Hinduism and Buddhism
Chapter 3 Section 2
The Beliefs of Hinduism Develop
• No single founder and no single sacred text
– Many gods and goddesses and practices
Siva, god of destruction
Basic Hindu Beliefs
1. One force underlies everything
– Brahma
2. Sacred texts reveal Hindu Beliefs
– The Vedas
Brahma
3. Achieving Moksha is the Goal of Life
– This is union with Brahma
– To achieve must free yourself from selfish desires
Karma and Dharma
• Karma = all actions of a persons life
that affect his or her fate in the next life
• Reincarnation– Different classes
• Dharma = the religious and moral duties of an
individual
– Pacifist
The Caste System Shapes India
• Castes are social groups
into which people are
born and which can
rarely be changed.
– Caste system guided
everything
– Strive for better class in
next life
– Preserved social order
Key Teachings of Buddha
• Arose in the 6th Century B.C.
• Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, known as
Buddha or “Enlightened One”
From Boy to Buddha
• Born a prince and spoiled and sheltered
• Doesn’t witness suffering and death until age
29
• Meditated under at tree until he understood
the mystery of life
The Four Noble Truths
1. All life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow
2. The cause of suffering is non-virtue, or
negative deeds and mindsets such as hatred
and desire
3. The only cure for suffering is to overcome
non-virtue
4. The way to overcome non-virtue is to follow
the eightfold path
Eightfold Path
•
•
•
•
Right views
Right aspirations
Right speech
Right conduct
•
•
•
•
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right contemplation
Nirvana
• Nirvana is the ultimate
reality, the end of the
self and a reunion with
the Great World Soul
• No worshiping of
Siddhartha or his image
• Often viewed as
philosophy not a
religion.
Buddhism Spreads Beyond India
• The Tripitaka, collection
of Buddha’s teachings
• Buddhism spreads to
much of Asia, is little
practiced in India today
• Hinduism absorbed
Buddhist beliefs and
Buddha
Buddhism Spreads and Divides:
Two Major Sects
• Theravada
– Closely follows Buddha’s
original teachings
– Only monks and nuns
could reach Nirvana
• Mahayana
– Made for ordinary
people
– Describes and afterlife
with many heavens and
hells
Compare and Contrast Poster
• Create a poster that compares and contrast
Hinduism and Buddhism
–
–
–
–
–
–
Include when they began
How they began
Their beliefs and practices
Locations
Changes to the religions
Any other important information that you feel should
be shared
– Include a picture to go with each religion