HinduismTimeli

ne

Geography

Founder

Widely considered the world’s oldest religion. Many people suggest that Hinduism in not a religion, much like Christianity or Judaism, but more of a way of life. Hinduism evolved around 1500 BCE

None. Hinduism derives from the word "India” and refers to traditions and philosophies that have evolved over thousands of years

Sacred Texts

Vedas - time and life are cyclical. Cycle of birth and rebirth is known as samsara Upinshads - escape the cycle of rebirth, how to leave samsara

HinduismBasic Tenants of Hinduism

Universal Spirit or Brahman

Hindu thinkers came to believe that everything in the universe was part of the unchanging, all-powerful spiritual force called brahman.

Each of the three main Hindu deities represents a part of the life cycle: Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. Upon destruction, Hindus believe that the cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction begins again.

Hinduism

To Hindus, every person has an essential self, or atman. For Hindus, the ultimate goal of existence is to achieve moksha (MAHK SHUH), or union with brahman. To accomplish this – you must free yourself from selfish desires. Because Hindus believe that this goal cannot be completed in just one lifetime, they believe in reincarnation. Thus, through reincarnation, you are able to continue working towards moksha.

Karma

All actions of a person’s life that affect their next life

Dharma

Religious and moral duties. These duties vary according to class, occupation, gender, or age. By obeying one’s dharma, a person acquires merit for the next life.

Basic Tenants of Hinduism

Hinduism provides direction to the daily lives of Hindus. It teaches that people should remain in their social group or caste

Central to Hinduism is the belief in reincarnation.

Hindus believe that after a person dies, they will be re-born as

some other creature or thing.

What you are re-born as depends on your “Karma” or the deeds

you did in your previous life. If you did good deeds, you will

reborn into a higher, better life. If you had bad Karma, you may

be re-born as an insect or even a tree.

Hinduism

Caste System

Hinduism

Caste System  - rigid class structure based on Hinduism which is

found in India.

Believed that if one leads a good life, following good karma and 

dharma, they will be rewarded by being reincarnated as a person

belonging to the next highest level in the Caste System.

If one is wicked during their life, they will be demoted, and possibly

even removed from the Caste System altogether.

Caste System

Hinduism

Outcasts, or Untouchables, are members of Hindu society thought

to have been removed from the Caste System, with no hope of

returning to it, due to their misdeeds in previous lives.

Work that is deemed unclean for all other Hindus is reserved for

these Outcasts.

Caste System

Hinduism

Hinduism

Caste SystemThe caste system is an important part of Hinduism. Caste are social groups into which people are born and out of which they cannot move during a lifetime.

In Next LifeIn This Life

A PersonIs born into

a caste

If good and obeys caste rules

If bad and breaks caste rules

Higher Caste

Lower Caste

Hinduism

Hinduism

TTYN – complete the graphic organizer with important facts about Hinduism

Sacred Texts Vedas and

Upinshads

Timeline

Geography

Founder

Siaddhartha Gautama or Buddha

Sacred Text

Tripitaka or “Three Baskets of Wisdom”

Buddhism

Buddhism currently has about 376 million followers and is generally listed as the world's fourth largest religion. Buddhism shares many of the core concepts of Hinduism. Buddha or the “Enlightened One” was born a Hindu in 500 B.C.

Buddhism

Teachings ,Beliefs, and Origins

Siddhartha was born into the Brahmin caste,

And by all accounts, led a luxurious lifestyle. However,

he was troubled by the human misery that he saw around him

everyday. While meditating under a sacred tree, he found the answer

to his question, and he was thereafter referred to as Buddha. Upon

reflection, he deduced that desire was the root cause of all suffering.

This idea has been recorded as the Four Noble Truths

Buddhism

Four Noble Truths

Siddhartha's philosophy of the nature of human suffering and

its relation to desire is articulated by these four statements:

Life is full of pain and suffering.

Human desire causes this suffering.

By putting an end to desire, humans can end suffering.

Humans can end desire by following the Eightfold Path

Eightfold Path

The Wheel of Life is one of the most important symbols of Buddhism,

as it represents the endless cycle of life through reincarnation and

because each of its eight spokes represents one of the teachings of the

Eightfold Path.

Buddhism

1. Know that suffering is caused by desire. 2. Be selfless and love all life. 3. Do not lie, or speak without cause. 4. Do not kill, steal, or commit other unrighteous

acts. 5. Do not do things which promote evil. 6. Take effort to promote righteousness. 7. Be aware of your physical actions, state of mind,

and emotions. 8. Learn to meditate.

Reincarnation

Buddhists believe in an endless cycle of reincarnation, or samsara, which is similar to beliefs of Hinduism. However, Buddhists do not believe that deities (gods) are responsible for the phenomenon. In addition, the Caste System is rejected by Buddhists who believe instead that one is reincarnated until they can achieve nirvana, best described as spiritual enlightenment.

The concept of reincarnation can best be illustrated using an infinity symbol:

Buddhism

Nirvana

spiritual enlightenment

1. “It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell.”

Buddhism

2. “All that man experiences springs out of his thoughts. If his thoughts are good, the words and deeds will also be good. The result of good thoughts, words and deeds will be happiness. This happiness never leaves the person whose thoughts are good. Happiness will always follow him like his shadow that never leaves him.”

Do Now and “Pair and Share”

In complete sentences, describe what Buddha might be suggesting with each of the following quite.

Buddhism

Buddhism

TTYN – complete the graphic organizer with some of the important facts regarding Buddhism

FounderSiddharth Gautama

AKA Buddha