2ND SEM

• Hinduism


  The oldest major religion, 5000 years old, 3rd largest, traditional religion of India originating in the Indus Valley, polytheistic, no founder
• Aum


  The most sacred symbol in Hinduism, like calling god's name, said three times before chanting any prayer
• Vedas


  • Rigveda
  • Yajur Veda
  • Sama Veda
  • Artharva Veda
• Vedas


  • Collection of Hindu writings, considered the oldest writings, "to know", divinely given or revealed knowledge
• Parts of the Vedas


  • Samhita - prayers and hymns
  • Brahmanas - provide info and explain rituals, ceremonies, and importance of saying prayers
  • Aranyakas - contains reflections on interpretations
  • Upanishads - writings about the universe's origins, characteristics of god, and the presence of the atman or soul in all living beings
• Brahman


  The one supreme being that Hindus believe in and worship in various forms
• Hindu worship


  Believe god is omnipresent and may be represented in feminine and masculine ways, have a small shrine in the home with an image of the family's chosen god and associated objects
• Hindu trinity


  • Brahma
  • Vishnu
  • Shiva
• Brahma


  The creator, first of the Trimurti, has four heads, four faces, and four arms, often pictured holding a holy scripture, lord of sacrifices
• Vishnu


  The preserver, one of the most important Hindu gods, has four arms holding a conch shell, discus, locust, and mace, peaceful, merciful and compassionate, rides a bird
• Shiva


  The destroyer of evil, holds a trushul, rides a white bull, often seen wearing a tiger skin
• Mandir


  The Hindu place of worship, considered the "home of god", each one is dedicated to a god or deity
• Ganesha


  The elephant-headed god, son of Shiva and Parvati, god of wisdom, success, and good luck, one of the most worshipped Hindu gods
• 4 basic Hindu beliefs

  • Dharma - moral balance of all things
  • Karma - good deeds lead to good things, bad deeds lead to bad things, reincarnation into higher or lower forms
  • Reincarnation (Samsara) - the immortal soul is reborn into a new entity after death
  • Moksha - when the soul becomes free from the cycle of rebirth and becomes one with god
• Hindu caste system


  • Brahmins (priests, teachers)
  • Kshatriyas (rulers, warriors)
  • Vaishyas (landowners, merchants)
  • Sudras (servants)
  • Dalits (untouchables, do the dirtiest jobs)
• Confucianism


  Unlike other religions, it professes no belief in deities or an afterlife, has no clergy, sacred places or fixed religious services, its texts do not contain divine revelation
• Confucius


  The founder of Confucianism, a Chinese teacher and philosopher, the religion is based on his writings and teachings
• Ren/Jen


  Virtue, love, humanity, benevolence, true manhood, the essence of all virtues and the ground of human dignity
• Confucian virtues


  • De - virtue acquired through learning and living a virtuous life
  • Li - propriety, the proper ritual of a civilized life
  • Hsiao/Xiao - filial piety, respect and concern for parents and superiors
  • Yi - righteousness without selfish motives
  • Cheng-ming - right use of words, bringing character and actions into agreement with normative ideals
• Confucian scriptures


  • Wu Ching - 4 early writings edited by Confucius and 1 ascribed to him

  Shu Ching - Classic of History, ancient documents and political science

  I Ching - Classic of Changes, used for foretelling the future

  Shi Ching - Classic of Poetry, earliest literary tradition of China

  Li-Chi - Classic of Rites, principles of conduct

  Ch'un Ch'iu - Spring and Autumn Annals, chronicle of major historical events

  Si Shu - sayings of Confucius and Mencius and commentaries by followers
• Siddhartha Gautama was the founder of Buddhism
• Siddhartha Gautama


  • Born into a wealthy family, prophecies said he would become a spiritual leader if he left home, his family kept him sheltered, at age 29 he snuck out and saw an old man, a sick man, a corpse, and a holy man, decided his mission was to find inner peace and freedom from suffering
• The order of people Siddhartha Gautama saw were: 1. Old Man, 2. [missing], 3. Sick Man, 4. Corpse, 5. Holy Man
• Mencius


  Writings of Meng Tzu (371-289 BCE), one of Confucius's great students and followers who traveled from state to state conversing with government rulers
• Buddhism


  Founded by Siddhartha Gautama
• Siddhartha Gautama


  • Born into a wealthy family
  • Prophecies stated he would become a king if he stayed home, or a spiritual leader if he left
  • His family chose to keep him sheltered at home, not allowing him to leave
• Gautama's journey


  1. Lived in luxury and safety in the palace

  2. At age 29, snuck out and realized the world outside was the opposite of what he was used to at home

  3. Saw an old man, then a sick man, then a corpse, followed by a holy man who seemed at peace

  4. Decided his mission would be to find inner peace and freedom from suffering
• Order of people Gautama saw


  • Old Man
  • Sick Man
  • Dead Man
  • Ascetic Man
• Gautama's path to enlightenment

  1. First tried fasting, debating others, and wandering through forests

  2. After 49 days of meditation under the Bodhi Tree, reached enlightenment and became the Buddha
• Tripitaka


  The three-part Buddhist scriptures, consisting of Sutras, Vinaya, and Abhidhamma
• Forms of Tripitaka


  • Pali (Chinese Version)
  • Sanskrit (Tibetan Version)
• Three parts of Tripitaka


  • Sutras - a collection of sermons and fables
  • Vinaya - a collection of monastic laws
  • Abhidhamma - a collection of moral and metaphysical treatises
• The Four Noble Truths


  • The truth of suffering (Dukkha)
  • The truth about the cause of suffering (Samudaya/Tanha)
  • The truth of the end of suffering (Nirodha)
  • The truth of the path that ends the suffering (Magga)
• Dukkha


  There is suffering in the world. To live is to suffer.
• Samudaya/Tanha


  The cause of suffering is self-centered desire and attachments
• Nirodha


  The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments
• Magga


  To reach nirvana (release from pain), one must follow the eightfold path
• The Noble Eightfold Path

  • Right Speech (Samma Vaca)
  • Right Action (Samma Kammanta)
  • Right Livelihood (Samma Ajiva)
  • Right Effort (Samma Vayama)
  • Right Mindfulness (Samma Sati)
  • Right Concentration (Samma Samadhi)
  • Right Understanding (Samma Ditthi)
  • Right Thought (Samma Samkappa)
• Right Speech


  Perfect speech or Right speech is one of the truthful, affectionate, helpful, and which promotes concord, harmony, and unity. Imperfect speech or wrong speech is untruthful, harsh, harmful, and which promotes discord, disharmony, and disunity.
• Right Livelihood


  Avoid occupations/trades that cause suffering to oneself and others, such as dealing in arms/lethal weapons, intoxicating drinks, poisons, killing animals, cheating, and human beings. The guiding principle is to work for the happiness of oneself and others.