Identify these Hindu terms: Brahman, Atman, karma, dharma, guru, yoga, reincarnation and moksha.

Identify key Hindu texts: the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Bhagavad-Gita.

Explore the belief systems of Buddhism including : nirvana, 4 Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path to Enlightenment, and the life and teachings of

Siddhartha Gautama, (Buddha).

Compare and contrast the religion of Hinduism with Buddhism.

•The dominant religion in India is Hinduism which was brought in by the original Aryan invaders.

•Aryans brought with them a strong oral tradition, and religion.

•This became the foundation for the religion of Hinduism.

•No human founder. Believe that “All religions are a path to God.”

•No set dogma or rules.

•A collective, universal, God.

•Hindus believe the Ganges river is the holiest of rivers.

•The river is worshipped as a goddess. Prayers are said, and flowers are floated down river.

•A blend of Aryan traditions, and a collection of hymns and rituals called the Vedas, form the backbone of this religion.

•The 4 Vedas are the primary Hindu texts.Krishna first reveals the Vedic

knowledge to Brahma.

•The Vedas contain hymns, incantations, and rituals from ancient India.

•They tell us about everyday life in India 4,000 years ago.

•They are the oldest texts in the world.

•Other Key Texts include:

•The Upanishads.

•The Laws of Manu – Manu was the 1st man of the Hindus, sort of like Adam.

•This is a collection of laws attributed to Manu.

1.Which two religions began in India?

2.What is the holiest of rivers to the Hindus?

3.Is there a human founder for Hinduism?

4.What are the primary scriptures or religious texts of the Hindus?

5.Who was the “Hindu Adam?”

•There are 2 Epic Poems, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.

•These are the oldest and the longest poems in the history of the world.

•The Bhagavad-Gita tells of ancient warriors and includes a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna.

•This text contains the philosophies of the Hindu faith: selflessness, duty, devotion, and meditation.

•The Vedas

•The Upanishads

•The Laws of Manu

•The Mahabharata

•The Ramayana

•The Bhagavad-Gita

•Collectively, these works are the Hindus’ sacred texts.

•The top gods and goddesses of the Hindus are:

•1.Brahman – the creator of the Universe and the god of wisdom.

•It was said that he was born from a lotus blossom.

2.Vishnu – the Preserver.

• He descends to earth in human or animal form, and brings balance between good and evil.

• Many Hindu heroes are believed to have been the incarnate form of Vishnu.

3.Shiva – the Destroyer or Purifier.Who destroys the world when it is in chaos or ungodly.

•He is the Lord of the Dance and also the lord of beasts.

•Shiva as the Lord of the Dance.

•Halo of fire represents the cycle of birth and death.

•He crushes the demon of ignorance, and holds the flame of destruction.

Shiva as Lord of the Dance.

List the top 3 Hindu gods here…

1.What is unique about the epic poems, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana?

2.Who is dialoging in the Bhagavad-Gita?

3.List a Hindu value taught in the Bhagavad-Gita.

4.Who are the top 3 Hindu gods?

5.Which one is the “Lord of the Dance?”

•Many scholars view this religion as polytheistic, but Hindus regard themselves as monotheistic.

•The early Vedas speak of One god, and that all gods “Strive towards the One.”

•Guru – a spiritual master, a teacher, a holy man.

•Yoga – “to yoke” people are to have discipline in their lives. They are able to achieve this discipline by meditating and keeping rituals.

Yoga teacher.

•Key Symbols:

•The Om or Aum- it is the main symbol for Hindus.

•Om reflects the power responsible for the creation, development and destruction of the universe.

The Om symbol above, is both written and spoken.

•The swastika – ancient symbol for good fortune and protection.

•It also represents the eternal wheel of life.

•The Nazi’s reversed this symbol many centuries later.

The Swasti- or Swastika

•The Lotus Bud – born in water, symbolizing the birth of the universe.

•It is a symbol of the sun, and purity and fertility.

•It is also the chosen seat of the gods.

The Lotus Bud

•The cow is sacred to all Hindus. An offspring of the celestial cow created by Krishna from his own body.

•Products of the cow are used in rituals of atonement.

The Sacred Cow

1.What is a guru?

2.What does yoga mean?

3.What is the primary Hindu symbol?

4.What did the swastika originally mean?

5.Which animal is sacred to the Hindus?

•Key Vocabulary:

•Atman – the innermost self, or soul, tries to unite with the ultimate truth, Brahman.

•To unite with the universal soul, one must meditate and have good karma.

The creator god, Brahman.

•Dharma – the ultimate moral balance of things.

•There is a divine order in nature and in human lives.

•One has a responsibility to maintain that balance, or dharma.

•Karma – “Deed or action.” The combined effect of a person’s actions over their life time.

•Whatever actions one takes, will bring them good or bad consequences in this life or the next.

•Reincarnation – “Samsara” meaning cycle of births and deaths.

•A person’s next birth (and status), are determined by their karma in a previous life.The cycle of reincarnation.

The cycle of reincarnation may include a person’s next life is that of an animal or insect.

•Atman is achieved by doing three things:

•Good Dharma and Karma- Works, or rituals.

•The way of knowledge – reflection and meditation.

•The way of devotion –to the god you choose to follow.

Gsarawt

•A person’s soul is reincarnated over and over until the soul finally reaches a state of Moksha.

•Moksha - the soul has joined the Universal soul, or Brahman.

The cycle of reincarnation or rebirth.

•Moksha means that the soul is freed from suffering, and earthly desires.

•Once moksha is achieved, the soul is no longer reincarnated. It is released into the universal soul.Meditation to achieve

moksha.

1.What is the Hindu term for a person’s soul?

2.This is the ultimate moral balance…

3.Define karma.

4.Define reincarnation or samsara.

5.If a Hindu’s soul has achieved this, they are no longer reincarnated….