IB world religions paper 1

Buddiusm

What is the human condition? Buddhists believe humans are caught in samsara: the endless cycle of existence, characterized by maya (illusion), tanha (craving) and hatred/aversion, leading to dukkha (suffering or unsatisfactoriness).

2. Where are we going? • To a favourable or unfavourable rebirth after death • To Enlightenment through entering nirvana/nibbana • To Buddhahood • To bodhisattvahood (Mahayana Buddhism)

3. How do we get there? We achieve Enlightenment by: • acknowledging the Three Jewels: Buddha, dharma/dhamma, and sangha, by joining the sangha • accepting the Four Noble Truths • following the Middle Way/the Noble Eightfold Path • following the precepts consistent with a lay or monastic way of life • following the path of the bodhisattva • developing wisdom and compassion.

Hinduism

1. What is the human condition? Hindus believe humans are caught in samsara: the atman (soul) is condemned to an endless cycle of reincarnation as a result of karma (actions). Bad karma has a corrupting effect on the universe.

2. Where are we going?

• To a favourable or unfavourable reincarnation after death

• To moksha (liberation) from samsara and the consequences of karma

3. How do we get there? We achieve liberation by:

• either performing actions pertinent to the dharma (law or teachings) of Hinduism or to the law or teachings of jati (one’s caste): that is, the varnashramadharma (pertinent to higher castes)

• or following one of the yogic paths, for example, Jnana (path of knowledge), Bhakti (path of devotion), or Karma (path of action)

Islam

1. What is the human condition? Humans must strive to submit themselves to the will of God for, without divine guidance, they are likely to stray from the path of prescribed and prohibited actions that God has set out in order to prevent moral error.

2. Where are we going?

• For the faithful, to eternal janna (paradise), by obedience to God’s will

• By disobedience to God’s will, to jahannam (hell), which is reserved for those whom God has decided to punish for a time for committing grave sins and not repenting

3. How do we get there? We attain salvation via submission to God’s will. This may be achieved by:

• acknowledging tawhid (the oneness of God) and submitting to his will, as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad and his prophets

• believing in God, the scriptures, angels, jinns and akhira (life after death)

• living according to the Qur’an and the divinely inspired sayings of the Prophet Muhammad

• practising the Five Pillars of Islam, the obligations prescribed in the Qur’an for individual Muslims.

Judiasim

1. What is the human condition? God created humans in his image and endowed them with free will, which leads to a constant choice between yetzer ha-ra (bad inclinations) and yetzer ha-tov (good inclinations).

2. Where are we going? Judaism emphasizes observance in this life rather than elaborating on the hereafter. There is, however, the expectation of a Messianic age of peace and justice for humankind in this world and a belief in Olam Ha-Ba (the world to come).

3. How do we get there? We accomplish this through living a life in accordance with God’s will and in readiness for the coming of the Messianic Age. This will be achieved by:

• being the House of Israel or Chosen People

• obeying all the mitzvot (commandments) of the Covenant that God has revealed in the Torah • living according to the Shema.

Daoism

1. What is the human condition? Tao, the Way, is our original nature. Nothing is evil, but things are out of balance because humans departed from the Way. Civilization has tried to improve on nature; as a result we have created conflict and chaos.

2. Where are we going?

• We are already there, but we have to realize it by becoming fully in accord with the Tao

• Everything flows out of Tao, and will return to Tao: this is the fu (invariable law of nature that ensures everything returns to a balanced state)

3. How do we get there? We achieve living the Way by:

• living a contemplative life in nature

• taking no action, that is, not interfering with wu-wei (nature)

• balancing yin with yang: yin being female, dark and receptive; yang being male, bright and assertive

• reconciling opposites on a higher level of consciousness or intuitive level

• releasing Ch’i, the life force.