Transcript Belief Systems of South Asia Notes

Belief Systems
Ancient South Asia
HINDUISM
BUDDHISM
What is similar?
Point of origin
Reincarnation
Goal: Afterlife? End samsara
Karma, dharma
–Ahimsa
Hinduism: terms to know…
“Aryans” – Vedas (Vedic Age)
Caste System
– Brahman Class
– Atman
Reincarnation - Moksha
Karma, Dharma
– ahimsa
Buddhism: terms to know…
Siddhartha Gautama
– Tripitaka (3 Baskets of Wisdom)
Reincarnation
Dharma, Karma
Nirvana
– Ahimsa
– 8 Fold Path
– 4 Noble Truths
Different Approaches - 2 Sects:
– Theravada and Mahayana
What is different?
Caste – rejected by Buddhism
Existence of Gods
Family life vs. monastic life
Priestly class vs. self-directed
Adaptability:
ethnic vs. universal
Spread of Hinduism
Spread of Hinduism (7th C)
Spread of Buddhism
Impact on Areas Outside India?
Southeast Asia
– Why might local leaders have
purposefully introduced Hindu beliefs?
Why do you think overtime Buddhism
overtook Hinduism in this region?
East Asia: China, Korea and Japan
– Why might Buddhism be so appealing to
East Asian culture?
Impact on Indian
Empires of the
Classical Age?