An Analysis of the Religions of An Analysis of the Religions of Ancient IndiaAncient India

Hinduism and BuddhismHinduism and Buddhism

HinduismHinduism

Basic factsBasic facts Combination of many ancient Combination of many ancient

religionsreligions Began as a Polytheistic Began as a Polytheistic

Religion Religion Aryan and Indus River Aryan and Indus River

Valley religionsValley religions More beliefs/ideas slowly More beliefs/ideas slowly

added onadded on Belief in many godsBelief in many gods All are part of an all-powerful All are part of an all-powerful

spiritual force called spiritual force called Brahman Brahman

Hinduism Hinduism

Basic Facts Basic Facts Sacred texts- Sacred texts- UpanishadsUpanishads and and Bhagavad-GitaBhagavad-Gita Ultimate goal of life is to achieve moksha, or Ultimate goal of life is to achieve moksha, or

union with Brahman union with Brahman In order to do this, a soul must be In order to do this, a soul must be reincarnatedreincarnated

through different formsthrough different forms If you live according to If you live according to dharmadharma (moral duty) and (moral duty) and

ahimsaahimsa (nonviolence), you can move up each time (nonviolence), you can move up each time you are reincarnatedyou are reincarnated

KarmaKarma refers to the actions you make in one life refers to the actions you make in one life that determine your fate in the next lifethat determine your fate in the next life

The wheel is an important Hindu symbol because it demonstrates the cyclical nature of life or reincarnation

HinduismHinduism

Caste System played an Caste System played an important role in important role in Hinduism Hinduism Each level was a Each level was a

different species of beingdifferent species of being The higher you were, the The higher you were, the

closer you were to closer you were to moksha moksha

Hinduism Hinduism

Caste system prohibited people from moving Caste system prohibited people from moving up or marrying up up or marrying up

However, it did provide social order/stabilityHowever, it did provide social order/stability Provided identity and interdependence Provided identity and interdependence Kind of like freshman, sophomore, junior Kind of like freshman, sophomore, junior

Before long, Hinduism spread throughout Before long, Hinduism spread throughout India and AsiaIndia and Asia

BuddhismBuddhism

Based on teachings of Based on teachings of mortal manmortal man Why is that important?Why is that important?

Siddhartha Gautama Siddhartha Gautama born into royalty 563 BC born into royalty 563 BC chose to wander country looking for life without sufferingchose to wander country looking for life without suffering found enlightenment through meditation found enlightenment through meditation spent his life teaching his ways spent his life teaching his ways

BuddhismBuddhism

BeliefsBeliefs Four Noble Truths (heart of Buddhism)Four Noble Truths (heart of Buddhism)

1. all life is full of suffering, pain and sorrow1. all life is full of suffering, pain and sorrow

2. cause of suffering is nonvirtue, or negative 2. cause of suffering is nonvirtue, or negative deeds and mindsets such as hatred or jealousydeeds and mindsets such as hatred or jealousy

3. only cure is to overcome nonvirtue3. only cure is to overcome nonvirtue

4. to overcome nonvirtue one must follow the 4. to overcome nonvirtue one must follow the Eightfold PathEightfold Path

BuddhismBuddhism

Eightfold PathEightfold Path RightRight

ViewsViews AspirationsAspirations SpeechSpeech ConductConduct LivelihoodLivelihood EffortEffort MindfulnessMindfulness Contemplation Contemplation

BuddhismBuddhism

If you:If you: Understand Four Noble TruthsUnderstand Four Noble Truths Follow Eightfold PathFollow Eightfold Path Follow the Follow the Middle Path/Middle Way-Middle Path/Middle Way- life of life of

balance not too much pleasure and not too much balance not too much pleasure and not too much painpain

And MeditateAnd Meditate

You can become Enlightened, or reach You can become Enlightened, or reach NirvanaNirvana, , being one with the universe being one with the universe

BuddhismBuddhism

Spread of BuddhismSpread of Buddhism Missionaries and traders spread Buddhism Missionaries and traders spread Buddhism

throughout Asia (see map)throughout Asia (see map) Declined in India however, many beliefs absorbed Declined in India however, many beliefs absorbed

by Hinduismby Hinduism Over time Buddhism was split into 2 major sectsOver time Buddhism was split into 2 major sects

Theravda- Theravda- only most dedicated can reach enlightenmentonly most dedicated can reach enlightenment Mahayana-Mahayana- ordinary people can reach enlightenment ordinary people can reach enlightenment

Assignment:Assignment:

Compare and contrast Buddhism and Compare and contrast Buddhism and Hinduism by Hinduism by writing an essaywriting an essay Designing and completing a Venn Diagram Designing and completing a Venn Diagram Designing and completing another graphic Designing and completing another graphic

organizer organizer

Examples

Hinduism and BuddhismHinduism and Buddhism

SimilaritiesSimilarities Same traditions/rootsSame traditions/roots Both stress nonviolence Both stress nonviolence

and intense reflectionand intense reflection Both believe in karma, Both believe in karma,

dharma, and dharma, and reincarnationreincarnation

Both religion’s goal is Both religion’s goal is to reach enlightenment to reach enlightenment (nirvana or moksha) (nirvana or moksha)

DifferencesDifferences Buddhism does not rely Buddhism does not rely

on priests- individuals on priests- individuals can reach enlightenmentcan reach enlightenment

Buddhism rejects caste Buddhism rejects caste systemsystem

Buddhism’s founder is a Buddhism’s founder is a humanhuman

Hindus worship many Hindus worship many gods gods