Hinduism and Buddhism Review PDF

**HINDUISM** ➤ World\'s Largest Hindu Temple in **New Delhi** ➤ the oldest religion ➤ It is 5000 years old and is the 3rd largest ➤ It is the traditional religion of India, originated in the Indus Valley. ➤ based on God-given truths or laws, and is a way of life based on universal principles ➤...

**HINDUISM** ➤ World\'s Largest Hindu Temple in **New Delhi** ➤ the oldest religion ➤ It is 5000 years old and is the 3rd largest ➤ It is the traditional religion of India, originated in the Indus Valley. ➤ based on God-given truths or laws, and is a way of life based on universal principles ➤Hindu influences remain in Thailand, Malaysia and Bali, in Indonesia ➤It has no founder ➤ Hinduism is a polytheistic religion ➤ Aryans came to India and settled along the Ganges river. ➤ The Aryans religious hymns, called the Rig Veda, were adopted by the Hindus and are the most sacred writings of Hinduism. ➤ animal sacrifice to the gods was an important part of their religion Vedas are a collection of Hindu writings ➤ Considered to be world\'s oldest writings ➤ Veda means \"to know\" ➤ divinely given or revealed knowledge ➤Vedas are divided into 4 scriptures: **Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Vedas** ➤each Veda has 4 parts ➤1. \"**Mantras**\" - prayers and hymns ➤2. **Brahmanas** \"priests\" - provide information and explain the rituals, ceremonies and importance of saying prayers 3\. **Aranyakas** \"the forest books\"- written for hermits and saints who lived simple lives 4\. **Upanishads** \"sitting down near\" - writings about the origins of the universe, characteristics of God and the presence of the atman or soul **Rig Veda** - the oldest and most important section of the Vedas. The Rig Veda tells of 33 gods, all of whom are born of one creator, Brahman. **Hindu trinity** **Braham**. The Creator supreme presence, or God all other gods **Vishnu**: The Preserver of the universe Maintains balance between good and evil. **Shiva**: The Destroyer Worshipped as the destroyer or reproducer G: **Generator** - this represents God\'s ability to create things O: **Operator** - this represents God\'s ability to preserve things and keep them going D: **Destroyer** - this represents God\'s ability to destroy things. **Worship in the Home** have a small shrine that contains an image of the family\'s chosen god, and objects associated with them **Puja** is the name given to the ritualistic worship **tray Items** **on the Puja** Bell, Food, Holy Water, Incense stick, Lamp **Worship in the Mandir** mandir or temple. \"home of God\" each mandir is dedicated to a god or deity 4 Basic Hindu Beliefs 1\. **Dharma** is the moral balance of all things played out in all aspects of life: religious, social, family 2\. **Karma** is the belief that a person experiences the effects of his or her actions-that every act or thought has consequences. 3\. **Samsara** (Reincarnation) represents the cycle of life, death and rebirth in which a person carries his or her own karma depends upon actions in a past life. 4\. **Moksha** like heaven for the Christian. The ultimate reward is a release from samsara and union with God. **BUDDHISM** "middle way of wisdom and compassion" A 2500 year old tradition that began in **India** A philosophy, religion, and spiritual practice followed by more than 300 million people Based on the teachings of the Buddha **The "Three Jewels" of Buddhism** **Buddha (**teacher**) Dharma (**teachings**)** **Sangha (**community) **BUDDHA** - Born **Siddhartha Gautama** -- of noble caste in India, 563 B.C.E. - Raised in great luxury to be a king - Empathy for the suffering of others; at age 29 rejected the life of luxury to seek enlightenment and the solution to suffering - Rejected this extreme, sat in meditation, achieved *Nirvana* -- an awakening to the truth about life, becoming a Buddha, the "Awakened One"at the age of 35 - Spent the remaining 45 years of his life teaching others how to achieve the peace of mind he had achieved **The Four Noble Truths:** To live is to suffer The cause of suffering is self-centered desire & attachments The solution is to eliminate desire and attachment, thus achieving *Nirvana* ("extinction") The way to *Nirvana* is through the "Eight-Fold Path" **Eight-Fold Path** - Right motivation - Right speech - Right action Right livelihood Right effort Right mindfulness Right meditation **BUDDHIST BELIELVE** - Rebirth (reincarnation) results from attachments (karma) - *Nirvana* is a peaceful, detached state of mind - Achieving *Nirvana* means escape from the cycle of rebirth - Buddhism is non-theistic: *Buddha* is *not* the Buddhist God -- he is just a revered teacher **Buddhist Metaphysics** ***Dukkha*:** life in this world is filled with suffering ***Anicca*:** everything in this world is impermanent ***Anatta*:** the self/soul is also impermanent -- there is no eternal, unchanging self **Suffering is a state of mind --** achieve a balanced, peaceful, detached state of mind and suffering can be extinguished **(*Nirvana*)** **Buddhist texts** ***Tripitaka* (the *Pali* Cannon) -- the "Three Baskets":** ***Vinaya* ("discipline") --** rules for monastic life ***Sutta* ("discourse") --** sermons of the Buddha ***Abhidhamma*** (metaphysical "teachings") ***Dhammapada* --** collected sayings of the *Buddha* **Schools of Buddhism** **Theravada** The "Way of the Elders" (a.k.a.: the "small vehicle") **Mahayana** The "Great Vehicle" **Tibetan** *Vajrayana* -- the "Diamond Vehicle" **Zen** "meditation" **Confucianism** -Emphasizes the ethical dimension of the world, serve as the foundation of Chinese society. also known as **Ruism**, philosophy, religion Developed from the teachings of **Confucius** and his disciples: **Mencius** and **Hzun Tzu** **Zhou Dynasty** the second historical dynasty in China. **Zhou Period** technological growth led to trading development, which led to a remarkable increase in wealth. **Confucius** Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history. Latinized version of **Kongzi** and the honorific **Kong Fuzi** both meaning **\"Master Kong"** born on **september 28 on 551 B.C.E.** Lu (now Shantung Province) in Qufu. His personal name was **Qui** and his family name was **Kong**. died in **479 B.C.E** at the age of **73.** **The Confucian Classics** **Book of changes** **Book of history** **Book of poetry** **Classic rites** **Analects** **THE FIVE RELATIONSHIPS** **1. ruler-Subject** **2. father-son** **3. husband-wife** **4. elder and younger brother** **5. friend and friend.** **The Five Constants** **Ren or** benevolence (social hierarchy) **yi or** righteousness **li or** propriety (concrete guide to human action and social order) **zhi or** knowledge/wisdom **xin or** fidelity (faithful) **THE FOUR RITES** **Coming of age rites** reached the marriageable age **Capping** male teenager\'s hair in bun/coil **Hair Pinning** gathering of a girl\'s hair into a knot **Mourning Rites** exerting effort to recover the deceased **Marriage Ceremonies** marriage is considered as a central feature of society **Sacrificial Rituals** - descendants of the deceased ancestors. Sacrifices are often given at festivals. **THEORIES** **1. Theory of value** **2. theory of knowledge** **3. theory of human nature** **4.theory of learning** **5. theory of transmission** **6. theory of society** **7. theory of opportunity** **8. theory of consensus** **Taoism** - Definition: Taoism is a religious tradition from China, focusing on spiritual philosophy and a person's outlook on life. - Historical Context: Originated \~2,500 years ago, contemporary with Confucius. **Practice of Taoism** - Current Followers: Practiced in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, and globally. - Development Periods: **Proto-Daoism**: Up to 2nd century C.E. **Classical Taoism**: Established by Zhang Taoling in 142 C.E. **Modern Taoism**: Notable during the Song Dynasty and post-1949. **Fundamental Concepts** **Tao** (The Way): Represents the ultimate reality and the natural order. Translated as \"the way\" and associated with harmony in life. **Yin and Yang**: Opposing energies essential for dynamic balance in nature. Yin: Cold, dark, passive, associated with the earth. Yang: Warm, bright, active, associated with the heavens. **Wu-Wei**: The principle of \"non-action;\" living in harmony with nature by yielding rather than resisting. Historical Figures **Lao Tzu:** Foundational figure, author of \"Tao Te Ching,\" which emphasizes simplicity and naturalness. - Born in 604 B.C.E.; believed to have been 82 years old at birth. - Advocated for harmony with nature and government disillusionment. **Important Texts** **Tao Te Ching**: Foundational text of Taoism, consisting of 81 chapters, reflecting profound teachings about harmony with nature and life. **Chuang Tzu:** Expanded Taoist philosophy with a focus on self-transformation and deeper philosophical narratives. Philosophical Implications **Nature of Reality:** Reality is composed of opposites; existence is a continuous transformation. **Non-judgmental Perspective**: Taoism avoids absolute moral judgments, favoring relativity in moral values. Virtues in Taoism - Primary Virtues: - Humility and non-competition. - Wu-Wei as a principle of engaging minimally while being highly effective. - Emphasis on naturalness, passive understanding, and harmony with the universe**.**