Essential Question: Why is Hinduism considered to be a monistic faith?
I. A New Religion
A. A Changing Society
1. Between 1500 B.C. and 500 A.D., a caste system began to take shape, where
four varnas or social classes appeared in Indian society
a. First varna - Rulers and warriors
b. Second varna - Brahmins, priests and scholars
-Over the centuries, Brahmins rose to the first varna
c. Third varna - Merchants, traders, and farmers
d. Fourth varna - Peasants who worked in the fields and were owned by
others
e. Fifth group - Pariahs or �untouchables� who were only allowed to
perform jobs that were considered unclean (skinning animals, preparing
the dead for a funeral)
-They were viewed as being outside the varnas, though
still considered part of the caste system
B. Hinduism
1. According to the Upanishads (written explanations of the Vedic religion), a
divine essence called Brahman fills everything in the world
a. In addition, people have an individual essence called Self or Atman
b. Hinduism teaches that Brahman and Atman are one and the same
-In other words, all things in the universe are the same essence as
God
-This belief in the unity of God and creation is called
monism (not to be confused with monotheism)
2. Hindu Beliefs
a. Hinduism teaches that the world we see is an illusion
-If people accept this illusion, called maya, they can�t be saved
b. People gain salvation only if they reject maya
-According to Hinduism, it can take many lifetimes to fully
reject maya, resulting in ones soul being reborn again and
again or reincarnated
c. Two important principles of Hinduism are dharma and kharma
-Dharma means doing ones duty in life so the soul can advance
-Kharma is the good or bad force created by a person�s actions
d. People who fulfill their dharma gain good kharma and are
born into a higher social group in the next life
-People who did not live moral lives will be reborn as members
of lower groups or animals
e. In time, your soul will reach perfect peace or nirvana
-At that point, the cycle of reincarnation is complete and
the individuals soul unites with Brahman
f. The Hindu god Brahma can be represented as a number of gods
-Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, Siva the Destroyer
can all be forms of Brahma
-In addition, other gods are represented in the trees, animals or
people, but each is a part of Brahma
_________________________________________________________________
India (Buddhism)
Essential Question: What were the basic beliefs of Buddhism?
I. Buddhism
A. Arose in India around 530 B.C.
1. Founded by Siddhartha Guatama, who was shocked by the challenges and
tragedies of everyday life
a. He vowed to discover the reasons for human suffering
B. The Buddha�s Teachings
1. The Buddha accepted some of the Hindu ideas, including reincarnation
2. He taught that salvation comes from knowing the �Four Noble Truths�
and following the �Eightfold Path.�
a. Four Noble Truths
-Human life involves suffering and sorrow
-Pleasure and material things causes suffering and sorrow
-Getting rid of desires frees people from suffering and helps
their soul gain nirvana
-The Eightfold Path leads to denial of desire and attainment of
nirvana
b. The Eightfold Path
-Right Views: seeing life as it really is
-Right Intentions: striving toward perfection
-Right Speech: avoiding lies and gossip
-Right Action: trying to be a law-abiding citizen
-Right Living: avoiding work that harms others
-Right Effort: seeking to prevent evil
-Right Mindfulness: constant awareness on one�s self
-Right Concentration: meditation
3. Buddha taught ethics - a code of moral conduct
a. Buddha did not accept the Hindu gods, but taught that priests should
live peaceful lives of poverty
b. According to Buddhism, anyone - regardless of caste - could reach
nirvana
C. The Spread of Buddhism
1. At first Buddhism gained little following; however, over time, it won wide
appeal in Asia
a. As contacts increased between India and Asia, Buddhism spread
-In India it began to gain more followers, but was strongly
opposed by the Brahmins
-Overtime, Buddhism declined in India