Download Hinduism and Buddhism Develop

Hinduism and Buddhism
Develop
Hinduism Evolves over Centuries
• Hinduism is a collection of
religious beliefs that developed
over a long period of time –
some aspects can be traced
back to ancient times, but not
one founder with one set of
ideals.
• Hindus share a common belief
that religion is a way of
liberating the soul from the
illusions, disappointments, and
mistakes of everyday
existence. The achievement
of separation from these
desires and suffering is
detailed in the Upanishads.
Hinduism Evolves over Centuries
• When a person understands the relationship
between atman (their soul) and Brahman (world
soul), then they achieve perfect understanding
and release from this world.
• This understanding does not come usually in
one lifetime – reincarnation in necessary. A
soul’s karma, or good and bad deeds, follows it
from reincarnation to another.
• The karma influences life circumstances, such
as caste, etc.
• Dharma is the religious and moral duties an
individual must have.
Hinduism and Society
• Hindu ideas about karma and reincarnation
strengthened the caste system – if someone
was born as an upper-class male, it was said
that he had good karma, or fortune. If he was
born lower-class, it was said that he deserved it
because of past misdeeds.
• With some exceptions, only men of the top 3
varnas were said to be able to reach moksha
(enlightenment).
The Buddha Seeks Enlightenment
•
•
Siddhartha Gautama founded
Buddhism. He was locked in his
palace by his father to fulfill a
prophecy of him becoming a great
king. He finally left the palace and
understood that only religion offers
freedom from the cycle of birth
and death.
He wandered through the forests
of India for 6 years to find
enlightenment. After 49 days of
meditation under a fig tree he
achieved an understanding of the
causes of suffering in the world.
From then on he became known
as Buddha, or “Enlightened One.”
Origins & Beliefs of Buddhism
• In his first sermon, Buddha outlined the Four
Noble Truths of his faith:
– First Noble Truth: Life is filled with suffering & sorrow
– Second Noble Truth: The Cause of all suffering is
people’s selfish desire for the temporary pleasures of
this world
– Third Noble Truth: The way to end all suffering is to
end all desire
– Fourth Noble Truth: The way to overcome such
desires and attain enlightenment is to follow the
Eightfold Path, which is called the Middle Way
between desires & denial.
The Eightfold Path
• “What is the Middle Way?
It is the Noble Eightfold
Path – Right Views, Right
Resolve, Right Speech,
Right Conduct, Right
Livlihood, Right Effort,
Right Mindfulness, and
Right Concentration.
This is the Middle Way.”
• Buddha, from
Samyutta Nikaya
Dharma Wheel, often used to
symbolize the Eightfold Path
Origins & Beliefs of Buddhism
• Like Hinduism, Buddha accepted
reincarnation, but he rejected the multiple
gods. He shared the concept of
enlightenment by a belief in nirvana, or a
release from selfishness and pain.
• The final goals of both Hinduism and
Buddhism are similar – both involve a
perfect state of understanding and a break
from the chain of reincarnation.