HINDUIS

M AND

BUDDHISM

Basic factsCombination of many ancient religions Began as a Polytheistic Religion Aryan and Indus River Valley

religions More beliefs/ideas slowly added

onBelief in many godsAll are part of an all-powerful spiritual force called brahman

HINDUISM

Trinity of Important Gods-Brahma-Shiva (destroyer)-Vishnu (preserver)

TRIMURTI

HINDUISM

Basic Facts Sacred texts- Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad-Gita

Ultimate goal of life is to achieve moksha, or union with brahman

In order to do this, a soul must be reincarnated through different forms

If you live according to dharma, moral duty, and ahimsa, nonviolence, you can move up each time you are reincarnated

Karma refers to the actions you make in one life that determine your fate in the next life

The wheel is an important Hindu symbol because it demonstrates the cyclical nature of life, or reincarnation

Caste System played an important role in Hinduism Believe that each level was a different species of being

Higher you were closer you were to moksha

HINDUISM

HINDUISM

Caste system originally based on occupation – unable to move up it in life.

However, it did provide social order/stability

Provided identity and interdependence Marriage across castes was originally prohibited

Before long Hinduism spread throughout India and Asia

Based on teachings of mortal manWhy is that important?

Siddhartha Gautama born into royalty 563 BC and chose to wander country looking for life without sufferingFound enlightenment through meditation

Spent his life teaching his ways

BUDDHISM

BUDDHISM

BeliefsFour Noble Truths (heart of Buddhism)1. all life is full of suffering, pain and sorrow2. cause of suffering is desire for worldly goods (possessions, love, etc)3. only cure is to overcome this desire4. to overcome this desire one must follow the Eightfold Path

BUDDHISM

Eightfold Path

Meditation

BUDDHISMIf you:Understand Four Noble TruthsFollow Eightfold PathFollow the Middle Path/Middle Way- life of balance not too much pleasure and not too much pain

And MeditateYou can become Enlightened, or

reach Nirvana, being one with the universe (no more reincarnation)

BUDDHISM

Spread of Buddhism Missionaries and traders spread Buddhism throughout Asia (Silk Road) Declined in India however, many beliefs absorbed by Hinduism Over time Buddhism was split into 2 major sects

Theravada- only most dedicated can reach enlightenment Mahayana- ordinary people can reach enlightenment

SYMBOLS OF BUDDHISM

SimilaritiesSame traditions/rootsBoth stress nonviolence and intense reflectionBoth believe in karma, dharma, and reincarnationBoth religion’s goal is to reach enlightenment (nirvana or moksha)

DifferencesBuddhism does not rely on priests- individuals can reach enlightenmentBuddhism rejects caste systemBuddhism’s founder is a humanHindus worship many gods

HINDUISM AND BUDDHISM