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Religion in Asia

Discover the roots of Hinduism & Buddhism in Asia, from Aryans' migration to Siddhartha Gautama's enlightenment. Explore gods, caste system, karma, and teachings!

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Religion in Asia

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  1. Religion in Asia

  2. Aryans • Moved in after the Indus Valley civilization collapsed • Came through the Khyber Pass • Language was Sanskrit • Their leaders were called rajahs

  3. Hinduism • Formed when the Aryan religion mixed with the old gods of the Indus River Valley Civilization • Became a complex, polytheistic religion • Stressed non-violence • Called ahimsa • Believe in many gods, but three are most important

  4. Brahma • Known as the Creator • Chief god • Has four heads • Believed that the four castes came out of each of his heads

  5. Shiva • Known as the Destroyer • Shown here conquering a demon • Ring of fire represents the cycle of creation, death, and rebirth

  6. Vishnu • Known as the Preserver • Sometimes shown with 4 arms • Usually sitting over water

  7. How it works… • Your soul is called atman • Believe that the soul is reborn • reincarnation • Ultimate goal is union with Brahma • moksha • Dharma is the set of moral duties and obligations each person has

  8. The Caste System • Brahmins • priests • Kshatriyas • warriors • Vaisyas • Farmers, artisans, merchants • Sudras • Servants, any non-Aryan • Untouchables – outside the caste system • “outcasts”

  9. Reincarnation • Karma is your behavior • If you’re good and thus have good karma, you move up in the caste system in your next life • If you have bad karma, you move down

  10. Texts • Most of what we know about the Aryans comes from the Vedas • Collection of prayers, hymns and teachings • Essays about Hindu teachings are called the Upanishads

  11. Hinduism Today • About 80% of Indians are Hindus • Significant minorities of Muslims and Christians, too • The caste system has officially been outlawed and today you can see “untouchables” in decent jobs in the cities • But the caste system remains alive and well (unofficially) in the villages where millions of Indians live

  12. Siddhartha Gautama was a Brahmin priest

  13. Siddhartha Gautama was a Brahmin priest • Very pampered as a child – never saw pain and suffering • One day he saw a sick man, an old man, and a dead man - realized life was full of pain and suffering

  14. One night, he left his wife and son. • journeyed to seek wisdom • at first, he only gained pain not wisdom • one day while meditating under a tree, the truth became clear to him

  15. He was then called Buddha which means “enlightened one.” • Buddha taught four main ideas known as the Four Noble Truths.

  16. The Four Noble Truths • Suffering exists. • Desires make us suffer. • End desires = end suffering. • Follow 8-fold path to end desires and reach nirvana – which means no more reincarnation!

  17. The Eightfold Path • right knowledge • right purpose • right speech • right action • right living • right effort • right mindfulness • right meditation Follow the rules to get to Nirvana!

  18. Buddhism Today • It’s a very small percentage of the population in India today • More commonly found in East Asia • It’s a non-theistic religion, meaning there is no deity to worship. • Buddhists do NOT worship Buddha! They revere him as a wise teacher. • When they bow to his statue it is in gratitude for his teachings

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