Hinduism and Buddhism both believe in reincarnation and karma. However, Hinduism is polytheistic and believes in gods like Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, while Buddhism does not believe in gods. Buddhists also believe the path to nirvana is through following the Eightfold Path and eliminating desire, while Hindus seek to achieve moksha through obeying their dharma and accumulating good karma over multiple lifetimes. The caste system also influences Hindu beliefs and duties but Buddhism rejects the caste system.

1. Hinduism and BuddhismHinduism and Buddhism
EQ:EQ:
1.What are the main beliefs of1.What are the main beliefs of
Hinduism?Hinduism?
2. What are the main beliefs of2. What are the main beliefs of
Buddhism?Buddhism?

2. HinduismHinduism ––
Background InformationBackground Information
 Hinduism is aHinduism is a polytheisticpolytheistic religionreligion
that started in India.that started in India.
 Sacred Texts:Sacred Texts: Vedas, Ramayana,Vedas, Ramayana,
Bhagavad-GitaBhagavad-Gita
 There isThere is no single founderno single founder of theof the
religion.religion.
– Hindu beliefs are a combination of theHindu beliefs are a combination of the
beliefs of the early Indus Valley peoplesbeliefs of the early Indus Valley peoples
and the Aryans.and the Aryans.

3. Hindu GodsHindu Gods
 PolytheisticPolytheistic: Hindus: Hindus
believe in many gods;believe in many gods;
gods can be in manygods can be in many
forms, includingforms, including
animals and humans;animals and humans;
 BrahmaBrahma - the Creator- the Creator
 VishnuVishnu - the Preserver- the Preserver
 ShivaShiva - the Destroyer- the Destroyer

4. Main Beliefs of HinduismMain Beliefs of Hinduism
 ReincarnationReincarnation:: after death,after death,
souls are reborn into anothersouls are reborn into another
form; reincarnation isform; reincarnation is
determined by karma anddetermined by karma and
dharma;dharma;
 AhimsaAhimsa: moral principle of: moral principle of
nonviolence; Hindus believenonviolence; Hindus believe
that all things are aspects ofthat all things are aspects of
brahman, therefore theybrahman, therefore they
should be respected;should be respected;

5. Main Beliefs of HinduismMain Beliefs of Hinduism
 KarmaKarma: all the actions of a: all the actions of a
person's life that affects hisperson's life that affects his
or her fate in the next life;or her fate in the next life;
– People who earn a goodPeople who earn a good
karma are reborn at akarma are reborn at a
higher level of existence;higher level of existence;
 DharmaDharma: the religious and: the religious and
moral duties of anmoral duties of an
individual; duties varyindividual; duties vary
according to class,according to class,
occupation, gender or age;occupation, gender or age;
– by obeying one'sby obeying one's
dharma, a persondharma, a person
acquires merit for theacquires merit for the
nextnext lifelife

6. Karma = actionsKarma = actions
Dharma = dutiesDharma = duties

7. If you obey your dharma andIf you obey your dharma and
have good karma you will behave good karma you will be
reincarnated to achieve moksha.reincarnated to achieve moksha.

8. How does the caste systemHow does the caste system
influence Hindu beliefs?influence Hindu beliefs?
 Caste SystemCaste System ==
social classessocial classes
into which youinto which you
are born andare born and
cannot change;cannot change;
– after death,after death,
Hindus hope toHindus hope to
be reincarnatedbe reincarnated
into a higherinto a higher
caste;caste;
– each caste haseach caste has
its own dharma;its own dharma;

9. Sacred Animals / RiversSacred Animals / Rivers::
 cows, elephantscows, elephants
and otherand other
animals areanimals are
viewed asviewed as
sacred; thesacred; the
Ganges River isGanges River is
the most sacredthe most sacred
river to Hindus;river to Hindus;

10. BuddhismBuddhism ––
Background InformationBackground Information
 Buddhism started inBuddhism started in
IndiaIndia by the “Buddha,” orby the “Buddha,” or
Siddartha GautamaSiddartha Gautama
 FounderFounder: Siddartha: Siddartha
Gautama = an IndianGautama = an Indian
prince who sought toprince who sought to
eliminate suffering andeliminate suffering and
devoted his life todevoted his life to
achieving nirvana;achieving nirvana;

11. Main Beliefs of BuddhismMain Beliefs of Buddhism
 KarmaKarma
 DharmaDharma
 ReincarnationReincarnation
 Buddhists believeBuddhists believe
in NO GODS;in NO GODS;
– the Buddha was notthe Buddha was not
normally viewed asnormally viewed as
a god;a god;

12. Main Beliefs of BuddhismMain Beliefs of Buddhism
Eightfold Path /Eightfold Path /
Middle WayMiddle Way
““the right way;”the right way;”
making themaking the
right decisions,right decisions,
actions, effort,actions, effort,
etc.etc.

13. Main Beliefs of BuddhismMain Beliefs of Buddhism
 Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths ==
 Life is full of sufferingLife is full of suffering
 Suffering is causedSuffering is caused
by desireby desire
 Eliminate sufferingEliminate suffering
by eliminating desireby eliminating desire
 Eliminate desire byEliminate desire by
following thefollowing the
Eightfold Path /Eightfold Path /
Middle WayMiddle Way

14. Main Beliefs of BuddhismMain Beliefs of Buddhism
 Buddhists do notBuddhists do not
believe in the castebelieve in the caste
systemsystem; Buddhists; Buddhists
believe that anyone, atbelieve that anyone, at
any time, can achieveany time, can achieve
nirvana;nirvana;
 NirvanaNirvana = the goal of= the goal of
every Buddhist;every Buddhist;
spiritual enlightenment;spiritual enlightenment;
 Ahimsa = NON-Ahimsa = NON-
VIOLENCEVIOLENCE

15. Spread of BuddhismSpread of Buddhism

16. Exit TicketExit Ticket
 Identify TWO DIFFERENCES in beliefsIdentify TWO DIFFERENCES in beliefs
between Hinduism & Buddhismbetween Hinduism & Buddhism