Download File

World Religions Background
Name:
English 3-4 Advanced – 2016
Period:
Hinduism and Buddhism
In the World Religions unit, we will be studying sacred texts as well as fiction related to the religions.
Siddhartha is set in India, where both Hinduism and Buddhism originated. A basic understanding of each
religion is crucial to understanding the book, as well as the Upanishads and the Rig Veda.
Hinduism – circa 1500 BCE
 Based on the vedas, a collection of prayers, hymns and rituals
 Includes worship of multiple gods
o Some are worshipped by most Hindus
o Some are specific to regions, towns or even households
 Society is based on the caste system. An individual is born into a caste, and it determines their
education, social circle, jobs and especially marriage. There are five castes
o Brahmin (sometimes spelled Brahman): priests, protectors of rites and traditions
o Kshatriya: warriors and rulers
o Vaishya: merchants and landowners
o Sudra: commoners, peasants and servants
o Untouchables: outcasts who perform filthy jobs
 Hindus believe in reincarnation. Throughout one’s life, your good and bad deeds accumulate on your
record. This is called karma, and it determines your next life. This fate is called dharma.
o If you are born into a high caste, that means you accumulated good karma in a past life
o Being born into a low caste is seen as punishments for sins in your past life
 The cycle of death and rebirth is called samsara. The ultimate goal of Hinduism is to shed all karma,
both good and bad, and escape samsara.
o To achieve this, a Hindu must be able to see through the maya, or the illusion of world
o After this, one’s atman (soul) can rejoin the Brahman (universal soul).
 Hinduism involves daily observation and practice, including, bathing, sacrifices, prayer and pilgrimages
 The government and laws of India was based on the Hindu religion until the mid-20th century.
Reflection Questions: (short paragraph response)
Why do you think individuals not permitted to leave the caste they are born into?
In the caste system, the Brahmin (priests) outrank the Kshatriya (nobility). What does that tell you about what
Hinduism values?
Buddhism – circa 500 BCE
 Originated when Siddhartha Gautama (sometimes spelled Gotama), rejected the wealth of his
Kshatriya family in favor of enlightenment. His followers called him the Buddha (the Enlightened One).
 Like Hinduism, the ultimate goal of Buddhism is to escape the cycle of rebirth
o This is called achieving Nirvana, or nothingness
o It is accomplished through meditation and detachment from the world
 In Buddhism, there is no caste system, and the worship and rituals tend to be simpler than Hinduism
 The basic code for living as a Buddhist is known as The Four Noble Truths:
o Existence is suffering
o Suffering arises from desire
o Suffering ends when desire ends
o The way to end desire is to follow the Eight-Fold Path
 The Eight-Fold Path is the path to breaking all wants, needs and connections to the world to achieve
Nirvana. Though they are expressed simply, the concepts are actually very difficult to grasp:
o Right belief
o Right resolve
o Right speech
o Right conduct
o Right occupation
o Right effort
o Right contemplation
o Right ecstasy
Reflection Questions: (short paragraph response)
What makes the Eight-Fold Path difficult to grasp?
Even though the main character of this book is named Siddhartha, he is NOT the Buddha. He meets the
Buddha (Gotama) in Part 1. What parts of Buddhism do you think will apply to our protagonist Siddhartha?