World Religions

RELIGIONS OF ANCIENT INDIAHINDUISMBUDDHISM

JAINISM

Hinduism One of the world’s oldest religions

Has no founder, evolved over thousands of years and was influenced by many cultures

Practiced in ancient India by the Aryans

Religious beliefs of the Hindus are found in the Vedas, a collection of hymns and religious ceremonies

Beliefs

Polytheistic, belief in the caste system

Brahman – single force, external being that created and preserves the world, a form of ultimate reality

Every person has an atman, or soul, that is an aspect of Brahman A person’s atman shapes their personality and

cannot be destroyed by death The duty of the atman I to seek to know this

ultimate reality called Brahman Devas = various manifestations of Brahman, are

active in the world Many Hindus recognize three devas:

Brahma the Creator Vishnu the Preserver Siva the Destroyer There are thousands of devas

Continual pattern of birth, death, and rebirth At death the atman is released from the body

and later reborn in another Called reincarnation = belief that the individual soul

is reborn into a new form after death The nature of the person’s new life will be shaped

by their karma Karma = force generated by a person’s actions

that determines how the person will be reborn in the next life good karma = reborn into a higher caste bad karma = reborn into a lower caste

Gave religious basis for the rigid caste system and gave hope to the lower castes

The ultimate goal of human existence is achieve moksha Moksha = escape or release from the cycle of rebirth Atman leaves the world and reunites with Brahman –

Hindus work toward achieving this The way to achieve moksha is to fulfill one’s dharma

Dharma = (divine law) a person’s spiritual duties and obligations which they must follow to achieve liberation

Various depending on status and caste Fulfilling dharma allows a person to create good

karma Yoga = (union) method of training designed to lead to

the union Helps people meditate by practicing a series of

integrated physical and mental exercises

Make a pilgrimage to a holy location

Pilgrimage = religious journey

For Hindus one of the most holy places they want to visit in their lifetime is the Ganges river, believe that the water is holy

Believe that bathing in the Ganges will purify and remove some bad karma

Buddhism Founded in the 6th century BC by Siddartha Gautama

Later took the name of Buddha, which means “Enlightened One”

Prince who left home and wandered the land looking for answers and enlightenment

His goal was to seek the cure for human suffering

Resolved to find a way to overcome age and sickness to keep people from having to suffer

• Decided one must deny the reality of the material world

– Pain, poverty, and sorrow are caused by attachments to things of this world

– Once you let go of worldly cares, pain and sorrow can be forgotten and wisdom can be achieved (bodhi)

• Achieving wisdom is a key step to achieving nirvana

– Nirvana = end of self and reunion with the Great World Soul

– A state of perfect peace in which the soul will be free from suffering

Four Noble Truths 1. Ordinary life is full of suffering 2. This suffering is caused by

our desire to satisfy ourselves with pleasure and material goods 3. Overcoming these desires during life eventually brings suffering to an end

4. The way to end desire is to follow the Eightfold Path

Eightfold Path = a series of steps that leads to Enlightenment Right view Right livelihood

Right attitude Right effort

Right speech Right mindfulness

Right action Right concentration

• Can also be expressed as the Middle Way, which advises people to live in moderation in the search for nirvana

Other beliefs

Believe in reincarnation

Do not believe in the caste system

Do not worship any gods, Buddha forbade followers to worship his image

Spread of Buddhism

Starts out in India, but loses popularity to Islam

Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, Korea, Japan, and Sri Lanka

HINDUISM BUDDHISM

Founded By

Major Goal

Main Religious Teachings

Polytheistic or Monotheistic

Belief in Reincarnation?

Belief in Caste System?

Started Where