Download File - History With Mrs. Heacock

OBJ 3: Religions of South Asia
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CULTURE HEARTH OF SOUTH ASIA
The Indus River
• Where an early culture emerged and
developed
• Arts and trade routes emerged from
isolated tribes and villages to towns and
beyond.
• Hinduism emerged from the beliefs and
practices brought to India by the IndoEuropeans (Aryans). (6th century BC)
• Buddhism emerged during the 6th century
BC; made the state religion of India in 3rd
century BC
• Islam sweeps through central India from
the 8th -10th centuries AD
Who – Muhammad
When – circa 620AD
Where – Arabian Peninsula
Holy Books – Quran and the
Hadith
Major Divisions – Sunni, Shia
Basic Beliefs
 There is no god but Allah,
and Muhammad is the
messenger of God
 Quran is word of God.
 Muslims must perform the
“Five Pillars of Faith”.
Islam
Karma vs. Dharma
The terms dharma and karma often get confused by introductory Hinduism
students and with good reason -- they are both products of the cycle of birth and
death (reincarnation), but they have entirely different spheres of purpose.
Karma is the accumulation of debt of action in the course of a person's samsaric
cycle. Every action has a reaction and over the course of a lifetime, if one is doing
the right things, they will gradually work off his or her bad karma. If he is acting
selfishly and for ego, then he will accumulate more bad karma to work off.
With each birth and re-birth, each person finds their "dharma" or duty in order to
work off this karma. Some are born to wealthy families, others to poor ones, some
to spiritual families, others to evil-doing ones.
The question isn't what you are born to, but how you use your life to dissolve as
much karma as possible in order to earn release from the cycle of re-birth
Hinduism
Who – Ancient priests of India
When – 5000 –3000 BCE
Where – India
Holy Books – Vedas, Bhagavad-Gita
Major Divisions – Numerous traditions
Basic Beliefs
 Polytheistic – Thousands of deities, many
interconnected.
 Reincarnation through infinite lives and
forms
 Dharma – proper place or role in the
universe and society (caste)
 Karma – cause and effect occurring across
lives.
 Ultimate goal – oneness with “Brahman”
(God, Reality)
Simple, really… follow your DHARMA to
improve your KARMA so that you reincarnate in
a better position to reach BRAHMAN.
Popular Hindu Deities
1. Ganesha: Easily recognizable as the elephant-deity riding a mouse. He is the Lord of
success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of
education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth.
2. Krishna: Lord Krishna (lived between 3200 and 3100 BC) was indeed the great guru of
how to live life on earth. Like all great men, his life was dedicated to helping man fathom
the sacred realm of supreme knowledge.
3. Shiva: The Destroyer. He represents opposites of life and death and creation and
destruction.
4. Brahma: The God of Creation (creator of the universe and of all beings)
5. Vishnu: The Preserver or sustainer (restores peace and order on earth)
Buddhism
Who – Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)
When – 500 BC
Where – Northern India
Holy Books - Tripitaka
Major Divisions – Mahayana, Theravada
Basic Beliefs
 No universal creator, only powerful
beings. Reincarnation, dharma, and karma
still apply.
 Four Noble Truths: Life is suffering,
suffering caused by craving, craving
caused by ignorance, ignorance relieved
by knowing the Truth.
 The “Eightfold Path” allows one to attain
Nirvana, freedom from existence and
suffering
The Buddhist’ Noble Eightfold Path
The following are believed by Buddhists to guide
a person toward greater understanding of the
universe. The eight ideals are:
•
Right views
•
Right intention
•
Right speech
•
Right action
The 14th Dalai Lama is the 14th and current Dalai Lama, as
well as the longest lived incumbent. Dalai Lamas are the
head monks of the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.
Born: July 6, 1935 (age 77), Taktser
•
Right livelihood
Full name: Lhamo Dondrub
•
Right effort
Awards: Nobel Peace Prize, Congressional Gold Medal, More
•
Right-mindedness
•
Right contemplation
Sikhism
Who – Guru Nanak
When – 1400’s
Where – Northwestern India
Holy Books – Adi Granth
Basic Beliefs –
•
Monotheistic, believe in reincarnation.
•
All people are equal in God’s eyes.
•
Humans must free themselves from negative thoughts
and actions to attain salvation, become one with God.
•
Teachings are passed down through teachers, or
“Guru”.
•
Sikh’s are bound by the “Five K’s”… kēs (uncut hair),
kaṅghā (small wooden comb), kaṛā (circular steel or
iron bracelet), kirpān (sword/dagger), and kacchā
(special undergarment).
Sikhism continued……..
• Sikhism: a monotheistic religion, founded in the Punjab c1500
by the guru Nanak, that refuses to recognize the Hindu caste
system or the Brahmanical priesthood and forbids magic,
idolatry, and pilgrimages.
Jainism
Who – Indus Valley priests
When – 900’s BC
Where – India
Holy Books – None
Major Divisions – “Whiteclad”, “Naked”
Basic Beliefs –
•
No divine being, universe is cyclical
•
Reincarnation is eternal
•
Goal is to perfect your soul and become an
enlightened being
•
Jains believe in total non-violence against all living
things
•
Monks take many vows and give up nearly
everything…. Even clothes, in some cases.
Jainism continued…….
• Jainism: a dualistic religion founded in the 6th century b.c. as a
revolt against current Hinduism and emphasizing the
perfectibility of human nature and liberation of the soul, esp.
through asceticism and nonviolence toward all living
creatures. In Jainism, nirvana means final release from
the karmic bondage.
Mehndism
Who – Daler Menhdi
When – 1998
Where – India
Holy Books – Lyrics to Tunak Tun
Major Divisions – Pullers of the String, Riders of the Pony
Basic Beliefs –
•
Four incarnations of Daler Mehndi (air, fire, water,
earth) came to Earth to save mankind from religions
that don’t have dancing or cool turbans.
•
When you die, you turn into a big ball of shiny stuff
and you fly around in a Daler Mehndi video forever.
If you’ve been good, you get to live in the Tunak Tun
temple, which is actually the Kremlin in Moscow for
some reason.
•
Turbans are awesome, and beards are awesome.
•
If you want to be happy, learn the words and moves
for “Tunak Tun”. You will never be as happy as Daler
Mendhi, but it can’t hurt to try.