Transcript Vedas
Hinduism & Buddhism Overview of Hinduism • Collection of religious beliefs developed about 1500 BC • Cannot be traced to one founder or people – Vedic Religion of Aryan? – Harappan belief system? – Regardless, all elements were in place by 500 BC • Based off interpretations of Vedas & Mahabharata – Vedas – sacred hymns – Maha = epic stories (Homer) II. Caste System • Complex & rigid social system dividing people into sealed groups called castes (job) • People divided into varnas (aspects of Purusha) – – – – – Brahmins (priests) Kshatriyas (warriors, rulers) Vaishyas (farmers, merchants) Sudras (non-Aryan peasants) Harijan (untouchables) Caste System • Caste defines who you are – Born into it – Marry within it – Die within it • Almost impossible to move up caste within one lifetime • Everybody knew what caste people were in • Relations with other castes – No one dealt w/ harijan – Very respectful up caste – Very condescending down caste III. Beliefs of Hinduism • Desire moksha – Liberation from cycle of birth and rebirth – Above time, space – the stilling of all passions and desires • Individual soul = Atman • Brahman – The source of all existence – At moksha, atman unifies w/ Brahman – Goal never achieved in 1 lifetime Beliefs of Hinduism • Reincarnation – New personality develops in each life, based on past experiences – Part of original person is constantly present throughout successive lives Beliefs of Hinduism • Karma – Atman’s good and bad deeds – Everything one does influences one’s destiny and possibility of moving up the incarnation ladder – Effects caste & wealth in future lives – Good karma = good fortune – Current station in life is determined by prior good / bad karma of prior lives Beliefs of Hinduism • Each caste has dharma – Rights & duties of caste within social order – Be the best brahmin / kshatriya / whatever you can be – Failure to do dharma leads to regression down caste system • If one does dharma, one will have good karma, will be reincarnated to a higher caste and eventually reach moksha Brahman is three major gods in one (some depictions of Hindu gods) Brahma = Creator: created universe, first humans Vishnu: Protector = preserver of universe; most popular aspect of Brahman Shiva: Destroyer = destroys evil and sorrow, including world, when it is evil Buddhism Overview of Buddhism • Siddhartha Guatama – Son of a rich warrior prince – Father isolated him from unhappiness, need on his estate – Siddhartha escaped 3x, saw poor, cruelty – Made him question, reject the physical world and search for enlightenment Overview of Buddhism • Studied with different religious leaders • Fasted, meditated – Realized that life of a hermit would kill him • Finally emerged from studies, meditation as the Buddha (“Enlightened One”) • Realized that moderation – the Middle Path – between hedonism, extreme denial, was best path Buddhist Beliefs • The Four Noble Truths – All life is suffering and sorrow – Cause of suffering & sorrow is craving for happiness / sadness, delight / pain – End suffering and sadness by ending the craving • By giving it up, you will free yourself from it – End desire by following the Eightfold Path The Eightfold Path Buddhist Beliefs • Goal of Buddhists = nirvana – Extinction and freedom from cycle of suffering, death and rebirth • Reach the “Middle Way” – Follow the Eightfold Path – Meditate – Moderation in all things • Believed in reincarnation but rejected caste system • Also rejected idea of personal god • Rejected social, sexual distinctions; embraced egalitarian organization Buddhist Followers • At first, word spread by • • wandering monks Spread to China; today, about 300 million Buddhists worldwide Never caught on in India