New Religions in India

1. New Religions in India

2. Hinduism Early Hindus believed in the existence of a single force in the universe, a form of ultimate reality or God called Brahman Reincarnationhad soon become apart of Hinduism Reincarnation is the belief that the individual soul is reborn in a different form after death According to Hinduism, all living beings seek to achieve this goal

3. Hinduism • Important top this process is the idea of karma • Karma is the force generated by a person’s actions that determines how the person will be reborn in the next life. • According to this Idea, what people do in their present lives determines what they will be in their next lives • So the current status of an individual is not an accident, it is a result of actions in a past existence

4. Hinduism • The concept of karma is ruled by the dharma, or the divine law • This law required all people to do their duty • The system of reincarnation provided a religious basis for the rigid class division in Indian society • This system justified the privileges of the higher class people IF YOU DO GOOD DHARMA YOU’LL HAVE GOOD KARMA!!!

5. Vishnu the Preserver Hinduism Hindus developed the practice of yoga to achieve a oneness with the gods. There are hundreds of gods in the Hindu Religion including three chief ones: • Brahma the Creator Siva the Destroyer

6. Buddhism • In the 6th century B.C., a new doctrine called Buddhism, appeared in India and soon became a rival of Hinduism

7. The Story of Buddha • The founder of Buddhism was Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, or the “Enlightened One” • Buddha was the son of a ruling family, he was next in line for king • He decided to give all of that up to find the true meaning of life • He practiced ascetics, which is a practice of self denial to achieve an understanding of ultimate reality

8. The Story of Buddha • The practice of ascetics however led to a close brush with death from not eating • He went into a long period of meditation where it was said he found the true meaning of life • He spent the rest of his life preaching what he had discovered

9. The Basic Principles of Buddhism • Buddha denied the reality of the material world • The physical surroundings of humans, he believed were simply illusions • The pain, poverty, and sorrow that affect human beings are caused by their attachment to things of this world

10. The Basic Principles of Buddhism • Achieving wisdom is a key step to achieving nirvana, or ultimate reality – the end of the self and a reunion with the Great World Soul • Buddha accepted the idea of reincarnation, but he rejected the Hindu division of human beings into different caste based on previous reincarnation

11. The Basic Principles of Buddhism Don’t worship me!!! • Buddhism also rejected the multitude of gods that have become identified with Hinduism • He forbade his followers to worship him or his image after his death • For that reason, many Buddhist see Buddhism as a philosophy rather than a religion

12. The Basic Principles of Buddhism After his death, his followers traveled throughout India, spreading his message • Temples sprang up through out the countryside • Buddhist monasteries were also established to promote his teaching and provide housing and training for monks dedicated to the simple life and the pursuit of wisdom