1. Hinduism & Buddhism

2. Overview of Hinduism
Collection of religious beliefs developed about 1500 BC
Cannot be traced to one founder or people
Vedic Religion of Aryan?
Harappan belief system?
Mix of both?
Regardless, all elements were in place by 500 BC
Based off interpretations of Vedas & Mahabharata
Vedas – sacred hymns
Maha = epic stories (like Homer)

3. II. Caste System
Complex & rigid social system dividing people into sealed groups called castes (job)
People divided into varnas (aspects of Purusha)
Brahmins (priests)
Kshatriyas (warriors, rulers)
Vaishyas (farmers, merchants)
Sudras (non-Aryan peasants)
Harijan (untouchables)

4. Caste System Caste defines who you are
Born into it
Marry within it
Die within it
Almost impossible to move up caste within one lifetime
Everybody knew what caste people were in
Relations with other castes
No one dealt w/ harijan
Very respectful up caste
Very condescending down caste

5. Beliefs of Hinduism Desire moksha Individual soul = Atman Brahman
Liberation from cycle of birth and rebirth
Above time, space – the stilling of all passions and desires
Individual soul = Atman
Brahman
The source of all existence
At moksha, atman unifies w/ Brahman
Goal never achieved in one lifetime!

6. Beliefs of Hinduism Reincarnation
New personality develops in each life, based on past experiences
Part of original person is constantly present throughout successive lives

7. Beliefs of Hinduism Karma Atman’s good and bad deeds
Everything one does influences one’s destiny and possibility of moving up the incarnation ladder
Effects caste & wealth in future lives
Good karma = good fortune
Current station in life is determined by prior good & bad karma of prior lives

8. Beliefs of Hinduism Each caste has dharma
Rights, obligations & duties of caste, within social order
Be the best brahmin / kshatriya / whatever you can be
Failure to do dharma leads to regression down caste system
If one does dharma, one will have good karma, and will be reincarnated to a higher caste, eventually reaching moksha

9. Brahman is three major gods in one
(some depictions of Hindu gods)

10. Brahma = Creator: created universe, first humans

11. Vishnu: Protector = preserver of universe; most popular aspect of Brahman

12. Shiva: Destroyer = destroys evil and sorrow, including world, when it is evil

13. Buddhism

14. Overview of Buddhism Siddhartha Guatama Son of a rich warrior prince
Father isolated him from unhappiness, need on his estate
Siddhartha escaped 3x, saw poor, cruelty
Made him question, reject the physical world and search for enlightenment

15. Overview of Buddhism Studied with different religious leaders
Fasted, meditated
Realized that life of a hermit would kill him
Finally emerged from studies, meditation as the Buddha (“Enlightened One”)
Realized that moderation – the Middle Path – between hedonism, extreme denial, was best path

16. Buddhist Beliefs The Four Noble Truths
All life is suffering and sorrow
Cause of suffering & sorrow is craving for happiness / sadness, delight / pain (selfish desires)
End suffering and sadness by overcoming the selfish desires.
By giving it up, you will free yourself from it
End selfish desires by following the Eightfold Path.

17. The Eightfold Path 1 8 2 3 7 4 6 5 1. Right Belief 2. Right Purpose
3. Right Speech
4. Right Conduct
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Meditation 8 2 3 7 4 6 5

18. Buddhist Beliefs Goal of Buddhists = nirvana Reach the “Middle Way”
Extinction and freedom from cycle of suffering, death and rebirth
Reach the “Middle Way”
Follow the Eightfold Path
Meditate
Moderation in all things
Believed in reincarnation but rejected caste system
Also rejected idea of personal god
Rejected social, sexual distinctions; embraced egalitarian organization

19. Buddhist Followers At first, word spread by wandering monks
Spread to China; today, about 300 million Buddhists worldwide
Never caught on in India