Hinduism & BuddhismHinduism & Buddhism

Goal: What are the similarities and Goal: What are the similarities and differences between Hinduism and differences between Hinduism and Buddhism? Buddhism? (Learning Target 4d)(Learning Target 4d)

Origins of Hinduism & Origins of Hinduism & BuddhismBuddhism The beliefs of the Vedic Age (Aryans) The beliefs of the Vedic Age (Aryans)

developed into Buddhism & Hinduismdeveloped into Buddhism & Hinduism Why does this matter now?Why does this matter now?

- Almost 1/5- Almost 1/5thth of the world’s people of the world’s people today practice today practice one of these one of these two religionstwo religions

Development of HinduismDevelopment of Hinduism Developed gradually, collection of Developed gradually, collection of

religious beliefsreligious beliefs No single founderNo single founder Religion seen as a way of Religion seen as a way of

liberating the soul from illusions, liberating the soul from illusions, disappointments, mistakesdisappointments, mistakes

Dialogues or discussions of the Vedic Dialogues or discussions of the Vedic hymns developed into the hymns developed into the UpanishadsUpanishads

Beliefs of HinduismBeliefs of Hinduism

Desire Moksha Desire Moksha

Atman Atman

Brahman Brahman

State of State of perfect perfect understandinunderstandingg

Individual Individual soul of living soul of living beingbeing

Universal soul – Universal soul – unites all atmansunites all atmans

Beliefs of HinduismBeliefs of Hinduism Reincarnation Reincarnation Soul is reborn until Soul is reborn until mokshamoksha

is achievedis achieved One’s karma, or good & bad deeds, One’s karma, or good & bad deeds,

influences caste or circumstances in next lifeinfluences caste or circumstances in next life

Supported the Caste SystemSupported the Caste System Complex & rigid social system…Complex & rigid social system… People divided into varnas (groups)People divided into varnas (groups)

1. Brahmins 1. Brahmins priests priests2. Kshatriyas 2. Kshatriyas rulers & warriors rulers & warriors3. Vaishyas 3. Vaishyas peasants & peasants &

traderstraders4. Shudras 4. Shudras laborers laborers5. Pariahs 5. Pariahs “Untouchables” “Untouchables”

Cleanliness & purity Cleanliness & purity were essentialwere essential

““Untouchables” – Untouchables” – considered impure considered impure because of their because of their workwork– i.e. butchers, i.e. butchers,

gravediggers, trash gravediggers, trash collectorscollectors

Brahman is three major gods in Brahman is three major gods in oneone

(some depictions of Hindu gods)(some depictions of Hindu gods)

1. Brahma1. Brahma Creator Creator

2. Vishnu 2. Vishnu Protector Protector

3. Shiva 3. Shiva Destroyer Destroyer

Hinduism’s Growth & InfluenceHinduism’s Growth & Influence Hinduism changed over timeHinduism changed over time

- Different deities have become more - Different deities have become more important important

- Today, Hindus are able to choose deity of - Today, Hindus are able to choose deity of worship & different paths to worship & different paths to mokshamoksha

Hinduism affected societyHinduism affected society

- Strengthened caste system- Strengthened caste system

- Dominated aspects of life- Dominated aspects of life

Hindus comprise 13.7%

(765,351,710) of the world's

population residing in 150

countries

In Galle, Sri Lanka, the local shrine to Vishnu In Galle, Sri Lanka, the local shrine to Vishnu and Kanda, two Hindu gods, survived where and Kanda, two Hindu gods, survived where

the buildings all around it did not.the buildings all around it did not.

• How does one reach How does one reach mokshamoksha??• What is the difference between What is the difference between Atman Atman and Brahman?and Brahman?• What is the relationship between What is the relationship between reincarnation, karma, & caste reincarnation, karma, & caste according to Hinduism? according to Hinduism? • How has Hinduism changed?How has Hinduism changed?• What influence has Hinduism had What influence has Hinduism had on on society in India?society in India?

Overview QuestionsOverview Questions

Roots of BuddhismRoots of BuddhismSiddhartha Gautama: founder of BuddhismSiddhartha Gautama: founder of Buddhism

The Life of SiddharthaThe Life of Siddhartha Born to noble family; isolated from Born to noble family; isolated from

the worldthe world Finally left palace – saw old age, Finally left palace – saw old age,

sickness, poverty, deathsickness, poverty, death Wanted to put an end to Wanted to put an end to

life’s sufferinglife’s suffering

The Search for The Search for EnlightenmentEnlightenment Decided he could not be happy going back Decided he could not be happy going back

to the life he once lived to the life he once lived Wandered in forests Wandered in forests Debated with other religious seekersDebated with other religious seekers FastedFasted

Meditated for 49 days under large fig Meditated for 49 days under large fig treetree

Achieved understanding of the cause Achieved understanding of the cause of suffering in the worldof suffering in the world

Became Buddha, “the enlightened Became Buddha, “the enlightened one”one”

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths1) life is filled with 1) life is filled with

suffering and sorrowsuffering and sorrow

2) the cause of all suffering 2) the cause of all suffering is people’s selfish desireis people’s selfish desire

3) Way to end suffering is 3) Way to end suffering is to end all desiresto end all desires

4) the way to overcome 4) the way to overcome such desires and attain such desires and attain enlightenment is to enlightenment is to follow the Eightfold Pathfollow the Eightfold Path

a.k.a. the Middle Way – avoiding a.k.a. the Middle Way – avoiding extremesextremes

Goal was to reach “nirvana” - Goal was to reach “nirvana” - release from selfishness & release from selfishness &

painpain

Buddha also believed Buddha also believed in reincarnation in reincarnation

Accepted cyclical Accepted cyclical view of history – world view of history – world is created & destroyed is created & destroyed again and againagain and again

However, he rejected However, he rejected Hindu godsHindu gods

He reacted against He reacted against the privileges of the the privileges of the Brahmin priestsBrahmin priests

SanghaSangha – Buddhist religious order – Buddhist religious order– Includes monks, nuns, & entire Buddhist Includes monks, nuns, & entire Buddhist

communitycommunityDharmaDharma – Buddhist doctrine or teachings, – Buddhist doctrine or teachings,

universal law of natureuniversal law of nature““Three Jewels” of Buddhism = Three Jewels” of Buddhism = SanghaSangha, ,

Buddha, & Buddha, & dharma dharma

Many of Buddha’s early followers were Many of Buddha’s early followers were laborers and craftspeoplelaborers and craftspeople

He reluctantly admitted women to religious He reluctantly admitted women to religious orders – however, he feared that women’s orders – however, he feared that women’s presence would distract men from their presence would distract men from their religious dutiesreligious duties

Monks & nuns took vows of poverty, Monks & nuns took vows of poverty, nonviolence, and not to marrynonviolence, and not to marry

Teachings of Buddha were written Teachings of Buddha were written down after his death (1down after his death (1stst century BC) century BC)

Buddhist sacred literature includes Buddhist sacred literature includes commentaries, rules of monastic life, commentaries, rules of monastic life, manuals on meditation, and legends manuals on meditation, and legends about Buddha’s previous reincarnationsabout Buddha’s previous reincarnations

India is important place of pilgrimages India is important place of pilgrimages for Buddhistsfor Buddhists

Visit spots associated with Buddha’s Visit spots associated with Buddha’s life – birthplace, the fig tree, site of life – birthplace, the fig tree, site of first sermon, & the sacred mounds first sermon, & the sacred mounds (said to contain his relics)(said to contain his relics)

Trade Spreads BuddhismTrade Spreads BuddhismTraders spread Buddhism to China, Traders spread Buddhism to China,

Korea, JapanKorea, Japan– Did not catch on as much in IndiaDid not catch on as much in India

Missionaries also traveled spreading Missionaries also traveled spreading Buddhist philosophiesBuddhist philosophies

Overview QuestionsOverview Questions

How did Siddhartha Gautama How did Siddhartha Gautama become known as Buddha?become known as Buddha?

How does one reach nirvana?How does one reach nirvana? How did Buddhism affect society?How did Buddhism affect society? How and where did Buddhism How and where did Buddhism

spread? spread?