Today we examined and discussed some of the major beliefs of Hinduism and Buddhism. Namely, we discussed the meaning of karma, reincarnation, the four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Path. See the accompanying class handout for a short introduction.

Reincarnation

Reincarnation is the belief, shared by Hindus and Buddhists, that people are reborn in a new form once they die. Although their particular beliefs differ, Hindus and Buddhists both believe that this cycle of death and rebirth continue until someone can reach an enlightened state and be released from an earthly existence. Moreover, the form a person takes when he or she is reincarnated depends on his or her karma.

Karma

Karma is the sum total of a person’s good and bad deeds. If a person has done a lot of good things, he or she will have good karma. If that person has done a lot of bad deeds, he or she will have bad karma. Buddhists and Hindus both believe that karma determines the type of life that you will have once you are reincarnated. They differ, however, on what a person must do to have good karma and what will cause a person to have bad karma.

Dharma

Dharma is a Hindu belief tied to the caste system. Each caste has a specific set of rules to follow, called dharma. If a person lives his or her life according to those rules, he or she will have good karma. Breaking those rules will result in bad karma.

The Four Noble Truths

Buddha tried to reform Hinduism and eventually founded Buddhism because of his discovery of the Four Noble Truths. His beliefs essentially boiled down to these few concepts. All life involves suffering or is in some way unsatisfactory. We can end this suffering. The source of this suffering is our material possessions and the desire for more material possessions. The only way to be genuinely happy and satisfied, and to end suffering, is to break that desire for material goods.

Eightfold Path

The eightfold path was a set of directions by which Buddhists were expected to live. This set out certain rules, such as not harming people, not stealing, and not lying. If a person lived according to these rules, he or she would end his or her life with good karma.

There was a homework assignment accompanying this lesson. Check the next post for more details.