Aim: What are Hinduism & Buddhism?

Turn in: T2K #4 **Take out reading!**

Do Now: Who was Siddhartha Gautama? ( write it on your T2K#5)

Homework: T2K #5 Jainism v. Sikhism reading

Who was Siddhartha Gautama?

Hinduism

• Facts:• 785 million members today• 81.3% live in India• Symbol: Aum (om)• Combination of 3 worldsEarth, Atmosphere & heaven

Beginnings

• Combination of beliefs from Harappan, Aryan & others who conquered India.

• In early years the Hindus used the Aryan Vedas for spiritual guidance.

• Founder—No single founder!!

Sacred Texts

• No single sacred text• Vedas:

• Upanishads: collection of Hindu reflections and teachings from religious leaders– Brahman= universal spirit– Each person has a role in the universe tied to

others.

Goal of Life

• Moksha: escaping the cycle of rebirth & reuniting with the Brahman.– Free themselves from selfish desires– Achieved through meditation and non-violence

Shiva: The Lord of Yoga meditating on Mount Kailasa in the Himalayas

Basic Beliefs• Reincarnation: rebirth of the soul• Karma: all the actions of a person’s life that

affect their fate in the next life.– Those who do bad acquire bad karma & are

reborn into suffering.• Dharma: the religious and moral duties of an

individual– Duties are according to class, gender, occupation

& age.• Non-violence

Reincarnation=REBIRTH

• A person needs many chances to achieve moksha—MAY BE ETERNAL

• Daily life is sacred due to the affect of karma on reincarnation.

• Reincarnation can be in any life form!

Caste System

• Caste: hereditary class of Hindu society• Acceptance of caste is necessary to have good

karma and hopefully move up the social pyramid.

Buddhism

• Facts:• 360 million members• 102 million in China• Symbol: Buddha Statue or Wheel

Beginnings

• Hindus wanted a more personal religion• Hindus disliked the caste system• Rejection of priests as most important figure

to gods• Taught in vernacular language

• Siddhartha Gautama’s story

Sacred Texts

• Tripitaka “3 basket wisdom”• Followers recorded Buddha’s teachings after

his death • 3 baskets = 3 original scrolls of Buddhist

teachings

Goal of Life

• Nirvana: union with the universe and release from the cycle of rebirth– 8 Fold Path was a way to achieve this– Mediation & maintaining morals

Basic Beliefs: 4 Noble Truths

1-All life is full of suffering2-The cause of suffering is desire for things3-The only cure for suffering is to overcome desire4-Follow the 8 Fold Path to overcome suffering8 Fold Path: 1 &2: understanding 4 Noble Truths 3-8: reject luxury, meditate & non- violent

Basic Beliefs

• Karma• Dharma• Reincarnation• Moskha

Reincarnation

• Reincarnation can be stopped by accepting the 4 Noble Truths & following 8 Fold Path

• Cycle is accepted by Buddhists but not a punishment for bad deeds.

Caste System

• Rejected the Caste System• A person’s place in life depended on that

person not the soul.• Nirvana was possible for all regardless of birth

class.