Chapter 3: Ancient Indian Civilizations

Section 3 – Hinduism and Buddhism

Hindu Om / Aum represents the Supreme

Being, Brahman Buddhist Wheel of Life

III. HinduismHinduism became India’s major religion, deeply interwoven with the caste system

The Trimurti: The Supreme Triad consisting of three great gods: Brahma, Visnu, and Siva. This Triad represents all aspects of the Supreme Being:

Creation Preservation Destruction

III. Hinduism

Hinduism teaches that Brahman, a divine essence, fills all things in the universe

III. HinduismBrahman and Atman, an individual’s essence, are one and the same; all things are of the same essence as God

III. Hinduism

This belief in the unity of God and creation is called monism

Monism: "Doctrine of oneness."

1)The philosophical view that there is only one ultimate substance or principle.

2)2) The view that reality is a unified whole without independent parts.

A. Hindu Beliefs

Hinduism teaches that the material world we see is an illusion, called maya

Maya is the power that deludes. It is caused through the senses. The Bhagavad Gita explains the process: "By constantly thinking of the sense objects, a mortal being becomes attached to them. Attached thus he develops various desires, from which in turn ensues anger. From anger comes delusion, and from delusion arises confusion of memory. From confusion of memory arises loss of intelligence ,and when intelligence is lost, the breath of life is also lost.”

A. Hindu BeliefsPeople only gain salvation by recognizing and rejecting maya; it may take many lifetimes

Useful Example - Mistaking a rope for a snake:Maya literally means "that which is not." In the

twilight, one may easily mistake a rope for a snake. In so doing, we feel fear. Hence fear and other emotions may often be based on illusion, an incorrect perception of reality. Related Proverbs/Sayings:

"All that glitters is not gold." "Being led up the garden path" "A wild-goose chase" "The grass is always greener”“A red herring”

A. Hindu Beliefs

Hindus believe in reincarnation - a soul does not die but is reborn in another human or animal

According to Hinduism a soul reincarnates again and again on earth till it becomes perfect and reunites with

its Source (Moksha.) During this process the soul enters into many bodies, assumes many forms and passes

through many births and deaths. This concept is summarily described in the following verse of the

Bhagavad Gita:"Just as a man discards worn out clothes and puts on

new clothes, the soul discards worn out bodies and wears new ones." (2.22)

A. Hindu Beliefs

Souls advance in the next life through dharma, doing one’s moral duty in this life

Hinduism describes dharma as the natural universal laws whose observance enables humans to be

contented and happy, and to save themselves from degradation and suffering. Dharma is the moral law

combined with spiritual discipline that guides one's life. Hindus consider dharma the very foundation of life.

A. Hindu Beliefs

Karma is the good or bad created by one’s actions that affect one’s rebirth

Karma is a sum of all that an individual has done and is currently doing. The effects of those deeds actively create present and future experiences, thus making

one responsible for one's own life.

 With good karma, a person can be reborn into a higher caste, or even to godhood.  Bad karma can relegate one to a lower caste, or even to life as an animal in

their next life.

A. Hindu Beliefs

Souls who grow spiritually can reach nirvana, a perfect spiritual peace and unification with Brahman

The goal of Hinduism is to escape the cycle of rebirth by reaching Nirvana. Nirvana is a Sanskrit word that

means ending. Hindus and Buddhists believe Nirvana is a state of happiness without change or pain.

A. Hindu Beliefs

The Hindu god Brahma can be represented as Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva the destroyer

Brahma The Creator

Vishnu The Preserver

Siva The destroyer

A. Hindu Beliefs

Other gods that are a part of Brahman are represented as trees, animals, or people

Lord Krishna Ganesh

B. Hindu Religious PracticesMany Hindus practice yoga to bring the body and soul together

Sri Tat Wale Baba, about 85 years old

B. Hindu Religious PracticesFestivals represent the seasonal course of nature,combining ceremonies and rituals with celebration

Ganesha Chaturthi, the great Ganesha festival, is celebrated by Hindus around the world as the birthday of Lord Ganesha.

B. Hindu Religious PracticesSome animals are sacred to Hindus

III. Buddhism

A. The BuddhaBuddhism was founded in India by Siddhartha Gautama

Siddhartha seeking enlightenment

A. The Buddhaca. 563 BC - Siddhartha was born a prince’s son, raised in luxury and shielded from the realities of life

A. The BuddhaAt age 29, he left his palace and was shocked to see disease, poverty, and death

In his outings through the four gates of the city,

Prince Siddhartha realizes the true circle of life: birth, old age, illness and death.

A. The BuddhaHe gave up his life of luxury and left his wife and loved ones - The Great Renunciation

Prince Siddhartha looks at his wife and son before leaving the palace

Prince Siddhartha leaves the city and starts a homeless life

A. The BuddhaHe spent years wandering, meditating, and fasting in a search to understand suffering

For six years, Siddhartha underwent hardships by the banks of the Nairanjana River.  So great

were his austerities that the ribs of his back could be seen.  He drank one drop of water a day.  He ate

only one grain of rice a day and in this way achieved the highest

meditative state

A. The Buddha

He discovered the truth that forms the basis of life and became the Buddha - the Enlightened One

Prince Siddahartha attained Enlightenment on the eighth of December under the Bodhi tree

after defeating the three daughters of Mara the Evil One - Craving,

Discontent, and Lust

B. The Buddha’s Teachings

Salvation comes from knowing the “Four Noble Truths” and following the “Eightfold Path”

The Four Noble Truths:

There is suffering.

There is a cause of suffering, which is attachment and desire

There is a way out of suffering, which is to eliminate attachment and desire.

The path that leads out of suffering is called the Eightfold Path

B. The Buddha’s Teachings

The Buddha stressed ethics more than ceremony – Dharma

Dharmachakra -- Wheel of Truth: The Dharma Wheel

represents the truth about our situation and the many ways of understanding it more clearly. Buddha encouraged people to rely on their own experience,

rather than depending upon or worshiping authority figures or

gods. His teaching is often called "turning the wheel of the

dharma."

B. The Buddha’s Teachings

People of any caste could reach nirvana if they practiced virtuous conduct, nonviolence, and poverty

Nirvana is an eternal state of being. It is the state in which the law of karma and the rebirth cycle come to an end. It is the end of suffering, a state where there are no desires and individual consciousness comes

to an end.

C. The Spread of BuddhismBetween 200 BC and 200 AD Buddhism split into two branches – Theravada and Mahayana

C. The Spread of Buddhism

Theravada Buddhists believe the Buddha to be a great teacher and spiritual leader

Shakyamuni Buddha Statue in Taiwan. World’s Largest Seated Buddha Statue

C. The Spread of Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhists regard the Buddha as a god and savior

C. The Spread of Buddhism

Buddhism spread from India and reached its greatest strength in other parts of Asia