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Roots of Hinduism and Buddhism Chapter 2 Section 2 Page 62 Some Background Knowledge… Migrating people from the steppes are called Indo- Europeans The steppes are dry grasslands in Asia These people were nomads who herded cattle, sheep and goats Indo-Europeans lived in tribes and spoke own languages These languages are the roots of many languages spoken today Aryans In India One group of IndoEuropeans were the Aryans They crossed over northwest mountains passes into the Indus River Valley of India The Aryans (meaning “the nobles” in their native language) called people in India dasas (meaning “dark”) because of the color of their skin Blending Religions At first, the Aryans and non-Aryans followed own forms of religion As the two groups intermingled, the gods and forms of their religion started to blend together Blending resulted in the worship of thousands of gods Different ways of living and beliefs would make life complicated for both groups Hinduism Develops Over Centuries A collection of beliefs developed over a long period of time Scholars have tried to organize the many popular cults, gods, and traditions into one big system of belief Difficult task because Hinduism can’t be traced to one founder like in Christianity or Islam. Origins and Beliefs Hindus see religion as a way of liberating the soul of everyday disappointments and mistakes Between 750 and 550 B.C. Hindu teachers tried to explain the hidden meaning of Vedic (sacred book) hymns The dialogues between Hindu teacher and student were later written down and became known as the Upanishads The Upanishads The teacher and student explore how a person can be liberated from suffering and desires This is described as moksha- a state of perfect understanding of all things This understanding doesn’t come in one lifetime, usually through reincarnation A soul’s karma (good or bad deed’s) follow’s through all lifetimes Hinduism and Changes Over the last 2500 years, Hindus have worshiped many gods Today, Hindus may choose the deity (supreme being) they wish to worship, or choose none at all They are also free to choose the path of moksha through either: the path of right thinking, path of right action path of religious devotion Holy Cow! In Hinduism, the cow is a symbol of wealth, strength, abundance, selfless giving and a full Earthly life Today, in Hindu-majority countries like India and Nepal, bovine milk holds a key part of religious rituals. For some, it is customary to boil milk on a stove or lead a cow through the house as part of a housewarming ceremony. In honor of their exalted status, cows often roam free, even along (and in) busy streets in major cities such as Delhi. In some places, it is considered good luck to give one a snack, or fruit before breakfast. In places where there is a ban on cow slaughter, a person can be jailed for killing or injuring a cow. In the US children think that they can grow up to become anyone they want-firefighter, brain surgeon, teacher, rapper Under the ancient caste system in India, people were born into strict social positions called castes Their children belonged to the same social class Under the caste system, parents knew the jobs their kids would hold even before the kids were born. The Caste System According to the Hindu religion, society should be divided into four broad classes called VARNAS. A person had the same varna that his or her parents had. And he or she had it from birth to death — there was no way to change it. Hindus did not question the varna system. It was simply considered a part of the way the universe works. Hindus rank the four varnas from highest to lowest. In descending order of importance and prestige, they are the BRAHMIN, the KSHATRIYA, the VAISYA, and the SUDRA. The Untouchables There is a fifth major class in Hinduism, but it is considered so low that it doesn't even qualify as a varna. Most people call it the "UNTOUCHABLE" class because its members are forbidden to touch anyone who belongs to one of the four varnas. If a Brahmin priest touches an untouchable, he or she must go through a ritual in which the pollution is washed away. "The ‘untouchable’ in India was not only low in occupational and other privileges, but was considered unclean in the eyes of the intermediate and higher caste. New Religions During this period of speculation, two new religions arise: Jainism and Buddhism Jainism Jains believed everything in the universe has a soul and should not be harmed Jains swept ants out of their path and wore masks so they wouldn’t accidently inhale any insects, thus killing them Jains have a tradition in working in the trades or commerce to avoid violence Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama- founder of Buddhismwas born into a noble family Growing up he had markings of a great man, such as webbed toes and fingers and a unibrow To ensure greatness, his father followed prophesy and kept him inside, and he was only allowed to leave his palace four times Siddhartha always wondered about the world outside Siddhartha decided to spend life searching for religious truth and an end to suffering Wandered through the forests of India for six years seeking enlightenment He meditated under a large fig tree for 49 days He achieved an understanding of the cause of suffering in the world From then on, he was known as the Buddha, meaning “the enlightened one” Four Noble Truths Anyone could reach nirvana- the Buddha’s word for release from selfishness and pain, by following the Eightfold Path The Eightfold Path was like a staircase, and those seeking enlightenment had top master one step at a time This was the Fourth Noble Truth *What are the Four Noble Truths? Go to page 64 The Religious Community Sangha refers to the entire religious community The sangha, the Buddha and the dharma (Buddhist law) make up the “Three Jewels” of Buddhism Every day, Buddhists around the world recognize the importance of the Three Jewels of their faith by declaring “I take refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in the law. I take refuge in the community. Many of Buddha's early followers were the ‘untouchable’s’ because Buddha rejected the idea of a caste system He allowed woman into religious orders, but was worried about the distraction it would cause for the men Monks and nuns took vows to live a life of poverty and never marry They wandered throughout India, spreading Buddha’s messages The teachings of Buddha were written down after his death As Buddhism spread throughout parts of Asia, ironically it didn’t gain strength in India, where it originated One theory is Hinduism absorbed Buddhism The two religions constantly influenced each other India has always been an important place for pilgrimages for Buddhists Even today, Buddhists flock to places associated with the Buddha’s life The pilgrims circle around a sacred object moving in clockwise direction They also lie face down leaving flowers These three signs: circling a shrine, lying face down as a sign of humility, and offering flowers are important rituals in Buddhist worship Trade Even though missionaries successfully spread Buddhism, it was traders who carried the message of Buddhism past South East Asia through trade routes Throughout history, trade has been a powerful force of spreading ideas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOC_ntKi3jc