Hinduis

m Considered the world’s oldest religion

Practiced primarily in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal

Hindu traditions date to beginnings of civilization in Indus River Valley (the word hindu may come from the Persian word

for that river - sindhu)

Hinduism Hinduism is a is a diverse diverse religion religion with with variation variation in in practice practice and the and the worship worship of god(s).of god(s).

With a billion followers, Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion

Belief in DeityDiverse beliefs. Many Hindus believe in Brahman (God) as the impersonal (remote, not a friend) ultimate reality/world soul. Many believe God is both impersonal force and personal savior. There are many, or countless, gods and goddesses that represent various aspects (pieces, features) of the One Supreme God.

The Hindu The Hindu scriptures scriptures are written are written in Sanskrit – in Sanskrit – an ancient an ancient language. language. Sanskrit is Sanskrit is also the also the language language used in used in Hindu Hindu ceremonies.ceremonies.

Hindus believe Hindus believe that every living that every living thing has a soul, thing has a soul, which comes which comes from the creator, from the creator, Brahma.Brahma.

As a result, most As a result, most Hindus are Hindus are vegetarian vegetarian --do do not eat meat; not eat meat; some are vegan – some are vegan – no animal no animal products at all, products at all, including eggs including eggs and cheese.and cheese.

Hindus believe that people’s souls live on after death, and that all living things can be reborn. This is called: Reincarnation.

The Caste System

Brahmin

(Priests)

Kshatryia

(Warriors)

Viasya

(Merchants, Landowners)

Sudra

(Commoners, Peasants, Servants)

Outcast – Out of Caste, Untouchable

(street sweepers, latrine cleaners)

The way Hindu society is organized. The Caste System was brought to India by Aryan conquerors – powerful nomadic

warriors from Central Asia

(KUH SHAT REE YUH)

(VEEZ YUH)

Traditionally, a person who followed the rules of their caste would be reborn to a higher form in the next life. A Hindu who neglected their duties would be reborn in a lower form, perhaps as an animal or insect.

The goal of Hinduism is to The goal of Hinduism is to escape the cycle of rebirth escape the cycle of rebirth by reaching Nirvana. by reaching Nirvana. Nirvana is a Sanskrit word Nirvana is a Sanskrit word that means ending. Hindus that means ending. Hindus and Buddhists believe and Buddhists believe Nirvana is a state of Nirvana is a state of happiness without change happiness without change or pain.or pain.

Hinduism Vocabulary & Chief GodsDharma – The sacred duty of all Hindus

Karma – Ethical (right, fair) law of cause and effect

Brahma – Chief Hindu God – Creator of the Universe

Vishnu – Chief Hindu God – Preserver of the Universe

Siva – Chief Hindu God – Destroyer of the Universe

Devi – Mother Goddess

Ganesha – beloved elephant-faced god who clears away life’s obstacles

Buddhi

sm Religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama known as the Buddha,

-or Enlightened One, born and raised Hindu

Buddha said: “I teach suffering and the way out of suffering

Buddhism is a way of life – ritual, repeated meditation

The Life of

BuddhaSiddhartha Gautama – raised a rich prince, protected from all unpleasantness.At age 29, Siddhartha left the palace four times

and saw: old age, sickness, and grieving because of death. The fourth time he saw a

man who had chosen to give up living in society for religious (a Hindu) reasons, and who was

content and at peace despite having no possessions.

Siddhartha decided to leave his home to seek the solution to these problems. First he tried meditation, but this only offered temporary escape. Then he tried fasting and came close to death since he was, toward the end of this period, only eating a single grain of rice each day. Finally, he gave this up, as well. He decided that neither extreme – luxury and plenty, such as he had in the palace, or doing entirely without possessions and pleasures, would lead to enlightenment. He decided to pursue a “middle way” of moderation and meditation.

Then one night, under the Bodhi tree: Siddhartha

began to have a breakthrough.

He found he could remember his past lives in detail

He saw how good deeds and bad deeds determined one’s next life

He learned that he had grown so far, spiritually, that he would not reincarnate again. He had attained enlightenment!

Buddha’s Teachings

The Four Noble Truths

Life is Suffering

Suffering is due to attachment

Attachment can be overcome

There is a path for accomplishing this

Buddhist Sacred TextsThere are lots of Buddhist religious texts. Some, called Satras are considered to be the actual words of the Buddha. Some Buddhists, however (Zen Buddhists), reject scriptures as a tool to help followers reach enlightenment.

Buddhist Proverbs: If we are facing in the

right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking. Laughter is the language of the Gods.

When the student is ready, the master appears.

The Laughing Buddha: The laughing Buddha reminds us that to be happy we need to have a loving heart. A big heart gives you tolerance. It helps you to greet each day with joy and all people with gladness. It helps you to tolerate a great many things with a big happy smile that reaches your eyes and your heart. Buddha says that the best way to solve a problem we might have with someone else is to have a warm and loving heart. By not being resentful, by not bearing grudges, only then are we able to smile like the Buddha - only then can we be truly happy.

The Goal - To Become The Greatest Person in the World: Buddhism teaches that a person is successful not because he or she is better than someone else, and not because they received a higher grade on a test or won a Gold Medal at the Olympics, or beat out other ants to see who could carry the biggest and heaviest grain of rice. True achievement does not come from competition or comparison. A person (or an ant) is successful because he or she has given their best within their means. For this reason, every single person can become the greatest person in the world, all at the same time.

Shinto (The Way of the Gods)

Originated in prehistoric times

Important in Japanese society

Native Japanese religion

Shinto has no moral codeShinto has no moral code

Shinto is focused on the Shinto is focused on the Kami Kami

or sense (feeling) of the sacred.or sense (feeling) of the sacred.

Provides a creation myth, but Provides a creation myth, but

no afterlife – death is the endno afterlife – death is the end..

Shinto worship and practice takes place in shrines. The shrines are territories (of certain Kami) marked by the presence of gates.

The gates are of various sizes and are usually painted red or natural wood.

Shrines have a distinctive architecture that features a peaked roof.

When one enters a shrine compound, usually a water purification ritual is performed by scooping up water at a basin provided and cleaning ones hands and mouth.

Then you proceed to walk around the compound where you will find various

shrine buildings and occasionally trees, rocks or other items deemed to have

some sense of kami or spiritual power.

Sometimes there will be a fire burning and people will waft the smoke over their heads. The most important value in Shinto is cleanliness both physical and spiritual. Pollution, which is mainly identified with blood and death, must be avoided as much as possible but can be erased through elaborate ritual.

KAMIThere are various kinds of Kami (thousands, actually) – the main ones are:

Ujigami – village or clan gods

Kami – spirits which may be found in water, rocks, trees, etc.Earth elements –

sun, wind, rivers = Ameratsu Omikami is the Sun Goddess and the most important

Powerful forces, Deceased persons, various animals, human emotions

They’re called "KAN-NUSHI".

They wear blue or purple ceremonial skirt.

Shinto Priest

There're rankings of Shinto priest.

Kan-nushi who rank higher wear purple.

It can be either a man or a woman.

Shinto TextsThere is no core sacred text in Shinto, such as the Bible in Christianity.

Instead, there are books of mythology and history:

Kojiki – Record of Ancient Matters

Nihon Shoki (Continuing chronicles of Japan

And several others

Shinto and BuddhismUntil Buddhism was introduced in Japan, via Korea, Shinto did not have a name – it became necessary to distinguish it from the new religion, so it was given its name.

The Kojiki and Nihon Suki were written to help explain the differences between Shinto and Buddhism and Confucianism.

These religions coexist easily in Japan.

K'ung Fu Tzu K'ung Fu Tzu (Confucius) (Confucius) was born in was born in 551 BCE in 551 BCE in the state of the state of Lu in China. Lu in China. He traveled He traveled throughout throughout China giving China giving advice to its advice to its rulers and rulers and teaching.teaching.

Confucius’ Effect on Confucius’ Effect on Chinese CultureChinese CultureConfucius taught that it is

better to lead people with well-ordered procedures than by rules and punishment. He taught that this would lead to people choosing to do the right thing rather than “lose face” – that a sense of shame would motivate right behavior far better than punishment. The desire to “save face” is still perhaps the most prominent feature of Chinese culture.

Confucianism does not contain Confucianism does not contain all of the elements of some all of the elements of some

other religions, like Christianity other religions, like Christianity and Islam. It is primarily an and Islam. It is primarily an

ethical system to which rituals ethical system to which rituals at important times during one's at important times during one's

lifetime have been added. lifetime have been added.

• Confucianism is a "code of conduct" to live this life, and it has had a tremendous impact on how the Chinese live their lives... with a great influence in Chinese government, education, and attitudes toward correct personal behavior and the individual duties to society.

• There is no church nor clergy; no teaching on the worship of God or gods, or life after death.

• Confucianism does not mention God.

•"Golden Rule" is: "What you do not want done to yourself, do not do unto others". "The injuries done to you by an enemy should be returned with a combination of love and justice".

•The Symbol means total harmony, righteousness, in your own life and in your relations with your neighbor.

The "universal virtues" are: Wisdom, Benevolence, and Fortitude.. Knowledge "It is to know all menBenevolence "It is to love all men”Fortitude “To do what is right, in

every circumstance”

Confucian ethical teachings Confucian ethical teachings include the following six include the following six

values: values: • Li: includes ritual, propriety, etiquette, etc.• Hsiao: love within the family: love of

parents for their children and of children for their parents

• Yi: righteousness• Xin: honesty and trustworthiness• Jen: benevolence, humaneness towards

others; the highest Confucian virtue• Chung: loyalty to the state, etc.

Four life passages have been Four life passages have been recognized and regulated by recognized and regulated by

Confucian traditionConfucian tradition: :

1. birth: The T'ai-shen (spirit of the fetus) protects the expectant woman and deals harshly with anyone who harasses the mother to be.

2. reaching maturity: This life passage is no longer being celebrated, except in traditional families. It takes the form of a group meal in which the young adult is served chicken.

3. marriage: This is performed in six stages: • 1)Proposal: the couple exchange the eight characters:

the year, month, day and hour of each of their births. • 2) Engagement: after the wedding day is chosen, the

bride announces the wedding with invitations and a gift of cookies made in the shape of the moon.

• 3) Dowry: This is carried to the groom's home in a solemn procession. The bride-price is then sent to the bride by the groom's parents. Gifts by the groom to the bride, equal in value to the dowry, are sent to her.

• 4) Procession: The groom visits the bride's home and brings her back to his place, with much fanfare.

• 5) Marriage and Reception: The couple recite their vows, toast each other with wine, and then take center stage at a banquet.

• 6) Morning after: The bride serves breakfast to the groom's parents, who then reciprocate.

• death: At death, the relatives cry out aloud to inform the neighbors. The family starts mourning and puts on clothes made of a coarse material. The corpse is washed and placed in a coffin. Mourners bring incense and money to offset the cost of the funeral. Food and significant objects of the deceased are placed into the coffin. A Buddhist or Taoist priest (or even a Christian minister) performs the burial ritual. Friends and family follow the coffin to the cemetery, along with a willow branch which symbolizes the soul of the person who has died. The willow branch is carried back to the family altar where it is used to "install" the spirit of the deceased. Liturgies are performed on the 7th, 9th, 49th day after the burial and on the first and third anniversaries of the death.

Confucianism Confucianism TextsTextsAlthough three of these books are

traditionally attributed to Confucius (K'ung-tzu, 551-479 B.C.E.) it has been established that he did not write a single word of them; they were written down by his students after his death. The Analects come closest to an actual description of his philosophy. Daxue The Great LearningZhongyong The Doctrine of Mean Lanyu, Analects of Confucius Shiling Book of Odes Xiayong, Book of Filial Piety

Confucianism is lived in syncretism(union) with any other religion in China... any Confucianist would be very happy to become a Christian!.

The Gen and the sayings of Confucius are very much parallel to the virtues and commandments of the Bible.

Confucius said: "A virtuous man has three awes:—(l) Awe for Heaven’s decree, (2) Awe for great men and (3) Awe for saints’ words. When worshipping God, one must feel as if He were visibly present."