Religion and Philosophy in Asia Objective-I can explain the fundamental concepts of Asian religious and philosophical thought.

Unit 3: South Asia Vocabulary 1.      Subcontinent:  Very large land mass that is smaller than a continent, such as the Indian sub-continent 2.    Monsoon: Winds that mark the seasons in India:  Wet Spring/Summer and Dry Fall/Winter 3.     Reincarnation:  Belief in the rebirth of souls 4.    Dharma: doing one's moral duties in this life so that the soul can advance.

5. Karma: The good or bad force created by a person's actions 6 5.    Karma: The good or bad force created by a person's actions 6.     Caste system:  complex form of social organization that began to take shape after the Indo-Aryan migration. 7.    Satyagraha: Insistence of Truth 8.    Enlightenment:  the Way of Life (perfect peace/nirvana)

How did Asia’s physical environment affect its cultural development?

The Beginnings of Hinduism In about 700 B.C., several Indian religious thinkers began to teach in the forests of the Ganges Plain They told exciting stories and used tales of heroes and great events to pass along religious traditions.

During this same time, a rigid caste system was beginning to form. Four distinct varnas, or social classes, emerged There was a fifth group called Pariahs, or “untouchables.”

Untouchables “Not only does one not take water from them, they may not even take water from the same well… Not only does one not marry them, they may not even enter the temple or the house or stroll on the main village streets. Even their cattle may often not drink from the same pool as (others).”

Hindu Thought A divine essence called Brahman fills everything in the world. People have an individual essence, called Self or Atman. Hinduism teaches that Brahman and Atman are one and the same. All things in the universe are of the same essence as God.

Hindu Thought People can gain salvation only if they reject worldliness. It can take many lifetimes to fully reject the world. Hindus believe that souls do not die, but can be reborn (reincarnation).

Two Words Dharma means doing one’s moral duty in this life so that the soul can advance in the next life. Karma is the good or bad force created by a person’s actions. People who fulfill their dharma gain good karma and are born into a higher social group in the next life. How would this work well with India’s caste system?

Hindu Culture Hindus often practice yoga, a set of mental and physical exercises designed to bring the body and soul together. Some Hindus see certain animals as particularly sacred. Cows are special because they traditionally provided power for plows and carts. They also produce milk and butter for food. For these reasons cows are protected by law.

The Rise of Buddhism Buddhism also arose in India.

Siddhartha Gautama Read Page 63 Write down one interview question that you would most like to ask Siddhartha Gautama.

Buddhist Teachings The Buddha accepted some Hindu ideas, including reincarnation. He believed that the progress of the soul depends on the life a person leads- good is rewarded and evil is punished. However salvation comes from knowing the “Four Noble Truths” and following the “Eightfold Path.”

The Four Noble Truths All human life involves suffering and sorrow. The desire for a life of pleasure and material gain causes suffering and sorrow. Renouncing desire frees people from suffering and helps their souls attain nirvana. The Eightfold Path leads to renunciation, or denial of desire and attainment of nirvana.

The Eightfold Path Read chart on page 64.

The Spread of Buddhism The Buddha gained only a few followers in his lifetime. Over several centuries his teachings won wide acceptance in Asia. Two branches: Theravada and Mahayana

Confucius A great philosopher lived in Ancient China from 551-479 BC Confucius’ followers collected his ideas and teachings in a work called the Analects. Read the section on Confucius on page 90. What were Confucius’s views on politics?

Confucius Sayings Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves. Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it. Men's natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart. Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in getting up every time we do.

Create your own saying like Confucius

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