Download Comparing Religions DBQ: Buddhism and Hinduism Your task is to

Comparing Religions DBQ: Buddhism and Hinduism
Your task is to compare contrast Hinduism and Buddhism. You must explain how the two religions are
similar and different in practice and beliefs.
Source #1 -Buddhist Philosophic Beliefs
THE MIDDLE WAY, (or Middle Path). Find the middle
way between your extremes that is right for you. It is
usually found by experiencing extremes. Buddha said,
"Believe nothing until you have tried it out for yourself
and found it to be true. Don't accept something just
because I tell to."
LETTING GO- Liberation comes in part through giving
up attachments and letting go. This includes unhelpful
ideas and beliefs and attachments in the material world.
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
1. Suffering exists. It is part of the structure of existence.
2. Suffering has a cause.
3. There is a way to end (or greatly reduce) suffering.
4. A way to end (reduce) suffering is to follow the
eightfold path.
THE EIGHTFOLD PATH
1. Right Understanding- especially knowledge of the
Four Noble Truths
Source #2-Hindu Philosophic Beliefs
Moksha
The spiritual goal of a Hindu is to become one with
Brahma. This freedom is referred to as moksha. Until
moksha is achieved, a Hindu believes that he/she will be
repeatedly reincarnated in order that he/she may work
towards self-realization of the truth (the truth being that
only Brahman exists, nothing else).
Ways to achieve Moksha:
1) spiritual - acquire spiritual knowledge through yoga
and meditation.
2) devotion to god
3) working selflessly for the good of society
4) respect for elders
5) karma through pure acts, knowledge and devotion.
You can reincarnate to a higher level; the opposite
achieves the contrary result.
Source #3-Hinduism and Reincarnation
Hindus believe in reincarnation - a belief that the soul is
eternal and lives many lifetimes, in one body after
another. The soul is sometimes born in a human body,
2. Right Motivation- the determination to remove
animosity, malice, and hatred from our thinking, and
also the determination to renounce worldly pleasures.
3. Right Speech- telling the truth and avoiding lies, harsh
language, frivolous gossip, and any remarks which
may cause others unnecessary hardship or pain.
4. Right Action-act in ways that honor rather than
destroy life, stealing or action which would harm
others or yourself. Let your acts create good karma.
5. Right Livelihood- find an occupation which suits your
nature, contributes to the world positively, and does
not cause damage, difficulty, or hardship to others.
6. Right Effort-directing your efforts toward faithfully
following the Eightfold Path
7. Right Mindfulness-letting go of "I must have this," or
"I must have that." Develop moment-by-moment
awareness of, and sensitivity to, the effects of what we
do in our lives and the world. Learn to perceive the
world and others clearly, without judgment or envy.
8. Right Concentration-practicing meditative states lead
in the direction of self-mastery and the middle path.
sometimes in an animal body and sometimes in a plant
body. Hindus believe that all forms of life contain a soul,
and all souls have the chance to experience life in different
forms. Samsara means going through the cycle of repeated
births and deaths (reincarnation). Hindus believe that
existence of this cycle is governed by karma.
Source #4-Buddhism and Reincarnation
Buddhists believe that human beings have the potential to
become free from suffering by practicing meditation and
cultivating a lifestyle prescribed by the Buddha. The
wheel of life is a very important symbol in Buddhism
because it depicts the cycle of life and death. Buddhists
believe that after beings die, they are reborn or
reincarnated into a new form. This new form could be a
deity, human, animal, some lower creature like a hungry
ghost or an inhabitant of hell. It is believed that all
positive thoughts and actions cause good karma and may
direct one into being reborn in a higher form. The
consequences of one’s negative deeds, bad karma, may
result in rebirth in a lower form.
1. Fill-out the chart below to help you organize the information from the packet to form main ideas and
evidence that support your main ideas
Unit 4, Page #______________
Comparing Religions DBQ: Buddhism and Hinduism
Main Beliefs-what ideas are important
(include reincarnation!)
Buddhism
Practices-what followers must do
Hinduism
Hinduism
Buddhism
2. Now that you have some evidence in the table, you need to write a MEL-Con paragraph about the following:
a. How are their beliefs similar?
b. How are their practices similar?
c. How are their practices and beliefs different?
Main Idea: (Hint – use the question above as a guide in forming your main idea)
Evidence 1:
Evidence 2:
Evidence 3:
Link 1:
Link 2:
Link 3:
Conclusion:
Your mini-essay will be scored on the following rubric:
3 Points
2 Points
1 Point
Writer has focused on one issue
related to the assignment. Main idea
is clear and well stated.
Ample evidence is given to support
topic statement (main idea).
Examples are specific and explained
in detail.
Focus is somewhat vague; main idea
sentence could be worded better, but
there is a topic sentence.
Evidence is somewhat vague and
not specific enough or evidence is
not closely related to the subject.
Focus is unclear; what are you trying to prove
here? Main idea sentence is not evident.
Links
Paragraph contains a statement after
each piece of evidence that
clearly links information to the main
idea. Link explains how the
evidence fits the main idea. Link is
at least 2 sentences.
Statement after each piece of
evidence is related to the
information in the main idea but not
clearly linked. Link is at least 2
sentences.
Links are missing throughout the
paragraph; no real explanation of how the
evidence supports the main idea. Link is only 1
sentence or is missing.
Conclusion
Writer uses a final statement that
"wraps up" the paragraph, refers
back to the main idea.
Writer uses a concluding statement
that sort of wraps up the paragraph;
could be stronger, but okay.
Writer fails to conclude the paragraph with a
final statement to "wrap it up."
Main Idea
Evidence
Evidence is basically opinion or does not relate
to the main idea. No specific evidence described
or
evidence described is unrelated.
Unit 4, Page #______________