Hinduism and Buddhism

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Hinduism andBuddhism
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Objectives WHI.4

• The student will be able to
• Describe the origins, beliefs, traditions,
  customs, and spread of Hinduism
• Describe the origins, beliefs, traditions,
  customs, and spread of Buddhism
• Essential Questions
• What are the beliefs of the Hindu religion?
• How did Hinduism influence Indian society and
  culture?
• What are the beliefs of Buddhism?
• How did Buddhism spread?

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Hinduism
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Origins

• Aryan tribes from Central Asia invaded India
  around 1400 B.C.
• brought Indo-European language and religion
• Aryans first settled in Punjab (Northern India)
• Migrated later to Ganges River Valley

• No specific founder, no single theology, no
  agreement on origins
• Word Hinduism sixth century B.C. to refer to
  people living in the area
• Hinduism existed long before recorded history
• Earliest surviving documents written in 1500
  B.C.E.
• Objects related to Hinduism date back to 2500
  B.C.E.

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The Vedas

• Hindus prefer term Vedic
• Veda are Vedic text that provide the only written
  source for understanding religious life in
  ancient India
• Considered sacred writings
• Vedas compromised of 1,000 hymns followed by
  chants and prose works
• Over time only highly-trained priest could
  perform the complicated Vedic rituals

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Sacred Writings

• Upanishads
• Record wisdom of Hindu teachers and sages as far
  back at 1000 B.C.E.
• Nature of morality and eternal life
• Transmigration of souls
• Causality in creation
• How to achieve moksha a perfect understanding
  of all things
• Bhagavad-Gita
• Part of the Mahabharata- one of the longest books
  in the world
• Dialogue between Arjuna (hero) and Krishna
• Incredibly important cultural text

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Five Basic Beliefs

• Karma
• Knowledge that all thoughts and actions result in
  future consequences
• the sum of good and bad actions are carried from
  one life to the next
• Reincarnation
• Rebirth based upon your karma
• Reincarnation ends when you reach Moksha
• Liberation of the soul

• One God that takes multiple forms
• Brahman
• Supreme God
• everything is part of Brahman
• the goal in life is to unite atman with Brahman
• Dharma
• sacred duty
• individual dharma is determined by personality,
  age, sex, and social class
• following dharma promotes harmony

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Practices

• Rituals
• Marriage match must be approved by both parents,
  usually arranged, horoscopes drawn up, brides
  family pays dowry
• Death body cremated, body not required after
  death due to reincarnation
• Worship called Puja
• Worship often takes place in home
• No particular day or time

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Deities
Brahma the Creator
Vishnu the Preserver
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Deities
Siva the destoyer
Krishna
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Hinduism and Society

• Karma and reincarnation reinforced caste system
• Dominated every persons life
• Determined
• How one ate
• Personal cleanliness
• Who one could be friends with
• How one dressed

• Hinduism spread along major trade routes

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Buddhism

• Around 500s B.C.E.
• Founder Siddhartha Gautama
• The Buddha or Enlightened One

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Story of the Buddha

• Siddhartha came from a kingdom in Himalayas
• Son of a ruling family, born 563 B.C.
• Raised in luxury
• At 16 married a princess
• Had everything
• In late 20s became aware of illness, sickness,
  death and old age
• Gave up his royal life to find the true meaning
  of life

• At first followed the ascetics
• But he almost died of starvation!
• Turned to meditating
• Reached Enlightenment
• Spent his life preaching
• His teachings became basis of Buddhism

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Principles of Buddhism

• Four Noble Truths
• Ordinary life is suffering
• This suffering is caused by our desire to satisfy
  ourselves
• The way to end suffering is to end desire for
  selfish goals
• The way to end desire is to follow the middle path

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Eightfold Path

• Right Views knowledge of the 4 Noble Truths
• Right Aspirations discard desire and avoid
  hurting others
• Right Speech telling the truth
• Right Conduct not stealing or cheating

• Right Livelihood earning a living in a way that
  does not harm or cause bloodshed to others
• Right Effort thinking positively
• Right Mindfulness being aware of the effects of
  thoughts and actions
• Right Meditation allowing a peaceful state of
  mind

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Buddhism in India

• Missionaries spread Buddhism throughout India
• Asokas missionaries and their writings spread
  Buddhism from India to China and other parts of
  Asia
• Hinduism dominated India
• Most widespread religion in East Asia
• Thanks to Asoka

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Revisit Objectives WHI.4

• The student will be able to
• Describe the origins, beliefs, traditions,
  customs, and spread of Hinduism
• Describe the origins, beliefs, traditions,
  customs, and spread of Buddhism
• Essential Questions
• What are the beliefs of the Hindu religion?
• How did Hinduism influence Indian society and
  culture?
• What are the beliefs of Buddhism?
• How did Buddhism spread?