Ancient India

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AncientIndia
Hinduism
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Hinduism

• Originated with the Aryans mixing cultures with
  the indigenous people.
• This included the Harappans.
• Aryans brought the polytheistic belief.
• Hindu pantheon contains over 33,000 deities.
• Multiple gods are manifestations of one reality.
• The Vedas.
• Oldest sacred book.
• Instructions for sacrifice and hymns used in
  ceremonies.
• Source of Hindu understanding of the universe.
• Created by the Aryans.
• Written in Sanskrit.
• Divided into four parts.
• Still held in high regard today.

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Hinduism

• The Upanishads
• The fourth section of the Vedas.
• Philosophical statements that become the bases
  for Hindu philosophy.
• Reincarnation
• Souls are reborn until they reach Brahman.
• Karma
• Moral and political justification for caste
  system.
• Gave hope for the poor.
• Sacred cows
• Value of cattle in Aryan pastoral society.
• Source of money and food.
• Dharma
• the Law
• Law of human behavior depending on your caste.
• Concrete vision of the future.

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HinduismDevotion to the three major gods.

• Brahman, the creator.
• Ultimate reality.
• Only two temples were dedicated to him.
• Depicted in red with three bearded faces.
• He is a depiction of all three gods.
• Vishnu, the preserver.
• A god of love, benevolence, and forgiveness.
• Believed to have appeared on earth in nine forms.
• He will return at the end of time.
• Siva, the destroyer.
• The most popular and well know god.
• Developed from the Aryan god Rudra.
• The god of death, destruction, and disease.
• The god of dance.
• The god of vegetable, animal, and human
  reproduction.
• Death is but the prelude to rebirth.

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AncientIndia
Buddhism
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BuddhismSiddhartha Gautama

• Lived from 562-483 BC.
• He is sheltered from all bad things in life until
  he travels outside his fathers palace in 533 BC.
• In the same year, he leaves the palace.
• Leaves behind everything he owns and shaves his
  head.
• Lives as a homeless wandering.
• Studies under Brahman teachers
• Develops his own disciples.
• Reaches the Great Enlightenment after seven
  weeks of meditation.
• Fully attains the status of Buddha at age 35.
• His first sermon in 528 BC established Buddhism.
• He creates both admirers and enemies.
• He dies in present day Nepal in 483 BC from food
  poisoning.

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Buddhism

• Another interpretation of Hinduism.
• Rejected the authority of the Vedas and the caste
  system.
• Offered a vision of salvation based on individual
  effort.
• Missionaries.
• Would eventually spread through China, Japan,
  Korea, and Southeast Asia.
• Slowly pushed aside in India by a resurgence of
  Hinduism.
• Also hindered by the spread of Islam.
• Buddhas teachings were based on the things he
  observed.
• Looking at life with a straight forward approach.
• The world is constantly changing, nothing is
  permanent.
• Free yourself from attachments.
• The Three Marks of Existence
• 1. Pain
• 2. Impermanence
• 3. Egolessness

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BuddhismAsoka

• Greatest ruler in the history of India.
• Originally ruled by force until becoming
  Buddhist.
• Ruled by benevolence.
• Shelters on trade routes.
• Sent out Buddhist missionaries.
• Empire declined after his death in 232 BC.

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Buddhismthe Four Noble Truths

• Life means suffering.
• Life is frustrating and painful.
• Pain, sickness, injury, tiredness, old age, and
  death.
• as happy moments pass by, we ourselves and out
  loved ones will pass away one day, too.
• The origin of suffering is attachment.
• The reasons for suffering are desire, passion,
  pursuit of wealth, and prestige, striving for
  fame and popularity, etc.
• Basically craving and clinging.
• Loss of something is inevitable, as a result
  suffering will follow.
• Objects of attachment also include self.
• self is an imaginary entity, a part of the
  universe.
• The cessation of suffering is attainment.
• Cessation can be reached by attaining nirodha.
• The unmaking of craving and attachment.
• Suffering can be overcome by removing the cause
  of suffering.
• Nirvana.
• The path to the cessation of suffering.
• The middle way between hedonism and asceticism.
• The path is like wandering on the of becoming.
• Every rebirth is subject to karma.

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Buddhismthe Eightfold Path

• Right View wisdom
• The beginning and the end of the path.
• Right thoughts and actions.
• Right Intention wisdom
• Commitment to ethical and mental
  self-improvement.
• Resist the pull of desire, feeling of anger, and
  acts of cruelty.
• Right Speech ethical conduct
• First principle of ethical conduct.
• Abstain from lies, slanderous comments, offensive
  words towards others, and idle chatter.
• Tell the truth, speak friendly, warm, and gently
  when talking to others.
• Right Action ethical conduct
• Deeds that involve bodily actions.
• Abstain from killing (including suicide),
  stealing, robbery, fraud, deceitfulness,
  dishonesty, and sexual misconduct.
• Act kindly, compassionately, honestly, respect
  the property of others, and respectful sexual
  conduct.

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Buddhismthe Eightfold Path

• Right Livelihood ethical conduct
• Money should be earned legally and peacefully.
• Avoid dealing with weapons, living beings
  (slaughtering animals, slave trade and
  prostitution), meat production, and poisons
  (including alcohol and drugs).
• Right Effort mental development
• The right work ethic.
• Prevent the creating of evil states, abandon evil
  states that have already been created, create
  good states, and maintain good states that
  already exist.
• Right Mindfulness mental development
• Be in control of your bodies senses.
• Contemplation of the body, feeling (repulsive,
  attractive, or neutral), the state of mind, and
  the phenomena.
• Right Concentration mental development
• The practice of meditation.