Hinduism

Origins and Beliefs

• Cannot be traced to a single founder or set of ideas

• A way of liberating the soul from disappointments and mistakes in life

• Moksha: a state of perfect understanding

Beliefs

• Reincarnation: (rebirth) an individual is born again and again until Moksha is achieved

• Karma: good or bad deeds- influence life circumstances

Changes over time…

• Brahman: the world soul• Atman: individual soul• Brahman’s personalities:

1. Brahma: creator2. Vishnu: protector3. Shiva: destroyer

Hindus are free to choose which deity to worship

Society

• Caste system: where you were born showed the karma you achieved in a former life.

• Ex. If you were born a laborer- you must have performed bad deeds in another life

• The caste system dominated a person’s life- food, dress

Buddhism

Beginnings

• Founder: Siddharta Guatama, born into a noble family

• Prophesy said he would be a spiritual leader

• He sought religious truths and ways to end suffering

• Enlightenment: wisdom

Enlightenment

• He sought many ways to achieve enlightenment- fasting, debate, meditation

• After 49 days of meditation he achieved the understanding of suffering

• Now called Buddha or “enlightened one”

The Four Noble Truths

First Noble Truth Life is filled with suffering and sorrow

Second Cause of suffering is from selfishness for worldly pleasures

Third The way to end suffering

Is to end all desires

Fourth The way to end all suffering is to follow the Eightfold Path

Eightfold Path

• A staircase to Nirvana: release from selfishness or pain

• Reincarnation

• No caste system

• Not polytheistic

Spread of Buddhism

• Attracted people from different regions

• Monks/Traders spread beliefs to India and into Asia