Introduction to Hinduism & Buddhism  BRAHMAN: one single spiritual power that lives in everything  AVATAR: representation of Hindu god or goddess in human or animal form  Hinduism: Major religion from India  Practiced by over 850 million people  One of world’s major religions  Started a blend of beliefs from Aryans and Indians

Introduction to Hinduism & Buddhism  Deity: god or holy being  HINDUISM  Very complex; brings ideas from many religions  Polytheistic  Worship many gods and goddesses but believe in one main brahman

Introduction to Hinduism & Buddhism  Moral: doing what is “right”, accepted by culture; “correct”  HINDUISM  Three important Hindu gods: Brahma, the Creator; Vishnu, the Preserver; Shiva, the Destroyer  Believe their deities come to earth as avatars

Introduction to Hinduism & Buddhism  REINCARNATION: belief in the rebirth of the soul, often in human or animal form  DHARMA: religious and moral duties of each person  AHIMSA: nonviolence (a main teaching of Hinduism)  Hindus believe life is a spiritual journey  Teachings come from holy texts called Upanishads  Believe every living thing has a soul  Each person will be judged by his or her actions on earth and reincarnated accordingly

Introduction to Hinduism & Buddhism  When a Hindu reaches a “perfect” life, he or she becomes one with Brahma and breaks cycle of reincarnation; must follow “dharma”  Believe in non-violence  All people and things are part of Brahman so they don’t eat meat and try not to harm living things

Introduction to Hinduism & Buddhism  Hinduism in day to day practice:  May worship at temples  May have shrines in homes and make offerings  Practice of Yoga frees soul

Introduction to Hinduism & Buddhism  BUDDHISM  Meditate: to focus your thoughts inward to reach spiritual awareness or relaxation  Nirvana: A higher form of existence; lasting peace reached by giving up selfish desires

Introduction to Hinduism & Buddhism  Siddhartha Gautama  Indian Prince  Had never known suffering, old age, sickness, or death  At age 30 he left palace and saw suffering in the outside world  Gave up his wealth and position in hopes of finding causes of suffering  Traveled for 7 years looking for truth

Introduction to Hinduism & Buddhism  Fast: to go without food or liquids (other than water) during the day for religious reasons  Coexist: to live or work together  Meditated to seek understanding  Legend says he fasted and meditated under a fig tree for 49 days  He found the answers he was looking for

Introduction to Hinduism & Buddhism  Gautama spent 45 years traveling in India and sharing his knowledge  He gained many followers  They called him “Enlightened One”, or Buddha  His teachings came to be called Buddhism

Introduction to Hinduism & Buddhism  Buddha taught that people should avoid extremes in life  Said wish for wealth or power caused unhappiness  Believed people should follow the “Middle Way” or 8- Fold Path

Introduction to Hinduism & Buddhism  Like Hindus, Buddhists believe in reincarnation  Believe you could be “released” from reincarnation by following “Middle Way” and reaching nirvana

Introduction to Hinduism & Buddhism  BASIC TEACHINGS:  Act unselfishly  Tell the truth  Avoid violence  All people are equal  Appeals to those in caste system

Introduction to Hinduism & Buddhism  Karma: Belief that choices you make in the present will impact the future; “What comes around goes around”  Example: A good choice in this life may mean you have a good outcome later in life OR in a later life. The opposite is true, too.  SHARED BELIEFS:  Hindus and Buddhists believe in nonviolence and idea that it’s not okay to harm others  Some Hindus believe Buddha is a reincarnation of Vishnu, the creator  Both believe in Karma