Chapter 3.2 & 7.2: Hinduism & Buddhism

Develop

I. Hinduism

A. Aryans invaded Indus and Ganges River valleys 1. Tribes 2. Rajah - leader of tribe 3. Herds - became sacred - ban on meat 4. Women - had rights - had say in marriage 5. No written language 6. Sanskrit - spoken lang.

B. Vedas 1. book of collected hymns

a. “Book of Knowledge” b. Became basis of Aryan religion & Hindu religion

C. The Caste System1. Strict and rigid ranking of

people2. Born into a group3. No intermarriage

4. Varna (Castes)a. Brahmins – priests; study and teach

Vedas, religious ceremoniesb. Kshatriyas - rulers and warriors; study

Veda, lead government, head army

c. Vaishyas – commoners, peasants, merchants, artisans, farmers, and traders

d. Shudras – unskilled laborers

e. Untouchables=Pariahsf. Today - very complex - 100s of

subdivisions

• Darma - duties to perform in each varna• Each jati has different darma• If do your darma have good karma

D. Polytheistic = worship of many gods 1. Gods:

a. Brahma - creator b. Vishnu - preserver c. Siva - destroyer

2. Priests performed rituals and sacrifices 3. Veda roots

Brahma = Creator

Vishnu = Preserver

Shiva = Destroyer

E. Upanishads1. Religious writings2. All creatures have souls3. Everything part of one eternal spirit4. Fasting and yoga5. Reincarnation - rebirth of the soul6. Karma - determines what cycle of rebirth – live a good life7. Ahimsa - non-violence8. Moksha - release from the suffering and pain of

rebirth

II. Changes in Hinduism (Ch. 7.2)A. By the Mauryan Empire people had

developed little contact with religionB. Religion became dominated by priestsC. Move toward monotheism to attract

people

D. Polytheistic, but three most important gods developed 1. Brahma, creator 2. Vishnu, preserver 3. Shiva, destroyer

Hindu Caste System

THE RISE OF BUDDHISM

I. The rise of Buddhism

A. Founder - Siddhartha Gautama 1. Born a prince 2. Left wealthy life to find reason for suffering to end 3. Searched for truth 4. Fasting and self denial 5. Gained enlightenment while meditatingB. Began preaching to others 1. called Buddha = enlightened one C. Sacred literature - Jatakas -1 BCE

"May all that havelife be delivered from

suffering” Gautama Buddha

D. 4 Noble Truths 1. All people suffer and know sorrow2. People suffer because desire binds them to the

cycle of rebirth3. End suffering by eliminating desires4. Eliminate desires by following eightfold path

E. The Eightfold Path

II. Buddhism A. Difficult b/c of self denial B. Bodhisattvas – becoming a Buddha C. Changed to mass religion - offered salvation D. Buddhism Split

1. Mahayana – new teachings 2. Theravada – old teachings

III. Buddhism split

A. Theravada = old teachings 1. Believe Buddha a teacher– 2. Simple – 3. South East Asia

B. Mahayana = new teachings 1. Buddha worshipped as a divine being and savior – 2. East Asia

IV. Buddhism A. Spread throughout Southeast Asia B. Buddhists built Stupas to hold relics

The End!