1. Chapter Three Section Two
World History
Chapter Three
Section Two

2. Hinduism and Buddhism Hinduism – no single founder
Came about from Aryans merging their religion with the Indus Civilization
Other peoples added their gods and goddesses
Hinduism became a complex mix of gods and goddesses

3. Beliefs
Everything is part of the all encompassing force of Brahman – supernatural force
Worship many gods
Most important: Brahma – creator, Vishnu – the Preserver, Shiva – the Destroyer
Can take many forms, animals or humans
Sacred texts – Vedas, Bhagavad-Gita

4. Moksha
Atman – essential self – could be a form of Brahman or the same as Brahman
Goal of Hindus is to reach Moksha – union with Brahman
Must free themselves from selfish desires that separate them from Brahman
Cannot achieve it in one life time – must be reincarnated
Reincarnation – rebirth of the soul in another bodily form – allows people to work towards moksha through several lives

5. Hinduism Can achieve moksha through obeying karma
Karma – all actions in a persons life that affect their fate in the next life
Humans are the closest to Brahman, then animals, plants, rocks, waters
Good and bad karma – earned in life
People are reborn in a higher or lower level

6. Dharma – religious and moral duties of a person
Ahimsa – nonviolence – everything is an aspect of Brahman and deserve to be respected

7. Jainism
Mahavira – founded Jainism – grew out of Hinduism and is still around today
Emphasizes meditation, self denial, and extreme forms of ahimsa
To avoid killing living things, even an insect they carry brooms to sweep the ground

8. Caste Systems
Caste – social system in which people are born into a group and rarely can move out
Caste told people what they could do, where they could go, what they could eat, how to dress
Could not marry or eat with anyone outside of your caste
High-caste people had rules in place so they would not have to be around lower class people

9. Untouchables
Today called dalits – life was hard and restrictive, feared they could get polluted from them
Had to use a wooden clapper to warn of their approach

10. Social Orders Caste system ensured social stability
If they fulfill their duties in present caste, they will come back to a higher level
Gave people identity and independence
Each caste had its own leader
Over time additional castes developed as new people came to the subcontinent
Thousands of castes and subcastes

11. Buddhism Siddharta Guatama – religious reformer
Teachings spread across Asia and became beliefs for Buddhism
He was a prince, mother had a dream, interpreted that he would become a wandering holy man
To prevent this, he was kept in a palace and never let outside

12. Buddhism At age 29 his life changed
Went beyond the palace walls and saw an old man, a sick man, and a dead body – he became aware of human suffering
Was deeply disturbed and left family
Wandered for years seeking truth from Hindu holy men who could not satisfy him
Sat next to tree and sat there until he understood the meaning of life
Throughout the night he was tempted by evil spirits to give up meditating but he fended them off
When he rose, he understood the cause and cure for suffering and sorrow = became Buddha

13. Buddhism Four Noble Truths – Heart of Buddhism
1: All life is full of suffering, pain, sorrow
2: The cause of suffering is nonvirtue, or negative deeds and mindsets such as hatred and desire
3: The only cure for suffering is to overcome nonvirtue
4: The way to overcome nonvirtue is to follow the Eightfold Path

14. Buddhism
Eightfold Path – right views, right aspirations, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right contemplation
Final goal is Nirvana – union with the universe and release from the cycle of rebirth

15. Comparing Buddhism and Hinduism
Buddhism came from Hinduism
Both stress non-violence and believed in Karma, dharma, and cycle of rebirth
Differences:
Hinduism focused on priests, rituals and gods
Buddhism focused on enlightenment through meditation
Also rejected the caste system – offering nirvana to all

16. Spread of Buddhism
Buddha gained many followers across India while he preached
Some who accepted Buddha’s teachings set up monasteries and convents for meditation and study

17. Collecting Buddha Teachings
At age 80 Buddha ate spoiled food and died
Before he did he said “Decay is inherent in all things”
Followers collected his teachings in the Tripitaka “Three Baskets of Freedom”
Overcome anger not by becoming angry.
Overcome evil with good.
Overcome the liar by the truth.

18. Buddhism Spreads Missionaries and traders spread Buddhism
Split into two sects (subgroups):
1: Theravada Buddhism – followed Buddha's original teachings. Required life devoted to spiritual work. Only most dedicated, monks and nuns, could hope to reach nirvana
2: Mahayana Buddhism: easier for ordinary people, picture Buddha as a god even though he said not to worship him. Believe in an afterlife with many heavens and hells – spread to China, Korea, Tibet and Japan

19. Buddhism Declines in India
Slowly declined in India
Hinduism absorbed some Buddhism teachings
Included Buddha as another Hindu god
Some Buddhist centers in India survived until 1100’s A.D. until they fell to invading Muslim armies