Hinduism and BuddhismHinduism and BuddhismEQ:EQ:

1.What are the main beliefs of 1.What are the main beliefs of Hinduism?Hinduism?

2. What are the main beliefs of 2. What are the main beliefs of Buddhism?Buddhism?

HinduismHinduism – – Background InformationBackground Information

Hinduism is a Hinduism is a polytheisticpolytheistic religion religion that started in India.that started in India.

Sacred Texts: Sacred Texts: Vedas, Ramayana, Vedas, Ramayana, Bhagavad-GitaBhagavad-Gita

There is There is no single founderno single founder of the of the religion. religion. – Hindu beliefs are a combination of the Hindu beliefs are a combination of the

beliefs of the early Indus Valley peoples beliefs of the early Indus Valley peoples and the Aryans. and the Aryans.

Hindu GodsHindu Gods

PolytheisticPolytheistic: Hindus : Hindus believe in many gods; believe in many gods; gods can be in many gods can be in many forms, including forms, including animals and humans;animals and humans;

BrahmaBrahma - the Creator - the Creator VishnuVishnu - the Preserver - the Preserver ShivaShiva - the Destroyer - the Destroyer

Main Beliefs of HinduismMain Beliefs of Hinduism ReincarnationReincarnation: : after death, after death,

souls are reborn into another souls are reborn into another form; reincarnation is form; reincarnation is determined by karma and determined by karma and dharma;dharma;

AhimsaAhimsa: moral principle of : moral principle of nonviolence; Hindus believe nonviolence; Hindus believe that all things are aspects of that all things are aspects of brahman, therefore they brahman, therefore they should be respected;should be respected;

Main Beliefs of HinduismMain Beliefs of Hinduism KarmaKarma: all the actions of a : all the actions of a

person's life that affects his person's life that affects his or her fate in the next life;or her fate in the next life;

– People who earn a good People who earn a good

karma are reborn at a karma are reborn at a higher level of existence;higher level of existence;

DharmaDharma: the religious and : the religious and moral duties of an moral duties of an individual; duties vary individual; duties vary according to class, according to class, occupation, gender or age;occupation, gender or age;

– by obeying one's by obeying one's dharma, a person dharma, a person acquires merit for the acquires merit for the nextnext lifelife

Karma = actionsKarma = actionsDharma = dutiesDharma = duties

If you obey your dharma and If you obey your dharma and have good karma you will be have good karma you will be reincarnated to achieve moksha.reincarnated to achieve moksha.

How does the caste system How does the caste system influence Hindu beliefs?influence Hindu beliefs?

Caste SystemCaste System = = social classes social classes into which you into which you are born and are born and cannot change;cannot change;

– after death, after death, Hindus hope to Hindus hope to be reincarnated be reincarnated into a higher into a higher caste;caste;

– each caste has its each caste has its own dharma;own dharma;

Sacred Animals / RiversSacred Animals / Rivers::

cows, elephants cows, elephants and other and other animals are animals are viewed as viewed as sacred; the sacred; the Ganges River is Ganges River is the most sacred the most sacred river to Hindus;river to Hindus;

BuddhismBuddhism – – Background InformationBackground Information

Buddhism started in Buddhism started in IndiaIndia by the “Buddha,” or by the “Buddha,” or Siddartha GautamaSiddartha Gautama

FounderFounder: Siddartha : Siddartha Gautama = an Indian Gautama = an Indian prince who sought to prince who sought to eliminate suffering and eliminate suffering and devoted his life to devoted his life to achieving nirvana;achieving nirvana;

Main Beliefs of BuddhismMain Beliefs of Buddhism

KarmaKarma

DharmaDharma

ReincarnationReincarnation

Buddhists believe Buddhists believe in NO GODS; in NO GODS;

– the Buddha was the Buddha was not normally not normally viewed as a god;viewed as a god;

Main Beliefs of BuddhismMain Beliefs of Buddhism Eightfold Path / Eightfold Path /

Middle WayMiddle Way

““the right way;” the right way;” making the making the right decisions, right decisions, actions, effort, actions, effort, etc.etc.

Main Beliefs of BuddhismMain Beliefs of Buddhism Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths = = Life is full of Life is full of

sufferingsuffering Suffering is caused Suffering is caused

by desireby desire Eliminate suffering Eliminate suffering

by eliminating desireby eliminating desire Eliminate desire by Eliminate desire by

following the following the Eightfold Path / Eightfold Path / Middle WayMiddle Way

Main Beliefs of BuddhismMain Beliefs of Buddhism Buddhists do not Buddhists do not

believe in the caste believe in the caste systemsystem; Buddhists ; Buddhists believe that anyone, at believe that anyone, at any time, can achieve any time, can achieve nirvana;nirvana;

NirvanaNirvana = the goal of = the goal of every Buddhist; spiritual every Buddhist; spiritual enlightenment;enlightenment;

Ahimsa = NON-Ahimsa = NON-VIOLENCEVIOLENCE

Spread of BuddhismSpread of Buddhism

Exit TicketExit Ticket

Identify TWO DIFFERENCES in beliefs Identify TWO DIFFERENCES in beliefs between Hinduism & Buddhismbetween Hinduism & Buddhism