Download Hinduism and Buddhism

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Aryans and non-Aryans followed own forms of
religion at the beginning
After blending – worship became more
complex – questioned Brahmin priests
New ideas arose out of turmoil
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No founder
Belief: religion is a liberation from illusions,
disappointments and mistakes
Writings: Upanishads – explain the Vedic
hymns; written as dialogue between student
and teacher
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A person can achieve moksha- which is a
perfect understanding of all things; brings
liberation from desires and suffering
They distinguish between:
atman: the individual soul of a living being
and
brahman: the world soul that contains and
unites all atmans
This interconnectedness of all life is a basic
concept
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Attaining understanding between atman and
Brahman brings moksha and a release from life
in this world
But this understanding does not usually come
in one lifetime – so they believe in
reincarnation – when an individual soul or
spirit is born again and again until moksha is
achieved
Soul’s karma – good or bad deeds follows from
one reincarnation to another and influences life
circumstances (caste, health, wealth, etc.)
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Seen as having personalities of 3 gods:
1) Brahma – the creator
2) Vishnu – the protector
3) Shiva – the destroyer
Changes over years – Hindus may follow deity
they wish to worship or none at all
Hindus may choose from 3 different paths for
achieving moksha:
1) right thinking
2) right action
3) religious devotion
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Reincarnation strengthened the caste system
- only those in upper caste seen to have
good karma in former life
- a female, laborer, or untouchable – seen
to have had bad karma in former life
Only men in top 3 varnas could achieve
moksha in their present life
Hinduism and the caste system dominated
every aspect of a person’s life
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Founded by Mahavira (599-527 B.C.)
5 million Jainists in India
Beliefs:
1) Everything in universe has a soul; should
not be harmed
2) Non-violence
3) Must work in non-violent jobs
4) Religious toleration; do not recruit
converts
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Founder
Noble birth in Nepal
Relationship with father
- exhibited traits of a great man
- if he stayed home – would be world leader
- if he left – a religious leader
- father isolated him in palace; married; had a
son
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At 29 he ventured outside palace 4x:
1) saw an old man
2) saw a sick man
3) saw a corpse (dead man)
4) a wandering holy man at peace
Meaning: only religious life offers refuge from
suffering
Decided to devote life to seeking religious truth
and to end suffering
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Wandered for 6 yrs.
Tried to reach enlightenment by debating,
fasting but found no truth; continued to suffer
49 days of meditation under fig tree – found
enlightenment or understanding of the cause of
suffering
Became known as Buddha – the enlightened
one
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First sermon given to 5 companions
Sermon contained 4 Noble Truths:
1) All of life is suffering and sorrow
2) Cause of suffering: selfish desire for
temporary pleasures of the world
3) Way to end suffering: end all desires
4) To overcome desires and attain
enlightenment: follow the Eightfold Path
Eightfold Path: middle way between desires and selfdenial
If you follow Eightfold Path – you reach nirvana – release
from selfishness and pain
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Right views
Right resolve
Right speech
Right conduct
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right concentration
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Buddhism contained many Hindu ideas
Final goals similar: perfect state of understanding
- moksha for Hindus
- nirvana for Buddhists
But there were sharp differences:
1) accepted idea of reincarnation
2) accepted cyclical, or repetitive, view of
history: world created and destroyed over
and over
3) rejected many gods of Hinduism
4) rejected privileges of brahmin priests
5) rejected caste system
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Sahgha – Buddhist religious order of monks
and nuns
First monks – 5 men who heard Buddha’s first
sermon
Eventually refers to entire religious community
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1) Religious community
2) Dharma – Buddhist doctrine or law
3) Buddha
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Early believers included laborers and craftspeople > because it rejected caste system
More influence in northeast because Aryans
had less influence there
Women reluctantly brought into religious
orders – thought they might distract men
Monks and nuns took vows of poverty, nonviolence, and chastity – spread Buddha’s
teachings
Monasteries developed – Nalanda developed
into a great university
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Buddhism spread over Asia after Buddha’s death
Never gained significant foothold in India
Theories on why it didn’t: Buddhism was
absorbed into Hinduism when Buddha was
recognized by Hindus as being one of the 10
incarnation of the Vishnu
India was always an important pilgrimage for
Buddhists: stupas – sacred mounds contain
Buddha’s relics
Pilgrims circle clockwise around object; lie face
down; leave flowers
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Traders carried it to places like Burma,
Thailand, and Sumatra
Silk Road carried it to China and from there
Korea and Japan
Buddhism became most widespread religion in
East Asia
Buddhism would divide into two sects:
Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism