Ancient India

Four Goals Of Life (Hinduism)

Dharma

Artha

Kama

Moksha

Reincarnation (Samsara)

the belief that the soul is immortal and that all life forms are reborn into a new ENTITY after death. The key word is entity: a person is not guaranteed of being reborn as a human.

Upanishads

a collection of writings by

gurus that describe the

teachings of Hinduism.

Dating back to approx. 800

BCE, the Upanishads cover

such topics as Dharma ,

Karma ,

Samsara , and Moksha .

Dharma

To be a good, virtuous, and moral person.

Ahimsa

the belief that Brahmin is inside of every living thing and that there is life in everything

Moksha

_____ is the ultimate

goal of Hinduism.

_____ is achieved

when a person has

experienced all of

life’s experiences,

learned all of life’s

lessons, and has

reached a perfect

understanding of the

universe.

Artha

Strive for well being. Earning a living with dignity.

Earn material prosperity or money (This allows your family

to live a happy and secure life).

Kama

to Seek pleasure in life. if you want something, go

after it; Balance short-term and long-term pleasures.

seek happiness, pleasure, and emotional fulfillment (love,

friends, and community).

Buddhism

A Main Religion in Ancient India

Meditation

A state of peace and clearing the mind

The Middle Way

The way to Enlightenment was not through seeking pleasures or through a life of suffering but instead is found through the pursuit of a Middle Way.

4 Noble Truths

All life involves suffering

Birth, sickness, old age and death bring suffering

2. Wanting or desiring things for oneself causes suffering.

Not all desires are bad. It is not wrong to desire the Happiness of others. It is selfish desires that lead to suffering

3. People can end their suffering. To do this they must give up all selfish desires.

4. There is a way to overcome selfish desires. That is to follow the Eightfold Path. This was open to all Regardless of caste

Nirvana

A state of blissful Peace