Religions of Ancient India

EQ: How do religions develop?

Chapter 9, Lesson 2

Ch.9, Lesson 2: Vocabulary (pg. 257)

Hinduism

Brahman

Reincarnation

Karma

Dharma

Buddhism

Nirvana

Jainism

Hinduism: The Religion of India

World’s oldest religions Third largest religion next to Christianity and Islam Sacred writings are called Vedas Aryan ideas mixed with other Indian peoples ideas = Hinduism

What is Hinduism? Hindus main belief is that there is one universal sprit (god) Brahman

However, most Indians could not easily understand the idea of Brahma

So they believed in many gods (deities)

Hinduism is polytheistic

Most important gods: the Creator, Protector, and Destroyer

•The Creator god•Created the Universe •Four heads = each head is said to have delivered the four Vedas (sacred texts)

The Three Major Gods: Brahman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfy0jKaxBFs

Vishnu, the Protector god

Shiva, The Destroyer

Hinduism: Many Lives Reincarnation: the belief that each person has many lives

Karma: the belief that the deeds (actions) of a person affect what he or she will be in the next life.

To have a better existence in the next life—you must follow your dharma = your place in society (caste)

Animals have a supreme life force

Many Hindus don’t eat meat as a result.

Activity: Reincarnation DRAFT

Pretend you would be able to experience reincarnation. Write a story in which you narrate your reincarnation. In the story you must answer the following questions:

1. What would be your dharma—your personal duty (job), based on your place in society?

2. What would your be reincarnated into?

3. How would you behave in life to guarantee that your get good karma.

Buddhism

• In 500s B.C., some Indians felt unhappy with the many ceremonies of the Hindu religion. They wanted a simpler, more spiritual faith. • Focus on meditation.

The Buddha Siddhartha Gautama

( Buddha )

Prince who gave up wealth and power to understand the meaning of life

Founded a new religion called Buddhism 

Felt people too occupied with fame, money, and personal possessions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ES7xCTtlueQ

Buddha’s Life and Teachings

Priest predicted that Siddhartha Gautama be selfless, wandering holy man

At age 29, saw sickness, old age, poverty, and death for the first time in his life.

6 years of fasting / meditation

Four Noble Truths

1. Life is full of suffering.

2. People suffer because they desire worldly things and want to satisfy themselves.

3. The way to end suffering is to stop desiring things.

4. The only way to stop desiring things is to follow the Eightfold Path

Eightfold Path

They believe that the Eightfold Path can lead to nirvana

Buddhism Splits

After Buddha died, Buddhism divided into many branches

Theravada Buddhists and Mahayana Buddhists.

Buddhism Today

Today, Buddhism is one of the major world religions.

Most Buddhists live in Southeast Asia and East Asia. Only a few live in India, Buddhism's birthplace.

Activity

Read pg. 260 -262.

Complete the following questions

Write questions and answers.

Cornell Notes: Jainism

Read pg. 263 – 264

Write Cornell Notes = remember read the paragraph and get the main ideas and most important detail.

Jainism

Who is Mahavira?

Who is Ahimsa?

*** Notes DUE on my Desk at 1: 55 pm

WHEN YOUR FINISH YOU HAVE AN ASSIGNMENT.

Jainism

Arose around 500 BC

Developed from a religious leader named Mahavira

He lived around the same time as Siddhartha

Who is Mahavira?

• Like Siddhartha, Mahavira came from a wealthy family.

• He gave up his worldly procession.

• He became known as the Jina, or conqueror.

Janis Beliefs

Like the teaching of the Buddha, Jainism:

Taught people to stop wanting worldly things

Only by doing so would they escape the cycle of rebirth and reach nirvana

Janis practiced strict poverty

Jainism: What is Ahimsa?

Key idea of Jainism = ahimsa Practicing non-violence toward all living things

Believed all life is sacred Used brooms to sweep insects

Not farm because afraid to kill worms

• Currently there are 6 million followers of Jainism, most live in India.

Jainism and its Influence

Gandhi uses ahimisa (nonviolence)

- Martin Luther King Jr. was influenced by him

Millions practice meditation

Activity: Compare and Contrast Compare and contrast the beliefs of Buddhism and Jainism

Buddhism Jainism

Short Response

• Write a two paragraphs comparing and contrasting Buddhism and Jainism using the Venn Diagram

• DUE BY THE END OF CLASS, no exception!

Home Learning

Study the vocabulary notes and vocabulary on India.

Chapter 9: Lesson 1 and Lesson 2

You have a QUIZ on Friday—possibly 20 questions.