BELIEFS, TRADITIONS, AND TEACHINGS OF THE WORLD’S OLDEST PRACTICING RELIGIONS

The Religions of South Asia

Caste System

Caste System

Aka-Dalits

and landowners

Using Popular Culture to Understand

Judge Judy

Brahman

Kshatriya: Merchant

Johnny Depp owns an island in the Bahamas

Vaisyas: Merchants

Billy Mays used to sell Oxy-Clean (RIP)

Sudra

Will Ferrell as Ricky Bobby in “Talladega Nights”

Untouchables

Mike Rowe, “Dirty Jobs”

Hinduism in India

Where did it come from?

** Oldest World Religion Practiced Today, around 900

million followers**

Basic Hindu Practices

One is born a Hindu-you cannot convert

AhimsaBelief in nonviolenceForbids killing, even

for food

Sacred Sound “Om”

Death Cremation occurs

followed by 12 days of prayer

The deceased’s ashes are put into the Ganges River

Religious Tolerance- Extremely tolerant of other religions.

Hindu Practices

Cows are sacred NOT worshipped! Hands

Fingers of the right hand are used to eat

Left hand is considered unclean

Many Hindus are Vegetarians

Hindu Beliefs

Samsara or Reincarnation

KarmaGood and bad

deeds

Ultimate Goal: MokshaGain salvation when your

soul merges with god

                           

My Name is Earl-NBC

Holy Books** written in Sanskrit

**

Monotheism vs. Polytheism

Hindus believe that one God, Braman, takes many forms—it is monotheistic AND polytheistic in nature.

The Hindu Trinity: 3 Main ‘Gods’

The Hindu Trinity: 3 Main ‘Gods’

The Hindu Trinity: 3 Main ‘Gods’

Sadhus/Holy Men

Buddhism

A way of life

Buddhism: The “middle way of wisdom & compassion”

A 2500 year old tradition that began in India and spread and diversified throughout the Far East

A philosophy, religion, and spiritual practice followed by more than 360 million people

Based on the teachings of the Buddha

“The Jewels of Buddhism”

Who is the Buddha?(A Brief Background—do not write all of this

down!)

Born Siddhartha Gautama – of noble caste in India, 563 B.C.E.

Raised in great luxury to be a kingEmpathy for the suffering of others; at age 29

rejected the life of luxury to seek enlightenment and the solution to suffering

Followed a strict ascetic lifestyle for six yearsRejected this extreme, sat in meditation, achieved

Nirvana – an awakening to the truth about life, becoming a Buddha, the “Awakened One”at the age of 35

Spent the remaining 45 years of his life teaching others how to achieve the peace of mind he had achieved

What did the Buddha teach?

The Four Noble Truths:To live is to suffer (suffering =

inevitable)The cause of suffering is self-centered

desire & attachmentsThe solution is to eliminate desire and

attachment, thus achieving Nirvana (“extinction”)

The way to Nirvana is through the “Eight-Fold Path”

How does Buddhism differ from Hinduism?

Buddhism rejects…Authority of the ancient Vedic textsThe Vedic caste systemThe Vedic and Hindu deitiesThe efficacy of Vedic worship and

ritualThe concept of Brahman

What do Buddhists believe?

Rebirth (reincarnation) results from attachments (karma)

Nirvana is a peaceful, detached state of mind (THE MAIN GOAL OF BUDDHISM)

Achieving Nirvana means escape from the cycle of rebirth

Once Gautama Buddha died, after 80 years of life in this world, having achieved Nirvana and teaching multitudes his way of life, he ceased to exist as a distinct being

Buddhism is non-theistic: Buddha is not the Buddhist God – he is just a revered teacher

Jainism

The Basics

At least 2500+ years old, began in India4.5-7.5 million followersSeeks to release the soul from the round

of rebirth, to liberate spirit from matterAhimsa – non-violence – is the hallmark of

this spiritual disciplineNo creator god

The History

Began in India with 24 teachers, called “Tirthankaras”

One of the world’s oldest religions—2,500 years??

Last teacher: Mahavira Reformed ancient Jainism in his lifetime (599-

527 BCE)

The goal of Jainism is to become a conqueror (Jina), or an enlightened being who has conquered material existence & released the soul from reincarnation/rebirth

Beliefs

ALL living things contain soul & are considered JIVA (soul trapped in matter) humans, plants, animals, water, fire, air beings

Belief in KARMA Moksha (no rebirth!)How to achieve moksha

Non-violence (ahimsa) to any & all life forms Non-attachment Non-hatred Asceticism

Many gods & humans (gods as self-realized humans??)

They also take Five Vows!

Strict non-violence (ahimsa!)TruthfulnessNo stealingChastity & CelibacyAscetic Lifestyle (living in poverty—no

worldly goods!)

“Ek Onkar” : “There is only one God”

Sikhism

The Ten Gurus/teachers of Sikhism

What is it?

500-year-old, monotheistic religion found in NW India **One of the world’s YOUNGEST religions!**

~25 million followersFounded by Guru Nanak Dev around 1500AD

Nanak: unifying message uniting Hindu & Muslim in common devotion to same God

Spirit of the Guru (Nanak) lived on for 200 years through a succession of human gurus (teachers), who wrote Book of God

Last HUMAN guru established the text, known as “Guru Granth Sahib” as the final and “forever” Guru

Beliefs

Belief in ONE God, shared by all religions Name is “Truth!”

Equality in all human beings; rejects caste system

Karma & reincarnationRejects asceticismNo rituals, idols, or icons—simple,

heartfelt devotion to God

Practices: The Five “K’s”

Do not cut hair (men & women) [Kesh] Men wear turbans to cover hair (Keshki) Men have beard & mustache that are only trimmed

Keep a comb to keep the hair clean & presentable (Kanga)

Steel bracelet worn on right wrist (Kara)Wear white: Chastity until marriage, purity

(Kachh/Kachera)Carry dagger as symbol to protect weak (Kirpan)

Way of Life

Meditation & personal prayer morning and eveningHonest & hard workCharityService to humanity, God & guruStrong family valuesStrong identity with Sikh communitySome abstain from smoking, drinking & illegal

drugs

Prohibited Behavior

Cannot drink, smokeNo superstitions & rituals (fasting, pilgrimage,

etc.)Do NOT get attached to worldly itemsNo sacrifice of animals or peopleCannot live as a reculse, beggar, be a nun

(“non-family oriented living” is prohibited)Cannot brag, lie, gossipNo hierarchy of people—EVERYONE IS EQUAL!!