Download Hinduism and Buddhism

Hinduism and Buddhism
Vocabulary
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Hinduism
Vedas
Upanishads
Caste
Atman
Dharma
Karma
Brahmins
Brahman
Moksha
Reincarnation
Vishnu
Nirvana
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Origins of Hinduism
 No
real origins to speak of,
 believed to come form
traditions of the people from
the Indus valley and the
Religious beliefs of Aryans
mingled
 Origins about 2500-1500 BCE
Holy Books
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Vedas (a collection of hymns & religious rituals).
 The Vedas are the oldest Hindu sacred text.
The Vedas were memorized & delivered as long
hymns or songs by priest speaking Sanskrit
(ancient Aryan language.)
 The Vedas were passed down from
generation to generation in oral form and
were not written down for hundreds of years.
Upanishads- is an explanation of Vedas that is in
depth and breaks them down as well.
Caste System
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Social class or social order of Indian
civilization.
Brahmin-highest level of the caste (priests)
 It was also brought in by the Aryans.
 Early on there were only 4 castes & one
group outside the caste system called the
outcastes or untouchables.
 Eventually many more castes developed
usually tied to one’s job.
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Central Ideas
(liberation) – state of perfect
understanding of everything
 Karma – every action will affect
rebirth
 Reincarnation – soul is reborn after
death of body
 Vishnu (protector), Brahma (creator),
Shiva (destroyer), and many other
gods
 Moksha
Virtue and Sin
 Cardinal
virtues:
 Purity,
self-control, detachment,
truth, non-violence
 Three
 Lust,
Deadly Sins:
anger, greed
Four Objectives in Life
 Dharma
(righteous path)
 Artha (material prosperity)
 Kama (worldly enjoyment)
 Moksha (salvation)
Spread of Hinduism
 Became
dominant religion in India
between 1500 and 400 BCE
 Spread over South East Asia, but
replaced by Islam
 Religion of 800 million Indians
 Shaped Indian culture for about
3000 years
Branches
Tamols
 Vaishnavas
 Shaivas
 Shaktas (the last 3 are devoted to a
particular god/ godess)
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Hinduism Today
There are almost 800,000,000 people
worldwide practicing Hinduism.
 It is known as the world’s oldest organized
religion. (dating back to 1500BCE)
 It is polytheistic, but today followers
primarily worship Vishnu (the preserver of
the universe) & Siva (the creator &
destroyer).
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Vocabulary Buddhism
Buddhism
 Siddhartha Gautama
 Buddha
 Enlightenment
 Four Noble Truths
 Eightfold Path
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Origins of Buddhism (563-480
BCE)
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Siddhartha Gautama (AKA Buddha)
 established the concepts and methods for
reaching enlightenment. Founder of
Buddhism: Siddhartha (Buddha).
Prince in Northern India
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Influenced by Hindu beliefs and values
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He had no true understanding of the
harshness of life. After venturing away
from home and seeing death, sickness, &
suffering, he decided to try and find an
understanding to pain and suffering by
seeking wisdom.
 At age 29 he left his family and began to
wander seeking wisdom and
understanding to human suffering.
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Becoming Buddha
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While seeking wisdom he tried several different
methods.
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He 1st tried to find wisdom and an understanding to
suffering by fasting and strict discipline. He ate only a
few grains (1-7) of rice a day. He became so starved
and sick that you could see his backbone through his
stomach. On the verge of death he realized that
perhaps this was not the best way to seek wisdom.
He then went into a deep meditation.
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It is said that he meditated for days before he finally
discovered the true path to enlightenment. At this
point he takes on a new name, Buddha “Enlightened
One”.
Buddha’s teachings
He believed in reincarnation. He believed
that it depended on the life a person leads.
Good is rewarded and evil is punished.
 He taught that salvation or enlightenment
could be attained by knowing and
following the “4 Noble truths” & the
Eightfold path or “Middle way”.
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Four Noble Truths
 Life
is full of suffering
 Caused by desire to satisfy
ourselves (selfishness)
 End desire for selfish goals
 Follow the Middle Path
Middle Path
 Speak
the truth and speak well of
others
 Do not kill, steal, lie, be unchaste,
or take drugs and drink alcohol
 Control your mind
 Meditate
 Know what you really want
Middle Path is …
This is a path to enlightenment. Each step
must be mastered along the way. When
you reach the end and finally become
enlightened you will find “Nirvana”
 Nirvana- The goal of Buddhism (is a
perfect spiritual peace where one is
released from the cycle of reincarnation.)
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Central Beliefs
 Ultimate
goal is nirvana
 Everybody who follows Middle
Path can reach it
 Only one god
 Monks and nuns in monasteries
Spread of Buddhism
Quickly spread over India
 Became official Religion under King Asoka
(250 BCE)
 Spread over East Asia and South East
Asia (China, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand,
Vietnam, Cambodia, Tibet)
 Today they have over 350 million
followers.
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