Chapter 3 Section 2 Notes

I. Hinduism Develops over Centuries

A. Upanishads are Hindu teaching that explain answers to life’s major questions

B. Brahman is the world soul that unites all atman (living beings)

C. Perfect understanding is called moksha

D. One life is not enough to understand the process so the idea of Reincarnation occurred

1. The rebirth of the soul over and over until moksha is understood

E. Dharma is the path of each caste (scoreboard)

F. Karma is the individual good and bad acts

G. gods of Hinduism

1. Brahma the creator

2. Vishnu the protector

3. Shiva the destroyer

H. Mahavira the founder of Janism believed everything had a soul

1. Promoted non violence

I. Concept of heaven in Hinduism is Brahman a spiritual world

II. The Buddha Seeks Enlightenment

A. Siddhartha Gautama born into royal family in Nepal

B. Even though born into royalty, he left his palace and family searching for religious truth

C. After sitting 49 days in meditation under a fig tree he found enlightenment or wisdom and became known as the Buddha

D. Four Noble Truths

1. Everything in life has suffering and sorrow

2. The cause of all suffering is people’s selfish desire for the temporary pleasure of the world

3.The way to end all suffering is to end desire

4. The way to overcome such desire and attain enlightenment is to follow the Eight Fold Path

a.Right View, Right Resolve, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration

E. Buddhism spread to China and Southeast Asia but was absorbed by Hinduism in India

F. Buddhism Spirit world is Nirvana

Stupas and Pagodas religious buildings