1. Religious Traditions of India

2. Basic Hindu Beliefs No founder or formal church Roots lie in ancient Aryan beliefs Beliefs and practices have changed over 1000’s of years.

3. Sacred Texts Vedas Contain eternal truths revealed to wise men Upanishads Help explain the Vedas Written ideas also appear in law codes and epics

4. Concept of Higher Power Hindus worship thousands of gods All part of single supreme force called Brahman Nameless, formless, unlimited 3 major gods Brahma-Creator Vishnu-Preserver Siva-Destroter All manifest differently and varying forms worshipped throughout sects in India

5. Brahma

6. Vishnu

7. Siva

8. Life after Death Ultimate Goal: Be restored to universal soul, Moksha (Nirvana) Each Individual is a piece of that soul, Atman Atman=Brahman Reincarnation = Vehicle for this Influenced by: Karma-deeds

9. The Caste System Aryan control or based on occupation? Establishes order for society Each caste has its own duties and obligations, Dharma

10. Buddhism Started by Prince Siddharta Gautama Abandoned his wealth and set out to find cause of human suffering Claimed to have achieved “enlightenment” and became known as the Buddha

11. Buddha’s Teachings 4 Noble Truths: Suffering is universal The cause of suffering is desire To end suffering we must crush desire Then we can achieve Nirvana To end desire follow the Noble eightfold path Based on: understanding causes of suffering Compassion for all creatures Kindness Truthfulness

12. How was Buddha Different form other Hindus? Considered himself a Hindu Believed in karma and reincarnation Denied the existence of any gods Priests not necessary Rejected the caste sysytem

13. Spread of Buddhism Developed many followers Created monasteries and convents devoted to Eightfold path Teachings written down some time after his death in the Three Baskets of Wisdom Spread quickly throughout South Asia and into other parts of Asia Ideas were adapted to suit needs of converts

14. Sects of Buddhism Two Major Sects: Theravada Stress importance of monastic life Buddha a teacher not a god Spread to Ceylon, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand Mahayana Worships Buddha and other enlightened ones as gods Spread to China, Tibet, Japan, Korea

15. Other Religious Traditions Jainism Founded by Mahavira Similar to Buddhism Practice nonviolence Harm no living creature Islam Brought by Mongols Sikhism Created to end violence between Hindus and Muslims in 1500’s Led by Nanak