Ch 6, Sec 2: Hinduism and Buddhism

Hinduism

• 3rd largest religion of the world• Brought to India with the

Aryans• Has many gods/goddesses that

control nature• Hymns and poems recited by

Brahmans were written down in Sanskrit and mixed with other faiths to create Hinduism

Early Hinduism

• Mixed many religions together• Had 1000’s of gods/goddesses all a part of the

universal spirit called the Brahman

What were the Upanishads?

• Ancient writings that describe the search for the universal spirit

• Explains how a person’s soul reunites with the Brahman at death– Lump of salt with water story

What is Karma?

• How you live your life determines your next life– Good acts=a good next life in a higher caste– Bad acts=a bad next life in a lower caste

• Completed in an act called reincarnation-A person is reborn many times before reaching the Brahman

• Determines how people treat each other

How do you get a better life?

• Hindus must follow their Dharma of their caste

• Dharma-divine law that explains the duties of each caste and how people should act

• How you perform your Dharma determines your karma

Affects of Reincarnation on India• Reinforced the caste system• Motivated people to work hard in their own

caste• Gave hope to each group to want more in the

next life

Buddhism

• Started in 600 B.C.• Hindus lost faith in the priests• Hindus wanted an easier faith• Buddhism was created by Siddhartha

Gautama

Who is Siddhartha Gautama?

• Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born in Nepal• Was raised within the walls of the palace• As a man, he decided to leave his family and

explore the country• He witnessed the poverty of the country

How did Siddhartha Gautama become the Buddha?

• He left his family in search of why people suffer and how to solve the suffering

• Started fasting and sleeping on the ground-almost died

• Tried meditating-lasted 49 days and found the answer

• Became the Buddha or “enlightened one”

• Traveled the land to spread his teachings

Ideas of Buddhism• Give up all desires for worldly possessions• This leads to pain and suffering to end• If you can do this, you reach Nirvana “state of

wisdom”• All ideas are in the Four Noble Truths

What are the Four Noble Truths?

• Life is full of suffering• People suffer because they desire worldly

things and self-satisfaction• The way to end suffering is to stop desiring

things• The only way to stop desiring things is to

follow the Eightfold Path

Eightfold Noble Path• 8 steps to end suffering• 1. Know the Four Noble Truths• 2. Don’t hurt others• 3. Tell the truth• 4. Don’t commit evil acts• 5. Do rewarding work• 6. Work for good and oppose evil• 7. Make sure your mind keeps your senses under

control• 8. Practice meditation to understand reality

Why did the Buddha become popular?• He did not believe in the caste system• Believed in reincarnation• Believed a person could stop being reborn if

he/she followed the Eightfold Path• Gave hope to the untouchables and lower

castes that they could reach enlightenment• Not a big religion of India today

Buddhism splits into two groups in Asia

• 1. Theravada Buddhism– “teachings of the elders”– Saw Buddha as a teacher

and not a god– Popular in the South and

East– Ceylon (Sri Lanka),

Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos were centers of this group

Buddhism splits into two groups in Asia • 2. Mahayana Buddhism– Teaches the Buddha was a god that came to save the world– Thought following the Eightfold Path was too hard– Taught people should worship the Buddha and

this would allow people to go to heaven at death– Once in Heaven, followers can follow the Eightfold

Path to reach nirvana– Supported in China, Korea, and Japan

Who were the Bodhisattvas?

• Supported by Mahayana Buddhism• Enlightened people who delay heaven to help

others and do good deeds

Mahayana Buddhism in Tibet• Mixed with Hinduism• Lamas, religious leaders, ran the country

known as a theocracy– Dalai Lama-ran the gov’t– Panchen Lama-ran the faith– Both men were thought to be reincarnated

Buddha