Hinduism & Buddhism Chapter 4 Section 2

Did You Know? In 1949, the country of Tibet was invaded by China. China still occupies Tibet and tries to expel Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetans who fail to denounce their religion or possess an image of the Dalai Lama, their religious leader, are punished.

Hinduism Hinduism is the world’s 3rd largest religion and one of the oldest. Hinduism’s roots are in the Aryan religion, which changed after borrowing ideas from conquered people of India. Brahman: is the universal spirit made up of thousands of gods and goddesses. Upanishads: are ancient religious writings that describe the search for Brahman. Dharma: the divine law of Hindus. This law states that Hindus must perform the duties of their caste. Karma: are the consequences of how a person lives.

Discussion Question According to Hindus, what are the consequences of a good and a bad life? Hindus believe if a person lives a good life, then that person might be reborn into a higher caste. If the person lives a bad life, then the person might be reborn in a lower caste.

Buddhism Buddhism: is a religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama, the man who became known as the Buddha, or “Enlightened One”. He was a prince who left his family and wealth to travel. In his travels, he saw much suffering and questioned the need for suffering. Legend tells he meditated under a tree for 49 days, and then he understood. For the rest of his life, Siddhartha traveled to tell people about his discovery. Nirvana: A state of wisdom, occurs when a person gives up all desires. Four Noble Truths: the core of Buddha’s teachings. Eightfold Path: describes steps to eliminate suffering.

Buddhism continued Buddhism divided into Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. Theravada: Buddhists believe the Buddha was a great teacher, not a god. Mahayana: Buddhists believe the Buddha was a god who came to save people. Tibet: religious leader, lamas, headed the government. Dalai Lama: was the government leader. Panchen Lama: was the religious leader. Theocracy: is a form of government in which religious leaders head the government. Jainism: is another religion that challenged Hinduism. Jains: believe in nonviolence to all living creatures and live a strict life. Ahimsa: is the Jain practice of nonviolence, has influenced many people in modern times, including Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Discussion Question Why was Buddhism popular with people of lower castes? The Buddha taught that a person’s life depended on the person, not the caste into which the person was born. He believed that a person could stop being reborn by following the Eightfold Path. This gave the lower caste people hope.