Hinduism & Buddhism
Vocabulary List 5
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Karma-A Sanskrit word
meaning “action” that
Hindus believe there will be
an equal consequence
Dharma-A Sanskrit word
meaning “duty” or “virtue”
that Hindus believe they
must follow
Samsara-A constant cycle of
rebirth believed in by
Hindus
Nirvana- Ultimate bliss,
release from suffering,
desires, and reincarnation
Enlightenment-Perfect
understanding
6.
Hinduism-Religion which
focuses on doing your duty
& good deeds to end the
cycle of reincarnation
7. Buddhism-Religion which
focuses on detachment
from desires & meditation
to achieve enlightenment
8. Reincarnation-the belief
that the soul, upon death of
the body, comes back to
earth in another body or
form.
9. Vedas- Hindu sacred
writings
10. Sutras- Buddhist scripture
Bell Ringer # 34 1/23 & 1/28
• What are the main theories of why the IRVC
collapsed?
• Based on what we have covered, which one
do you think is most likely? What evidence
best supports your theory?
– This is not a right/wrong question, nobody is
certain!
Aryan Invasion Theory
• C. 2000-1500 BCE, a group of nomadic
warrior-herders called the Aryans Invaded the
lands of the Indus River Valley
• The Aryans were from Eastern Europe
between the Black Sea and Caspian/Aral Seas
• The present Harappan civilization was already
in decline and unable to repel the Aryans
Aryans
Indo European Languages
Blending of Cultures
• The Aryans brought with them their own language,
called Sanskrit and religious and cultural beliefs.
• The indigenous population (sometimes referred to as
Dravidian) people eventually became intermixed with
the Aryan people and the two cultures together make
up what is now much of the culture of modern India.
• Hinduism, the major religion of India, was a mixture of
Aryan and perhaps some IRVC beliefs.
• The caste system, which keeps people in strict social
classes, was brought to India by the Aryans.
Development of Caste System
• Aryans divide people in classes (castes)
• Based originally by varna or skin color
– Aryans were lighter skinned than Dravidians
– Ayrans occupied the top castes
• People in the lower castes were looked down on.
• No social mobility, cannot go up or down ranks
• The caste system was very effective in keeping
social order but it was rigid.
– Strict rules on who you could marry, what kind of job
you could have, where you live, and who you could
speak to
• Hinduism reinforces caste system
Hinduism
• The Aryans and the Indus Valley culture
eventually produced Hinduism.
• Polytheistic/Monotheistic
• Supreme God, lesser deities are versions
• Three major gods create a trinity:
– Brahma the creator
– Vishnu the preserver
– Shiva the destroyer
Hinduism Continued
• Religious texts called “Vedas” that record the
beliefs of the Aryans, written in Sanskrit
• Considered to be perhaps the oldest continuing
religion in the world
• 80% of India’s current population are Hindu and
there are ~1 Billion Hindus worldwide (3rd largest
religion)
• Hinduism differs from other religions like
Christianity, Judaism and Islam in that there is no
one single founder or one set of beliefs that must
be followed.
Hinduism Continued
• Personal rather than group worship
• Private shrines in home
– Offerings of incense, flowers, fruit, etc.
• Since Brahman the Supreme God can take any
form, Hindus are free to worship whichever or
however many of his lesser deity forms
– “Brahman” with an “A”= god “Brahmin” with an
“I”=Priest Caste
Reincarnation
• Hindus believe that after a person dies, they will
be re-born as some other creature or thing.
• What you are re-born as depends on your
“Karma” or the deeds you did in your previous
life.
– If you did good deeds, you will reborn into a higher,
better life.
– If you had bad Karma, you may be re-born as a lesser
being like an insect.
Reincarnation Continued
• Karma- Sanskrit word that means “action”
– Good or bad actions will have equal consequences
– Karma rolls over into next lifetime
• Dharma- “duty” “virtue” or “morality”
– Set of rules to guide your life
– Plays into the caste system
• Constant cycle of rebirth called Samsara
• Ultimate goal is to end this rebirth, called
moksha
Castes
• India’s caste system is divided into many
different classes, each with its own job.
• The highest class is the Brahmins, or priests.
They have great authority and respect.
• The next level are Kshatriya, who are the
warriors or land-owners. They are often in the
wealthy, ruling class.
Castes, cont.
• Next come the Vaishya, who are the
merchants and artisans. They are the people
who sell products.
• The lowest level are the servants and farmers.
They are called Shudra. They are very
important because they provide food and
goods for society but did not have high status.
“Outcasts”
• The lowest group in India are the Harijan. They are also
called the “untouchables” or “outcasts” because they
are not even considered part of the caste system.
• They do the worst jobs in the community such as
cleaning sewers and sweeping the streets.
• Members of the caste system were not even supposed
to have the shadow of an untouchable touch them.
• The Harijan believed that the only way to get out of
their situation was to do everything without complaint
(aka dharma) so they could be reborn into a higher
caste in the next life.
Buddhism
• Founded c. 600 BCE by Siddhartha Gautama (the
Buddha)
• Born 566 BCE into the Kshatriya caste (warrior class) in
present day Nepal
• Wealthy prince who was kept isolated inside a
beautiful palace and not exposed to the suffering of
others
• One day he left the walls of his palace and saw the pain
and misery of life, characterized by three men: an old
man, a sick man, and a dead man (One cannot escape
age, disease, or death)
• He tried several ways to meditate and find peace until
he finally he came up with his own way; Buddhism.
Meditation
• Buddha gained
enlightenment under
the Bodhi tree
• Meditation is central
– Develop awareness
– Change perception
– Increase concentration
– Break attachment
Buddhism Continued
• Life is full of suffering
– Suffering is caused by attachment/desires
– Suffering ends when attachment ends
• No worship of gods or god
• Reincarnation
• Impermanence (nothing lasts forever, good or
bad)
• Meditation to become Enlightened, reaching a
state of Nirvana.
Four Noble Truths
• The basic foundation of
Buddhism are the four Noble
Truths
• Four Noble Truths
1 Existence of Dukkha (suffering)
2 Dukkha is caused by attachment
3 Dukkha can be overcome
4 The path to overcoming Dukkha (Eightfold Path)
• Think: 1= symptoms, 2=diagnosis,
3=prognosis, 4=prescription
Eightfold Path
• Eightfold Path “The Right” Understanding,
Thought, Speech, Action, Effort, Mindfulness,
Concentration, Livelihood
• The “path” of NT #4
• No particular order
• Support and reinforce
one another
Vedic Age of India
• C. 1750-500 BCE the vedas were composed
• Passed down orally, written down later
• Eventually written in Sanskrit, Hymns, spells,
charms, and rituals of the Ayrans
– Some stories tell of conflict between the Ayrans and
Dravidians
– Alien language, dark completion, strange gods
• Settlements shift to warlike normadic clans from
peaceful cities of IRVC
• Clans then morph into kingdoms
classical
India
Ganges River
• IRVC collapse, evidence points that they may
have relocated here
– Center of civilization shifts to here, may or may
not be IRVC
• Mentioned in the Vedas
• Sacred to Hindus
C. 500 BCE
Empires of India
• Maurya- 321 BCE, Chandragupta Maurya unifies
eastern and northen India, by 300 BCE most of
India unified
– High taxes (50% of crops)
– Large army
– Strict
• 269 BCE grandson Asoka takes over
–
–
–
–
–
Converts to Buddhism
Religious tolerance
Roads & trade
“Lawgiver” think Hammurabi’s code in Sanskrit
Dies, things fall apart
Empires cont.
• Gupta Empire- 320 CE Chandra Gupta takes
power in the north, eventually unifies most of
India
• “Golden Age” many advancements in many
fields
• 500 CE in decline
500 healing
plants identified
1000 diseases
classified
Printed
medicinal guides
Plastic
Surgery
Gupta
Achievements
Kalidasa
Literature
Medicine
Inoculations
Gupta
India
C-sections
performed
Decimal
System
Mathematics
Concept
of Zero
PI = 3.1416
Solar
Calendar
Astronomy
The earth
is round
Study Guide
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Dravidian
Aryan
Harappa
Harappan/IRVC
IRVC Economy
IRVC City Layout
Mohenjo-Daro
Lothal
Sub-continent
Sanskrit
Vedas
Monsoon
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Buddhism
Hinduism
Reincarnation
Karma
Dharma
Samsara
Moksha
Caste System
Pariah
Siddhartha Gautama
Four Noble Truths
Eightfold Path