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Religions of South Asia
Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism
1. Talk Grades
2. A little Map Practice
3. Notes- Religions of India
What is religion?
A set of beliefs:
1.
Concerning the cause, nature and purpose of the universe
2.
Usually involving devotional and ritual observances
3.
Often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs
Religious Distribution in India
Hinduism
Origins and Distribution
• Originated in Indus River Valley 4,000 years ago, oldest major
religion in the world.
• No single founder or central religious organization
• Geographic distribution: India (80%), large Hindu populations also
in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Malaysia
No specific holy book.
Instead, there are the Vedas (four texts) the sacred
books of Hinduism
Place of Worship: Temple
Rituals, practices, worship
• Puja (formal worship at home or temple) - giving a
gift to a holy deity or honored guest.
• Meditation
• Yoga
Is Hinduism monotheistic
or polytheistic?
Beliefs vary widely • Monotheistic: there is one
God who has millions of
faces.
• Or Polytheistic: many gods.
Holy Site: Ganges River
The river has a long history of
reverence in India and is seen by
many Hindus as a goddess.
Basic Beliefs of Hinduism:
Hinduism is a way of life, constantly seeking the truth
through:
1. Reincarnation
2. Karma
3. Dharma
The Caste System - The goal is to move upward, escape
the eternal cycle of reincarnation, and unite with Brahmin.
Caste – A social class system
• Brahmin – priest, teacher
• Kshatriya – warrior,
landowner
• Vaishya – merchant
• Sudra – farmer, laborer
• Untouchables – outside the
caste; referred to as “Dalit”
Sikhism
Sikhism
• Founded by Guru Nanak
Dev, who was born in 1469
• Began as a movement to
combine Hinduism and
Islam
• About 23 million Sikhs
worldwide, making Sikhism
the fifth largest religion in
the world
• Majority live in the Indian
state of Punjab
SikhS wear the “5 k’S”
Buddhism
…polytheism, monotheism, pantheism?
Pantheism – view that God and the
Universe are identical
(i.e.
everything is god and nature/the
universe are divine)
Pantheists don’t believe in a personal
or creator god
Origin and Distribution
• Place of Origin: Northern India, 1st sermon on
meaning of life by the Ganges River.
• Founded by Siddhartha Gautama 489 BCE
• Reaction to teachings of Hinduism
• Pantheistic religion
• Today practiced in China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Nepal,
Sri Lanka, SE Asia…
• Differences in beliefs from region to region
The many faces of Buddha
“The Enlightened One”
Story of Siddhartha Gautama
- Experience as a prince
- Observation of suffering
- Discovery of the Middle Way
Key Beliefs and Teachings
•
•
Buddhist receive spiritual guidance from the “enlightened one”
Follow the 4 Noble Truths
1.
2.
3.
4.
Suffering is universal
Suffering is caused by craving (selfish desires)
The cure for suffering is to rid oneself of cravings
To rid oneself of cravings follow the noble eightfold path to
enlightenment
Holy Text
Sutras (lessons of the Buddha)
Practices and Rituals
• Belief in reincarnation
• Buddhist practice meditation to achieve enlightenment and Nirvana
• Some Buddhist sects value entering a monastery for some or all of
their life
Jainism*
• An Indian religion that emphasizes complete non-violence and
asceticism. It began in the sixth century BC, the same time Buddhism
was developing.
• Incorporates Hindu concepts of karma and reincarnation, but rejects
the Veda scriptures, castes and the idea of a creator god. The goal of
life is to reach liberation by a life of purification and discipline
Monks and nuns undertake the ascetic life full-time and
take the "Five Great Vows":
• Non-violence
• Truth
• Non-stealing
• Celibacy
• Non-possessiveness