Download Hinduism and Buddhism - Smyrna Middle School

Bellwork

Add the following terms to your
composition notebook
– Buddhism
– Buddha
– enlightenment
– nirvana
Hinduism and
Buddhism
The two major religions of
Ancient India
The Caste System

Divided Indian society into groups based on a
person’s birth, wealth, or occupation
 The caste to which a person belonged
determined his or her place in society.
 Each caste could only associate with
members of their caste. EX: could not marry
someone of another caste or even eat with
someone of another caste
 Socializing with another caste resulted in a
person becoming untouchable
Origins of Hinduism
Based on the Vedas or a collection of
Hindu sacred writings such as hymns
and poems
 Evolved from Brahmanism or an ancient
Indian religion in which the Brahmins
(priests and religious scholars) are the
dominant class.

Basic Beliefs of Hinduism
Polytheistic – believe in many gods
– Brahman – universal spirit
– Shiva – the destroyer
– Vishnu – the preserver
 A universal spirit called Brahman who created the
universe and everything in it. All other gods are
aspects of Brahman.
 Every person has a soul or atman that will eventually
join with Brahman
 People’s souls are reincarnated or reborn many
times before they can join with Brahman
 A person’s karma (amount of good and bad in a
person’s atman) affects how he or she will be
reincarnated

Siddhartha Gautama
India prince born into one of the top
castes
 He was very concerned with the
suffering of other people.
 He began to question the meaning of
human life and the way of living.
 He went on a journey to find answers.
 He became known as the Buddha or the
“enlightened one.”

Three Forms of Human Suffering
Wanting what we like but do not have
 Wanting to keep what we like and
already have
 Not wanting what we dislike but have

Teachings of Buddha

Four Noble Truths
– Suffering and unhappiness are part of life.
– Suffering comes from human desires for pleasure
and material goods.
– People can overcome desire and ignorance and
reach nirvana or a state of peace.
– People can reach nirvana by following an eightfold
path that leads to wisdom, enlightenment, and
salvation.

Eightfold Path – the middle way between
human desires and denying oneself any
pleasure.
Buddhism Challenges Hinduism
The Buddha rejected many of the ideas
and teachings in the Vedas.
 Challenged the authority of Hindu
priests – did not believe their rituals
were necessary for enlightenment.
 Opposed to the caste system – which
made Buddhism appealing to many in
Indian society
