Roots of Hinduism Roots of Hinduism and Buddhismand Buddhism

Chapter 2Chapter 2

Section 2Section 2

Page 62Page 62

Some Background Some Background Knowledge…Knowledge…

Migrating people from the steppes are called Migrating people from the steppes are called Indo- EuropeansIndo- Europeans

The steppes are dry grasslands in AsiaThe steppes are dry grasslands in Asia These people were nomads who herded cattle, These people were nomads who herded cattle,

sheep and goatssheep and goats Indo-Europeans lived in tribes and spoke own Indo-Europeans lived in tribes and spoke own

languageslanguages These languages are the roots of many These languages are the roots of many

languages spoken todaylanguages spoken today

Aryans In IndiaAryans In India

One group of Indo-One group of Indo-Europeans were the Europeans were the AryansAryans

They crossed over They crossed over northwest mountains northwest mountains passes into the Indus River passes into the Indus River Valley of IndiaValley of India

The Aryans (meaning “the The Aryans (meaning “the nobles” in their native nobles” in their native language) called people in language) called people in India dasas (meaning India dasas (meaning “dark”) because of the “dark”) because of the color of their skincolor of their skin

Blending ReligionsBlending Religions

At first, the Aryans and non-Aryans followed At first, the Aryans and non-Aryans followed own forms of religionown forms of religion

As the two groups intermingled, the gods and As the two groups intermingled, the gods and forms of their religion started to blend togetherforms of their religion started to blend together

Blending resulted in the worship of thousands Blending resulted in the worship of thousands of godsof gods

Different ways of living and beliefs would make Different ways of living and beliefs would make life complicated for both groupslife complicated for both groups

Hinduism Develops Over Hinduism Develops Over CenturiesCenturies

A collection of beliefs developed over a A collection of beliefs developed over a long period of timelong period of time

Scholars have tried to organize the many Scholars have tried to organize the many popular cults, gods, and traditions into popular cults, gods, and traditions into one big system of beliefone big system of belief

Difficult task because Hinduism can’t be Difficult task because Hinduism can’t be traced to one founder like in Christianity traced to one founder like in Christianity or Islam.or Islam.

Origins and BeliefsOrigins and Beliefs Hindus see religion as a way of liberating Hindus see religion as a way of liberating

the soul of everyday disappointments the soul of everyday disappointments and mistakesand mistakes

Between 750 and 550 B.C. Hindu Between 750 and 550 B.C. Hindu teachers tried to explain the hidden teachers tried to explain the hidden meaning of Vedic (sacred book) hymnsmeaning of Vedic (sacred book) hymns

The dialogues between Hindu teacher The dialogues between Hindu teacher and student were later written down and and student were later written down and became known as the Upanishadsbecame known as the Upanishads

The UpanishadsThe Upanishads

The teacher and student explore how a person The teacher and student explore how a person can be liberated from suffering and desirescan be liberated from suffering and desires

This is described as moksha- a state of perfect This is described as moksha- a state of perfect understanding of all thingsunderstanding of all things

This understanding doesn’t come in one This understanding doesn’t come in one lifetime, usually through reincarnationlifetime, usually through reincarnation

A soul’s karma (good or bad deed’s) follow’s A soul’s karma (good or bad deed’s) follow’s through all lifetimesthrough all lifetimes

Hinduism and ChangesHinduism and Changes

Over the last 2500 years, Hindus have Over the last 2500 years, Hindus have worshiped many godsworshiped many gods

Today, Hindus may choose the deity (supreme Today, Hindus may choose the deity (supreme being) they wish to worship, or choose none at being) they wish to worship, or choose none at allall

They are also free to choose the path of They are also free to choose the path of moksha through either:moksha through either: the path of right thinking, the path of right thinking, path of right actionpath of right action path of religious devotionpath of religious devotion

Holy Cow!Holy Cow!

In Hinduism, the cow is a symbolIn Hinduism, the cow is a symbol

of wealth, strength, abundance,of wealth, strength, abundance,

selfless giving and a full Earthly lifeselfless giving and a full Earthly life

Today, in Hindu-majority countries like India and Today, in Hindu-majority countries like India and Nepal, bovine milk holds a key part of religious Nepal, bovine milk holds a key part of religious rituals. For some, it is customary to boil milk on rituals. For some, it is customary to boil milk on a stove or lead a cow through the house as a stove or lead a cow through the house as part of a housewarming ceremony. In honor of part of a housewarming ceremony. In honor of their exalted status, cows often roam free, their exalted status, cows often roam free, even along (and in) busy streets in major cities even along (and in) busy streets in major cities such as Delhi. In some places, it is considered such as Delhi. In some places, it is considered good luck to give one a snack, or fruit before good luck to give one a snack, or fruit before breakfast. In places where there is a ban on breakfast. In places where there is a ban on cow slaughter, a person can be jailed for killing cow slaughter, a person can be jailed for killing or injuring a cow.or injuring a cow.

In the US children think that they can grow up In the US children think that they can grow up to become anyone they want-firefighter, brain to become anyone they want-firefighter, brain surgeon, teacher, rappersurgeon, teacher, rapper

Under the ancient caste system in India, Under the ancient caste system in India, people were born into strict social positions people were born into strict social positions called castescalled castes

Their children belonged to the same social Their children belonged to the same social class class

Under the caste system, parents knew the Under the caste system, parents knew the jobs their kids would hold even before the jobs their kids would hold even before the kids were born. kids were born.

The Caste SystemThe Caste System

According to the Hindu religion, society should be divided into four broad classes called VARNAS.

A person had the same varna that his or her parents had. And he or she had it from birth to death — there was no way to change it.

Hindus did not question the varna system. It was simply considered a part of the way the universe works.

Hindus rank the four Hindus rank the four varnasvarnas from highest from highest to lowest. In to lowest. In descending order of descending order of importance and importance and prestige, they are the prestige, they are the BRAHMINBRAHMIN, the , the KSHATRIYAKSHATRIYA, the , the VAISYAVAISYA, and the , and the SUDRASUDRA. .

The UntouchablesThe Untouchables There is a fifth major class in Hinduism, but it is There is a fifth major class in Hinduism, but it is

considered so low that it doesn't even qualify considered so low that it doesn't even qualify as a as a varnavarna. .

Most people call it the "Most people call it the "UNTOUCHABLEUNTOUCHABLE" class " class because its members are forbidden to touch because its members are forbidden to touch anyone who belongs to one of the four anyone who belongs to one of the four varnasvarnas. .

If a Brahmin priest touches an untouchable, he If a Brahmin priest touches an untouchable, he or she must go through a ritual in which the or she must go through a ritual in which the pollution is washed away. pollution is washed away.

"The ‘untouchable’ in India was not only low in "The ‘untouchable’ in India was not only low in occupational and other privileges, but was occupational and other privileges, but was considered unclean in the eyes of the considered unclean in the eyes of the intermediate and higher caste. intermediate and higher caste.

New ReligionsNew Religions

During this period of speculation, two During this period of speculation, two new religions arise: Jainism and new religions arise: Jainism and BuddhismBuddhism

JainismJainism Jains believed everything Jains believed everything

in the universe has a soul in the universe has a soul and should not be and should not be harmedharmed

Jains swept ants out of Jains swept ants out of their path and wore their path and wore masks so they wouldn’t masks so they wouldn’t accidently inhale any accidently inhale any insects, thus killing theminsects, thus killing them

Jains have a tradition in Jains have a tradition in working in the trades or working in the trades or commerce to avoid commerce to avoid violenceviolence

BuddhismBuddhism

Siddhartha Gautama- founder of Buddhism- Siddhartha Gautama- founder of Buddhism- was born into a noble familywas born into a noble family

Growing up he had markings of a great man, Growing up he had markings of a great man, such as webbed toes and fingers and a such as webbed toes and fingers and a unibrowunibrow

To ensure greatness, his father followed To ensure greatness, his father followed prophesy and kept him inside, and he was only prophesy and kept him inside, and he was only allowed to leave his palace four timesallowed to leave his palace four times

Siddhartha always wondered about the world Siddhartha always wondered about the world outsideoutside

Siddhartha decided to spend life Siddhartha decided to spend life searching for religious truth and an end searching for religious truth and an end to sufferingto suffering

Wandered through the forests of India Wandered through the forests of India for six years seeking enlightenmentfor six years seeking enlightenment

He meditated under a large fig tree for He meditated under a large fig tree for 49 days 49 days

He achieved an understanding of the He achieved an understanding of the cause of suffering in the worldcause of suffering in the world

From then on, he was known as the From then on, he was known as the Buddha, meaning “the enlightened one”Buddha, meaning “the enlightened one”

Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths

Anyone could reach nirvana- the Buddha’s Anyone could reach nirvana- the Buddha’s word for release from selfishness and pain, by word for release from selfishness and pain, by following the Eightfold Pathfollowing the Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path was like a staircase, and The Eightfold Path was like a staircase, and those seeking enlightenment had top master those seeking enlightenment had top master one step at a timeone step at a time

This was the Fourth Noble TruthThis was the Fourth Noble Truth

*What are the Four Noble Truths? Go to page 64*What are the Four Noble Truths? Go to page 64

The Religious CommunityThe Religious Community

Sangha refers to the entire religious communitySangha refers to the entire religious community The sangha, the Buddha and the dharma The sangha, the Buddha and the dharma

(Buddhist law) make up the “Three Jewels” of (Buddhist law) make up the “Three Jewels” of BuddhismBuddhism

Every day, Buddhists around the world Every day, Buddhists around the world recognize the importance of the Three Jewels recognize the importance of the Three Jewels of their faith by declaring “I take refuge in the of their faith by declaring “I take refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in the law. I take refuge Buddha. I take refuge in the law. I take refuge in the community.in the community.

Many of Buddha's early followers were the Many of Buddha's early followers were the ‘untouchable’s’ because Buddha rejected the ‘untouchable’s’ because Buddha rejected the idea of a caste systemidea of a caste system

He allowed woman into religious orders, but He allowed woman into religious orders, but was worried about the distraction it would was worried about the distraction it would cause for the mencause for the men

Monks and nuns took vows to live a life of Monks and nuns took vows to live a life of poverty and never marrypoverty and never marry

They wandered throughout India, spreading They wandered throughout India, spreading Buddha’s messagesBuddha’s messages

The teachings of Buddha were written down The teachings of Buddha were written down after his deathafter his death

As Buddhism spread throughout parts of As Buddhism spread throughout parts of Asia, ironically it didn’t gain strength in Asia, ironically it didn’t gain strength in India, where it originatedIndia, where it originated

One theory is Hinduism absorbed One theory is Hinduism absorbed BuddhismBuddhism

The two religions constantly influenced The two religions constantly influenced each othereach other

India has always been an important place India has always been an important place for pilgrimages for Buddhistsfor pilgrimages for Buddhists

Even today, Buddhists flock to places Even today, Buddhists flock to places associated with the Buddha’s lifeassociated with the Buddha’s life

The pilgrims circle around a sacred The pilgrims circle around a sacred object moving in clockwise directionobject moving in clockwise direction

They also lie face down leaving flowersThey also lie face down leaving flowers These three signs: circling a shrine, lying These three signs: circling a shrine, lying

face down as a sign of humility, and face down as a sign of humility, and offering flowers are important rituals in offering flowers are important rituals in Buddhist worshipBuddhist worship

TradeTrade

Even though missionaries successfully spread Even though missionaries successfully spread Buddhism, it was traders who carried the Buddhism, it was traders who carried the message of Buddhism past South East Asia message of Buddhism past South East Asia through trade routesthrough trade routes

Throughout history, trade has been a powerful Throughout history, trade has been a powerful force of spreading ideasforce of spreading ideas

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