Religions of the Past Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, and Confucianism
Hinduism
Hinduism is one of the most complex cultures there are out there, but maintains a huge following population of up to 900 million people. The original founder of the Hinduism religion was traced by scholars who took into account popular cults, gods, and traditions but in the end, they did not succeed. While there is no known founder, leadership is divided among the Brahmins who were priests and priestesses of this culture. They spread the word of Vedas, the holy book for Hindus, and were religious officials. The reason priests were so high up in power was because of the Hindus superstitions for their beliefs in multiple gods, or polytheism. Gods such as Brahman, the creator, Vishnu, the preserver, and Shiva, the destroyer, Krishna, the divine cow herder, Rama, the perfect King, and Devi, a great mother goddess, were some of the many gods they believed in, but were very important to daily lives and attending to them were more like practices. These practices included lighting candles to ward evil, making statues to also ward evil, and having certain ceremonies that probably wards evil too. Although, all of these are also meant to honor and praise their gods for thankfulness of their bestowings.
Auuuuuummm
Ever seen someone in deeeeeeeeeeeeeep, deep meditation? Then AUUUUUUMMMMMMMM...................AAAAAAAUUUUUUMMMMM....
Yeah well that's the noise they make. Defined as the deepest sound in meditation, these meditators believe is the sound best suited for their gods. It is a very important symbol and sound that is used to achieve a certain peak of peace.
ॐ भूर्भुवस्व: |तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यम् |र्गो देवस्य धीमहि |धियो यो न: प्रचोदयात् ||
WHAT DOES IT MEAN??
Om. Earth, atmosphere, heaven. Let us think on that desirable splendour of Savitr, the Inspirer. May he stimulate us to insightful thoughts.
When you think or say the word Aum (or Om) think of all the good given to us, and everything that brings peace.. Think of... Auuuuuummmmm...
SwAsTika ( Swastika)
The symbol is actually vague, where the true meaning is not defined. People have come to the assumption it meant purity, truth, holyness, and could even represent a god! The symbols four unconnected ends could also mean direction or the four Vedas.
Current Events: Hinduism
On November 11, 2015, a Hindu protest had erupted at a Muslim festival in Sourthern India where one Hindu died in the fight.
Thoughts from Hinduism
The sight of the eyes is not sight; but he is blest with vision who possesses knowledge; the ignorant are the blind.
The earth trembles while she sustains a person who seeks to injure a generous, faithful, and holy person.
The friendship of a good person is not easily interrupted, and if lost is soon regained: a golden bowl is not easily broken, but if broken is soon repaired
Buddhism
The religion of Buddhism is actually nontheistic, where the original founder was a man, Siddhartha Guatama. Prophesied that he would be a great man, either a spiritual leader or worldly King, would be decided whether he left a kingdom or not. At the age of 29 he opened himself. He gazed upon the misery that was wrought upon the world, he understood what he had to do. Stop the suffering. He set out for methods to achieve nirvana one of which was fasting, which lead him to meditate for 49 days (hopefully he said Aum).
At the 49th day something clicked, and he had discovered what he had to do. He spread the Four Noble Truths where life is full of suffering, suffering is caused by desires, desires must be terminated for suffering to end, and the Middle way is halfway between desires and self denial. By understanding the four noble truths, and attempting to achieve the halfway, you were striving for nirvana, a release from all worldly desires.
Unfortunately, Buddhas exact words were not on hard copy, but groups of scholars and saints from ages before gathered together his teachings and put them in hundreds to thousands of texts. There is no holy book, but there are major ones, one of which is the Tipitaka which contains his words.
Wheel-of-Truth
The Wheel of Truth was presented to Buddha, hence his nickname the Wheel a Turner, because of his capabilities to change the course of motion and spread his knowledge. The Eight handles on the wheel represent the eight fold noble path.
Bohdi Tree
Generally known as Bo trees or Bodhi to monks, this tree was the tree which Buddha meditated and achieved enlightenment under. Tree worship became an important thing, and Bohdi in Sanskrit means enlightenment itself.
Current Events: Buddhism
November 12,2015, a Chinese communist group leaked information to root out members of Dalai Lama.
Ideas of Buddha
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth
The mind is everything. What you think you become
Judaism
The book of Torah recorded and described events that occured and the reasons for the actions and creation of Judaism. It contains records of Isrealites, and was one of the most sacred scriptures to the Jews.
According to the Torah, Abraham was ordered by the one and only God to go forth from his land, and he'd make his nation great and powerful. As the only God, he was greatly respected and his blessing was given to the Isrealites who prayed to him for protection. The reason for this given was because Abraham had agreed to obey. This relationship became known as a covonent.
The Isrealites were enslaved by the Egyptians who had welcomed them as honored guests, and in the 1300-1200 B.C. The event commonly known as Exodus occured. According to the Torah, Moses had lead the Isrealites to freedom.
In Moses's childhood, the Egyptians felt so threatened by the growing population of the Isrealites, and sent out men to kill all male children. Moses was hidden in reeds along the Nile where he was adopted by an Egyptian Princess. However, while raised with great pleasures, Moses had lead the Isrealites entirely out of Egypt, where he listened to Gods word and wrote down the Ten Commandments. This became the base foundation of Judaism.
Star of David
The Star of David was a symbol with two equiangular triangles that usually identified Jewish culture and Judaism. The star was used against the Jewish Communities later on in history in events such as the holocaust, but was replaced by the Cross.
Current Events: Judaism
November 11, 2015, Frazier Glenn Miller Jr. Was sentenced to death for the murder of three Jews in the Kansas site.
Knowledge from the Torah
"A righteous man falls down seven times and gets up."
"I don't speak because I have the power to speak; I speak because I don't have the power to remain silent"
"People often avoid making decisions out of fear of making a mistake. Actually the failure to make decisions is one of life's biggest mistakes."
Confucianism
Confucianism was not really a religion, but a way of life. A way of life that taught right from wrong, and helped reshape China in its time of need. It taught the ideas of filial piety, where the child always respected the elder, and subjects respecting their leaders. Of course, it'd give leaders the idea of being kind to subjects also.
Confucius was a scholar who came into the light during China's need. He taught history, music, and moral character. Born in 551 B.C., a time of great despair and chaos, Confucius was determined to restore China to its originally prospering nation. He believed people should have respect for one another because without respect, what is there? There were five basic relationships to respect, subject to leader, son to father, husband to wife, younger brother to older brother, and friend to friend. Confucius teachings were collected by his students in the book of Analects. He focused on making gentlemen in a bureaucracy that could govern wisely.
Yin-Yang
While the Yin Yang was heavily represented in the Tao dynasty, the concept of it relates to Confucianism by a lot. The motive to do good, but reject the natural evil is wanted but cannot be achieved without sacrificing some desires.
Current Events: Confucianism
On March 4, 2015, Confucianism makes an appearance again China's leaders of the communist Party.
Sayings of Confucius
"The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones."
“To be wealthy and honored in an unjust society is a disgrace"
“True wisdom is knowing what you don't know”
Textbook Questions
1. According to Buddha, in order to achieve enlightenment, you must achieve a state of prosperity and all knowing know as Nirvana.
2. Buddhist understand that when you kill someone, the reason behind it is a mix of self intention an evil. It's not good overall, and could leave a guilt that will never leave you, holding you back from nirvana.
3. The river of Gangas is heavily important to the Hindus religion where it is the Holy a River of Hindus, and is worshipped as a God.
4. The three main gods of Hinduism are Brahman, Shiva, and Vishnu.
5. The Western Wall is the last of the remaining pls of the Second Temple. Thee Second Temple was at the center of Judaism.
6. Jews pray to God in order to worship, and they recite atleast three prayers from the Siddur every single day, and are expected to recite more on special occasions.
7. Five relationships Comfucius tried to create where the bond between Subject and Lord, Father and Son, Husband and Wife, Younger brother and Older brother, and friend to friend.
8. Filial Piety is the idea that children should honor and respect their ancestors even after death. When someone claimed that if you fed your parents, you had achieved a certain status, but he then stated, you feed your pets and animals, so what is there without respect?
Similarities
Each of them attempt to develop some sort of structure in their communities
All of them have a goal of enlightment
They all also have a caste system for social structure
Hinduism and Buddhism demands letting loose of your worldly possessions and attempt to achieve nirvana or karma
Also Hinduism and Buddhism believe in reincarnation
Buddhism and Confucianism are not exactly religions but ways of life
Hinduism and Judaism believed in gods for their protection and aid
Buddhism and Hinduism are one of the most common religions still existant
They all incorporate moral laws such as thieving as wrong
Buddhism and Hinduism perform the method of meditation for peace