BCE)

It is polytheistic, but today followers It is polytheistic, but today followers primarily worship Vishnu (the preserver of primarily worship Vishnu (the preserver of the universe) & Siva (the creator & the universe) & Siva (the creator & destroyer).destroyer).

Vocabulary Buddhism Vocabulary Buddhism

BuddhismBuddhism p42p42 p64p64 Siddhartha Gautama Siddhartha Gautama p42p42 p64p64 BuddhaBuddha p42p42 p64p64 EnlightenmentEnlightenment p64p64 Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths p43p43 p64p64 Eightfold PathEightfold Path p43p43 p65p65

Origins of Buddhism (563-480 Origins of Buddhism (563-480 BCE)BCE)

Siddhartha Gautama (AKA Buddha) Siddhartha Gautama (AKA Buddha) established the concepts and methods for established the concepts and methods for

reaching enlightenment. Founder of reaching enlightenment. Founder of Buddhism: Siddhartha (Buddha).Buddhism: Siddhartha (Buddha).

Prince in Northern IndiaPrince in Northern India

Influenced by Hindu beliefs and valuesInfluenced by Hindu beliefs and values

He had no true understanding of the He had no true understanding of the harshness of life. After venturing away harshness of life. After venturing away from home and seeing death, sickness, & from home and seeing death, sickness, & suffering, he decided to try and find an suffering, he decided to try and find an understanding to pain and suffering by understanding to pain and suffering by seeking wisdom.seeking wisdom.

At age 29 he left his family and began to At age 29 he left his family and began to wander seeking wisdom and wander seeking wisdom and understanding to human suffering.understanding to human suffering.

Becoming BuddhaBecoming Buddha

While seeking wisdom he tried several different While seeking wisdom he tried several different methods. methods. He 1st tried to find wisdom and an understanding to He 1st tried to find wisdom and an understanding to

suffering by fasting and strict discipline. He ate only a few suffering by fasting and strict discipline. He ate only a few grains (1-7) of rice a day. He became so starved and sick grains (1-7) of rice a day. He became so starved and sick that you could see his backbone through his stomach. On that you could see his backbone through his stomach. On the verge of death he realized that perhaps this was not the verge of death he realized that perhaps this was not the best way to seek wisdom.the best way to seek wisdom.

He then went into a deep meditation. He then went into a deep meditation. It is said that he meditated for days before he finally It is said that he meditated for days before he finally

discovered the true path to enlightenment. At this point he discovered the true path to enlightenment. At this point he takes on a new name, Buddha “Enlightened One”.takes on a new name, Buddha “Enlightened One”.

Buddha’s teachings Buddha’s teachings

He believed in reincarnation. He believed He believed in reincarnation. He believed that it depended on the life a person leads. that it depended on the life a person leads. Good is rewarded and evil is punished. Good is rewarded and evil is punished.

He taught that salvation or enlightenment He taught that salvation or enlightenment could be attained by knowing and could be attained by knowing and following the “4 Noble truths” & the following the “4 Noble truths” & the Eightfold path or “Middle way”.Eightfold path or “Middle way”.

Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths

Life is full of sufferingLife is full of sufferingCaused by desire to satisfy Caused by desire to satisfy

ourselves (selfishness)ourselves (selfishness)End desire for selfish goalsEnd desire for selfish goalsFollow the Middle PathFollow the Middle Path

Middle PathMiddle Path

Speak the truth and speak well of Speak the truth and speak well of othersothers

Do not kill, steal, lie, be unchaste, Do not kill, steal, lie, be unchaste, or take drugs and drink alcoholor take drugs and drink alcohol

Control your mindControl your mindMeditateMeditateKnow what you really wantKnow what you really want

Middle Path is …Middle Path is …

This is a path to enlightenment. Each step This is a path to enlightenment. Each step must be mastered along the way. When must be mastered along the way. When you reach the end and finally become you reach the end and finally become enlightened you will find “Nirvana” enlightened you will find “Nirvana”

Nirvana- The goal of Buddhism (is a Nirvana- The goal of Buddhism (is a perfect spiritual peace where one is perfect spiritual peace where one is released from the cycle of reincarnation.)released from the cycle of reincarnation.)

Central BeliefsCentral Beliefs

Ultimate goal is nirvanaUltimate goal is nirvanaEverybody who follows Middle Everybody who follows Middle

Path can reach itPath can reach itOnly one godOnly one godMonks and nuns in monasteriesMonks and nuns in monasteries

Spread of BuddhismSpread of Buddhism

Quickly spread over IndiaQuickly spread over IndiaBecame official Religion under King Asoka Became official Religion under King Asoka

(250 BCE)(250 BCE)Spread over East Asia and South East Spread over East Asia and South East

Asia (China, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, Asia (China, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Tibet)Vietnam, Cambodia, Tibet)

Today they have over 350 million Today they have over 350 million followers.followers.