Hinduism Buddhism SSWH 2 B Founder Origins Hinduism

Hinduism & Buddhism SSWH 2. B

Founder / Origins Hinduism Buddhism �Not founded by any one �Founded by Siddhartha person � 750 – 550 BCE: First step in development of Hinduism = Teachers began to interpret hymns from the Vedas Later called the “Buddha” � “The enlightened one” �Circa 600 BCE

Key Beliefs Buddhism Hinduism �“Moksha” A state of perfect understanding of all things �Souls are reincarnated until they reach moksha �“Karma” A soul’s good or bad deeds follow it from one life to the next. Good karma = birth into a good caste, good health, etc. �Four Noble Truths: 1 – Life is filled with suffering 2 – Suffering is caused by desire for pleasure 3 – The way to end suffering is to end desire 4 – The way to end desire is to follow the “middle path”

Major Gods Buddhism Hinduism �Brahma – creator god �Vishnu – protector god �Shiva – destroyer god �Devi – mother goddess �Many other gods (all seen as incarnations of Brahma) Eventually, Hindus saw Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu �No “gods” �Goal is to reach “Nirvana” The release from selfishness and pain

Sacred Writings Buddhism Hinduism �Vedas �Upanishads Writings of teachers who interpreted hymns from the Vedas �There is not a single text that all Buddhists follow. The “Vinaya Pitaka” recognized by many Buddhists as sacred “Jatakas” – legends about Buddha’s previous incarnations

Effect on Society Buddhism Hinduism �Strengthened the traditional caste system �Rejected the traditional caste system �Only members of the higher caste levels could achieve moksha in their present life Many people out of the lower classes followed Buddha

Modern-Day Traditions Hinduism �Followers are free to choose which gods to worship or may choose to follow none of them � 3 paths to moksha: Right thinking Right action Religious devotion Buddhism �Buddhism continues to be practiced by Monks who swear oaths of poverty, non-violence, and celibacy. �Hinduism absorbed many Buddhist beliefs

The Spread of Buddhism SSWH 2. B

Buddhist Population by Nation

Hinduism Dominated India �Hinduism eventually recognized Buddha as one of the ten incarnations of their god Vishnu. �As a result Hindus who liked the Buddha’s teaching saw no need to convert to Buddhism.

Buddhism Spreads Through Asia �The ideas and teachings of Buddhism spread from India along the trade routes developed during the “golden age” of the Gupta Empire. Most important trade route = The Silk Road