Download Religions of South Asia

Religions of South Asia
•Hinduism gave birth
to Buddhism, Jainism,
Sikhism
•Christianity –Jesus
Christ, son of God –
the Bible
•Islam – Muhammadlast prophet to talk to
Allah – t he Quran
•Do you think Islam
had an effect on
Hindu India?
2500 – 250 BC
2500 – 250 BC
2. Hinduism?
• The religion of Hinduism developed and evolved over a long time in
India, giving rise to a variety of beliefs and practices and to other
religions, including Jainism
2500 – 250 BC
What is Hinduism?
• One of the oldest religions of humanity
• The religion of the Indian people
• Its origins are difficult to trace
Brahman
2500 – 250 BC
How did Hinduism begin?
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No particular founder
Indus River Valley Civilization >5000 years ago
Aryans enter 4000 - 3500 years ago
Vedic Tradition 3500 – 2500 years ago:
2500 – 250 BC
What do Hindus believe?
• One impersonal Ultimate Reality – Brahman -the
creator
• Atman, the soul, is Brahman trapped in matter
• Reincarnation – reborn into this world lifetime
after lifetime (Samsara)
• Karma – spiritual impurity due to actions keeps
us bound to this world (good and bad)
2500 – 250 BC
How does Hinduism direct
life in this world?
– Dharma-set of spiritual duties-based on class and station
– Four “stations” of life (Caste) - priests & teachers, nobles &
warriors, merchant class, servant class
– Four stages of life – student, householder, retired, renunciant
2500 – 250 BC
What are the Sacred Texts?
• Shruti (“heard”) – oldest, most
authoritative:
– Four Vedas (“truth”) – myths, rituals,
chants
– Upanishads - metaphysical
speculation
• Smriti (“remembered”) – the Great
Indian Epics:
– Ramayana
– Mahabharata (includes BhagavadGita)
2500 – 250 BC
What are the spiritual
practices of Hinduism?
• Yoga-meditation in order to attain moksha
• Ultimate goal of life – to release Atman and reunite with the divine,
becoming as one with Brahman (Moksha)
2500 – 250 BC
Who do Hindus worship? –
the major gods of the Hindu Pantheon
Brahma, the creator god
2500 – 250 BC
Who do Hindus worship? –
the major gods of the Hindu Pantheon
Vishnu, the preserver god
Incarnates as ten avatars (descents) including:
Rama (featured in the Ramayana)
Krishna (featured in the Mahabharata)
(Each shown with his consort, Sita and Radha, respectively)
2500 – 250 BC
Who do Hindus worship? –
the major gods of the Hindu Pantheon
Shiva, god of constructive destruction (the transformer)
Appears as Shiva Nataraj,
lord of the dance of creation…
and with his wife, Parvati, and son Ganesha
(the elephant headed remover of obstacles)
2500 – 250 BC
What about the goddesses?
Devi – the feminine divine
•Saraswati, goddess of wisdom, consort of Brahma
2500 – 250 BC
What about the goddesses?
Devi – the feminine divine
Lakshmi, goddess of good fortune, consort of Vishnu
2500 – 250 BC
What about the goddesses?
Devi – the feminine divine
•Parvati, divine mother, wife of Shiva
2500 – 250 BC
What about the goddesses?
Devi – the feminine divine
Durga, protectress
Kali, destroyer of demons
Plus about 330 million other deities
All these deities are but
Manifest forms (attributes
and functions) of the
impersonal Brahman
Jainism
2500 – 250 BC
•500 BC – a group of Hindus broke away
•Mahavira – Jainism – thought Hindus placed too much
emphasis on ritual
Plus about
330 million
deitiesavoid stealing
•Ahimsanonviolence
towardsother
living things;
and tell the truth
2500 – 250 BC
3. Buddhism
•Buddhism, which
teaches people that
they can escape the
suffering of the world
through the Buddhist
teachings, developed in
India and spread to
other parts of Asia
2500 – 250 BC
Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)
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Unlike Hinduism,
Buddhism can be
traced to one single
founder, Siddhartha
Gautama
Prince of a small
kingdom; he lived
sheltered life and
sought the answer to
ending suffering
After years of
meditation searching
for Nirvava he
became Enlightened
He transformed into
Buddha
2500 – 250 BC
What is the fundamental cause of
all suffering?
Desire!
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Therefore, extinguish the self, don’t obsess about
oneself. Give up all materials and possessions of the
world.
2500 – 250 BC
Four Noble Truths
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There is suffering in the world. To live is to suffer.
(Dukkha)
The cause of suffering is self-centered desire and
attachments. (Tanha)
The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments.
(Nirvana = “extinction”)
To reach nirvana, one must follow the Eightfold Path.
Eightfold Path
2500 – 250 BC
Right Understanding
Right Speech
Right Intention
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Concentration
Right Mindfulness
2500 – 250 BC
Eightfold Path
Nirvana
 The union with the ultimate spiritual reality.
 Escape from the cycle of rebirth. Reincarnation
2500 – 250 BC
Types of Buddhism
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Therevada
Buddhism
Mahayana
Buddhism
Tibetan
Buddhism
Zen
Buddhism
2500 – 250 BC
Theravada Buddhism
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The oldest school of Buddhism.
The “Way of the Elders” or the “Small Vehicle.”
Found in southern Asia.
The monastic life is the best way
to achieve nirvana.
Focus on wisdom and meditation.
Goal is to become a “Buddha,” or “Enlightened One.”
Over 100,000,000 followers today.
2500 – 250 BC
Mahayana Buddhism
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The “Great Vehicle.”
Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).
Buddhism “for the masses.”
Seek guidance from Boddhisatvas, wise beings.
Goal: Not just individual escape from the wheel, but
the salvation of all humanity through self-sacrifice of
those enlightened few.
2500 – 250 BC
Tibetan Buddhism
 The “Diamond Vehicle.” [Vajrayana]
 Developed in Tibet in the 7c CE.
 A mix of Theravada and Mahayana.
 Boddhisatvas include Lamas, like
the Dalai Lama.
 The Tibetan Book of the Dead
[Bardo Thodol].
The Dalai Lama
2500 – 250 BC
2500 – 250 BC
Zen Buddhism
 The “Meditation School.”
 Seeks sudden enlightenment [satori] through meditation, arriving at
emptiness [sunyata].
 Use of meditation masters [Roshi].
 Beauty, art, and aesthetics:
 Gardens.
 Archery.
 Tea ceremony.
 Calligraphy.
2500 – 250 BC
Buddhism in America (1999)
2500 – 250 BC
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