Belief SystemsBelief Systems

Ancient South AsiaAncient South Asia

HINDUISM BUDDHISM

What is similar?What is similar?

Point of originPoint of origin

ReincarnationReincarnation

Goal: Afterlife? End samsaraGoal: Afterlife? End samsara

Karma, dharmaKarma, dharma–AhimsaAhimsa

Hinduism: terms to know…Hinduism: terms to know…

““Aryans” – Vedas (Vedic Age)Aryans” – Vedas (Vedic Age)

Caste SystemCaste System– Brahman ClassBrahman Class– AtmanAtman

Reincarnation - MokshaReincarnation - MokshaKarma, DharmaKarma, Dharma– ahimsaahimsa

Buddhism: terms to know…Buddhism: terms to know…Siddhartha GautamaSiddhartha Gautama– Tripitaka (3 Baskets of Wisdom)Tripitaka (3 Baskets of Wisdom)

ReincarnationReincarnationDharma, KarmaDharma, KarmaNirvanaNirvana– AhimsaAhimsa– 8 Fold Path8 Fold Path– 4 Noble Truths4 Noble Truths

Different Approaches - 2 Sects:Different Approaches - 2 Sects:– Theravada and MahayanaTheravada and Mahayana

What is different?What is different?

Caste – rejected by BuddhismCaste – rejected by Buddhism

Existence of GodsExistence of Gods

Family life vs. monastic lifeFamily life vs. monastic life

Priestly class vs. self-directedPriestly class vs. self-directed

Adaptability: Adaptability: ethnic vs. universalethnic vs. universal

Spread of Hinduism

Spread of Hinduism (7th C)

Spread of Buddhism

Impact on Areas Outside India?Impact on Areas Outside India?

Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia– Why might local leaders have Why might local leaders have

purposefully introduced Hindu beliefs? purposefully introduced Hindu beliefs? Why do you think overtime Buddhism Why do you think overtime Buddhism overtook Hinduism in this region?overtook Hinduism in this region?

East Asia: China, Korea and JapanEast Asia: China, Korea and Japan– Why might Buddhism be so appealing to Why might Buddhism be so appealing to

East Asian culture?East Asian culture?

Impact on Impact on Indian Indian

Empires of Empires of the Classical the Classical

Age?Age?