Download Hinduism and Buddhism Develop

HINDUISM AND BUDDHISM
DEVELOP
Origins of Hinduism
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How did it begin?
No one founder w/ a
single set of ideas
“Upanishads”
One of the oldest
religions
Key Beliefs of Hinduism
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Each person has “atman”
Existance of “Brahman”
Reincarnation and Karma
Achieve liberation from desire
and suffering
Enlightenment or “moksha”
(perfect understanding) is
final goal
No central figure who started
it
Can worship whatever Hindu
god you like
Gods
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Brahma
-The creator
Vishnu
-The preserver of the universe
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Krishna
-The cowherder
Shiva
-The destroyer
MANY GODS-Choose god to
worship
Sacred Literature
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The Vedas-ancient
scriptures
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Most important is the Rig
Veda
Upanishads-dialogue
between teacher and
student about obtaining
perfect understanding of
all things
Effects on Society
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Karma & reincarnation
strengthened the caste
system
Dominates daily life
 What
you eat
 Personal cleanliness
 People with whom you
associate
 How you dressed
Modern Day Traditions
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“moksha”
Ganges River
Place of worship: home
or temple (shrines)
Swastika=good fortune,
luck , and well-being
More Hindus than
Buddhists in the world
today
Swastika
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Unfortunately, the swastika symbol is
best known to most westerners as a
Nazi symbol.
For the past 3,000 years it
represented life, sun, power,
strength, and good luck.
Common symbol in India
Considered extremely holy by all
Hindus
Regularly used to decorate all sorts
of items to do with Hindu culture.
It can be seen on the sides of
temples and on religious scripture to
gift items and letterhead.
Jainism
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Everything has a soul and should not be harmed
Tolerance and non-violence
Vegetarianism
Work in trade/commerce
Monks with brooms
Founder: Mahavira
Believe we can know only part of the truth
Today: fewer than 5 million followers; tend to
be members of upper middle class; believe that one
should not accumulate wealth so they are known to be
very generous philanthropists
Buddhism
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Founded by Siddhartha
Gautama- son of a noble
who wondered 6 years
Sought to end human
suffering through
enlightenment- state of
perfect wisdom and
understanding of universe
Became Buddha“enlightened one”
Beliefs
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4 noble truths- basis of
Buddhism
Reincarnation
Eightfold path- path to
end desire to attain
enlightenment or nirvanaultimate reality and end
of the self and reunion
with the Great World
Soul
Gods
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The Buddha did not teach a personal diety (god).
Sacred Literature
Teachings of Buddha
 Commentaries, rules of monastic life, meditation
manuals, legends
(Do not harm any living thing; Do not steal; Take only
what is given; Avoid over-stimulation; Do not say
unkind things; Do not take alcohol or drugs.)
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Effects on Society
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Support caste system?
Has religious communities of monks and nuns
Spread to Burma, Thailand, Sumatra, Korea, Japan,
Sri Lanka, SE Asia and China through trade
Pilgrimages
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Buddhist monks with their begging bowls
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Why would Buddhism appeal to laborers and
craftspeople?
They are of a lower caste, and Buddhism rejects the
caste system.
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Why is there a link between trade and religions?
Traders travel extensively, bringing new objects and
ideas with them and learning from other cultures.
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What were the attitudes of Hindus and Buddhists
toward women?
Hindus worshiped a great Mother Goddess but saw
females as being of a lower caste than males.
Women could join Buddhist religious orders (nuns).