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Ancient
India
Hinduism
Hinduism
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Originated with the Aryans mixing cultures with the
indigenous people.
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Hindu pantheon contains over 33,000 deities.
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This included the Harappans.
Aryans brought the polytheistic belief.
Multiple gods are manifestations of one reality.
The Vedas.
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Oldest sacred book.
Instructions for sacrifice and hymns used in ceremonies.
Source of Hindu understanding of the universe.
Created by the Aryans.
Written in Sanskrit.
Divided into four parts.
Still held in high regard today.
Hinduism
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The Upanishads
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The fourth section of the Vedas.
Philosophical statements that become the bases for Hindu
philosophy.
Reincarnation
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Souls are reborn until they reach Brahman.
Karma
Moral and political justification for caste system.
Gave hope for the poor.
Sacred cows
• Value of cattle in Aryan pastoral society.
• Source of money and food.
Dharma
• “the Law”
• Law of human behavior depending on your caste.
Concrete vision of the future.
Hinduism
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Devotion to the three major gods.
Brahman, the creator.
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Vishnu, the preserver.
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Ultimate reality.
Only two temples were dedicated to him.
Depicted in red with three bearded faces.
He is a depiction of all three gods.
A god of love, benevolence, and forgiveness.
Believed to have appeared on earth in nine forms.
He will return at “the end of time”.
Siva, the destroyer.
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The most popular and well know god.
Developed from the Aryan god Rudra.
The god of death, destruction, and disease.
The god of dance.
The god of vegetable, animal, and human reproduction.
• “Death is but the prelude to rebirth”.
Ancient
India
Buddhism
Buddhism
Siddhartha Gautama
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Lived from 562-483 BC.
He is sheltered from all bad things in life until he
travels outside his father’s palace in 533 BC.
In the same year, he leaves the palace.
Leaves behind everything he owns and shaves his head.
Lives as a homeless wandering.
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Reaches the “Great Enlightenment” after seven weeks of
meditation.
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Studies under Brahman teachers
Develops his own disciples.
Fully attains the status of Buddha at age 35.
His first sermon in 528 BC established Buddhism.
He creates both admirers and enemies.
He dies in present day Nepal in 483 BC from food poisoning.
Buddhism
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Another interpretation of Hinduism.
Rejected the authority of the Vedas and the caste system.
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Missionaries.
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Also hindered by the spread of Islam.
Buddha’s teachings were based on the things he observed.
Looking at life with a straight forward approach.
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Would eventually spread through China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast
Asia.
Slowly pushed aside in India by a resurgence of Hinduism.
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Offered a vision of salvation based on individual effort.
The world is constantly changing, nothing is permanent.
Free yourself from attachments.
“The Three Marks of Existence”
1. Pain
2. Impermanence
3. Egolessness
Buddhism
Asoka
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“Greatest ruler in the history of India.”
Originally ruled by force until becoming
Buddhist.
Ruled by benevolence.
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Shelters on trade routes.
Sent out Buddhist missionaries.
Empire declined after his death in 232
BC.
Buddhism
the Four Noble Truths
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Life means suffering.
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The origin of suffering is attachment.
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The reasons for suffering are desire, passion, pursuit of wealth, and prestige,
striving for fame and popularity, etc.
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Basically craving and clinging.
Loss of something is inevitable, as a result suffering will follow.
Objects of attachment also include “self”.
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“self” is an imaginary entity, a part of the universe.
The cessation of suffering is attainment.
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Life is frustrating and painful.
Pain, sickness, injury, tiredness, old age, and death.
“as happy moments pass by, we ourselves and out loved ones will pass away one
day, too.”
Cessation can be reached by attaining “nirodha”.
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The unmaking of craving and attachment.
Suffering can be overcome by removing the cause of suffering.
Nirvana.
The path to the cessation of suffering.
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The middle way between hedonism and asceticism.
The path is like “wandering on the of becoming”.
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Every rebirth is subject to karma.
Buddhism
the Eightfold Path
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Right View – wisdom
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Right Intention – wisdom
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Commitment to ethical and mental self-improvement.
Resist the pull of desire, feeling of anger, and acts of cruelty.
Right Speech – ethical conduct
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The beginning and the end of the path.
Right thoughts and actions.
First principle of ethical conduct.
Abstain from lies, slanderous comments, offensive words towards
others, and idle chatter.
Tell the truth, speak friendly, warm, and gently when talking to others.
Right Action – ethical conduct
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Deeds that involve bodily actions.
Abstain from killing (including suicide), stealing, robbery, fraud,
deceitfulness, dishonesty, and sexual misconduct.
Act kindly, compassionately, honestly, respect the property of others,
and respectful sexual conduct.
Buddhism
the Eightfold Path
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Right Livelihood – ethical conduct
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Right Effort – mental development
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The right work ethic.
Prevent the creating of evil states, abandon evil states that have
already been created, create good states, and maintain good
states that already exist.
Right Mindfulness – mental development
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Money should be earned legally and peacefully.
Avoid dealing with weapons, living beings (slaughtering
animals, slave trade and prostitution), meat production, and
poisons (including alcohol and drugs).
Be in control of your bodies senses.
Contemplation of the body, feeling (repulsive, attractive, or
neutral), the state of mind, and the phenomena.
Right Concentration – mental development
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The practice of meditation.