Transcript The Basics of Christianity

THE BASICS OF Hinduism
and Buddhism
August 7th, 2012
Mr. Johnson’s Pre-AP World History
Mr. Johnson’s Key Warning
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IMPORTANT NOTE: The purpose of this exercise is
not to convert anyone to a belief in a specific
religion. The purpose is to help students gain a
clearer understanding of the impact of Hinduism
and Buddhism on the history of the World and the
United States
Part #1 – Common Knowledge
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Working in groups of 4, list everything that you know
already about the basic beliefs of Hinduism and
Buddhism in Warm-Up Box #6. Specifically, answer the
following questions to the best of your ability:
a) Who was involved in the creation of Hinduism and
Buddhism?
b) When was Hinduism and Buddhism developed?
c) Where did Hinduism and Buddhism begin?
d) What are the basic beliefs of Hinduism and
Buddhism?
e) Why did Hinduism and Buddhism become so
popular?
Part #2 – Why Religions Exist
Hypothesis: Religion exists to fill the void of
questions left unanswered by science.
 Basic Questions of all World Religions
1.
Where do we come from? – What is the origin of
life and matter?
2.
Why are we here? – What, if any, is the purpose
for the existence of life?
3.
Where do we go after this life? – Is their life
after death and, if so, what is it like?

Part #2 – Hinduism and Buddhism’s Answers
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Working with your group, use the following
quotations from the Upanishads and the Jatakas
to determine Hinduism and Buddhism’s answers
to the previously stated questions. Write these
answers on the same sheet of paper as your
previous list of your prior knowledge regarding
Hinduism and Buddhism.
Hinduism’s Answers – Question 1
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“The essence of all beings is the earth, the essence of the
earth is water, the essence of water the plants, the essence
of plants man, the essence of man speech.” (Upanishads, First
Prapathaka, First Khanda, Verse 2)
'What is the origin of this world?' 'Ether 1, 'he replied. For all
these beings take their rise from the ether, and return into
the ether. Ether is older than these, ether is their rest.
(Upanishads, First Prapathaka, Ninth Khanda, Verse 1)
Ether, or we might translate it by space, both being intended, however, as names
or symbols of the Highest Brahman.
Buddhism’s Answers – Question 1
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For Buddhists the creator of the universe of experience is not an external being,
but your own Karma. Karma substitutes the role of God, but the main difference
is that it is not separated from the individual. Past actions of thought, speech and
body determine, limit and set a boundary for the experiences that I can have in
the present, and present actions set the same boundaries for future experiences.
The time from the creation to the destruction of the universe is called a kalpa (an
very long, long time). At the end of the kalpa the human and god realms are
destroyed and at the beginning of a new kalpa the god realm is the first to
appear. Due to his past karma, one particular being is the first to be reborn in the
god realm and for a long time he is living alone. At some moment he wishes to
have companionship and sooner or later a second being is reborn there. When
this happens the first being, Brahma, thinks "I wished for companionship, and
now this being appeared so I must be his creator!". The second being thinks
"This other being was here before me, so he must be my creator" and all the
next beings reborn in the god realm, fall into the same mistaken logic. Later on,
the good karma that make this beings gods is exhausted and they fall into the
human realm. Unconsciously they remember that the saw the creator god in a
past life so they continue to worship him.
Hinduism’s Answers– Question 2
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That syllable is a syllable of permission, for whenever we permit anything, we
say Om, yes. Now permission is gratification. He who knowing this meditates on
the syllable (Om), the udgîtha, becomes indeed a gratifier of desires.
(Upanishads, First Prapathaka, First Khanda, Verse 8)
The vast majority of Hindus engage in religious rituals on a daily basis. Most
Hindus observe religious rituals at home. Devout Hindus perform daily chores such
as worshiping at the dawn after bathing (usually at a family shrine, and typically
includes lighting a lamp and offering foodstuffs before the images of deities),
recitation from religious scripts, singing devotional hymns, meditation, chanting
mantras, reciting scriptures etc. A notable feature in religious ritual is the division
between purity and pollution. Religious acts presuppose some degree of impurity
or defilement for the practitioner, which must be overcome or neutralised before
or during ritual procedures. Purification, usually with water, is thus a typical
feature of most religious action.
Buddhism’s Answers – Question 2
The Four Noble Truths taught by the Buddha
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Dukkha: Suffering exists
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Samudaya: There is a cause for suffering.
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Nirodha: There is an end to suffering
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Magga: In order to end suffering, you must follow the Eightfold Path.
The Eight-Fold Path taught by the Buddha
1.
Right Views – Seeing the world through the Four Noble Truths.
2.
Right Resolve – Wanting to behave correctly and justly.
3.
Right Speech – Telling the truth, speaking kindly.
4.
Right Conduct – Being good.
5.
Right Livelihood – Having a job that supports a moral life.
6.
Right Effort – Trying to keep your mind focused on the good.
7.
Right Mindfulness – Paying attention to what you think and feel.
8.
Right Concentration – Meditating as Buddha did to reach nirvana.
Hinduism’s Answers– Question 3
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When a man has mastered the Rig-veda, he says quite
loud Om; the same, when he has mastered the Sâman and
the Yagus. This Svara is the imperishable (syllable), the
immortal, free from fear. Because the Devas entered it,
therefore they became immortal, and free from fear. He
who knowing this loudly pronounces (pranauti) - that
syllable, enters the same (imperishable) syllable, the
Svara, the immortal, free from fear, and having entered
it, becomes immortal, as the Devas are immortal.
(Upanishads, First Prapathaka, Fourth Khanda, Verses 45)
Buddhism’s Answers – Question 3
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When someone reaches nirvana, it means that he or she has broken free of samsara,
the cycle of reincarnation and suffering which characterizes all life on Earth. In
addition to being free from suffering, the individual is also beyond obsessions and
earthly concerns. He or she has a high level of wisdom and compassion, and has
reached a state of perfect peace with all life. For Buddhists, nirvana is the highest
state one can attain, and it can take a very long time to reach this state.
Buddhists distinguish between a state of nirvana reached during life, and the state
which emerges after death. People such as the Buddha allegedly achieved nirvana
during their lifetimes through intense asceticism, prayer, and faith, and they were in
turn rewarded with the “final nirvana” which occurs in the afterlife. When someone
attains nirvana in life, he or she is supposed to be easy to identify, as this spiritual
state tends to make one stand out.
The term “nirvana” literally means “to extinguish,” although the term refers to the
extinction of life as one knows it, not to a final end. Buddhists strive to attain Buddhist
nirvana by following the Eightfold Path and other precepts of their faith, and many
believe that they have no way of knowing how long they have been on Earth, working
towards eventual nirvana.
Part #4 – Why Hinduism and Buddhism?
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Finally, as a group discuss why you believe Hinduism
and Buddhism has become a major world religion.
Focus your discussion on what you know about
human nature, history, and the message taught by
Hinduism and Buddhism. As a group, identify 3
reasons why Hinduism and Buddhism has become
one of the dominant religions in the world today.