QuAesTio: Why do Hinduism and Buddhism have so

much in common? Nunc AgEnda: Read the Jainism article individually and answer the

questions

Development of Hinduism• Vedic Period (1500-500 BCE)

– Syncretism (merging of religions) between Aryans and Non-Aryans, Aryan gods dominate

– Aryans worshipped nature gods, important in Vedas

– All gods are manifestations of Brahman (the One Supreme Power of the Universe)

– Later, three gods seen as main gods under Brahman, called the Trimurt• Brahma- Creator• Vishnu- Preserver• Shiva- Destroyer

Development of Buddhism• Ascetic Reform Period (500-200 BCE)– Upanishads (explanation of Vedas by

Indian philosophers) written, teach new ideas about life, death, and desire, focus on asceticism

– Siddhartha Gautama, aka The Buddha (Enlightened One), Hindu prince in Nepal (north near Himalayas), disturbed by the world of suffering, teaches new philosophy about rejecting all desires to achieve enlightenment

– Later, Hinduism adopts similar ideas as it takes its modern form

Dharmic Religions

Read the primary and secondary sources and answer

the following questions. You may work individually, in pairs,

or in groups of three or four.

Summary

On the bottom of your sheet, answer the aim in paragraph

form using all you have learned from the homework essay and

today’s class

PENSAStudents will read Chapter 3

Sections 2 and 3 in the textbook and write a one-page essay

comparing and contrasting the teachings of Hinduism and

Buddhism.