Hinduism and Buddhism Background for

Siddhartha

Hinduism and Buddhism

 Hinduism  Emerged in India 2000-1500 B.C.

 One of the World ’ s oldest living religions  No individual founder  No “ bible ” but several religious texts   Rig Veda: oldest—hymns, rituals, etc. Polytheistic Upanishads: newer—philosophical—monotheistic

 Structure of Hindu Society/Caste System (4 Castes)  Brahmans = Priests  Kshatriyas = Warriors  Vaisyas = Merchants  Shudras = Laborers (Castes are a religious hierarchy, not an economic one)  Two Classes “ Outside ” Caste System  Sadhus [samanas]/wandering monks  Untouchables

 Some Essential Concepts of Hinduism:  Reincarnation  Karma = good deeds/bad deeds that determine rebirth  Maya = illusion (the earth often represented Maya)  Samsara = the false world itself/the product of illusion  Yoga = the process of meditation  Yogi = spiritual teacher/adviser  Atman = the individual soul/the divine part of a person

 Brahman = the universal soul (the divine/God)  Enlightenment/liberation = the realization that Atman and Brahman are identical  Reform: Buddhism began as a reform to Hinduism  Buddha did not believe in the Caste System or in many of the traditions of Hinduism  Buddha (c. 563-483 B.C.)  Named Shakyamuni (known as Siddhartha Gotama)  He was a prince  Recognized at birth as special by wise men. They believed he would be a special monk or great conquerer

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The Four Sights - at 29 he left the palace and saw:

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A sick man

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An old man

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A dead man

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A monk

What could this mean?

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Wandering –

He decided to leave the palace and seek the truth for himself. He tried to follow these methods to attain truth/enlightenment:  Dharma—doing one ’ s duty to family, etc.

 Kama—pleasure, especially sexual  Artha – Wealth, money, material possessions  Moksha—Liberation/Retirement 

Attainment –

Nothing worked. Finally, desperate for meaning, he sat under the bodhi (bo) tree and inteneded not to arise until he attained enlightenment or else died. He became enlightened and proceeded to teach “ 4 noble truths ” :

 Life is suffering  The cause of suffering is desire/selfishness  Suffering can be stopped  The way to end suffering is to follow the eight-fold path of Buddhism—Basically the “ middle-way ” ; avoid excess  Theory of Dependent Origination at heart of Buddhism  Everything is caused by something else (cause/effect)    Nothing exists on its own Nothing is permanent or unchangeable Everything can be changed