Culture and Religion in SOUTH ASIA

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Culture and ReligioninSOUTH ASIA
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CULTURE OF SOUTH ASIA

• A culturally fragmented region
• Religious and linguistic diversity
• Religions
• Islam is predominant in Pakistan and Bangladesh
  (165 million in India).
• Hinduism is predominant in India.
• Sikhism thrives in northern India.
• Buddhism is predominant in Sri Lanka.

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• Hinduism emerged from the beliefs and practices
  brought to India by the Aryans. (6th century BC)
• Buddhism emerged during the 6th century BC
  made the state religion of India in 3rd century
  BC
• Islam swept through central India from the 8th
  -10th centuries AD

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HINDUISM

• One of the worlds oldest religions.
• Not just a religion also a culture in itself.

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MAJOR TENETS OF HINDUISM

• Three main ideas are important in understanding
  the Hindu religion and the caste system
• Reincarnation
• Karma
• Dharma

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REINCARNATION

• Every living thing has a soul.
• When a living thing dies, its soul moves into
  another living creature.
• Souls are reborn in a newly created life.

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CASTE SYSTEM
1) Brahmans, the priestly and learned class 2)
Kshatriyas, the warriors and rulers 3)
Vaisyas, farmers and merchants 4) Sudras,
peasants and laborers. 5) Panchamas, the
untouchables who performed the most
menial tasks.
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KARMA

• Every action brings about certain results.
• There is no escaping the consequences of ones
  actions.
• Good behavior is rewarded when the soul is reborn
  into a higher ranking living creature.

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DHARMA

• A set of rules that must be followed by all
  living things if they wish to work their way up
  the ladder of reincarnation.
• Each persons dharma is different.

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THREE BASIC PRACTICES

• Puja or worship
• Cremation of the dead
• Regulations of the caste system

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RELIGIOUS CONTRASTS

• ISLAM
• Monotheistic
• No idols
• One sacred book
• Uniform dogma - 5 pillars
• Intolerant (of other religions)
• Eat beef/Sacrifice cows
• Bury Dead
• Social Equality (in theory)
• Theocratic society

• HINDUISM
• Polytheistic
• Many idols
• Various sacred writings
• Varying beliefs
• Absorbed other religions
• Venerate cows
• Burn dead ( alive)
• Caste separation
• State of secondary importance

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BUDDHISM
Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (563 - 483 B.C.)

• Focuses on knowledge, especially self-knowledge
• Elimination of worldly desires, determination not
  to hurt or kill people or animals

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FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

• Sorrow and suffering are part of all life.
• People suffer because they desire things they
  cannot have.
• The way to escape suffering is to end desire.
• To end desire, follow the middle path.

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EIGHTFOLD PATH TO THE MIDDLE WAY

• Right understanding
• Right purpose
• Right speech
• Right conduct
• Right means of earning a living
• Right effort
• Right awareness
• Right meditation