A Review of Hinduism and Buddhism

Learning Targets - I can describe how Monsoon Winds affect different parts of India. - I can relate the Ancient Harappan civilization, with the Mesopotamian, and Egyptian civilizations that we have already studied. - I can describe the importance of the Sanskrit language in the understanding of Ancient Indian Society. - I can explain the differences in Hinduism and Buddhism. - I can describe the Caste System and explain its importance within Indian Society.

A Review of What we have learned What were the two main cities of Ancient Harappan civilization? Mohenjo Daro and Harappa After the fall of the Harappan Civilizations what group came into India? Aryan’s What Language did the Aryans speak? -Sanskrit What were the Religious Writings of the Aryan’s called? -Vedas

Indian Society Divides The Varnas According to the Vedas, there were four main Varna's, or social divisions, In Aryan Society. Brahmins- Priests Kshatriyas- Rulers and Warriors. Vaisyas- Farmers, craftspeople, and Traders Sudras- Laborers and non-Aryans

The Caste System As the Rules of interaction between Varnas got stricter, the Aryan social order became more complex. This Caste System- Divided Indian society into groups based on a person’s birth, wealth, or occupation. The Caste to which a person belonged determined his or her place in society.

The Caste System Even though the caste determined a persons place within society it was by no means permanent. On rare occasions, people could change caste. People in the lowest class the Sudra had hard lives. There was a group of people though who did not even belong to a caste, they were called untouchables.

Caste System Rules To keep their classes distinct, the Aryans developed sutras, or guides, which listed the rules for the caste system. People could not marry someone else from a different Caste. It was even forbidden for people from one class to eat with people from another.

Hinduism Develops The blending of the Vedic texts along with others from people from Persia and other kingdoms in Central Asia brought their ideas to India. This Blending of ideas created a religion called Hinduism, Which is the largest religion in India today.

Hindu Beliefs The Hindus believe in many gods. There are three major gods: Brahma- The Creator Siva- The Destroyer Vishnu- The Preserver

Life and Rebirth According to Hindu Traditions: Everyone has a soul. A persons ultimate goal should be to reunite with Brahman, the Universal Sprit. Hindus believe that souls are born and reborn many times. This process of rebirth is called Reincarnation.

Karma Karma- The effects that good or bad actions have on a person’s soul. Evil actions during ones life will build bad Karma. A person with bad Karma will be reborn into a lower caste or as a lesser creature.

Buddhism In the late 500’s a man dissatisfied with the teachings of Hinduism, began to ask his own questions about life and religious matters. Siddhartha Gautama, was a prince who grew up in luxury.

Finding Enlightenment Siddhartha wanted to free his mind from daily concerns; So he started fasting, or going without food. He devoted much of his time to meditation, the focusing of the mind on spiritual ideas.

Human Suffering Comes from 3 things Wanting what we like but do not have, Wanting to keep what we like and already have, and Not wanting what we dislike but have. From this point on Siddhartha would be known as the Buddha or “The Enlightened One”

Challenging Hindu Ideas The Buddha rejected many ideas in the Vedas, such as animal sacrifice. He told people that they did not have to follow these texts. He was opposed to the Caste System However the Buddha did not reject the idea of reincarnation.

Buddhism Spreads In the years following Buddha's death his ideas spread very quickly because they were popular and easy to understand. Within 200 years of the Buddha’s death, Buddhism had spread through most of India.