HINDUISM
The religion of Hinduism developed and evolved
over a long time in India, giving rise to a variety of
beliefs and practices and to other religions,
including Buddhism
Basic Teachings of Hinduism
One of the world’s oldest religions, Hinduism, is practiced by most people in India
today. Hinduism evolved over thousands of years and was influenced by the cultures
and traditions of many peoples. However a few fundamental teachings are shared by
nearly all Hindus.
Brahman
• Among most basic tenets of
Hinduism, belief in Brahman,
eternal being that created,
preserves world
• Brahman all-encompassing
• Many believe human mind
incapable of understanding
Atman
• Hindus believe each person has
atman, soul, aspect of Brahman
• Atman shapes personality, cannot
be destroyed, even by death
• Devas, manifestations of Brahman,
active in world, helping maintain
order in nature
Three devas- Brahma, Vishnu, Siva -are particularly influential. Some believe in
thousands; others worship only one as the true manifestation of Brahman.
Rebirth and Salvation
Pattern of Life
• Hindus believe universe, everyone in it, part of continual pattern of birth, death,
and rebirth
• After death atman reborn in process called reincarnation, or samsara
New Life
• Nature of person’s new life shaped by karma—sum effect of deeds, actions
• Good karma, reincarnated to better station in life; bad karma, lower station in life
• Ultimate goal of human existence, moksha, escape from cycle of rebirth
Dharma
• With moksha, atman leaves world, reunites fully with Brahman
• To achieve moksha is to fulfill one’s dharma—spiritual duties, obligations
• By fulfilling dharma, one creates good karma, breaks free from rebirth cycle
Sacred Texts and Practices
Much of Hinduism’s evolution stemmed from a number of sacred writings produced
over centuries.
Sacred Texts
• Teachings, practices based on
many texts, most sorted into
one of three categories
– The Vedas
– Later writings inspired by the
Vedas
– Sacred epics
• The Vedas, sacred hymns of
praise, among earliest sacred
texts of Hinduism
The Vedas
• Name means “knowledge” in
Sanskrit
• Hindus consider Vedas to
contain eternal knowledge not
written by humans, revealed to
them by Brahman
• Parts of Vedas date back
more than 3,000 years
• Considered core of Hinduism
even today
Upanishads
• Sacred texts that built upon the Vedas appeared
• Some, such as Upanishads, also believed to have been revealed rather than written
by people
• Upanishads philosophical reflections on the Vedas, dealing with nature of world,
meaning of life
Ramayana, Mahabharata
• Other sacred texts based on themes in the Vedas, but composed by sages, including
two epic poems, Ramayana and Mahabharata
• Each tells story, reflects on living according to Vedic teachings
• Included in Mahabharata, most sacred of all Hindu texts, the Bhagavad Gita,
addressing many aspects of Hindu belief, philosophy
Hindu Religious Practices
Worship
Meditation, Pilgrimages
• Hindu beliefs vary widely,
religious practices vary as well;
worship can take place
anywhere
• To help meditate, Hindus
practice series of integrated
physical, mental exercises
called yoga
• At temples, priests might recite,
read portions of the Vedas;
image of a deva sometimes
carried out of temple to people
• Yoga teaches people how to
focus bodies, minds to aid
meditation, help attain moksha
• At home, food, drink, gifts
offered for deva; meditation,
silent reflection
• Hindus also make pilgrimages
to Ganges River to purify,
remove bad karma
KEY BACKGROUND TERMS
• __________________: the largest religion in
India
• ____________________: the belief in many
gods.
DHARMA
• A person’s spiritual duties and obligations
• Following one’s dharma yields good karma and
eventual liberation from reincarnation
KARMA
• The sum total of a person’s actions (both good
and bad)
• Good people will be reincarnated to a better
station in the next life
REINCARNATION (SAMSARA)
• The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth a person
must follow
• If you could be
reincarnated (or
perhaps you already
believe this), what would
you want to return as?
So How Do I Get Out?
• ____________ = release from the cycle of
reincarnation
– Release from worldly cares
– Must fulfill your dharma to
achieve Moksha and reach
peace with Brahma
Hindu gods
• BRAHMAN (the creator) is the main god and all
other gods are manifestations of him
JAINISM
Jainism
New Religion
• 500 BC, group of Hindus broke away, founded new religion called Jainism
• Led by teacher Mahavira, Jains thought most Hindus put too much emphasis on
ritual
Ritual Unnecessary
• Jains thought ritual unnecessary
• People could achieve moksha by giving up worldly things, carefully controlling
actions
Nonviolence
• Central to Jain teaching, idea of ahimsa, nonviolence
• Most Hindus also practiced ahimsa, but not to same extent
• Jains carefully avoid harming living creatures, are usually vegetarians
Other Traits
• Jains promise to tell only truth
• Avoid stealing
• Strive to eliminate greed, anger, prejudice, gossip from lives
• These things can prevent person from achieving moksha
Lifestyle
• Most devout become monks, nuns,
give up possessions
Principles
• Most Jains not monks, nuns
• Live outdoors, seek shelter only
during rainy months
• Pledge to uphold principles of
ahimsa, have careers that do not
involve harming of animals
• Cover mouths with masks, sweep
ground to avoid accidentally killing
insects
• Jainism calls for periodic fasting,
especially during festivals, on holy
days; limiting worldly possessions
BUDDHISM
• Began in the 5th Century B.C.
• SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA
The Life of the Buddha
In addition to Hinduism, another of the world’s major religions developed in ancient
India. That religion was Buddhism.
Early Life
Buddha’s Enlightenment
• Much of what is known about
life of the Buddha from
accounts in Buddhist literature
• Gautama resolved to find way
to overcome age, sickness,
keep people from suffering
• Gave up possessions, left
palace
• Sought enlightenment,
spiritual understanding for six
years
• Studied with gurus, monks but
decided they could not teach
way to enlightenment
• Gautama born 500s BC
• Prince of small kingdom in
what is now Nepal
– Led sheltered life
– Unaware of hardship
– Life changed when learned
people got old, sick, died
SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA
• From Prince…
…To Ascetic
Gautama was determined to find way to end human
suffering
• Sat under tree, no teachers, no companions, determined not
to arise until he found way
– Stories say he meditated all night
– Resolve tested by violent storms, earthly temptations
– At daybreak, had been transformed, found enlightenment, became the
Buddha, Enlightened One
– Temple built where he meditated, Bodh Gaya, one of Buddhism’s most
sacred places
The Teachings of Buddhism
Buddhist Beliefs
• After enlightenment achieved,
Buddha meditated at Bodh
Gaya seven weeks
• Set out to spread to others what
he had learned
• Lessons became basic
teachings of Buddhism
• Among ideas learned in
meditation, central truths, called
Four Noble Truths
Four Noble Truths
• Suffering part of human life
• Suffering from people’s desires
for pleasure, material goods
• Overcoming desires during life
eventually brings end to
suffering
• Desires can be overcome by
following Eightfold Path
BODH GAYA
Mahabodhi Temple
Built as a shrine to
Siddhartha Gautama
on the very spot he
meditated to reach
Enlightenment.
FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
1.
2.
3.
4.
EIGHTFOLD PATH
Series of Steps Leading to Enlightenment, Salvation
• Right view, or accepting the reality of the Four Noble Truths
• Right attitude, or striving for moderation in all things
• Right speech, avoiding lies, boasts, and hurtful words
• Right action, or treating others fairly
• Right livelihood, avoiding jobs that could bring harm to others
• Right effort, or constantly trying to improve oneself
• Right mindfulness, or remaining aware of world around one
• Right concentration, or ignoring temptation and discomfort while
meditating
Nirvana
The Buddha taught that those who followed Eightfold Path could
attain nirvana
• State of perfect peace in which soul freed from suffering
forever
• Those not attaining nirvana reborn to live through cycle of
suffering again
• Basic teachings of Eightfold Path, Middle Way—living in
moderation, avoiding extremes of comfort, discomfort in
search for nirvana
BUDDHISM
SPOKES = _____________________
CIRCLE = _________________________
Divisions of Buddhism
After the Buddha’s death, differing opinions arose concerning the correct teachings
and practices of Buddhism. Eventually three main Buddhist traditions formed—
Theravada, Mahayana, and Tibetan.
Theravada
Mahayana
• “Way of the Elders”
• Teaches people
can help each other
find enlightenment
• Shares many
Mahayana
teachings
• Not necessary to
be monk, nun
• Also believes
special techniques
can harness
spiritual energy,
lead to nirvana in
single lifetime
• Oldest tradition
• Best way to attain
nirvana: be monk,
nun, meditate
• Find one path to
enlightenment; very
much an individual
religion
• Bodhisattvas,
enlightened people
not yet passed to
nirvana, help others
Tibetan