2. HINDUISM One of the OLDEST and most COMPLEX religions
About 900 million followers worldwide
Dominant Religion of INDIA and Nepal
Has no single FOUNDER or HOLY BOOK (there are many holy scriptures including the VEDAS and UPANISHADS)

3. GANGES RIVER
Most SACRED river to the Hindus -Each year thousands make pilgrimages to the Ganges
They bathe in the water which they believe will cleanse and purify them
The sick believe the Ganges will cure their ailments
One of the 5 most polluted rivers in the world

5. GANGES RIVER When they die Hindus have their bodies CREMATED
It is considered the highest honor to have your ashes spread in the Ganges – no where more so than in VARANASI
EXAMPLE – George Harrison of the Beatles had his ashes scattered in the Ganges when he died in 2001

6. HINDUISM Hindus believe in one unifying spirit – BRAHMAN
Hindus consider Brahman too complex to understand so they worship GODS that give a more concrete form to Brahman
There are MANY Gods in the Hindu religion – 3 of the most important are:
1. BRAHMA: Creator of Life
2. VISHNU: Preserver of Life
3. SHIVA: Destroyer of Life

7. Hindu Gods

8. MOKSHA/REINCARNATION
Achieving union with BRAHMAN as people free themselves from selfish desires & suffering is known as MOKSHA
This does NOT occur in one lifetime – Hindus believe in: REINCARNATION
REINCARNATION – rebirth of the soul in a new body
Reincarnation {known as Punarjanma} is one of the core beliefs of Hinduism that is generally accepted by all who practice
Reincarnation is the natural process of birth, death and rebirth

10. KARMA
People’s actions in this life determine their level or caste in the next life. This is known as Karma.
Karma consists of all the deeds of a person’s life that affect his/her existence in the next life. By living in a right way, a person will be reborn at a higher level. Evil deeds cause people to be born into a lower level.

11. KARMA
KARMA refers to the totality of our actions and their reactions in this and previous lives - all of which determines our future
Karma is not PUNISHMENT or retribution but simply a CONSEQUENCE of natural acts
Karma is not FATE: humans act with free will creating their own DESTINY -According to the VEDAS -if one sows goodness, one will reap goodness; if one sows evil, one will reap evil
DHARMA is the law that upholds the order of the universe

13. CASTE SYSTEM
Early in Indian History people were organized into four groups based on occupation:
1) BRAHMINS (priests)
2) WARRIORS
3) traders and landowners
4) peasants or traders
The group that an Indian belonged to determined his or her role in society – these groups became known as CASTES

14. CASTE SYSTEM
As time went on- the four basic castes grew more complex—with hundreds of subdivisions
Communities developed a system in which people were born into their caste
Their caste membership determined the work they did, whom they could marry, and the people with whom they could eat
Cleanliness and purity became all-important
Those considered the most impure because of their work (butchers, gravediggers, collectors of trash) lived outside the caste structure - they were known as “untouchables”

17. BUDDHISM Has over 360 MILLION followers
Most live in: SRI LANKA, ASIA {Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam} and SE ASIA {China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan}
Buddhism consists of many different SECTS or branches the 2 main branches are: Theravada and Mahayana
A religious sect is a group within a religion that has one or more unique beliefs
There is no belief in a PERSONAL God - It is not centered on the relationship between humanity and God

18. SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA -Founder of Buddhism
563B.C. – Born into a noble family in NEPAL
Led a PRIVILEGED & SHELTERED Life
He left his home in search of ENLIGHTENMENT {wisdom}
He tried to find the cause of SUFFERING
He was convinced that suffering was caused by materialistic desires

19. SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA
While meditating beneath a tree he finally understood how to be free from suffering and achieve salvation
Following this epiphany Gautama was known as the Buddha meaning the “ENLIGHTENED ONE"
The Buddha spent the remainder of his life journeying about India teaching others what he had come to understand

21. FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS Central Philosophy of Buddhism –Four Noble Truths:
1. Life is filled with SUFFERING
2. Suffering caused by DESIRE
3. END suffering by ending desire
4. The way to end desire – follow EIGHTFOLD PATH

23. EIGHTFOLD PATH

25. BUDDHISM Following the Eightfold Path – find PEACE/HARMONY
Ultimate Goal – spiritual happiness – release from endless cycle of DEATH and REBIRTH {Reincarnation}
This state was known as: NIRVANA
Buddhists do not have a belief in a supreme being {GOD}
Goal of life is to reach NIRVANA