Classical Indian Religion

 One of the oldest religions – 1500 BCE  Began in India  Sanskrit writings of the Vedic religion  Gave birth to Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism  Encourages tolerance and diversity  “Truth is one, paths are many”

 Brahman – One impersonal ultimate reality. Manifests itself as many personal deities  Atman – the soul, Brahma trapped in matter  Samsara – reincarnation; the atman is continually born into this world, lifetime after lifetime  Karma – spiritual impurity due to bad actions keeps us bound to this world (good and bad karma)  Moksha – the ultimate goal in life- release the Atman (soul), and reunite with the divine, become one with Brahman  Vedas – truth; myths, rituals, chants

 Brahma – the creator god, many manifestations  Vishnu – the preserver god  Shiva – god of destruction

 Yoga – seeking union with the divine  Vegetarian – respect for all life

 Hindu life is supreme  Four stations in life:  Priests and religious teachers (Brahmin)  Nobles, leaders, warriors (Kshatriyas)  Merchant class (Vaisyas)  Servant, farmer class (Sudra)  Reforms to Hinduism allow Moksha to be achieved by properly performing your life duties in any caste

 Karma – your deeds and actions determine reincarnation  Dharma – one’s obligations, duties, callings  *Both exist in Buddhism as well, except Dharma in Buddhism are the teaching of Buddha, the ultimate truth.

 Indian religion of non-violence towards all living beings  Everything has a soul  Reject social hierarchy  Ascetic (frugal)

 Siddhartha Gautama born as prince in Northeast India (modern-day Nepal)  At 29, he rejected luxury and sought enlightenment and the source of suffering  Lived a strict, frugal life for 6 years  Sat in meditation and found nirvana  Became “The Enlightened One” at 35

 There he saw the four sights that were his inspiration  An old crippled man (old age)  A diseased man (illness)  A decaying corpse (death)  An ascetic (frugal monks)

 What is the fundamental cause of all suffering? Desire!  Therefore, extinguish the self, don’t obsess about oneself.

 There is suffering in the world. To live is to suffer.  The cause of suffering is self-centered desire and attachment  The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments  To reach nirvana, one must follow the Eightfold path

 If you follow the Eightfold Path, you will reach Nirvana  The union with the ultimate spiritual reality, escape from the cycle of rebirth

 Images can be worshipped  He is often seated in meditation  Hand is out, appealing for peace or setting the wheel in motion  Pot Bellied / Laughing Buddha (Budai) – not the Buddha  Deity of Chinese folklore  Chinese Buddhist monk

 Therevada Buddhism  Philosophy  The oldest school of Buddhism  Found in Southern asia  Goal: become a “Buddha” or “Enlightened One”  Mahayana Buddhism  Religion – worship Buddha as a god  Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan)  Buddhism “for the masses”  Goal: individual escape from reincarnation and the salvation of all humanity