1. Hinduism & Buddhism The Beginning

2. Setting the stage  Aryans and non-Aryans followed their own religion at first.  As the intermingled, so did their religions.  Thousands of gods began to be worshipped.  Life for both groups become more complex.  Questions about the world began to arise.  The wealth of the Brahmin priests were even questioned.

3. Hinduism evolves over centuries – No single founder in Hinduism  It cannot be traced back to one founder with a single set of ideas, unlike Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.  Some aspects are still traced back to ancient times.  Bride and groom marry under the presence of a sacred fire.  Faithful followers recite hymns from the Vedas.

4. Origins and Beliefs  Hindus see religion as a way of liberating the soul from the illusions, disappointments, and mistakes of everyday existence.  Hindu teachers tried to interpret the hidden meaning behind the Vedic Hymns.  The comments became known as the Upanishads.

5. The Upanishads  Written as dialogues between a student and a teacher.  Explore how to achieve liberation from desires or suffering.  Moksha – a state of perfect understanding of all things.  Atman – individual soul of a living being.  Brahman – world soul that contains and unites all atmans.

6. Understandings:  Reincarnation – an individual soul or spirit is born again and again until moksha is achieved.  Karma – The good and bad things during your life that determine your status after death.  Karma influences life circumstances such as caste born into, health, wealth/poverty.

7. Reincarnation

8. Changes and Developing  Hinduism has changed a lot during the last 2500 years.  Soul or Brahman was seen as having the personalities of 3 gods:  Brahman – the creator  Vishnu – the protector  Shiva – the destroyer  Vishnu also had many forms:  Krishna – the divine cow herder  Rama – the perfect king

9. Moksha  Hindus are free to choose one of three ways to achieve it:  The path of right thinking  The path of right action  The path of religious devotion  Karma and reincarnation strengthen the caste system!  Only top 3 could achieve moksha

10. Hinduism and Society  Hinduism dominated all aspects of a person’s life.  Their beliefs determined what they could eat and the way in which they ate it, personal cleanliness, the people they could associate with, how one dressed, etc.

11. Buddha Seeks Enlightenment  Siddhartha Guatama – founder of Buddhism  Prophecy – father kept him home in isolated to fulfill it.  Left his house 4 times at age 29.  Old man, sick man, a corpse, and a holy peaceful man.  Living things experience old age, sickness, and death and religious life offers refuge from suffering.

12. Siddhartha  Wandered forests for 6 years.  Sought enlightenment – wisdom.  Fasted – 6 grains of rice per day.  He suffered still.  49 days of meditation under a fig tree.  Achieved understanding of the cause of suffering in this world  Now he became known as the Buddha, meaning “the enlightened one”

13. Four Noble truths 1. Ordinary life is full of suffering. 2. Suffering is caused by our selfish desires. 3. The way to end suffering is to end our desires for selfish goals. 4. The way to end desires is to follow the Middle Path (Eightfold Path).

14. The Eightfold Path – to nirvana 1. Right View (knowledge) 2. The Right Intentions (purpose) 3. Right speech- speak the truth and speak well of others. 4. Right Action 5. Right Livelihood Living) 6. Right Effort 7. Right Mindfulness 8. Right Concentration (meditate)

15. The Staircase  One step on the path had to be mastered before advancing.  This would occur over many lifetimes.  Nirvana – the Buddha’s word for release from selfishness and pain.

16. The “Three Jewels” of Buddhism  Sangha – Buddhist Religious order  Dharma – Buddhist doctrine or teachings  Buddha

17. Buddhism & Society  Reincarnation – A new existence for life, soul does not transfer.  Monks & nuns took vows to live:  A life of poverty  Nonviolence  Not to marry  Begging bowl – Daily charity to survive  Rain – Cave preaching  Formed Monasteries

18. Buddhism in India  Never gained a serious foothold in India.  Trade spread Buddhism to Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, island of Sumatra.  Followed the Silk Roads to China.  Then to Korea  Then to Japan  Most widespread movement in East Asia.

19. Photoshopped to color the original