World ReligionsHinduism & Buddhism: Religions of

India

Hinduism

History

• Hinduism comes from the region of the Indus Valley in India.• Known as “sanatama dharma” or “eternal truth”

• No known origin or founder; dates from ~1500 BCE• Combines local beliefs with new ideas brought by Aryans• Invading nomads• Came from W. Asia; conquered parts of Europe and India

Aryan Invasion

Caste System

• Along with religious beliefs and teachings, the Aryans brought along their social structure to India – known as the caste system• The caste system divides people into groups and determines their dharma, or moral duties

• The only way to move up in the caste system is through reincarnation and good karma

• See your “Caste System” Handout for more info…

Beliefs

• Supreme Being: Brahman is the name for a higher being that takes on many different forms• Not quite monotheism; not really polytheism either

• The Soul: the true self of every person (called “atman”) is eternal• The goal of life: escape from the material world and achieve liberation (“moksha”) and unity with Brahman

Beliefs

• Afterlife: Hindus believe in reincarnation, the idea that a soul will be born again and again in new bodies until moksha (freedom or liberation) is achieved

• The deeds a person done in this life, known as karma, determine what will happen in the next life.• Good deeds = good reincarnation, evil deeds = bad reincarnation

Sacred Texts

• Most sacred texts = Vedas• Brought by the Aryans into India

• Foundation of Hinduism

• Other texts: • Upanishads = wisdom of Indian teachers

• Bhagavad-Gita = epic poem

Rituals & Symbols

Rituals

• Worship in temples or at home• Almost every home has a shrine to favorite god(s)

• Offerings of incense, flowers, etc. made at shrines

• Ritual baths in the sacred river: the Ganges

• Important festival: Diwali “festival of lights”

Symbols

• Bindi: red dot worn on women’s foreheads, intended to focus “third eye” while meditating

• Om: a sacred sound, ultimately represents the entire universe

Buddhism

History

• Originated in India around 500 BCE with Siddhartha Gautama• A response to Hinduism and the restrictive caste system.

• After recognizing the sufferings of the world (the “Four Sights”: Old age, sickness, death, and a begging monk), he left his family and became a wandering monk

• Said to have grasped the Four Noble Truths while meditating and became the Buddha

Beliefs

• Supreme Being: None• Buddha is a title, not a name. • “the Buddha” = Siddhartha Gautama

• The Soul: Buddhists believe in reincarnation as a refiguring of energy.

• The Afterlife: the goal of Buddhism is to escape from worldly suffering and achieve enlightenment.• Enlightenment is achieved by embracing the Four Noble Truths

Four Noble Truths

• Suffering is universal• Craving things that will not last is the root of suffering.

• Nirvana is the end of reincarnation and suffering

• In order to reach Nirvana, one must follow the Eightfold Path.

The Eightfold Path

• Right View• Right Intention• Right Speech• Right Action• Right Livelihood• Right Effort• Right Mindfulness

• Right Concentration

A Dharma Wheel: Represents the Noble

Eightfold Path

Additional Beliefs

• The Five Precepts, are fundamental ethical principles that all Buddhists should follow. They are abstaining (giving up) from: • harming any living being, • taking anything when not given, • sensual misconduct, • false speech and• losing control thru intoxication.

Sacred Texts

• Dhammapada (Pali canon): Recorded conversations of the Buddha in the Pali Indian dialect.

• The Tipitaka (Three Baskets): A collection of Buddha’s sayings, the monastic rule, and a philosophical system (most important text in Theravada Buddhism.)

• Bardo Thödol or Tibetan Book of the Dead: Describes the consciousness experience of the interval between death and rebirth.

Worship & Symbols

Worship• Devotion is a natural part of life & can include diet, job, etc.

• Give offerings at shrines, temples, or monasteries.• Many Buddhists have

shrine rooms in their homes.

• Practicing meditation frees the mind from everyday emotions.

• As part of their devotions, some Buddhists also chant.

Symbols

• Dalai Lama (technically a person, not a symbol): leader of Buddhists in Tibet – believed to be reincarnation of the Buddha

• Lotus: represents growth of the soul from materialism to enlightenment.

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world. Siddhartha Gautama