Section III: Hinduism and Section III: Hinduism and BuddhismBuddhism(Pages 61-64)(Pages 61-64)

This section is about:This section is about: How Hinduism became How Hinduism became

the dominant religion in the dominant religion in India.India.

The religion of Jainism The religion of Jainism (founded on the Hindu (founded on the Hindu tradition of non-tradition of non-violence).violence).

The religion of Buddhism The religion of Buddhism and how it arose as an and how it arose as an alternative to the formal alternative to the formal religion of Buddhism.religion of Buddhism.

On page 61: On page 61: Compare and Compare and Contrast: we’ll do Contrast: we’ll do this at the end.this at the end.

The Main Ideas…The Main Ideas… And… In India: And… In India:

Hinduism, Buddhism Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism are and Jainism are have some have some similarities, but similarities, but some differences in some differences in beliefs and beliefs and practices.practices.

Meanings of all the above symbols

HinduismHinduism

One of the most complex One of the most complex religions.religions.

Has no single “father”Has no single “father” no “sacred text”.no “sacred text”. No identifiable beginning.No identifiable beginning. No authority or No authority or

organization.organization. Came from the many Came from the many

cultures who settled in cultures who settled in India.India.

It’s a religion, a history, It’s a religion, a history, and a way of life.and a way of life.

Hinduism accepts many gods and Hinduism accepts many gods and goddesses…goddesses…

……but are all part of one but are all part of one universal spirit – called universal spirit – called Brahman.Brahman.

The most important:The most important: BrahmaBrahma: the creator of : the creator of

the universethe universe VishnuVishnu: The preserver: The preserver ShivaShiva: the destroyer: the destroyer

All of these are part of All of these are part of Brahman – who is Brahman – who is everlasting and endless.everlasting and endless.

Brahman is the cause, Brahman is the cause, source, and reason for all source, and reason for all existence.existence.

Hindu BeliefsHindu Beliefs ReincarnationReincarnation: you have a : you have a

“spirit” that is re-born into “spirit” that is re-born into another life form after you another life form after you die.die.

KarmaKarma: are the actions of : are the actions of your life – and determines your life – and determines where your spirit will be re-where your spirit will be re-born.born.

DharmaDharma: is your religious : is your religious and moral duties. and moral duties.

And don’t forget the caste And don’t forget the caste system (which is a big part system (which is a big part of this): you can’t move of this): you can’t move your standing in this life, but your standing in this life, but your spirit can after you die.your spirit can after you die.

AhimsaAhimsa: non-violence to all : non-violence to all living creatures – the living creatures – the absence of desire to harm absence of desire to harm any living thing (even any living thing (even yourself)yourself)

JainismJainism (another religion from (another religion from India):India):

A religion that comes from A religion that comes from ahimsa.ahimsa.

It’s a religion of non-It’s a religion of non-violence.violence.

This includes EVERY living This includes EVERY living thing – even insects and thing – even insects and worms.worms.

So that kind of limited their So that kind of limited their lives (can’t be a farmer).lives (can’t be a farmer).

Some people are still living Some people are still living parts of their lives based parts of their lives based on Jainism.on Jainism.

The internal austerities are

1. Atonement of sinful acts 2. Practice politeness and humility - in spite

of having comparatively more wealth, wisdom, social status, power, etc.

3. Service to others, especially monks, nuns, elders and the weaker souls without any expectations in return

4. Scriptural study, questioning and expanding the spiritual knowledge

5. Abandonment of passions – especially anger, ego, deceit and greed

6. Meditation

The external austerities are meant to discipline the sensual cravings.

1. Fasting 2. Eating less than one's normal diet 3. Abstention from tasty and stimulating

food 4. Practicing humility and thankfulness –

by seeking help and offering assistance without egoistic tendencies

5. Practicing solitude and introspection 6. Mastering demands of the body

The Rise of The Rise of BuddhismBuddhism

Began about 500 Began about 500 B.C. (a time of great B.C. (a time of great social change and social change and religious activity).religious activity).

Many people Many people wanted a simpler wanted a simpler way of life than way of life than Hinduism and all Hinduism and all their rituals.their rituals.

Buddhism accepted Buddhism accepted some (by not all Hindu some (by not all Hindu ideas).ideas).

Karma and Karma and Reincarnation were Reincarnation were kept.kept.

The caste system was The caste system was rejected by Buddhists rejected by Buddhists – they said all people – they said all people had great potential.had great potential.

Buddhism is Buddhism is “founded” by “founded” by Siddhartha Gautama Siddhartha Gautama (known as: (known as: the the BuddhaBuddha – which – which means “awakened means “awakened one” or “enlightened one” or “enlightened one”)one”)

Buddhist tradition…Buddhist tradition…

Says the Buddha lived Says the Buddha lived many lives before his many lives before his birth as birth as Siddhartha Siddhartha GautamaGautama..

Before he was born, his Before he was born, his mother had a dream mother had a dream about a white elephant about a white elephant descending from heaven.descending from heaven.

Brahman priests told her Brahman priests told her it meant her son would it meant her son would wither be a ruler or a wither be a ruler or a wandering holy man.wandering holy man.

So his father raised him well – and So his father raised him well – and hoped he would be happy living a rich hoped he would be happy living a rich

life at home.life at home. But, when he was 29, But, when he was 29,

Siddhartha left home to Siddhartha left home to see how others lived.see how others lived.

He saw a very old man, a He saw a very old man, a sick man, and a dead sick man, and a dead man. He was so unhappy man. He was so unhappy that others were suffering that others were suffering that he decided to leave that he decided to leave home and go look for” home and go look for” the way of truth.the way of truth.

He wandered for 6 years – He wandered for 6 years – giving up all comforts and giving up all comforts and pleasures.pleasures.

One day he decided he One day he decided he was going to sit under a was going to sit under a tree until he understood tree until he understood the “mystery of life.”the “mystery of life.”

All of a sudden, one day he figured it All of a sudden, one day he figured it out – and became “the Buddha”out – and became “the Buddha”

For the rest of his life he For the rest of his life he taught “taught “the four noble the four noble truthstruths””

1.1. All human existence is full of All human existence is full of pain and suffering.pain and suffering.

2.2. The cause of suffering is The cause of suffering is selfish desire.selfish desire.

3.3. The only freedom from The only freedom from suffering is to overcome suffering is to overcome desire.desire.

4.4. The only way to overcome The only way to overcome desire is to follow desire is to follow “the “the eightfold path” eightfold path”

and not worry about worldly and not worry about worldly cares any morecares any more