Warm-Up: 10-16 and 10-19
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Make sure your notebook is organized and
your table of contents is in order for the
notebook quiz today!
Table of Contents Update:
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Page 35: Notebook Quiz #1
Page 36: Notes: Hinduism and Buddhism
Agenda: 10-16 and 10-19
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1. Warm-Up: Judaism/Hebrews Review
2. Notebook Quiz #1 (1-25)
3. Notes: Hinduism and Buddhism
4. Primary Source Analysis Group Activity
HOMEWORK: Read/notes - Ch. 3, Sec. 1 in
textbook; study for RELIGIONS QUIZ
World Religions:
Hinduism
Background Info
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Hinduism is a religion that began in India.
The religion dates back to 1500 B.C., making it
the world’s oldest religion.
There are 750 million Hindus in the world today.
No concrete, single founder for the Hindu faith.
Place of Origin/Current “Heart” of
Hinduism
The vast
majority of
Hindus live
in India and
Nepal.
Basic Beliefs:
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Hindus believe in a single Divinity or supreme
God that is present in everything called Brahman.
Belief in different “forms” of supreme God as
well
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EX: Shiva, Shakti, and Ganesh.
Hinduism’s Holy Place
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Could include
various cities
throughout India
Varanasi is a good
example
Basic Beliefs
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Reincarnation:
 Belief that the soul repeatedly goes through a cycle of
being born into a body, dying, and being reborn again
in a new body.
Karma:
 Determines quality of each life, depending on how
well one behaved in a past life.
Hindus = we create karma by our actions on earth
 If you live a good life, you create good karma. If you live
a bad life, you create bad karma.
Basic Beliefs
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Concept of moksha
 Each time a Hindu soul is born into a better life, it has
the opportunity to improve itself further, and get
closer to moksha, or “ultimate liberation”
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This liberation is called Moksha.
The way to get to Moksha is to not create any BAD
karma.
Sacred Writings/Holy Writings
The Vedas
 Collections of Sanskrit hymns (written
down 1200-900BCE, but based on older oral
versions).
 The Upanishads
 The inner/mystic teaching passed down
from guru (teacher) to disciple (student).
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Sacred Writings/Holy Texts
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Mahabharata = “great story”
One of the great epic poems of ancient India.
 It was written between 300 BC and AD. 300.
 The story is about the battle of one family
over a kingdom in northern India.
 The Bhagavad Gita (Song of God) is
contained in the Mahabharata. It is
dialogue between Krishna and the hero
Arjuna on the meaning of life.
Religion’s Impact on Society
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Each Hindu has 4 daily duties based on
respect and honor:
 1. Revere the deities
 2. Respect ancestors
 3. Respect all beings
 4. Honor all humankind
Religion’s Impact on Society
Institution of the
caste system
Brahmin : priests
Kshatriya: warriors, administrators
Vaistrya: farmers, merchants,
teachers, artisans
Sudras: servants, laborers
Untouchables
World Religions:
Buddhism
Background Info
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Followed by 300 million people
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“Buddhism” comes from budhi, or 'to awaken'.
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Has origins about 2,500 years ago
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Founder = Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha),
“awakened” (enlightened) at the age of 35.
Place of Origin/Current “Heart” of
Hinduism
The Buddhist
faith has its
roots in India.
The largest
concentration
of Buddhists
today is in
East
Asia/China.
Buddhism’s Founder
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Siddhartha Gautama
 Born into a royal family in northern India
 Realizes wealth and luxury did not guarantee happiness
 Decides to leave the palace and see the world
 GOAL: to find the key to happiness
 Meditates for 6 years
 Discovers enlightenment  becomes known as the
Buddha
 Spends the rest of his life teaching Buddhism
enlightenment
Buddhism’s Holy Place
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Lumbini and
Kusinara
Lumbini = where
Buddha found his
enlightenment
Kusinara = where
Buddha died
Basic Beliefs
 Concept
of nirvana
 Reaching total
enlightenment
 Follow Four Noble Truths, 8-Fold Path to
achieve nirvana
Basic Beliefs
 The Buddha taught many things, but the
basic concepts in Buddhism can be
summed up by the 1) Four Noble Truths
and the 2) Noble Eightfold Path.
Basic Beliefs
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Four Noble Truths
1. Life is suffering: meaning life includes pain, (getting old,
being lonely, being sad, disease and ultimately death).
2. Suffering is caused by cravings and desires.
3. Suffering can be overcome by eliminating our wants and
our desires, leading one on the path towards nirvana.
4. Suffering can be overcome by following the Eightfold
Path.
Basic Beliefs
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Eightfold Path – leads to end of suffering
Sacred Writings/Holy Writings
The Tripitaka
 The Sutras
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Religion’s Impact on Society
Buddhism supports a society sustained by
karma, compassion, and wisdom.
 Goal of Buddhism: Give a purpose to
society, to explain injustice/inequalities, give
society a means to find happiness
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