HINDUISMThe religion of Hinduism developed and evolved over a long time in India, giving rise to a variety of beliefs and practices and to other religions, including Buddhism

Three devas- Brahma, Vishnu, Siva -are particularly influential. Some believe in thousands; others worship only one as the true manifestation of Brahman.

One of the world’s oldest religions, Hinduism, is practiced by most people in India today. Hinduism evolved over thousands of years and was influenced by the cultures and traditions of many peoples. However a few fundamental teachings are shared by nearly all Hindus.

• Among most basic tenets of Hinduism, belief in Brahman, eternal being that created, preserves world

• Brahman all-encompassing

• Many believe human mind incapable of understanding

Brahman

Basic Teachings of Hinduism

• Hindus believe each person has atman, soul, aspect of Brahman

• Atman shapes personality, cannot be destroyed, even by death

• Devas, manifestations of Brahman, active in world, helping maintain order in nature

Atman

Pattern of Life• Hindus believe universe, everyone in it, part of continual pattern of birth, death, and

rebirth• After death atman reborn in process called reincarnation, or samsara

Dharma • With moksha, atman leaves world, reunites fully with Brahman• To achieve moksha is to fulfill one’s dharma—spiritual duties, obligations• By fulfilling dharma, one creates good karma, breaks free from rebirth cycle

New Life• Nature of person’s new life shaped by karma—sum effect of deeds, actions• Good karma, reincarnated to better station in life; bad karma, lower station in life• Ultimate goal of human existence, moksha, escape from cycle of rebirth

Rebirth and Salvation

Much of Hinduism’s evolution stemmed from a number of sacred writings produced over centuries.

• Teachings, practices based on many texts, most sorted into one of three categories

– The Vedas

– Later writings inspired by the Vedas

– Sacred epics

• The Vedas, sacred hymns of praise, among earliest sacred texts of Hinduism

Sacred Texts• Name means “knowledge” in

Sanskrit

• Hindus consider Vedas to contain eternal knowledge not written by humans, revealed to them by Brahman

• Parts of Vedas date back more than 3,000 years

• Considered core of Hinduism even today

The Vedas

Sacred Texts and Practices

Ramayana, Mahabharata• Other sacred texts based on themes in the Vedas, but composed by sages, including

two epic poems, Ramayana and Mahabharata

• Each tells story, reflects on living according to Vedic teachings

• Included in Mahabharata, most sacred of all Hindu texts, the Bhagavad Gita, addressing many aspects of Hindu belief, philosophy

Upanishads• Sacred texts that built upon the Vedas appeared

• Some, such as Upanishads, also believed to have been revealed rather than written by people

• Upanishads philosophical reflections on the Vedas, dealing with nature of world, meaning of life

• To help meditate, Hindus practice series of integrated physical, mental exercises called yoga

• Yoga teaches people how to focus bodies, minds to aid meditation, help attain moksha

• Hindus also make pilgrimages to Ganges River to purify, remove bad karma

Meditation, Pilgrimages• Hindu beliefs vary widely,

religious practices vary as well; worship can take place anywhere

• At temples, priests might recite, read portions of the Vedas; image of a deva sometimes carried out of temple to people

• At home, food, drink, gifts offered for deva; meditation, silent reflection

Worship

Hindu Religious Practices

KEY BACKGROUND TERMS

• __________________: the largest religion in India

• ____________________: the belief in many gods.

DHARMA• A person’s spiritual duties and obligations

• Following one’s dharma yields good karma and eventual liberation from reincarnation

KARMA

• The sum total of a person’s actions (both good and bad)

• Good people will be reincarnated to a better station in the next life

REINCARNATION (SAMSARA)

• The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth a person must follow

• If you could bereincarnated (or perhaps you alreadybelieve this), what wouldyou want to return as?

So How Do I Get Out?

• ____________ = release from the cycle of reincarnation

– Release from worldly cares

– Must fulfill your dharma to achieve Moksha and reachpeace with Brahma

Hindu gods• BRAHMAN (the creator) is the main god and all

other gods are manifestations of him

JAINISM

New Religion• 500 BC, group of Hindus broke away, founded new religion called Jainism• Led by teacher Mahavira, Jains thought most Hindus put too much emphasis on

ritual

Nonviolence • Central to Jain teaching, idea of ahimsa, nonviolence• Most Hindus also practiced ahimsa, but not to same extent• Jains carefully avoid harming living creatures, are usually vegetarians

Ritual Unnecessary • Jains thought ritual unnecessary• People could achieve moksha by giving up worldly things, carefully controlling

actions

Jainism

• Jains promise to tell only truth

• Avoid stealing

• Strive to eliminate greed, anger, prejudice, gossip from lives

• These things can prevent person from achieving moksha

• Most devout become monks, nuns, give up possessions

• Live outdoors, seek shelter only during rainy months

• Cover mouths with masks, sweep ground to avoid accidentally killing insects

Lifestyle • Most Jains not monks, nuns

• Pledge to uphold principles of ahimsa, have careers that do not involve harming of animals

• Jainism calls for periodic fasting, especially during festivals, on holy days; limiting worldly possessions

Principles

Other Traits

BUDDHISM• Began in the 5th Century B.C.

• SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA

In addition to Hinduism, another of the world’s major religions developed in ancient India. That religion was Buddhism.

• Much of what is known about life of the Buddha from accounts in Buddhist literature

• Gautama born 500s BC• Prince of small kingdom in

what is now Nepal

– Led sheltered life

– Unaware of hardship

– Life changed when learned people got old, sick, died

Early Life• Gautama resolved to find way

to overcome age, sickness, keep people from suffering

• Gave up possessions, left palace

• Sought enlightenment, spiritual understanding for six years

• Studied with gurus, monks but decided they could not teach way to enlightenment

Buddha’s Enlightenment

The Life of the Buddha

SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA

• From Prince…

…To Ascetic

Gautama was determined to find way to end human suffering

• Sat under tree, no teachers, no companions, determined not to arise until he found way

– Stories say he meditated all night

– Resolve tested by violent storms, earthly temptations

– At daybreak, had been transformed, found enlightenment, became the Buddha, Enlightened One

– Temple built where he meditated, Bodh Gaya, one of Buddhism’s most sacred places

• Suffering part of human life

• Suffering from people’s desires for pleasure, material goods

• Overcoming desires during life eventually brings end to suffering

• Desires can be overcome by following Eightfold Path

Four Noble Truths• After enlightenment achieved,

Buddha meditated at Bodh Gaya seven weeks

• Set out to spread to others what he had learned

• Lessons became basic teachings of Buddhism

• Among ideas learned in meditation, central truths, called Four Noble Truths

Buddhist Beliefs

The Teachings of Buddhism

BODH GAYA

Mahabodhi Temple

Built as a shrine to Siddhartha Gautama

on the very spot he meditated to reach

Enlightenment.

FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

1.

2.

3.

4.

EIGHTFOLD PATHSeries of Steps Leading to Enlightenment, Salvation

• Right view, or accepting the reality of the Four Noble Truths

• Right attitude, or striving for moderation in all things

• Right speech, avoiding lies, boasts, and hurtful words• Right action, or treating others fairly• Right livelihood, avoiding jobs that could bring harm to others

• Right effort, or constantly trying to improve oneself• Right mindfulness, or remaining aware of world around one

• Right concentration, or ignoring temptation and discomfort while meditating

Nirvana

The Buddha taught that those who followed Eightfold Path could attain nirvana

• State of perfect peace in which soul freed from suffering forever

• Those not attaining nirvana reborn to live through cycle of suffering again

• Basic teachings of Eightfold Path, Middle Way—living in moderation, avoiding extremes of comfort, discomfort in search for nirvana

BUDDHISM

SPOKES = _____________________

CIRCLE = _________________________

After the Buddha’s death, differing opinions arose concerning the correct teachings and practices of Buddhism. Eventually three main Buddhist traditions formed—Theravada, Mahayana, and Tibetan.

• “Way of the Elders”

• Oldest tradition

• Best way to attain nirvana: be monk, nun, meditate

• Find one path to enlightenment; very much an individual religion

Theravada• Teaches people

can help each other find enlightenment

• Not necessary to be monk, nun

• Bodhisattvas, enlightened people not yet passed to nirvana, help others

Mahayana• Shares many

Mahayana teachings

• Also believes special techniques can harness spiritual energy, lead to nirvana in single lifetime

Tibetan

Divisions of Buddhism