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Name _____________________________________
World Cultures
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Per. ________
Karma, Hinduism, Buddhism
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Date ____________
Mr. Rock and Mr. Daniell
Karma and Reincarnation
In Hinduism and Buddhism, a person’s karma is the sum of his or her good and bad deeds. A person
who does a lot of good deeds will have good karma and a person who does a lot of bad deeds will
have bad karma. The level of a person’s karma determines how they will be reborn when they are
re-incarnated. A person who has good karma might be reborn into a higher caste and thus have a
better life in the next life. On the other hand, a person with bad karma will stay in the same caste or
may even drop to a lower caste or become an animal.
Look at the chart below, and follow the death and rebirth of our friend Jimmy.
Nirvana
Brahmin
Warrior
Merchant
Laborer
Dog
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
Rebirth / Life
7th
8th
9th
10th
Jim m y
After his first life, as a laborer, Jimmy is reborn as a dog. What do you think he might have done to
deserve this?
After his fifth life, as a laborer, Jimmy is reborn as a warrior. What do you think he might have done
to deserve this?
Buddhism
Buddhism is, in a lot of ways, similar to Hinduism. Buddhists believe in karma and reincarnation.
However, they reject the gods worshipped by Hinduism. They also believe that anyone can achieve
enlightenment by following the Eightfold Path.
The Four Noble Truths provide the basis for the Buddhist philosophy.
 Life is suffering.
 Suffering is caused by the attachment to and desire for material things.
 This suffering can be stopped.
 The path to the end of suffering is the Eightfold Path (Noble Path).
The Eightfold Path consists of eight general principles, divided among three categories.
 Wisdom (Right View, Right Intention)
 Ethical Conduct (Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood)
 Mental Development (Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration)