1. Hinduism & Buddhism
SSWH2.B

2. Founder / Origins Not founded by any one person 750 – 550 BCE:
Hinduism
Buddhism
Not founded by any one person
750 – 550 BCE:
First step in development of Hinduism = Teachers began to interpret hymns from the Vedas
Founded by Siddhartha
Later called the “Buddha”
“The enlightened one”
Circa 600 BCE

3. Key Beliefs Four Noble Truths: “Moksha”
Hinduism
Buddhism
“Moksha”
A state of perfect understanding of all things
Souls are reincarnated until they reach moksha
“Karma”
A soul’s good or bad deeds follow it from one life to the next.
Good karma = birth into a good caste, good health, etc.
Four Noble Truths:
1 – Life is filled with suffering
2 – Suffering is caused by desire for pleasure
3 – The way to end suffering is to end desire
4 – The way to end desire is to follow the “middle path”

4. Major Gods No “gods” Goal is to reach “Nirvana” Brahma – creator god
Hinduism
Buddhism
Brahma – creator god
Vishnu – protector god
Shiva – destroyer god
Devi – mother goddess
Many other gods (all seen as incarnations of Brahma)
Eventually, Hindus saw Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu
No “gods”
Goal is to reach “Nirvana”
The release from selfishness and pain

5. Sacred Writings Vedas Upanishads
Hinduism
Buddhism
Vedas
Upanishads
Writings of teachers who interpreted hymns from the Vedas
There is not a single text that all Buddhists follow.
The “Vinaya Pitaka” - recognized by many Buddhists as sacred
“Jatakas” – legends about Buddha’s previous incarnations

6. Effect on Society Strengthened the traditional caste system
Hinduism
Buddhism
Strengthened the traditional caste system
Only members of the higher caste levels could achieve moksha in their present life
Rejected the traditional caste system
Many people out of the lower classes followed Buddha

7. Modern-Day Traditions
Hinduism
Buddhism
Followers are free to choose which gods to worship or may choose to follow none of them
3 paths to moksha:
Right thinking
Right action
Religious devotion
Buddhism continues to be practiced by Monks who swear oaths of poverty, non-violence, and celibacy.
Hinduism absorbed many Buddhist beliefs

8. The Spread of Buddhism
SSWH2.B

9. Buddhist Population by Nation

10. Hinduism Dominated India
Hinduism eventually recognized Buddha as one of the ten incarnations of their god Vishnu.
As a result Hindus who liked the Buddha’s teaching saw no need to convert to Buddhism.

11. Buddhism Spreads Through Asia
The ideas and teachings of Buddhism spread from India along the trade routes developed during the “golden age” of the Gupta Empire.
Most important trade route = The Silk Road