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Hinduism and Buddhism
The Beliefs of Hinduism
• No single founder or sacred text
• Began when Aryans added the gods of the Indus
Valley people
• It is one of the most complex religions in the
world
• Most important gods:
– Brahma (the Creator)
– Vishnu (the Preserver)
– Shiva (the Destroyer)
• Hindu teachings were present in the Vedas
The Goal of Life, Karma, and Dharma
• Every person has an essential self
– Atman
• Reincarnation allows people to continue
working toward moksha through several
lifetimes
• People who live virtuously earn good karma
– They will be rewarded in their next lifetime
• To gain good karma, one must fulfill his or her
dharma
Gautama Buddha: The Enlightened
One
• Siddhartha Gautama founded the new religion of
Buddhism
• Four Noble Truths
1. All life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow
2. The cause of suffering is the desire for things that
are really illusions, such as riches, power, and long
life
3. The only cure for suffering is to overcome desire
4. The way to overcome desire is to follow the
Eightfold Path
Eightfold Path
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Right views
Right aspirations
Right speech
Right conduct
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right contemplation
Buddhism and Hinduism Compared
• The final goal in Buddhism is nirvana
• Both Hindus and Buddhists stressed
nonviolence and believed in karma, dharma,
moksha, and a cycle of rebirth
• Buddha rejected the many gods of Hinduism
and the caste system
– Believed in Nirvana
• Seek enlightenment through meditation
Spread of Buddhism
• Sacred text
– Tripitaka
• Two major sects
– Theravada Buddhism
• Closely followed the Buddha’s original teaching
– Mahayana Buddhism
• Easier for ordinary people to follow
• Hinduism eventually absorbed some Buddhist
ideas and had Buddha as a Hindu god
Questions to Consider
• Explain the significance of the four noble
truths and the eightfold path
• What is the difference between the two
religions?
• Explain the term karma and dharma. How did
those two go hand and hand?
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9AoZj_F
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