Hinduism

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Hinduism

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Hinduism

• One of the oldest religions in history
• Founder- unknown
• Origins- Northwest India
• When? About 3500 years ago
• 930 million Hindus living in India today (about
  80 of the Indian population)
• 13.4 Muslims, 2.3 Christians, 1.9 Sikhs,
  Buddhists (6 million), and others less than 2
  percent.

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Caste System Hinduism

• What is it? Social categories, social rankings of
  the people
• Caste determined at birth
• You were born into your caste, it was near
  impossible to move out
• Men considered higher than women
• Ones caste determined- friends, jobs, spouse,
  food, everything in life
• Officially outlawed but still takes place in many
  peasant areas

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The Major Groups

1. Brahmins-
2. Kshatriyas
3. Vaishyas-
4. Shudras-
5. Dalits-

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Brahmins

• The Highest Class-
• Priests and Teachers
• Life dedicated to learning and passing on the
  sacred writings (Vedas, etc.)

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Kshatriyas- Warriors/Nobles

• The ruling class
• Warriors and Nobles
• Their duty was to protect the Brahmins and India

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Vaisya

• The Farmer and Merchant Class.
• Made up a good portion of the country
• Almost at the bottom of the class system

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Shudras

• The Laborers Class
• These were the unskilled workers and servants.

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Dalits

• The Untouchables
• Not fit to be in the caste system
• These folks had it the hardest of the castes
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vLD3HrIRPVhw (813)

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Untouchables
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Beliefs

• Goal To reach Moksha- a state of perfect
  understanding of all things
• How to reach goal To reach Moksha one must free
  themselves from worldly desires
• Worship, knowledge, virtuous acts
• Karma- ones deeds affect later in life or in
  another life
• Reincarnation- rebirth of your soul

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Leaders and Holy books and Sites

• Gurus- spiritual teachers
• Vedas- oldest scriptures- collection of prayers,
  spells, and rituals
• Ganges River- holy river which is to cleanse,
  purify, cure ailments

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Buddhism

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Siddhartha Gautama563- 483 B.C.

• Founder of Buddhism (born into nobility) Was
  Hindu
• Spent his life searching for religious truth and
  an end to suffering
• Sought enlightenment or wisdom
• Found enlightenment under a large fig tree!

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Beliefs

• Four Noble Truths
• Everything in life is suffering
• The cause of suffering is peoples selfish desire
  for wealth
• End suffering by ending desires
• To find enlightenment follow the Middle Way and
  the Eightfold Path

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The Middle Way

• Road between desires and self-denial
• Live a life of MODERATION!

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The Five Precepts

• (1) Do not kill. (or harm anyone)
• (2) Do not steal.
• (3) Do not lie. (gossip or mistreat others)
• (4) Do not misuse sex. (committing adultery,
  prostitution)
• (5) Do not consume alcohol or other drugs. The
  main concern here is that intoxicants cloud the
  mind.

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More Beliefs

• Nirvana-
• Ultimate goal for Buddhists
• Perfect state of understanding
• Release from selfishness and pain
• Reincarnation
• Rebirth of your soul
• Rejected the caste system of Hinduism
• Believe that all people are equal
• DO NOT worship any gods

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Religious Community

• Buddhist monks and nuns- those who dedicate their
  entire lives to the teachings of Buddhism
• Lead a life of poverty, meditation, and study
• Non-violence and do not marry

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Comparisons

• Hinduism

• Buddhism

• Created in India
• Founded by Siddhartha Guatama (who was a prince
  in the hindu faith)
• NO GODS and all people are equal
• He believed in reincarnation and karma
• In order to reach enlightenment or nirvana, one
  must give you the desire for riches, wealth
• All suffering in the world is because of the
  desire for useless things

• Created in India
• No one founder
• Believe in social ranking called the caste system
• Believe in reincarnation and karma
• Holy animal is the cow
• Holy river is the Ganges River
• Religious leaders gurus
• Moksha the ultimate place for them
• Many gods

What do both these religions have in common?