Name:
Date:
Period:
Interfaith Dialogue: Hinduism and Buddhism
Directions: Your task is to write a dialogue, or debate between a Hindu sadhu (holy man) and a Buddhist
bhikkhu (monk). Some important facts to remember:
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Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) was a Hindu prince. He began his meditations after observing
the suffering in the world, suffering created in part by the caste system.
Many Hindus consider Buddha one of the manifestations of the god Vishnu (the preserver).
Therefore, these two religions are closely intertwined.
Your dialogue must include the following:
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The beginnings of the religion
The role of gods/goddesses
What happens when you die?
What is the ultimate goal or aim of life? How is that goal achieved?
The role of karma and dharma (Hinduism)/Dhamma (Buddhism)
Other essential concepts
By the end of your dialogue, the sadhu and bhikkhu must come to a consensus on the following
question: Is there more that divides their faiths, or more that unites them?
Format/Writing: This is a dialogue, so it should be written as a conversation between the two. Consider
the format below:
Sadhu: I am a sadhu, a Hindu holy man.
Bhikkhu: I am a Buddhist monk.
Creativity is encouraged. For example, establishing a setting, writing realistic dialogue, etc.
Resources:
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Class notes/discussions
History textbook
World Religions book, other books (please share these)
Reliable websites:
o http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/
o http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/beliefs
o http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/basic-guide.htm
o http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism
Timeline: We will work on the dialogue today in class. It is due on Monday (remember that our quiz is
Friday). I suggest you use today to gather and organize information, and begin writing if possible.