Buddhism and Hinduism

Founder

• Siddhartha Gautauma– Lived in India from 563 to

483 BCE• Meditated for 48 years

underneath a fig tree– Gained an understanding

of the cause of suffering• Known as Buddha, or

“Enlightened One”

Spread of Buddhism

• Originated in India• Spread to China due to

missionaries and writings written by Ashoka– Ashoka: Emperor of

Maurya Empire in India– Embraced Buddhism

after he saw the effects of conquest

Geography

Fundamental Beliefs

• Four Noble Truths• Eightfold Path• Understand the Four Noble Truths + Follow

the Eightfold Path=Nirvana– Nirvana: release from selfishness, pain and

reincarnation

Four Noble Truths

• First Noble Truth:– Everything in life is suffering and sorrow

• Second Noble Truth– The cause of all suffering is people’s selfish desires

for the temporary pleasures of the world

Four Noble Truths

• Third Noble Truth– The way to end all suffering is to end all desire

• Fourth Noble Truth– The way to end all desire is by following the Eight-

fold path that leads to Nirvana

• Eight-Fold Path• Right views• Right aspirations• Right speech• Right conduct

• Right livelihood• Right endeavor• Right mindfulness• Right meditation

Hinduism

Being Polytheistic

• Polytheistic: worshipping many gods, and not just 1• Hindus worship many gods and godesses, but they

believe all gods to be an aspect of 1 supreme god

Brahman

BrahmaShiva

Vishnu/Krishna

Lifestyle

• Hindus believe in reincarnation– When you die, you come back as another being• Animal ,human

• What you come back as depends on your karma– The total of good and bad actions a human soul

carries with it from life to life

Break the Cycle!

• Goal of a Hindu:– To reach moksha (salvation)• Release yourself from worldly desires and stop the

cycle of reincationation• Like Nirvana

Caste SystemBrahmansKshatriyas

Vaisyas

Shudras

Untouchables

Priests and Scholars

Warriors, nobles, political rulers

Merchants, Farmers, Workers, Traders

Servants

The Untouchables• Fishing• Sweepers• Killing and Disposing of

carcasses• Tanning leather• Sweat, urine, feces, spittle• Watching man

• Do NOT have full rights• ~160 million people in India

today

Location

Location

• Originated in India• Followers in:– Indonesia– Parts of Africa, Europe, and the Western

Hemisphere

Judaism

Founding

• Judaism was founded by Abraham

• Founded in the Middle East (Israel/Jerusalem)

The Facts• Judaism is monotheistic,

meaning they believe in one god (Yahweh).

• Judaism has sacred texts:– 10 Commandments

(Laws to follow)• Brought to the people by

Moses– Torah (Scripture)

Judaism Beliefs

• God loves and protects human beings, but he punishes them for their sins.

• You can serve God by studying the Torah and living by its teachings.

Christianity

Founding

• Christianity was founded by Jesus Christ• Originally in the Middle East and Europe, but

spread to North and South America

The Facts

• Christianity is monotheistic

• Christians have one sacred text: the Bible– New Testament– Old Testament (the Torah)

Beliefs

• Jesus is the son of God, and he died to save humanity from itself

• People can achieve salvation by following Jesus’ teachings.

Islam

Founding

• Founded by Muhammad

• Originated in the Middle East (Mecca and Medina), but has spread to North Africa, Asia, and North America

The Facts

• Islam is monotheistic (Allah)

• Sacred Texts:– Qur’an

• Only written/read in Arabic

• One major division– Sunni: the majority of

the Muslim world– Shi’a: Iran

The Beliefs

• The Five Pillars of Islam– Fasting– Pilgrimage

• Every Muslim must make the pilgrimage to Mecca

– Alms– Faith

• There is only one god and that god is Allah

– Prayer• 5 times a day facing Mecca