ITWR 4TH QTR

• Hinduism


  The oldest major religion, 5000 years old, the 3rd largest religion, the traditional religion of India, originated in the Indus Valley, not based on the teachings of a person or group of people
• Hinduism

  • Polytheistic religion
  • Aum is the most sacred symbol, generally said three times before chanting any prayer
• Vedas


  The holy writings, a collection of Hindu writings, considered to be the oldest writings, Veda means "to know", believed to be divinely given (by god) or revealed knowledge
• Parts of the Vedas

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


  Believe in one supreme being called Brahman, worship that one god in various forms, believe god is omnipresent (always present) everywhere in all living things, believe the deity may be represented in feminine and masculine ways
• Hindu trinity

  Composed of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, Hindus believe in more than one god or deity, they are polytheistic, worshippers will devote themselves to one god, their personal deity
• Brahma


  • The creator, supreme being, the 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 of the Hindu gods, has four arms holding a conch shell, discus, locust, and mace, peaceful merciful and compassionate, rides a bird named Garuda
• 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 to be the "home of god", each mandir is dedicated to a god or deity
• Ganesha


  • The elephant-headed god, son of God Shiva and Goddess Parvati, a very popular god in Hindu Religion, god of wisdom, success, and good luck
• 4 basic Hindu beliefs

  • Dharma - the moral balance of all things
  • Karma - the concept that if you do good deeds, good things will happen in your life, if you do bad deeds, bad things will happen in your life
  • Reincarnation (Samsara) - the concept that the soul is immortal, and all life forms are reborn into a new entity after death
  • Moksha - when your soul becomes free from the cycle of rebirth and is no longer reincarnated, happens after you reach the highest level of rebirth
• The five classes - caste system

  • Brahmans (priests, teachers)
  • Kshatriyas (rulers, warriors)
  • Vaishyas (landowners, merchants)
  • Sudras (servants)
  • Dalits (fifth case) = the untouchable or polluted, responsible for doing the dirtiest jobs
• Confucianism


  Unlike other religious worldviews, it professes no belief in deities or in an afterlife, and has no clergy, sacred places and fixed religious services, its collection of revered texts does not contain divine revelation
• Confucius


  Chinese teacher and philosopher, the religion is based on his writings and teaching, most contains moral message, his students gathered a collection of his sayings after his death, his writings became a philosophy - system of beliefs and values, that became known as Confucianism
• Jen (Ren)


  Virtue, love, humanity, benevolence, true manhood, the essence of all virtues and the ground of human dignity, the primary principle of human actions and the principle of moral justification
• Confucian Virtues


  • Li - propriety, the "form of moral life" and "the proper ritual of a civilized life"
  • Yi - righteousness, the virtue which has no selfish motives and without any thought of oneself
  • Hsiao - filial piety, the cardinal virtue of the Confucian virtues, respect and concern toward parents and superiors
  • Cheng-ming - right use of words, bringing one's character and actions into agreement with the normative ideals built into names of fundamental relationships
• Confucian Scriptures

  • Wu Ching (Five Classics) - includes four early writings edited by Confucius, and one ascribed to him
  • Si Shu (Four Books) - contain the sayings of Confucius and Mencius and commentaries by followers on their teachings
• Shu Ching (Book of History)


  A collection of ancient documents and political science in Chinese history, history is regarded as a way for humanity to reflect on past events and learn from them, introduces the concept of the Mandate of Heaven
• I Ching (Book of Changes)


  Was used for foretelling the future, an oracle used to analyze situations and to decide the proper course of action
• Shi Ching (Book of Poetry)


  The earliest literary tradition of China, a collection of songs and poetry from imperial poets and farming peasants, illustrations of people's feeling towards the government
• Li-Chi (Book of Rites)


  Deals with the principles of conduct, ritual is central to Confucianism as it separates humans from animals and reinforces the concept of universal order, the social hierarchy, and the order of the state
• Ch'un Ch'iu (Spring and Autumn Annals)


  A chronicle of major historical events compiled by Confucius himself from his home state of Lu between the years of 782 BC and 481 BC
• Ta Hsueh (Great Learning)


  Contains some of Confucius's philosophical utterances arranged with comments and explanations by his disciples
• Chung Yung (Central Harmony)


  Deals with the basis of moral Law
• Meng Tze/U (Book of Mencius)


  The writings of Meng Tzu (371-289BCE), one of Confucius's great student and follower
• Si Shu (Four Books)


  Contain the sayings of Confucius and Mencius and commentaries by followers on their teachings
• Si Shu (Four Books)

  • Lun Yu
  • Chung Yung
  • Ta Hsueh
  • Meng Tzu
• Lun-Yu or Analects (Discourses of Confucius)


  Consists of twenty books or chapters, mostly relating short anecdotes about Confucius. These are composed of questions asked by disciples and other persons, and his replies, as well as of stories telling how he acted in different situations
• Siddhartha Gautama (Founder of Buddhism) was born in a wealthy family and prophecies stated that if he stayed home, he would become a king and if he left home he would become a spiritual leader
• Gautama felt that the world has so much more to offer than his home, so at age 29 he snuck out
• What Gautama first sees outside the palace

  • An old man
  • A sick man
  • A dead man
  • An ascetic man
• How Gautama tried to teach religious enlightenment

  1. Fasting

  2. Debating others

  3. Wandering through forests
• It was only after meditation for 49 days under a tree (Bodhi Tree) where Gautama was able to reach enlightenment (perfect understanding of the world) and earn the title "The Enlightened One', otherwise known as The Buddha
• Three parts of the Tripitaka


  • Sutras - collection of sermons and fables
  • Vinaya - collection of monastic laws
  • Abhidhamma - collection of moral and metaphysical treatises
• Forms of Buddhist Teachings

  • The Pali (Chinese Version)
  • Sanskrit (Tibetan Version)
• 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)
• The truth of Suffering (Dukkha)


  There is suffering in the world. To live is to suffer. The Buddha found this out when he was young and experienced suffering and death in others
• The truth about the cause of suffering (Samudaya/Tanha)


  The cause of suffering is self-centered desire and attachments
• The truth of the end of suffering (Nirodha)


  The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments