Religions of Ancient India Chapter 9 Lesson 2

Religions of Ancient India Chapter 9, Lesson 2

Origins of Hinduism ► Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions. § It is also the third largest religion after Christianity and Islam. § It developed from the faith of the Aryans. § The Vedas mentioned in the last lesson teach the key ideas of the Aryan religion. ► At first, the Vedas had to be memorized by Brahmin priests and spoken out loud. § After the creation of Sanskrit much later on, they were written down. ► The Aryan religion would change over time as it blended with the ideas of other people in India. § This resulted in what we now know as Hinduism.

► Hinduism What is Hinduism? includes many beliefs and practices. § They believe in one universal spirit called Brahman (BRAH-muhn). ► Ancient text known as the Upanishads (oo-PAH-nih -SHADZ) describe the search for Brahman. § These writings say that every living thing has a soul that is also a part of Brahman. § The body is the life on Earth and at death, the soul leaves the body and joins with Brahman. ►The Upanishads liken it to throwing salt into the water where the , ump of salt will be gone and the water will taste salty.

► Most What is Hinduism? Ancient Indians had a difficult time understanding the idea of Brahman. § This was because they believed in many other deities that were more like people. ► Hindus built temples and held ceremonies to honor these deities and eventually three will become the most important. § § § Brahma – The Creator Vishnu – The Preserver Shiva – the Destroyer ► Over time people began to associate the deities as different parts of Brahman, the one universal spirit.

Brahma Vishnu Shiva

► Another What is Hinduism? part of Hinduism is the belief in reincarnation (rebirth of the soul). ► Hindus strive for moksha (the ultimate inner peace). ► They believe most souls don’t reunite with Brahman immediately after death. § Hindus believe each soul must first pass through many lives and is described in the Upanishads like this: "As a caterpillar, having reached the end of a blade of grass, takes hold of another blade, then draws its body from the first, so the Self having reached the end of his body, takes hold of another body, then draws itself from the first. " —from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Fourth Brahmana, line 3

What is Hinduism? ► Hinduism’s idea of reincarnation is closely tied to karma (KAHR-muh. ) § They believed that people’s status in life is not an accident but a reflection of what you did in a past life and whatever you do in your current life will affect how you will be reborn in the next. § If you lead a bad life, you will be reborn into a lower form of life. § When good people die, their souls are reborn into a higher form of life. § They believe you must earn a better existence in the next life.

What is Hinduism? ► In order for them to receive a better existence, they must follow dharma (DAHR -muh) [Their personal duty]. § Everyone has a different duty depending on their place in society. ►Ex: Farmers have different duties than Priest and men have different duties than women. ► Hindu India. also shaped the way of life in Ancient § Indians began to accept the Hindu idea that all life is sacred and must be treated with kindness and respect.

► Belief What is Hinduism? in reincarnation also made Indians more accepting of the varna system. § A devout Hindu belied that the people in a higher jati were superior and deserved their status. § Also, the belief in reincarnation gave hope that in the next life you would return into a higher jati.

► During Rise of Buddhism the 500 s B. C. some Indians felt unhappy with the Hindu religion. § They sought to have a much simpler, spiritual faith. § Some left their homes and looked for peace in the hills and forest. § Many trained their minds to focus and think in positive ways and was known as meditating. ► Some seekers developed new ideas and became religious teachers. § Siddhartha Gautama (sih-DAHR-tuh GOW-tah-muh) who later became known as Buddha (BOO-dah) and founded a new religion known as Buddhism BOO-dih-zuhm)

The Buddha ► Today, Buddhism is one of the major world religions. ► Most Buddhists live in Southeast Asia and East Asia. § Only a few live in India, Buddhism’s birthplace. ► Siddhartha Gautama was born around the year 563 B. C. § The exact date of his birth is not known. § He grew up as a prince in a small kingdom near the Himalaya that today is located southern Nepal (nuh-PAWL).

► While The Buddha he was young, it appeared that Siddhartha seemed to have everything. § He was rich, handsome, and happily married with a newborn son. ► He then one left his palace to explore the life of ordinary people in the kingdom. § He was shocked at the misery and poverty around him. § He saw beggars, people who were sick, and aged people with nowhere to live and for the first time understood that the world was filled with suffering.

► Siddhartha a monk. The Buddha gave up all he had and became § He said goodbye to his son and wife and began his journey to find the meaning of life. § He traveled the country dressed in a yellow robe, stopping to meditate (think deeply) § As he preached his message to people, he gathered followers and his teachings became known as Buddhism.

Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha)

What did Buddha Teach? ► Some India. of Buddha’s ideas were not new to § He followed some Hindu ideas but changed others. ►Like Hindus, he believed the world of the spirits was more important than the everyday world. ►He felt that one reason people suffered in life was because they had grown to concern about the wrong things such as fame, money, and personal possessions and that wanting such things could fill people with bad emotions like greed or anger. ►He did believe that seeking spiritual truth, led to inner peace.

► The What did Buddha Teach? Buddha taught his followers the Four Noble Truths: 1. Life is full of suffering. 2. People suffer because they desire worldly things and want to satisfy themselves. 3. The way to end suffering is to stop desiring things. 4. The only way to stop desiring things is to follow the Eightfold Path.

► The What did Buddha Teach? Buddha’s fourth truth says that people can end suffering by following eight steps. ► The Eightfold Path: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Know and understand the Four Noble Truths. Give up worldly things and do not harm others. Tell the truth, do not gossip, and do not speak badly of others. Do not commit evil acts, such as killing, stealing, or living an unclean life. Do rewarding work. Work for good and oppose evil. Make Sure your mind keeps your senses under control. Practice meditation to see the world in a new way.

What did Buddha Teach? ► When people were finally free from all earthly concerns, they would reach nirvana (nihr-VAHnuh). § According to Buddhist teaching, nirvana is not a physical place. ► It is an emotional or spiritual state, a feeling of perfect peace and happiness. ► Buddhism spread because it welcomed people from all walks of life. § The Buddha placed very little importance on the varna system because it did not dictate where they would be born into in society. § Buddha explained that people success of life depended on peoples’ behavior now.

► Like What did Buddha Teach? Hindus, the Buddha believed in reincarnation, but in a different way. § He taught that people could end the cycle of rebirth by following the Eightfold Path rather than their dharma. ► Many people accepted the Buddha’s message especially Untouchables and Indian’s in the lower jati. § For the first time, these groups could reach enlightenment.

► For What did Buddha Teach? more than 40 years, Buddha taught his ideas. § After his death, Buddha’s followers disagreed over the meaning of the Buddha’s ideas. ► Eventually, groups: the Buddhist divided into two § Theravada (ther-u-VAH-duh) Buddhists § Mahayana (mah-huh-YAH-nuh) Buddhists

Theravada Buddhism ► Theravada means “teachings of the elders. ” § Followers of Theravada see Buddha as a great teacher, but not a god. § This is the major religion of the modern-day country of Sri Lanka (sree LAHN-kuh). ► Buddhist teachers spread the teachings of Theravada to Myanmar (MEEAHNmahr)Thailand (TEYE-land), Cambodia (kam -BOH-dee-uh) and Laos (LAH-os)

Mahayana Buddhism ► Mahayana teaches that the Buddha is a god. ► Followers of Mahayana Buddhism believe that the Eightfold Path is too difficult for most people ► By worshipping Buddha, they believe they will go to heaven when they die. § Here, they will be able to successfully follow the Eightfold Path and reach nirvana. ► Bodhisattvas (BOH-dih-SUHT-vuhz) hold a special place in Mahayana Buddhism. § These are people who are enlightened and do not enter heaven. § They instead stay on Earth to do good deeds and help others on the path to nirvana.

Mahayana Buddhism It spread northward towards China and from there into Korea and Japan. ► A special kind of Mahayana Buddhism arose in the central Asian country of Tibet (tih-beht) § Buddhist leaders called lamas led the government of Tibet. § The Dalai Lama (DAH-ly-LAH-muh) led Tibet’s government, and the Panchen lama led the religion and are both considered to be reincarnations of the Buddha. ► Today, few Buddhist life in India where the Buddha first preached. § Buddhism, however, is widely practiced in Southeast Asia and East Asia § There is an estimated 376 million Buddhists in the world today. ►

Jainism / Who is Mahavira? ► Alongside Hinduism and Buddhism, another faith is Jainism (JEYE-nih-zihm) § Most followers live in India. ► The exact origins of Jainism are unkown, but its current form was developed by a religious leader named Mahavira. § Mahavira lived in India around the same time as Siddhartha Gautama. ►He also came from a wealthy royal family in northern India. ►When his parents died, he gave up his wealth and property and begged for his food.

Jainism / Who is Mahavira? ► Mahavira became known as the Jina, or the conqueror and his followers were known as Jains. § Many of his teaching were like that of the Buddha. ►Bothe taught that they should not want worldly things and that only by doing this could they stop the cycle of rebirth and enter nirvana. § The Jains practiced strict poverty.

What is Ahimsa? key value in Jainism is ahimsa (ah-HIM -sah) [the practice of nonviolence towards all living things]. ► They § Mahavira’s followers tried to avoid harming any living thing. ►EX: Sweeping away insects with brooms so they would not be stepped on. ►They also did not farm for fear of plowing under worms and other living things in the soil.

What is Ahimsa? idea of ahimsa has long influenced India’s culture and politics. ► The § In the 1900 s, the Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi (MOE-han-dahs GAHN-dee) wanted to free India from Great Britain. ►He led a nonviolent struggle against British rule. ►Thousands of people would come to hear him speak or simply sit with him as he prayed. ►At the time Indians refused to buy British goods or pay taxes as a sign of protest. ►Many protestors were jailed, but eventually, India gain its independence. ►Gandhi himself was jailed many times.

► Ghandi’s What is Ahimsa? methods of nonviolent resistance influenced many others such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. § Like Ghandi, Dr. King was able to use nonviolence to bring about great change in his country and gain rights for African Americans.