Bellwork

Add the following terms to your composition notebook– Buddhism– Buddha– enlightenment– nirvana

Hinduism and Buddhism

The two major religions of Ancient India

The Caste System

Divided Indian society into groups based on a person’s birth, wealth, or occupation

The caste to which a person belonged determined his or her place in society.

Each caste could only associate with members of their caste. EX: could not marry someone of another caste or even eat with someone of another caste

Socializing with another caste resulted in a person becoming untouchable

Origins of Hinduism

Based on the Vedas or a collection of Hindu sacred writings such as hymns and poems

Evolved from Brahmanism or an ancient Indian religion in which the Brahmins (priests and religious scholars) are the dominant class.

Basic Beliefs of Hinduism Polytheistic – believe in many gods

– Brahman – universal spirit– Shiva – the destroyer– Vishnu – the preserver

A universal spirit called Brahman who created the universe and everything in it. All other gods are aspects of Brahman.

Every person has a soul or atman that will eventually join with Brahman

People’s souls are reincarnated or reborn many times before they can join with Brahman

A person’s karma (amount of good and bad in a person’s atman) affects how he or she will be reincarnated

Siddhartha Gautama India prince born into one of the top

castes He was very concerned with the

suffering of other people. He began to question the meaning of

human life and the way of living. He went on a journey to find answers. He became known as the Buddha or the

“enlightened one.”

Three Forms of Human Suffering

Wanting what we like but do not have Wanting to keep what we like and

already have Not wanting what we dislike but have

Teachings of Buddha Four Noble Truths

– Suffering and unhappiness are part of life.– Suffering comes from human desires for pleasure

and material goods.– People can overcome desire and ignorance and

reach nirvana or a state of peace.– People can reach nirvana by following an eightfold

path that leads to wisdom, enlightenment, and salvation.

Eightfold Path – the middle way between human desires and denying oneself any pleasure.

Buddhism Challenges Hinduism

The Buddha rejected many of the ideas and teachings in the Vedas.

Challenged the authority of Hindu priests – did not believe their rituals were necessary for enlightenment.

Opposed to the caste system – which made Buddhism appealing to many in Indian society