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Hinduism. Origin of Hinduism . Oldest Practiced Religion in World 3000 BC Indus Valley City of Mohenjo-Daro. History of Hinduism. City-state of Mohenjo-Daro invaded by the Aryans in 1600BC. Religion a mixture of Indus and Aryan assimilation. The Majority of Hindu Population…. India.
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Origin of Hinduism • Oldest Practiced Religion in World • 3000 BC Indus Valley • City of Mohenjo-Daro
History of Hinduism • City-state of Mohenjo-Daro invaded by the Aryans in 1600BC. • Religion a mixture of Indus and Aryan assimilation
Hindu Beliefs • Ahimsa-- All life is sacred—cow • Reincarnation—Caste System “soul lives after death” • cycle=death and rebirth after life • Dharma—behavior expected of your particular caste • Karma—all good and bad deeds • Nirvana—eternal, timeless state
Caste The caste system is not described in the Hindu scripture. The system was originally devised to create an understandable division of labor and identify different groups of people. The Kshatriya are members of the warrior caste. Their lifetime goal is to serve as protector to their people.
Hindu Beliefs • Hindus believe in a single Divinity or supreme God that is present in everything called Brahman. (Pantheism) • Hindus also believe in other aspects of that supreme God such as Shiva, Shakti, and Ganesh. • Other religions see Hindus as polytheistic.
Hindu Life Goals • Hinduism is about the sort of life one should lead in order to be born into a better life next time and ultimately achieve liberation from the cycle or rebirth. There are 4 legitimate goals in life: • dharma (appropriate living) • artha (the pursuit of material gain by lawful means) • kama (delight of the senses) • moksha (release from rebirth).
Karma and Reincarnation • Reincarnation: Belief that the soul repeatedly goes through a cycle of being born into a body, dying, and being reborn again in a new body. • Karma: force that determines the quality of each life, depending on how well one behaved in a past life. • Hinduism: says we create karma by our actions on earth. If you live a good life, you create good karma. If you live a bad life, you create bad karma.
Moksha- The goal of Hinduism • Each time a Hindu soul is born into a better life, it has the opportunity to improve itself further, and get closer to ultimate liberation. • This liberation is called Moksha. • One attains Moksha when one has "overcome ignorance", and no longer desires anything at all. • The ones who reach this state no longer struggle with the cycle of life and death. • The way to get to Moksha is to not create any negative karma.
Sacred Writings • The Vedas collections of Sanskrit hymns (written down 1200-900BCE, but based on older oral versions). • The Upanishads which means the inner or mystic teaching that were passed down from guru (teacher) to disciple (student).
Mahabharata-Written between 300 BC and AD. 300 • Mahabharata, Sanskrit for Great Story, is one of the great epic poems of ancient India. • The story is about the battle of one family over a kingdom in northern India. • The Bhagavad Gita (Song of God) is contained in the Mahabharata. It is dialogue between Krishna and the hero Arjuna on the meaning of life.
Hindu Duties • Each Hindu has 4 daily duties: • Revere the deities • Respect ancestors • Respect all beings • Honor all humankind
And we too are manifest forms of God! “We are not human beingshaving spiritual experiences;We are spiritual beingshaving a human experience!” “That art Thou” Hinduism is about recognizing the all pervasiveness of the divine
All these deities are but Manifest forms (attributes and functions) of the impersonal Brahman
Adapted from a format originaly created by Ms. Susan M. Pojer, Horace Greeley Hs Chappaqua, NY Buddhism
Buddhism in the Subcontinent
The essence of Buddhism • The “middle way of wisdom and compassion.” • 2,500 year old tradition. • The 3 jewels of Buddhism: • Buddha, the teacher. • Dharma, the teachings. • Sangha, the community.
Siddhartha Gautama(563-483 BCE) • Born in NE India (Nepal). • Raised in luxury to be a king. • At 29 he rejected this life to seek enlightenment& the source of suffering. • Lived a strict, ascetic life for 6 yrs. • Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation, and found nirvana. • Became “The Enlightened One,” at 35.
What is the fundamental cause of all suffering? Desire! • Therefore, extinguish the self, don’t obsess about oneself.
Four Noble Truths • There is suffering in the world. To live is to suffer. (Dukkha) • The Buddha found this out when he was young and experienced suffering and death in others.
Four Noble Truths • The cause of suffering is self-centered desire and attachments. (Tanha) • In what ways have your wants led you to suffer?
Four Noble Truths The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments. (Nirvana = “extinction”)
Four Noble Truths To reach nirvana, one must follow the Eightfold Path.
Eightfold Path Nirvana • The union with the ultimate spiritual reality. • Escape from the cycle of rebirth.
Buddha’s head : 2c Pakistan
Types of Buddhism • Therevada Buddhism • Mahayana Buddhism • Tibetan Buddhism • Zen Buddhism
