Chapter 3.2 Hinduism and Buddhism Emerge in India

Notebook 10% of notebook grade is organization The Table of Contents is your guide Keep things in the right order

Focus Q Fri. 9/22 Compare Judaism and Hinduism. Founding Fathers? Who started them? Sacred text? Who are their gods? Goal of the religion? Do ethics play a role? How?

Focus Q What have you heard students say to respectfully correct each other? When would this be appropriate? Why don’t students do this very often?

Who founded (started) Hinduism and what is there sacred text (book)? No single founder, no single sacred text Vedas: books recording Hindu teachings Many people brought in diff gods and goddesses over time One of the world’s most complex religions Many ways to worship, many gods

What do Hindus believe? One impersonal Ultimate Reality – Brahman Manifest as many personal deities True essence of life – Atman, the soul, is Brahman trapped in matter **Reincarnation – atman (soul) is continually born into this world lifetime after lifetime** (Samsara)

What do Hindus believe? 5. **Karma – spiritual impurity due to actions keeps us bound to this world** (good and bad) 6. Ultimate goal of life – to release Atman (soul) and reunite with Brahman (Moksha)

“God is one, but wise people know it by many names” Hindus believe that everything is part of the unchanging, all-powerful spiritual force called …? Brahman “God is one, but wise people know it by many names”

Most important Hindu Gods All can take many forms: animal or human Brahman—the creator Vishnu—the preserver Shiva—the destroyer Three aspects/powers of the same divine being

Vishnu “”Preserver” Shiva “Destroyer” Brahman “Creator”

Hindu god Ganesh

Symbolism in Hinduism

What is the ultimate goal of existence for Hindus? 1. *Achieving Moksha, union with Brahman* (the unchanging, all-powerful force) To do this must free themselves from selfish desires--how is this similar to Judaism, Christianity, Islam?

What is the purpose of reincarnation? **Reincarnation: rebirth of the soul in another body form** To work towards Moksha through several lifetimes

Explain Karma. **All the actions of a person’s life that affect his/her fate in the next life** Live virtuously: reborn at a higher level and vice-verse Religious and moral duties (dharma) and non-violence (ahimsa) are important

Karma and Reincarnation Reincarnation is the belief that the soul repeatedly goes through a cycle of being born into a body, dying, and being reborn again in a new body. Karma, a force that determines the quality of each life, depending on how well one behaved in a past life. Hinduism says we create karma by our actions on earth. If you live a good life, you create good karma. If you live a bad life, you create bad karma.

People who live virtuously earn good karma and are reborn at a higher level of existence.

Hindu Duties Each Hindu has 4 daily duties: Revere the deities Respect ancestors Respect all beings Honor all humankind

Holy Cow! Hindus have always had great respect for Mother Nature and its creatures Cow is especially significant because it symbolizes gentleness

……the caste system in India. **Castes: (Hindus only)** **In India, social groups into which people are born….can rarely be changed.** Reflect diff social and economic roles, like jobs

5 important details 1. People in diff castes are diff species of beings 2. A high caste Brahmin is purer and closer to moksha than a person of a lower caste 3. Castes have complex rules: live, eat, dress, job 4. **High caste people have the strictest rules** (exam) 5. can’t marry or eat w/ people outside your caste 6. Lowest caste called “untouchables”

Castes cont…… 7. Caste system ensured stable social order 8. Could reach a higher caste in next life by faithfully following rules of current caste 9. Castes have own jobs, leader 10. Can rarely move up in your lifetime 11. Are 1000’s of major castes and subcastes

The Spread of Hinduism

A little humor…… What do you call an elephant that doesn’t matter? Irrelephant 

Read “Life of the Buddha” on p. 79. What is 1 main idea of Buddhism? Central Idea: you must live a moral life (heard that before?) We can achieve enlightenment through meditation

Buddha What central belief of Buddhism is revealed in Buddha sculptures? See p. 79 for help. Buddha

What does “Buddha” mean? From the Himalayas, came a reformer, Siddhartha Gautama, who would become known as the “Buddha” Buddha = the enlightened one

What are the 4 noble truths of Buddhism **Life is full of pain, suffering, and sorrow.** The cause of suffering is nonvirture—bad deeds or thoughts like hatred and desire **Only cure –overcome nonvirture** To overcome nonvirtue, you must follow the Eightfold path

Eightfold Path Right: views, aspirations, speech, conduct, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, contemplation Also live a moral life Remind you of any other religions?

Explain the final goal of Buddhism? Achieving Nirvana: union with the universe and release from cycle of rebirth called ____?

From what you have read, what do Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism have in common? Living a moral life is important

Think—Pair—Share What do Judiasm, Hinduism, and Buddhism have in common? Make a symbol for each religion.