Comparative Religions

Textbook reference: Pages xiv-xv and 21-22, 127-133

Hinduism Buddhism Sikhism

What are its Hindus Buddhists Sikhs
followers called?
Monotheistic or Polytheistic Neither Monotheistic
Polytheistic?
Holy book or set of Vedas (including Upanishads) Tipitaka (sutras, vinaya, abhidharma) Sri Guru Granth Sahib
writings? Bhagavad Gita

Place of Worship? Mandir (temple) Vihara (temple) Gurdwara

What are the Brahmin (guru) Lama (teacher) None
leaders called?
Where did it India Northeastern India Punjab, India
begin?

When did it begin? Prehistoric 520 BCE About 1500 CE

How did it begin? No known founder. Prince Siddhartha was prophesized to be Founded on Guru Nanak’s teachings
a great leader and teacher so his parents that all people are equal and worthy of
protected him in a palace away from equal respect and that there is only
suffering. After marriage, he explored one God (same as Hindu & Muslim
and saw the bad things in the world, left God)
his wife and decided to find a solution to
human misery. After many hard years, he
was enlightened and became known as
the Buddha. He developed the Four
Noble Truths (a path to reach nirvana)
What are the basic  There are many gods who are  Suffering occurs because people are  Life is about giving up temptation
beliefs/ principles? different forms of the One God too concerned with their desires and living in accordance with God’s
 Comparative Religions
 People trapped in a cycle of
rebirth until self-realization is
achieved
 People hope to free themselves
from the illusions of the world and
achieve moksha (freedom of the
soul)
 People should act selflessly
because the more selfish one acts
the less able one will be to achieve
moksha (have good karma)
 Actions determine what caste you
will be in the next life: higher the
caste, the closer you are to purity
 Dharma (natural law of being &
path to righteousness)
Where did the  Aryan people thought to have
religion spread brought it to India about 3500
and how? years ago
 People should free themselves of
worldly concerns through meditation
 When you die, you will be
reincarnated
 Your actions in this life determine
your next life
 The goal of life is to escape
reincarnation through complete
enlightenment
 After the Buddha’s death, his ideas
spread quickly through India and
other parts of Asia.
 Rulers like Ashoka set up temples
and schools and sent out
missionaries.
 Monks from other countries traveled
to learn about the religion and
brought it back with them
will
 People are reincarnated until they
come into line with God’s will
 All people are equal
 Wear sign of spiritual commitment
(The 5 Ks: Kangha- comb, Kara-
bracelet , Kesh- turban, Kirpan-
dagger, Kachhera- undergarment)
 Were persecuted by Muslim rulers
(Mughals) so Guru Gobind Singh
organized Sikhs into a fighting
force, the warrior caste which
conquered most of Punjab by the
18th century