Hinduism & Buddhism

Vocabulary List 51. Karma-A Sanskrit word

meaning “action” that Hindus believe there will be an equal consequence

2. Dharma-A Sanskrit word meaning “duty” or “virtue” that Hindus believe they must follow

3. Samsara-A constant cycle of rebirth believed in by Hindus

4. Nirvana- Ultimate bliss, release from suffering, desires, and reincarnation

5. Enlightenment-Perfect understanding

6. Hinduism-Religion which focuses on doing your duty & good deeds to end the cycle of reincarnation

7. Buddhism-Religion which focuses on detachment from desires & meditation to achieve enlightenment

8. Reincarnation-the belief that the soul, upon death of the body, comes back to earth in another body or form.

9. Vedas- Hindu sacred writings10. Sutras- Buddhist scripture

Bell Ringer # 34 1/23 & 1/28

• What are the main theories of why the IRVC collapsed?

• Based on what we have covered, which one do you think is most likely? What evidence best supports your theory? – This is not a right/wrong question, nobody is

certain!

Aryan Invasion Theory

• C. 2000-1500 BCE, a group of nomadic warrior-herders called the Aryans Invaded the lands of the Indus River Valley

• The Aryans were from Eastern Europe between the Black Sea and Caspian/Aral Seas

• The present Harappan civilization was already in decline and unable to repel the Aryans

AryansMesopotamia

Ancient Egypt

Indus River Valley

Indo European Languages

Blending of Cultures

• The Aryans brought with them their own language, called Sanskrit and religious and cultural beliefs.

• The indigenous population (sometimes referred to as Dravidian) people eventually became intermixed with the Aryan people and the two cultures together make up what is now much of the culture of modern India.

• Hinduism, the major religion of India, was a mixture of Aryan and perhaps some IRVC beliefs.

• The caste system, which keeps people in strict social classes, was brought to India by the Aryans.

Development of Caste System• Aryans divide people in classes (castes) • Based originally by varna or skin color– Aryans were lighter skinned than Dravidians– Ayrans occupied the top castes

• People in the lower castes were looked down on.• No social mobility, cannot go up or down ranks• The caste system was very effective in keeping social

order but it was rigid. – Strict rules on who you could marry, what kind of job you

could have, where you live, and who you could speak to• Hinduism reinforces caste system

Hinduism

• The Aryans and the Indus Valley culture eventually produced Hinduism.

• Polytheistic/Monotheistic• Supreme God, lesser deities are versions• Three major gods create a trinity:– Brahma the creator – Vishnu the preserver – Shiva the destroyer

Hinduism Continued

• Religious texts called “Vedas” that record the beliefs of the Aryans, written in Sanskrit

• Considered to be perhaps the oldest continuing religion in the world

• 80% of India’s current population are Hindu and there are ~1 Billion Hindus worldwide (3rd largest religion)

• Hinduism differs from other religions like Christianity, Judaism and Islam in that there is no one single founder or one set of beliefs that must be followed.

Hinduism Continued

• Personal rather than group worship• Private shrines in home– Offerings of incense, flowers, fruit, etc.

• Since Brahman the Supreme God can take any form, Hindus are free to worship whichever or however many of his lesser deity forms– “Brahman” with an “A”= god “Brahmin” with an

“I”=Priest Caste

Reincarnation

• Hindus believe that after a person dies, they will be re-born as some other creature or thing.

• What you are re-born as depends on your “Karma” or the deeds you did in your previous life. – If you did good deeds, you will reborn into a higher,

better life. – If you had bad Karma, you may be re-born as a

lesser being like an insect.

Reincarnation Continued

• Karma- Sanskrit word that means “action” – Good or bad actions will have equal consequences– Karma rolls over into next lifetime

• Dharma- “duty” “virtue” or “morality”– Set of rules to guide your life– Plays into the caste system

• Constant cycle of rebirth called Samsara • Ultimate goal is to end this rebirth, called

moksha

Castes

• India’s caste system is divided into many different classes, each with its own job.

• The highest class is the Brahmins, or priests. They have great authority and respect.

• The next level are Kshatriya, who are the warriors or land-owners. They are often in the wealthy, ruling class.

Castes, cont.

• Next come the Vaishya, who are the merchants and artisans. They are the people who sell products.

• The lowest level are the servants and farmers. They are called Shudra. They are very important because they provide food and goods for society but did not have high status.

“Outcasts”

• The lowest group in India are the Harijan. They are also called the “untouchables” or “outcasts” because they are not even considered part of the caste system.

• They do the worst jobs in the community such as cleaning sewers and sweeping the streets.

• Members of the caste system were not even supposed to have the shadow of an untouchable touch them.

• The Harijan believed that the only way to get out of their situation was to do everything without complaint (aka dharma) so they could be reborn into a higher caste in the next life.

Buddhism• Founded c. 600 BCE by Siddhartha Gautama (the

Buddha) • Born 566 BCE into the Kshatriya caste (warrior class) in

present day Nepal• Wealthy prince who was kept isolated inside a beautiful

palace and not exposed to the suffering of others• One day he left the walls of his palace and saw the pain

and misery of life, characterized by three men: an old man, a sick man, and a dead man (One cannot escape age, disease, or death)

• He tried several ways to meditate and find peace until he finally he came up with his own way; Buddhism.

Meditation

• Buddha gained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree • Meditation is central– Develop awareness – Change perception– Increase concentration– Break attachment

Buddhism Continued

• Life is full of suffering– Suffering is caused by attachment/desires– Suffering ends when attachment ends

• No worship of gods or god• Reincarnation • Impermanence (nothing lasts forever, good or

bad)• Meditation to become Enlightened, reaching a

state of Nirvana.

Four Noble Truths

• The basic foundation of Buddhism are the four Noble Truths • Four Noble Truths

1 Existence of Dukkha (suffering)2 Dukkha is caused by attachment3 Dukkha can be overcome4 The path to overcoming Dukkha (Eightfold Path)

• Think: 1= symptoms, 2=diagnosis, 3=prognosis, 4=prescription

Eightfold Path

• Eightfold Path “The Right” Understanding, Thought, Speech, Action, Effort, Mindfulness, Concentration, Livelihood

• The “path” of NT #4• No particular order• Support and reinforce one another

Vedic Age of India

• C. 1750-500 BCE the vedas were composed• Passed down orally, written down later• Eventually written in Sanskrit, Hymns, spells, charms,

and rituals of the Ayrans– Some stories tell of conflict between the Ayrans and

Dravidians – Alien language, dark completion, strange gods

• Settlements shift to warlike normadic clans from peaceful cities of IRVC

• Clans then morph into kingdoms classical India

Ganges River

• IRVC collapse, evidence points that they may have relocated here– Center of civilization shifts to here, may or may

not be IRVC • Mentioned in the Vedas• Sacred to Hindus

C. 500 BCE

Empires of India

• Maurya- 321 BCE, Chandragupta Maurya unifies eastern and northen India, by 300 BCE most of India unified– High taxes (50% of crops)– Large army– Strict

• 269 BCE grandson Asoka takes over– Converts to Buddhism– Religious tolerance – Roads & trade– “Lawgiver” think Hammurabi’s code in Sanskrit– Dies, things fall apart

Empires cont.

• Gupta Empire- 320 CE Chandra Gupta takes power in the north, eventually unifies most of India

• “Golden Age” many advancements in many fields

• 500 CE in decline

Medicine Literature

MathematicsAstronomy

Printedmedicinal

guides

1000 diseasesclassified

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C-sectionsperforme

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Inoculations

500 healingplants

identified

DecimalSystem

Conceptof Zero

PI = 3.1416

Kalidasa

SolarCalendar

The earth

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GuptaIndia

Gupta Achievemen

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Study Guide• Dravidian• Aryan• Harappa• Harappan/IRVC• IRVC Economy• IRVC City Layout• Mohenjo-Daro • Lothal• Sub-continent• Sanskrit • Vedas• Monsoon

• Buddhism• Hinduism• Reincarnation• Karma• Dharma• Samsara• Moksha• Caste System• Pariah• Siddhartha Gautama • Four Noble Truths• Eightfold Path