India's Religions Origins and Characteristics
6th Grade UBD - Unit 4 - India's Religions Origins and Characteristics
Preview
Hinduism- Hinduism arose among the Aryan
invaders of India around 1500 BCE. Modern India is a
land of many religions, but Hindu beliefs and practices
are the most dominant.
Buddhism- Buddhism arose out of Hinduism. It
shares some of its beliefs and practices. Buddhism is
a religion in which the idea of a god is not important.
Ashoka’s Conversion- Ashoka was the third
Mauryan emperor. He became a Buddhist and played
a large role in spreading Buddhism throughout Asia.
Reach Into Your Background South Asia has a
great deal of cultural
diversity, or variety.
Think about the idea
of diversity. The
United States is
culturally diverse,
too. Why do you
think this is so?
(5 minutes)
Partner Activity
Work with a neighbor and compare your answer with theirs. What things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)
Key Ideas- Hinduism
Hinduism has no specific founder.
Hindus believe in many gods and goddesses. All of them are parts
of a single universal god, Brahman. All human souls are a part of
Brahman.
Hindus are expected to carry out their duties, or dharma. They
believe in reincarnation. This is the idea that the soul is reborn in
an endless cycle of life and death.
How well a person carries out his or her dharma determines his or
her karma. People’s karma determines how they will live in their
next life.
Hinduism
Religion often has had an
important effect on culture.
It often has helped to define
the levels and roles of the
people in society.
The effect of religion was
especially powerful in
ancient Indian society and
culture.
The History of HinduismVideo- The History of Hinduism
Hinduism
The founders of most of
the major religions are
well known.
The names of Moses,
Jesus, and Muhammad
are recognized around
the globe.
Unlike most of the world’s
religions, Hinduism has
no founder and no central
organization.
Hinduism
Historians believe that the
beginning of Hinduism
occurred around 1500 BCE.
Around this time, the Aryan
people conquered India.
Certain beliefs of the early
inhabitants of the region
were absorbed into the
religion of the Aryan people
to create Hinduism.
Hinduism
Hinduism teaches that
everything in the
universe is all part of one
god.
The gods and
goddesses, people,
animals, and all objects,
are part of this oneness,
or unity.
Hinduism
Hindus believe
that all life is
connected and
should be
treated with
respect.
The Practices of HinduismVideo- The Practices of Hinduism
Dharma and Karma
Every culture has its own
code of rules for people to
live by.
Often, these rules are
created by leaders or a
central government.
Religious customs often
influence the official laws
of a society.
Reincarnation
Hinduism does not have a
particular set of rules or
teachings, but it still
affects the way that
people live their lives.
Hindus believe that the
universe is an endless
cycle of life, death, and
rebirth.
Reincarnation
Hindus also believe in
reincarnation.
According to this idea,
when a person dies, he
or she is reborn in a new
physical form.
The final goal of life is to
achieve moksha, or the
“union with Brahman.”
Key Term
Reincarnati
on- The
belief that
the soul is
reborn after
death in
human –or
some other
form.
Karma
How close one comes to
moksha in a lifetime
depends on the law of
karma.
Karma is a positive or
negative force. It is a result
of good or bad actions
taken during a person’s
lifetime.
Karma
Hindus believe every
action has a good or
bad reaction.
These actions and
reactions affect a
person’s life.
They also determine
how people will be
reborn in future lives.
Key Term
Karma-
Describes how
a person’s
actions in one
life can
influence and
affect the next
life.
Dharma
Hinduism also teaches
that all human beings
should act according
to their dharma.
Dharma is the
religious and moral
duties of a person.
These duties are
connected to a
person’s role in
society.
Dharma
Dharma also
depends on a
person’s caste, or
social level.
They also depend
on a person’s age
and sex. Dharma
is different for men
and women.
Dharma
Hinduism also places a
value on human love and
family life.
It encourages a turning
away from material things
in old age.
Dharma helps determine
his or her role in society in
the next life.
Key Term
Dharma- The
religious law
that describes
the way
people should
live in order to
maintain the
natural order
of the world.
The Cow!
The cow is the most
holy animal in the
Hindu religion.
Because of this, Hindus
do not eat beef.
In fact, many Hindus
eat only vegetables,
fruits, and grains.
Key Ideas- Buddhism
Buddhism was founded by Prince Siddhartha
Gautama. He became the Buddha through
meditating and understanding.
Buddhism is based on the teachings of the
Buddha. They are described in the Four Noble
Truths and the Eightfold Path. These beliefs are
based on the Hindu idea of dharma.
After the Buddha’s death, his followers continued
to spread his teachings throughout India.
The Middle Way of CompassionVideo- The Middle Way of Compassion
Buddhism
Buddhism originated in India.
A legend tells the story of
Prince Siddhartha Gautama.
When leaving the palace one
day, he saw an old man, a
sick man, a dead body, and a
poor monk.
These sights disturbed him
and he wondered how he
could end so much suffering
in the world?
Buddhism
For six years, Prince Gautama
wandered seeking an answer
to human suffering.
Finally, Gautama decided to
meditate his way to truth and
sat down under a tree. He
relaxed his body. He emptied
his mind of all thoughts.
Buddhism
Gautama came to understand
the cause of human suffering
through meditation.
He came to understand the
way around it was inner peace.
The prince had become the
Buddha. The name “Buddha”
means “awakened one,” or
“the one who knows.”
Buddhism
The Buddha’s
message was a
simple one. It
presented a way of
action for people
to follow. This way
of living begins
with the Four
Noble Truths.
Four Noble Truths
Four Noble Truths
All life is full of suffering
The cause of human suffering is desire
The cure for suffering is ending desire
The way to overcome desire is to follow
the Eightfold Path
The Eightfold Path
The Eightfold Path provided
a system for people to
follow in their daily lives.
Its teachings help people to
live a life somewhere
between a life without
material goods and a life
devoted to wealth and
ease.
The Eightfold Path
By following the Eightfold
Path and living a good
and honest life, one
could achieve nirvana.
Nirvana is a state of
heavenly peace and
freedom from desire and
suffering.
Buddhism
Buddhism was
spread
throughout Asia
by the Buddha’s
missionary
followers in the
centuries
following his
death.
Key Term
Missionary-
Someone sent
on a religious
or charitable
mission to a
foreign
country; often
to convert
others to a
particular
religion.
Key Ideas- Ashoka’s Conversion
Ashoka was a warrior and conqueror. He
gave up his warlike ways and became a
Buddhist.
He had laws based on Buddhist teachings
carved on pillars throughout India.
He sent missionaries to other parts of Asia
to spread the teachings of the Buddha.
Ashoka Becomes a BuddhistVideo- Ashoka Becomes a Buddhist
Ashoka’s Conversion
Ashoka became
emperor about 265
BCE, and he set out to
extend his empire by
force.
He conquered the last
of India’s independent
kingdoms.
Ashoka’s Conversion
Ashoka conquered
other lands to the west
and extended his
kingdom to cover most
of India.
He established very
harsh laws. A person
could be put to death
for even a small crime.
Ashoka’s Conversion
An accomplished
soldier, Ashoka
extended the lands of
the empire until he
invaded the Kalingas
around 256 BCE.
Ashoka undertook a
mission to defeat them
and was successful.
Ashoka’s Conversion
With many tens of thousands
killed, the Kalinga War is
thought to be one of the worst
battles in the history of India.
Overcome by the death and
destruction he witnessed,
Ashoka converted to Buddhism
and instituted new policies
throughout the empire.
Ashoka’s Conversion
Ashoka promoted peace,
opened universities, and
established new trade
routes for his people.
He had stone pillars erected
throughout India that told
his story and shared his
religious philosophies with
his people.
Independent Activity
What has been the
“muddiest” point so
far in this lesson? That
is, what topic remains
the least clear to you?
(4 minutes)
Partner Activity
Work with a neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)