Religion in
Ancient India
Hinduism
The Aryans
• Aryans
– Invaders from Central Asia
• Raja
– king / ruler of Aryan village
• Sanskrit संस्कृता वाक्
– writing system of the Aryans
The Vedas
• Vedas
– most important Sanskrit religious text
Social Classes
• Varnas
– social classes
• Caste System
– class system
based on birth,
wealth, and
occupation
“Varnas” (Social Classes)
• Brahmins
– priests and
teachers
• Kshatriyas
– rulers and
warriors;
“rajas”
“Varnas” (Social Classes)
• Vaisyas
– farmers,
craftspeople,
merchants
• Sudras
– laborers
“Varnas” (Social Classes)
• Untouchables
– “outcasts”
Gods of Hinduism
• Thousands of gods (devas)
or one god with many forms?
10 forms of Vishnu
Gods of Hinduism
• Brahma
– the Creator
• “universal spirit”
Gods of Hinduism
• Vishnu
– the Preserver
• preserves dharma
– order, goodness, religion, law
and duty
Gods of Hinduism
• Siva (Shiva)
– the Destroyer
• destroys the “old” so
that the “new” can form
Reincarnation
• Reincarnation
– cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth
• the transfer of one’s soul after death into another
body
Reincarnation
• Karma
– sum of good deeds + bad deeds
determines how you will live
your next life
Reincarnation
• Supreme goal of mankind
– break cycle of reincarnation by achieving
enlightenment
Meditation
• Meditation
– eliminate outside
distractions, achieve peace,
focus – “Om”
• Yoga
– the most common form of
meditation
Jainism
• Jainism
– teachings
• injure no life
• tell the truth
• do not steal
• own no property
• Ahisma
– non-violence
Jainism
• Swastika
–卐 or 卍 ; derived from Sanskrit, meaning “well-being”
– used by Nazi’s • Adolf Hitler picked the swastika as the
Nazi symbol because it was used by the Aryans
• Hitler considered the “Aryan race” to be superior
– blonde hair, blue eyes, white skin
Buddhism
Founder
• Siddhartha Gautama
– A Hindu prince in the Kshatriya caste
Reason Founded
• Luxury is Unfulfilling
– Gautama saw suffering;
sick, old, etc.
– life of luxury was unfulfilling
• Poverty is Unfulfilling
– turned to religion and
fasting
– life of poverty is unfulfilling
The Middle Path
• Middle Path (Middle Way)
– rejecting both luxury and denial; moderation
Awakening
• Great Enlightenment
– Gautama meditated
– gained understanding about
suffering and overcoming it
– grew a second brain !?!?
• The Buddha
– “the Enlightened One”
Reincarnation
• Reincarnation
– birth, life, death, and rebirth
• Karma
– good Karma / bad Karma
Ultimate Goal
• Goal of Buddhism
– break cycle of reincarnation
– achieve enlightenment, or nirvana
• Nirvana
– state of bliss that comes
from enlightenment
Comparison with Hinduism
• Unlike Hinduism …
– Buddhists don’t believe in the Caste System
– Buddhists don’t follow the Vedas
– Buddhists don’t worship Hindu gods
Four Noble Truths
• four realizations and guiding principles that
became the heart of Buddhist teaching
Four Noble Truths
1. Suffering is a normal part of life.
Four Noble Truths
2. Our desire for pleasure and material
goods is what brings us our suffering.
Four Noble Truths
3. It is possible to end suffering and
reach nirvana if we overcome desire
and ignorance.
Four Noble Truths
4. People can overcome ignorance and
desire by following the Eight-Fold
Path.
Eight-Fold Path
• eight guiding principles
to help Buddhists follow
the “middle way” to
achieve nirvana
Eight-Fold Path
1. Right Thought (Understanding)
• Understanding that our selfish desires bring
suffering
Eight-Fold Path
2. Right Intent
• Practice goodness and kindness to others.
Eight-Fold Path
3. Right Speech
• Be honest and kind. Avoid lies and gossip.
Eight-Fold Path
4. Right Action
• Do the right thing.
Golden rule of Buddhism:
• Do no harm
Eight-Fold Path
5. Right Livelihood (Lifestyle)
• Live your life to end suffering and bring
peace.
Eight-Fold Path
6. Right Effort
• Seek freedom from desire with the same
effort as a drowning man struggles for
breath. Prevent evil and do good.
Eight-Fold Path
7. Right Mindfulness (Awareness)
• Control your feelings and thoughts.
Eight-Fold Path
8. Right Concentration
• Focus on following the path to peace (the
Eight-Fold Path) in order to achieve nirvana.