Buddhism and Hinduism
Founder
• Siddhartha Gautauma
– Lived in India from 563 to
483 BCE
• Meditated for 48 years
underneath a fig tree
– Gained an understanding
of the cause of suffering
• Known as Buddha, or
“Enlightened One”
Spread of Buddhism
• Originated in India
• Spread to China due to
missionaries and
writings written by
Ashoka
– Ashoka: Emperor of
Maurya Empire in India
– Embraced Buddhism
after he saw the effects
of conquest
Geography
Fundamental Beliefs
• Four Noble Truths
• Eightfold Path
• Understand the Four Noble Truths + Follow
the Eightfold Path=Nirvana
– Nirvana: release from selfishness, pain and
reincarnation
Four Noble Truths
• First Noble Truth:
– Everything in life is suffering and sorrow
• Second Noble Truth
– The cause of all suffering is people’s selfish desires
for the temporary pleasures of the world
Four Noble Truths
• Third Noble Truth
– The way to end all suffering is to end all desire
• Fourth Noble Truth
– The way to end all desire is by following the Eightfold path that leads to Nirvana
• Eight-Fold Path
•Right views
•Right aspirations
•Right speech
•Right conduct
•Right livelihood
•Right endeavor
•Right mindfulness
•Right meditation
Hinduism
Being Polytheistic
• Polytheistic: worshipping many gods, and not just 1
• Hindus worship many gods and godesses, but they
believe all gods to be an aspect of 1 supreme god
Brahman
Brahma
Shiva
Vishnu/
Krishna
Lifestyle
• Hindus believe in reincarnation
– When you die, you come back as another being
• Animal ,human
• What you come back as depends on your
karma
– The total of good and bad actions a human soul
carries with it from life to life
Break the Cycle!
• Goal of a Hindu:
– To reach moksha (salvation)
• Release yourself from worldly desires and stop the
cycle of reincationation
• Like Nirvana
Caste System
Priests and Scholars
Brahmans
Warriors, nobles, political
rulers
Kshatriyas
Vaisyas
Servants
Shudras
Untouchables
Merchants, Farmers,
Workers, Traders
The Untouchables
• Fishing
• Sweepers
• Killing and Disposing of
carcasses
• Tanning leather
• Sweat, urine, feces, spittle
• Watching man
• Do NOT have full rights
• ~160 million people in
India today
Location
Location
• Originated in India
• Followers in:
– Indonesia
– Parts of Africa, Europe, and the Western
Hemisphere
Judaism
Founding
• Judaism was founded by Abraham
• Founded in the Middle East (Israel/Jerusalem)
The Facts
• Judaism is
monotheistic, meaning
they believe in one god
(Yahweh).
• Judaism has sacred
texts:
– 10 Commandments
(Laws to follow)
• Brought to the people
by Moses
– Torah (Scripture)
Judaism Beliefs
• God loves and
protects human
beings, but he
punishes them for
their sins.
• You can serve God by
studying the Torah
and living by its
teachings.
Christianity
Founding
• Christianity was founded by Jesus Christ
• Originally in the Middle East and Europe, but
spread to North and South America
The Facts
• Christianity is monotheistic
• Christians have one sacred text: the Bible
– New Testament
– Old Testament (the Torah)
Beliefs
• Jesus is the son of God, and he died to save
humanity from itself
• People can achieve salvation by following
Jesus’ teachings.
Islam
Founding
• Founded by
Muhammad
• Originated in the
Middle East (Mecca
and Medina), but has
spread to North
Africa, Asia, and
North America
The Facts
• Islam is monotheistic
(Allah)
• Sacred Texts:
– Qur’an
• Only written/read in
Arabic
• One major division
– Sunni: the majority of
the Muslim world
– Shi’a: Iran
The Beliefs
• The Five Pillars of Islam
– Fasting
– Pilgrimage
• Every Muslim must make
the pilgrimage to Mecca
– Alms
– Faith
• There is only one god and
that god is Allah
– Prayer
• 5 times a day facing Mecca