Hinduism and Buddhism
Hinduism
- No single God
“Brahman is sometimes
referred to as the Divine
Ground of all matter,
energy, time, space,
being, and everything in
and beyond this universe.
“
- There is a supreme essence,
a universal “being”
- This “power” or “force” is
called “Brahman”
Brahman Analogy
Hinduism
• Because Brahman is the source of everything,
EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is a part of
Brahman
• Brahman takes on different forms (like specific
Gods or Goddesses) in order to meet the
specific needs of that specific person)
3 forms of Brahman
Brahma
Vishnu
Ganesha
God of Creation
Preserver of the Universe
Remover of Obstacles
“can place or remove
obstacles in your life”
Shiva
Most powerful God
“The Supreme Being”
“No matter the form it is still Brahman!”
The idea that all things (and Gods) are
one and the same is called monism.
To many Hindus, the world is an
illusion and it takes many lives to
learn this.
Therefore, Hindus believe in
reincarnation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnEYHQ9
dscY&feature=related
Death
Birth
Rebirth
This cycle repeats itself until nirvana is reached.
How does one reach nirvana?
With each new life, Hindus hope to reborn
into a higher form (from animal to human)
OR caste (from laborer to merchant).
The choices people make in this life (and how
well they fulfill their duties) determine
whether they move UP or DOWN
Kharma is the good or bad force created by your actions
Because of this way of thinking, Hindus believe
that people have earned their current position
in life as a sort of reward or punishment for their
choices.
Hindus worship
In temples
• What are you thoughts on this?
• If do you think this does for people in the
“undesirable” class?
• Good things / Bad things about it?
Buddhism
- Buddhism is born OUT
OF Hinduism
- Siddhartha Gautama was
was born a Hindu prince,
but was very saddened when discovered
how the lowest caste systems lived.
Slumdog Millionaire
- Gautama went on a journey to discover
the meaning to life and why things “are how they
are”
- He had a “Great Enlightenment” where he realized
that all suffering is caused by desires.
- He then became “the Buddha.”
Four Noble Truths
• 1.) Everyone Suffers
• 2) Desire results in suffering (you suffer
because there are things you want that do not
or cannot have)
• 3.) If you give up desires, you stop suffering.
• 4.) To do this, follow the Eightfold Path
The Eightfold Path outlines how to live and behave properly
• Buddha is NOT a god, but is a guide for how to
act morally, peacefully, and responsibly
• Buddhism has NO gods
• Buddhist believe in karma (good/evil actions will find their
way back to you) and nirvana (the final state you reach once all
desires have ended and suffering has stopped, you are at peace with
everything)
Caste System?
•YES in Hinduism
•NO in Buddhism
Buddhist worship in temples.
What role did Buddhism play in
uniting India?
How did India become unified?
• King Chandragupta began to
conquer Northern India
• Created a strong, central gov’t
• Empire fell to grandson – Ashoka
• Decided to give up violence
• Wanted people to follow
Buddhist ways
Gupta Empire
The “Golden Age”
320-550 CE
• Mauryan Empire fell –
500 years of being in
smaller kingdoms
• 320 CE – united under
Gupta
• Gave local governments
independence
• Lasted 230 years
Many great achievements…..