Text 2.1: Topic 3 Lesson 2: The Origins of Hinduism and ...€¦ · Text 2.1: Hinduism Beliefs...
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Text 2.1: Hinduism Beliefs Develop
Topic 3 Lesson 2: The Origins of Hinduism and Buddhism
BELLWORK
How did Hinduism develop in Ancient India?
OBJECTIVES
Identify the contributions of religion to the development of Hinduism
Describe the origins and central beliefs of Hinduism
Explain how Hinduism influenced life in Ancient India
Hindu Beliefs Develop
Two major religions—Hinduism and Buddhism—emerged in ancient India
The ethical and spiritual messages of these religions profoundly shaped Indian civilization
Hindu Beliefs Develop
Has no single founder and no single sacred text, but has certain basic beliefs that have evolved over 3,500 years
Grew out of the overlapping beliefs of the diverse groups who settled India
Hinduism became one of the world’s most complex religions, with countless gods and goddesses and many forms of worship existing side by side
One Force Unifying Everything
Hindu belief that everything in the universe is part of the unchanging, all-powerful spiritual force called Brahman
Brahman is too complex an idea for most people to understand
Hindus worship a variety of gods who give concrete form to Brahman
One Force Unifying EverythingThe most widely worshipped Hindu gods are:
Vishnu, the Preserver; Shiva, the Destroyer; Shakti, the female divine, who is believed to be ruthless against evil
Each can take many forms, human or animal, to represent the various aspects of Brahman with which he or she is associated
Sacred Texts Show Hindu BeliefsHindu teachings were recorded in the the Vedas in the Upanishads
These sacred texts use vivid images to examine complex ideas about the human soul and the connectedness of all life
Literary works such as the Bhagavad-Gita were also revered for their representations of Hindu beliefs
Achieving Moksha is the Goal of Life for Hindus
To Hindus, every person has atman
Some view it as being the same as Brahman, and others as being of the same as Brahman, but still different from Brahman
The ultimate goal of existence, Hindus believe, is achieving moksha
Achieving Moksha is the Goal of Life for Hindus
Some Hindus believe they must love and serve God unconditionally
Others believe they must free themselves from selfish desires that separate them from Brahman
People cannot achieve moksha in one lifetime, but Hindus believe in reincarnation
Achieving Moksha is the Goal of Life for Hindus
Reincarnation allows people to continue working toward moksha through several lifetimes
Karma
In each existence a person can come closer to achieving moksha by obeying the law of karma
Someone's good and moral actions leads to good results either in this lifetime or the next; a life filled with misdeeds will lead to hardship and suffering in either this life or the next
Karma
Hindus believe that all existence is within Brahman so all things are treated with great respect and even venerated
Dharma
To escape the cycle of birth and rebirth, Hinduism stresses the importance of dharma, religious and moral duties of an individual
These duties include concepts such as truthfulness, and living in moderation
May also vary according to one's role in society, gender, and age
Ahimsa
Another key moral principle of Hinduism is ahimsa, non violence
All people and things are aspects of Brahman and therefore deserve to be respected