Hinduism and Hinduism and BuddhismBuddhism

CasteCaste

Social and/or economic divisions of Social and/or economic divisions of people in a society. people in a society.

ReincarnationReincarnation

The belief that after death, we are The belief that after death, we are reborn in another form to live again.reborn in another form to live again.

HinduismHinduism

No single founder.No single founder. No single sacred text (like the bible for No single sacred text (like the bible for

Christians)Christians) May have begun in the Aryan civilization.May have begun in the Aryan civilization. Thousands of gods.Thousands of gods.

Basic BeliefsBasic Beliefs

There is an all-powerful spiritual force There is an all-powerful spiritual force called “brahman”.called “brahman”. ““god is one, but wise people know it by god is one, but wise people know it by

many names”many names” Their many gods give concrete form to Their many gods give concrete form to

brahman.brahman.

Top Hindu godsTop Hindu gods

(Each god may take many forms, (Each god may take many forms, human or animal.)human or animal.)

Brahma – The creatorBrahma – The creator

Vishnu – The preserverVishnu – The preserver

Shiva – The destroyerShiva – The destroyer

Sacred texts/writingsSacred texts/writings

VedasVedas Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita

Moksha – union with Moksha – union with brahman.brahman.

Achieving Moksha is the goal of life.Achieving Moksha is the goal of life. Every person has an essential self, called atman, a Every person has an essential self, called atman, a

form of brahman.form of brahman. Moksha is achieved when one brings themselves into Moksha is achieved when one brings themselves into

union with brahman, the all-powerful spiritual force.union with brahman, the all-powerful spiritual force. To do this, individuals must separate themselves from To do this, individuals must separate themselves from

worldly/selfish desires.worldly/selfish desires.

Most people cannot achieve this in one lifetime, so Most people cannot achieve this in one lifetime, so Hindus believe in reincarnation, which they believe Hindus believe in reincarnation, which they believe gives them more time to achieve Moksha.gives them more time to achieve Moksha.

KarmaKarma

The effects of a person’s actions in life, on their The effects of a person’s actions in life, on their next reincarnated life.next reincarnated life. Virtuous people earn good karma and are reborn Virtuous people earn good karma and are reborn

into higher levels of existence. (People, animals, into higher levels of existence. (People, animals, plants)plants)

Those who do evil earn bad karma and are reborn Those who do evil earn bad karma and are reborn into suffering in lower levels of existence. (rocks, into suffering in lower levels of existence. (rocks, water, etc.)water, etc.)

Cycle of reincarnation is pictured as a wheel in Cycle of reincarnation is pictured as a wheel in Hindu art.Hindu art.

DharmaDharma

Religious and moral duties of an Religious and moral duties of an individual, which help them escape the individual, which help them escape the wheel of fate and reincarnation.wheel of fate and reincarnation.

AhimsaAhimsa

Principle of nonviolence.Principle of nonviolence. Jainism is an extreme form of ahimsa Jainism is an extreme form of ahimsa

adherence. adherence.

The Caste SystemThe Caste System

Social and economic divisions in Social and economic divisions in Indian/Hindu society.Indian/Hindu society. People are born into these groups and can face People are born into these groups and can face

severe consequences for moving, or acting, out severe consequences for moving, or acting, out of their class.of their class. Highest class people are the Brahmin priests.Highest class people are the Brahmin priests. Lowest class people are the dalits, or “untouchables”Lowest class people are the dalits, or “untouchables”

Caste system connects with karma, to create Caste system connects with karma, to create social order. “If I fulfill my role faithfully, I will be social order. “If I fulfill my role faithfully, I will be reborn higher.)reborn higher.)

BuddhismBuddhism

Founded in the foothills of the Founded in the foothills of the Himalayas by Siddhartha Gautama.Himalayas by Siddhartha Gautama.

Gautama = BuddhaGautama = Buddha

Born a prince around 563 B.C..Born a prince around 563 B.C.. Enjoyed all the pleasures of life during his Enjoyed all the pleasures of life during his

early age.early age. His parents sheltered him to prevent him His parents sheltered him to prevent him

becoming a holy man.becoming a holy man.

At age 29, he ventured out of the palace for At age 29, he ventured out of the palace for the 1the 1stst time and saw an old man, then a sick time and saw an old man, then a sick person, and a dead body.person, and a dead body. This was his first awareness of suffering.This was his first awareness of suffering.

His JourneyHis Journey Witnessing suffering for the first time sets Gautama Witnessing suffering for the first time sets Gautama

out on a journey to find a realm where there is out on a journey to find a realm where there is neither suffering or death.neither suffering or death.

Was not satisfied by Hindu explanations of life, so Was not satisfied by Hindu explanations of life, so he sat under a tree and was determined to stay he sat under a tree and was determined to stay there until he had his answers.there until he had his answers.

By morning he believed he had his answers, he felt By morning he believed he had his answers, he felt he understood the cause of and cure for suffering he understood the cause of and cure for suffering and sorrow.and sorrow.

He was no longer Gautama, now he had become He was no longer Gautama, now he had become Buddha, “Enlightened one”.Buddha, “Enlightened one”.

4 Noble truths of 4 Noble truths of Buddhism.Buddhism.

1.1. All life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow.All life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow.

2.2. The cause of suffering is non-virtue, or The cause of suffering is non-virtue, or negative deeds and mindsets such as hatred negative deeds and mindsets such as hatred and desire.and desire.

3.3. The only cure for suffering is to overcome The only cure for suffering is to overcome non-virtue.non-virtue.

4.4. The way to overcome non-virtue is to follow The way to overcome non-virtue is to follow the eightfold path.the eightfold path.

The Eightfold PathThe Eightfold Path1.1. Right views (beliefs)Right views (beliefs)

2.2. Right aspirations (goals)Right aspirations (goals)

3.3. Right speechRight speech

4.4. Right ConductRight Conduct

5.5. Right livelihoodRight livelihood

6.6. Right effortRight effort

7.7. Right mindfulnessRight mindfulness

8.8. Right contemplation (thoughts)Right contemplation (thoughts)

NirvanaNirvana

Union with the universe and release from Union with the universe and release from the cycle of rebirth.the cycle of rebirth.

The end goal for Buddhist.The end goal for Buddhist.

Hinduism vs. BuddhismHinduism vs. BuddhismCompare and ContrastCompare and Contrast

Both believe in karma, dharma, Both believe in karma, dharma, reincarnation, and non-violence.reincarnation, and non-violence.

Buddha promoted meditation over Buddha promoted meditation over priests, gods, and rituals.priests, gods, and rituals.

Buddha also rejected the caste system. Buddha also rejected the caste system. He believed that anyone could achieve He believed that anyone could achieve nirvana.’nirvana.’