Hinduism and Buddhism

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Hinduism and Buddhism
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Vocabulary
Red book
Green Book

• Hinduism p40 p62
• Vedas p40 p59,62
• Upanishads p40 p62
• Caste p40 p60
• Atman p41
• Dharma p41 p65
• Karma p41 p63
• Brahmins p40 p59
• Brahman p41 p62
• Moksha p41 p63
• Reincarnation p63
• Vishnu
• Nirvana p42

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Origins of Hinduism

• No real origins to speak of,
• believed to come form traditions of the people
  from the Indus valley and the Religious beliefs
  of Aryans mingled
• Origins about 2500-1500 BCE

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Holy Books

• Vedas (a collection of hymns religious
  rituals).
• The Vedas are the oldest Hindu sacred text.
• The Vedas were memorized delivered as long
  hymns or songs by priest speaking Sanskrit
  (ancient Aryan language.)
• The Vedas were passed down from generation to
  generation in oral form and were not written down
  for hundreds of years.
• Upanishads- is an explanation of Vedas that is in
  depth and breaks them down as well.

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Caste System

• Social class or social order of Indian
  civilization.
• Brahmin-highest level of the caste (priests)
• It was also brought in by the Aryans.
• Early on there were only 4 castes one group
  outside the caste system called the outcastes or
  untouchables.
• Eventually many more castes developed usually
  tied to ones job.

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Central Ideas

• Moksha (liberation) state of perfect
  understanding of everything
• Karma every action will affect rebirth
• Reincarnation soul is reborn after death of
  body
• Vishnu (protector), Brahma (creator), Shiva
  (destroyer), and many other gods

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Virtue and Sin

• Cardinal virtues
• Purity, self-control, detachment, truth,
  non-violence
• Three Deadly Sins
• Lust, anger, greed

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Four Objectives in Life

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

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Spread of Hinduism

• Became dominant religion in India between 1500
  and 400 BCE
• Spread over South East Asia, but replaced by
  Islam
• Religion of 800 million Indians
• Shaped Indian culture for about 3000 years

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Branches

• Tamols
• Vaishnavas
• Shaivas
• Shaktas (the last 3 are devoted to a particular
  god/ godess)

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Hinduism Today

• There are almost 800,000,000 people worldwide
  practicing Hinduism.
• It is known as the worlds oldest organized
  religion. (dating back to 1500BCE)
• It is polytheistic, but today followers primarily
  worship Vishnu (the preserver of the universe)
  Siva (the creator destroyer).

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Vocabulary Buddhism

• Buddhism p42 p64
• Siddhartha Gautama p42 p64
• Buddha p42 p64
• Enlightenment p64
• Four Noble Truths p43 p64
• Eightfold Path p43 p65

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Origins of Buddhism (563-480 BCE)

• Siddhartha Gautama (AKA Buddha)
• established the concepts and methods for reaching
  enlightenment. Founder of Buddhism Siddhartha
  (Buddha).
• Prince in Northern India
• Influenced by Hindu beliefs and values

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• He had no true understanding of the harshness of
  life. After venturing away from home and seeing
  death, sickness, suffering, he decided to try
  and find an understanding to pain and suffering
  by seeking wisdom.
• At age 29 he left his family and began to wander
  seeking wisdom and understanding to human
  suffering.

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Becoming Buddha

• While seeking wisdom he tried several different
  methods.
• He 1st tried to find wisdom and an understanding
  to suffering by fasting and strict discipline.
  He ate only a few grains (1-7) of rice a day. He
  became so starved and sick that you could see his
  backbone through his stomach. On the verge of
  death he realized that perhaps this was not the
  best way to seek wisdom.
• He then went into a deep meditation.
• It is said that he meditated for days before he
  finally discovered the true path to
  enlightenment. At this point he takes on a new
  name, Buddha Enlightened One.

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Buddhas teachings

• He believed in reincarnation. He believed that
  it depended on the life a person leads. Good is
  rewarded and evil is punished.
• He taught that salvation or enlightenment could
  be attained by knowing and following the 4 Noble
  truths the Eightfold path or Middle way.

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Four Noble Truths

• Life is full of suffering
• Caused by desire to satisfy ourselves
  (selfishness)
• End desire for selfish goals
• Follow the Middle Path

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Middle Path

• Speak the truth and speak well of others
• Do not kill, steal, lie, be unchaste, or take
  drugs and drink alcohol
• Control your mind
• Meditate
• Know what you really want

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Middle Path is

• This is a path to enlightenment. Each step must
  be mastered along the way. When you reach the
  end and finally become enlightened you will find
  Nirvana
• Nirvana- The goal of Buddhism (is a perfect
  spiritual peace where one is released from the
  cycle of reincarnation.)

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Central Beliefs

• Ultimate goal is nirvana
• Everybody who follows Middle Path can reach it
• Only one god
• Monks and nuns in monasteries

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Spread of Buddhism

• Quickly spread over India
• Became official Religion under King Asoka (250
  BCE)
• Spread over East Asia and South East Asia (China,
  Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia,
  Tibet)
• Today they have over 350 million followers.