Hinduism and Buddhism

Hinduism: Foundations Earliest form took hold in India during the Vedic Age (1500-1000 BC) Derived from beliefs of Aryans A social structure will also appear

The Great Epics Age was named after the Vedas Collections of religious rituals and hymns to the gods Brahman priests interpreted the rituals and hymns of the Vedas Will compose the Upanishads Philosophical interpretations of Vedic religion

Mahabharata Told stories of heroes and events Longest poem in the world Tells the story of a great civil war near Dehli Last 18 chapters are known as the Bhagavad-Gita or “Lord’s Song” Stresses doing one’s moral duty Krishna, the human incarnation of the god Vishnu explains that love and devotion to Vishnu can lead to salvation in the afterlife

Ramayana Tells the story of 2 royal figures – Rama (human incarnation of Vishnu) and his wife Sita Because of their faithfulness to duty and devotion to each other and the people they symbolize the ideals of Indian men and women

The Caste System From these 3 poems the most important influences on Indian history are created – the caste system and Hinduism Form of social organization developed in India Began when Aryans invaded Laid down laws prohibiting marriage between themselves and conquered peoples

The Caste System Laid down laws prohibiting marriage between themselves and conquered peoples During the Vedic Age, 4 distinct classes emerged Kshatriyas – rulers and warriors Brahmans – priests and scholars Vaisyas – merchants and traders, farmers Sudras – peasants bound to the land A fifth class will later develop – Pariahs (Untouchables) – people at the bottom who were considered unpure

The Caste System Later about 3000 hereditary sub-castes will develop Will have rules concerning marriage, eating, labor, worship Could not marry outside your caste Could only follow occupations considered fitting for your caste

Hinduism Will develop through Brahman’s interpretation of the Upanishads A divine essence known as Brahman fills everything in the world Atman (self) refers to the essence of an individual View Brahma and Atman as one- called Monism

Hinduism The world is merely an illusion called Maya – will betray people bringing the suffering and pain People can be delivered from pain if they can identify Maya – this requires lifetimes of experience Believe in reincarnation of the soul, will provide the experience Soul will not die with the body but enters the body of another living thing and lives again

Hinduism Two major elements are dharma and karma Dharma – fulfillment of one’s moral duty in life so that the soul can make progress towards deliverance from punishment in the next life Karma – belief the present condition in life is a result of what you have done or not done in the previous life

Hinduism Each person hopes to end the process and enable the soul to reunite with Brahma Good and evil people are punished Reward for good is that the soul will enter the body of a person in a higher caste Evil people are reborn into a lower caste or as insects

Religious Practices Yoga – a physical and mental discipline harmonizing body and soul Hindu practitioners might sit for hours in the same position to free the mind from bodily concerns Priests teach that people can attain salvation by fulfilling dharma and uniting with Brahman

Hindu Trinity Brahman’s characteristics include a trinity: Brahma the creator Vishnu the Preserver Siva the Destroyer Includes 1000s of other gods and goddesses Cows are considered sacred (provide power for the plow and produce food and fuel) Hindu believe that they are monotheistic – all gods and goddesses are different representations of the oneness of the universe

Buddhism Based on life and teachings of Siddartha Gautama (563 BC-483 BC) Born a prince Lived a life of luxury Married and had a kid At age of 29 he ventured into the streets of his city –was shocked by what he saw

The Great Renunciation Thought about the great problems of life and asked “Why does suffering exist?” “What is the value of life and death?” Spent the rest of his life seeking the answers to these questions Great Renunciation: Put aside his possessions, left his wife and son, set out to search for the “truth”

Enlightenment Lived as a hermit Practiced yoga Tried fasting and self torture After 6 years he was meditating under a fig tree Felt he understood the truth that formed the basis of life Became the “Enlightened One” or Buddha

Teachings Accepted some Hindu beliefs Good is rewarded and evil is punished – life your lead will determine the condition of your soul Said that salvation can only come from knowing the Four Noble Truths and following the Eightfold Path

Four Noble Truths All human life contains suffering and sorrow Greedy desire for only pleasure and material things causes suffering and sorrow Renouncing desire frees people from suffering and helps people to achieve nirvana (perfect peace which frees the soul from the endless process of reincarnation) Following the eightfold path leads to renunciation or denial of desire and the attainment of nirvana

Eightfold Path Right views or seeing life as it really is Right intentions Right speech (avoiding lying, gossiping) Right action (avoiding crime and be honest) Right living (working at a job that did not harm others)

Eightfold Path Right effort (working to prevent evil) Right mindfulness (constant awareness of one’s self) Right concentration (direct the mind in meditation) Did not accept the Hindu gods Did not need the help of priest, temples or idols Did not accept the caste system

Spread of Buddhism Teaching gained acceptance over the next several centuries By 100 BC there were 2 main branches Theraveda Followed traditional beliefs of Buddhism Regarded Buddha as a teacher Spread to countries outside India: Burma, Thailand, Cambodia

Spread of Buddhism Mahayana Regard Buddha as a god and savior Develops priests, temples, creeds, and rituals Spread to Afghanistan, central Asia, Korea, China, Japan

The Spread of Buddhism