1. Hinduism and Buddhism Religion in Ancient India

2. Aspects of Hinduism ●Monotheistic vs. Polytheistic: everything in the universe is part of the unchanging, all-powerful force called Brahman. - Brahman is too complex for most people to understand. - Hindus worship gods that give a concrete form to Brahman (Brahma the Creator; Vishnu the preserver, Shiva, the destroyer) Atman: a person’s soul or essential life giving force (the atman is just another name for Brahman) Moksha: release from the cycle of rebirth impelled by the law of karma and union with Brahman Reincarnation: the rebirth of the soul in another bodily form Karma: the force created by a person's actions that some people believe causes good or bad things to happen to that person

3. The Buddha Buddha or 'awakened one'. 566-486 BCE -He was born into a royal family in the village of Lumbini in present- day Nepal -One day Siddhartha saw, each for the first time, an old man, a sick man, and a corpse -Siddhartha had also seen a monk, and he decided this was a sign After practicing extreme self-denial for years, he decided to pursue the Middle Way -One day, seated beneath the Bodhi tree (the tree of awakening) Siddhartha became deeply absorbed in meditation and discovered the 4 Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path

4. The Four Noble Truths The Four Noble Truths are the heart of Buddhism: All life is full of suffering, pain and sorrow The cause of suffering is the desire for things that are really illusions, such as riches, power and long life The only cure for suffering is to overcome desire The way to overcome desire is to follow the Eightfold Path

5. The Eightfold Path Proper vision: world filled with suffering caused by desire, greed, self-seeking Proper aims: don't increase wealth and power at others' expense, don't lose self in sensuality, love others fully and increase their happiness Proper speech: avoid lies, slander, chatter, quarrels Proper action: avoid killing, theft, adultery, and other bodily sins Proper livelihood: don’t earn your living in a way that harms society: selling alcohol, butchery, etc. Correct mental exercise: avoid evil thoughts, generate good ones, carry out good thoughts Correct awareness: meditate on evil thoughts and on methods to change those thoughts Proper meditation: practice meditation to maintain the proper vision

7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7YXme9ml 2c