1. Hinduism and Buddhism Develop
Chapter 3, Section 2
Hinduism and Buddhism Develop

2. India’s Geography India is a land of great Diversity
Has over 110 different languages with over 1100 dialects spoken
Geography ranges from fertile forests to desert, to high mountains
Indian Subcontinent
Smaller than a continent
Subcontinent of Asia
Divided from Asia by Himalaya and Hindu Kush mountain ranges

3. Aryan Invasion/Migration
Aryans come to India
1500 BCE – group of Indo-European nomads began to move out of Central Asia
Warfare = were advanced fighters
Arrival in India - Advanced East from Indus Valley, eventually occupying almost all of India

6. Hinduism Evolves Over Centuries
Collection of religious beliefs that developed slowly over time
No one founder with a single set of ideas

7. The Vedas 1200 BCE-600 BCE Written in Sanskrit Hindu core of beliefs
Hymns & poems
Religious prayers
Magical spells
Lists of the gods
Rig Veda = oldest work

8. Origins and Beliefs
BC, Hindu teachers create Upanishads-texts of teachings
Each person has atman-soul united with all others in Brahman
In reincarnation, people reborn to new lives
A soul’s good and bad deeds, karma, determines course of new life

9. Hinduism Changes and Develops
Over last 2,500 years different forms of god grow in importance
Today, Hindus choose own path to moksha-a state of perfect understanding
Hinduism and Society
Hinduism strengthened the caste system

10. Caste System System was not originally particularly rigid
Contained opportunity for mobility
Intermarriage between castes was allowed
System became increasingly complex and rigid as time went on
Hundreds of castes
No social contact between them
At bottom, were the “untouchables”

13. Caste System Who is… The mouth? The arms? The legs? The feet? Brahmins
Kshatriyas
Vaishyas
Shudras
Who is…
The mouth?
The arms?
The legs?
The feet?
Caste System

14. New Religions Arise Jainism, a new religion, arises in 500s BC
Jains will not harm any creature
They work in trade, commerce; practice religious tolerance

15. The Buddha Seeks Enlightenment
Siddhartha Gautama
Founder of Buddhism; priests prophesized his greatness

16. Siddhartha's Quest
Raised in isolation, Siddhartha Gautama wants to learn about world
Seeks enlightenment (wisdom), how to escape human suffering
Tries many methods; gains enlightenment by meditating
Becomes the Buddha, the “enlightened one”

17. Seeking Truth Enlightenment
Siddhartha tried many different ways of achieving enlightenment.
He tried mediation, fasting, physical discomfort, but none along worked for him.
He almost starved himself to death at one point.
After that he knew he needed to try something different.
Enlightenment
Siddhartha decided that he would meditate until he discovered the way to end human suffering.
Bodhi Tree: He sat under a Bodhi tree and said that he would not get up until he had achieved enlightenment.
He mediated for 40 days amidst temptation, and at the end said that he was “awake” he had achieved, Nirvana, or Enlightenment. This is when he became the Buddha, or enlightened one.

20. Origins and Beliefs Buddha begins to teach followers
Preaches Four Noble Truths-basic philosophy of Buddhism
Fourth Noble Truth is to follow the Eightfold Path to achieve nirvana
Nirvana:
A perfect state of understanding
A release from selfishness and pain
A break from the chain of reincarnations, rebirths
Buddha rejects caste system and multiple gods of Hinduism

23. The Religious Community
Some followers devote lives to religion, become monks and nuns
Three bases of Buddhism:
Buddha
religious community
teachings

24. Buddhism and Society
Many followers at first among poor and lower caste
Monks and nuns spread Buddha’s teachings
Teachings written to become sacred literature

25. Buddhism in India Spreads to other parts of Asia
Never gains firm hold in India; Hinduism remains strong
Buddhist pilgrims often visit India

26. Trade and the Spread of Buddhism
Buddhism spreads by traders to
Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Sumatra
China, Korea, Japan

28. Buddha’s Life Buddha practices what he preached
Only owned simple robe, walking stick, and wooden bowl
Always slept outside and walked everywhere he went
Presented his creed in a simple language
Treated all persons equally
Many people attracted to him as a result
Millions of converts across Asia

29. Spread of Buddhism
Convents and Monasteries: The Buddha had many followers, both men and women. He did not discriminate based on gender.
Death of the Buddha: He died of food poisoning at the home of a friend.
Scriptures: His teachings were collected in the Tripitika, or three baskets of wisdom.

30. Buddhist Traditions Buddhism ultimately split into 2 traditions
Theravada (Little Vehicle)
Do not view Buddha as a god, was just a great man
Strict practice and dediction
Mahayana (Big Vehicle)
Largest of the two
Buddha was human incarnation of Brahma; Buddha was a god
Led to worship of Buddha, creation of idols, elaborate rituals, and temples
Vow not to reach Nirvana, instead stay to help others reach Nirvana first

31. Stupa
Shrine that houses Buddhist relics