Hinduism
Main Idea
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 Jainism.
Objectives:
• Explore the basic teachings of Hinduism.
• Identify the sacred texts and religious practices of Hinduism.
Investigate the teachings of Jainism.
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
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
Social Structure
Social Structure
• According to oldest of the Vedas, the
Rigveda, Vedic society divided into
four social classes, varnas
• Each played particular role in society
• People of four varnas created from
body of single being
Castes
Varnas
• Part of body from which each varna
created tied to its duties
• Brahmins came from mouth, source of
speech, wisdom; were priests
• Kshatriyas: warriors, rulers
• Vaisyas: common people, farmers
• Sudras: servants
Social Hierarchy
• Over centuries, four varnas of
Vedic period divided into hundreds
of smaller castes
• Social hierarchy developed, some
castes had more privileges than
others
• Membership in caste determined
what jobs one could hold, whom
one could marry
• Not everyone belonged to a caste
• Untouchables had no protection of
caste law, could perform only jobs
that other castes did not
Buddhism
Main Idea
Buddhism, which teaches people that they can escape the suffering of
the world through the Buddha’s teachings, developed in India and
spread to other parts of Asia and the world.
Objectives:
• Explore how the early life of the Buddha lead to the beginnings of
Buddhism.
• Recognize the major teachings of Buddhism.
• Identify what areas were affected by the spread of Buddhism.
The Teachings of Buddhism
Buddhist Beliefs
• After enlightenment achieved,
Siddhartha Gautama or the 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
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
The Dharmacakra, "Wheel of Dharma", a symbol for the 8 Fold Path
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
The Spread of Buddhism
Unlike Hinduism, which largely remained an Indian religion, Buddhism spread into
other parts of the world. Today, more than 350 million people are Buddhists, most of
them concentrated in Asia. Relatively few people in India are Buddhists today.
Buddhism in India
Ashoka
• Buddhist community in India grew
throughout Buddha’s life
• 200s BC, Buddhism reached peak in
India during reign of emperor Ashoka
• Followers spread teachings after
Buddha’s death
• Ashoka became Buddhist, helped
spread Buddhism into all parts of India
• Teachings not written down until first
century BC; helped preserve, spread
teachings throughout India
Ashoka also encouraged missionaries to carry the Buddha’s message to lands outside
of India.
Buddhism Beyond India
• Ashoka sent missionaries to Sri Lanka, large island off India’s southern coast, and
north to lands along Himalayas, east into lands of Southeast Asia
• Buddhism took firm hold in kingdoms that eventually became Myanmar, Thailand,
Vietnam, islands of Indonesia
Traders
• Trade also helped spread Buddhism beyond India
• 200s BC, merchants traveling routes from India to Central Asia introduced Buddhist
teachings
• Traders from Central, Southeast Asia took Buddhist teachings into China, slowly
spreading, blending with native Chinese philosophies
•Changing Buddhism
As Buddhism encountered other religious
traditions outside of India it continued to change
and develop.
Because of this blending, various smaller traditions
developed within Theravada and Mahayana
a branch of Mahayana known as
--Zen emphasizes self-discipline and meditation.
Buddhism today is a very diverse religion with a
wide range of adherents and practices
Is Buddhism a Religion?
The Dalai Lama states: "From one
viewpoint, Buddhism is a religion,
from another viewpoint Buddhism
is a science of mind and not a
religion. Buddhism can be a bridge
between these two sides.
Therefore, with this conviction I try
to have closer ties with scientists,
mainly in the fields of cosmology,
psychology, neurobiology and
physics. In these fields there are
insights to share, and to a certain
extent we can work together.”