UNIT 5 : INDIA

Hinduism

India Today

Population: 1.25 Billion People 80% Hindu, 13%

Muslim, 2% ChristianCapital: New DelhiGovernment: Federal

Republic

Hinduism

Founder: There is no one founder

Age: Name comes in the 16th

century Differentiate from

Muslims 4,000 years of tradition

Atman Individual Soul

Brahman World Soul Contains all Atmans

Concepts of Hinduism

Dharma One’s role you play or

position in life Set of rules that must be

followed to be promotedApplications

Different people have different rules

What’s right for one may not be right for another

Where you live, who you marry, job profession etc.

Concepts of Hinduism

Karma: Person’s action in life

determine future state of their soul.

Bad Actions against Dharma

Newton’s LawEvery

Action has an Equal

and Opposite reaction

Concepts of Hinduism

Reincarnation: Upon death, a person’s

soul moves into another living thing.

Moksha=Goal End of Death and

Rebirth Cycle Over come desire. Perfect understanding

UNIT 5 : INDIA

Hinduism’s impact on Society

Caste System

Main Castes: Brahmins- Priests Kshatriyas- Warriors Vaishyas-Peasants Sudra-servants Untouchables

More then 3,000 Sub Castes

Caste System Today

Untouchables Outlawed in 1950 Gov’t jobs given to ex-

untouchablesCities

Lines beginning to blur Universal suffrage Globalization

Villages Still strong Change is slower

UNIT 5 : INDIA

The Hindu Gods

Hindu Gods

Brahma: First God Created the World Created all creatures

Least worshiped God Obsessed with

Shatarupa Punishment was not to

be worshiped.

Hindu Gods

Vishnu Second God Preserver/Protector of

the Universe Appeared 9 times on

earth

Hindu Gods

Shiva Third God Destroy the Universe

in order to rebuild

Major Religious Practices

Holy Pilgrimages to Benares On Foot

Wash hands & Feet before Prayer

Bathe in Sacred rivers like Ganges

Person Cremated the same day that they die.

All life is sacred Especially cattle Most Hindus are

vegetarians

UNIT 5 : EARLY INDIA INDIA

Buddhism

History of Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama Founder of Buddhism Buddha-Enlightened

OneSon of Royalty Life Changing

experience Saw an old man, sick

man, and a corpse Leaves wife and son to

search for Enlightenment

4 Noble Truths

1. Life is Full of Pain and Suffering

2. Desires Cause this Pain

3. End desire and you end Suffering

4. The Eightfold Path is how you eliminate Desire

Nirvana- Release from Pain and Suffering

Leading a Buddhist Life

4th Noble Truth – Follow the Eight Fold Path:Guide to behavior - Mastery over many life

timesFollow to achieve Nirvana:

perfect state of understanding release from selfishness and pain break from chain of reincarnations, rebirths

Buddhist BeliefsAccepts reincarnationRejects multiple deities & caste system of

Hinduism

Eightfold Path

1. Right to View/Know2. High and Worth

intentions3. Kind and truthful

Speech4. Right to Conduct5. Right to livelihood6. Right Effort7. Right Mindfulness8. Right mediation

Buddhism

Buddha Accepted idea of

reincarnation Rejected Hindu gods Rejected caste system

Most Buddhism in China, Japan, and Vietnam

6.4 million in India 376 million world wide

Sacred text The Triptaka

Jainism

Mahavira Is believed to be the one who

gave Jainism its modern form Not necessarily the Founder

but the last in a great line of teachers.

Major Beliefs Since everything in Universe

has a soul - should not be harmed

Few followers b/c teach tolerance & shun forced conversion

Sikhism

Punjab region of IndiaFounder attempted to

combine Hinduism with Islam

Monotheistic (Muslim) but with Hindu traditions