Summary Of Hinduism, Buddhaism, Daoism, Confucianism, Shinto

Summary Of Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Shintoism, Jainism, And Sikhism

Confucianism

Taoism or Daoism

• Originated around 470 BCE after Kong Qui later known as Confucius
• The belief system is considered a philosophy
• Ideals include producing excellent individuals and a harmonious society
• Regulation for this accomplishment is the Five Great Relationships, and the Confucian Virtues
• Ren, Li, the Analects, Shu, Xiao, and Wen
• Philosophical text include Five Classics and Four Books
• Yin and Yang are also used as symbols in this philosophy
• Confucianism and Daoism are said to complement each other in China
• Belief in some form of reincarnation (unclear) and karma

(Molloy, 2013)

Buddhism

• Originated around 550 BCE in China from Lao-Tze
• Observes and Preserves Nature
• Believe in Philosophical insights
• Believe in Three Souls, Seven spirits for each individual
• Religious text consist of guidelines of living
• Practice rituals for protection, longevity, and inner purity
• Religious text consists of the Daodejing
• Ultimate goal is the Dao (or origin of nature)
• The ideal effortlessness if the Wu Wei (or no action)
• Live simplistically
• Practice yoga and meditation
• Yin and Yang is used for symbolic purpose

(Molloy, 2013)

• Originated around 520 BCE from Siddharth Gautama the First Buddha
• Worships Buddha
• Believe in the Three Marks of Reality, Four Noble Truths, and Eightfold Path
• Practice "Ahimsa" (harm none)
• Believe in reincarnation and Karma
• Nirvana is the ultimate existence
• Theravada Buddhism teaches original teachings of Buddha
• Mahayana Buddhism is considered the ferryboat of Buddhism and acceptance for all
• Vajrayana Buddhism is considered "Diamond Vehicle" of Buddhism and is a special form of Mahayana Buddhish

(Molloy, 2013)

Hinduism

Differences

• Originated In India Around 2000 BCE
• Worship approximately 300,000 Deities
• Believe in Reincarnation
• Practice Meditation and Yogas
• Brahman is Ultimate Reality
• Sacred texts include Smrti, Sruti, Vedas
• Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads
• Laws are from the Dharma Shastras
• History text include Itihasas
• Mahabharata, Ramayana, Puranas
• Hindu Gods text include the Tantras
• Philosophical text include the Darshanas
• Consists of a cast system
• Devotion to Guru and animals

(Molloy, 2013)

Commonalities

One God

Yoga

No religious text

Cast/Non-cast systems

Area of Origination

Shintoism

Meditation

Reincarnation

Karma

Text or Guidelines

Deities

Area of Origination

• Origination in Japan and the origin of the Shinto religion is unknown
• Founded in Shamanistic and oral traditions
• Worship includes ancestors (or Kami),spirits, and deceased emperor's at Shrines
• Practice a diverse number of ceremonies and meditation
• The Kojiki is a record of ancient matters and processes
• The Torri is a pathway to the deities, ancestors, and the devine
• Water is used to purify before entering shrines
• Believe in karma

(Molloy, 2013)

Sikhism

Jainism

• Originated in Northwestern India around 1500 CE by Guru Nanak
• Worship one true "God" (om) whom has 99 names
• God's viewed as the one and creator (ik om kar)
• Believe in reincarnation, meditation, and karma
• Religious text is the Adi-Granth, includes three parts
• Japji
• Nine Rags
• a verity of poems and hymns
• Rejects the cast system
• Follow a moral and ethical lifestyle
• Strong belief in helping others
• Follow the five "K's"
• Kesh (uncut hair)
• Kirpan (sword to protect the week)
• Kangha (comb - symbolic to order and cleanliness)
• Kachhera (undercloths - symbolic of control and chastity)

(Molloy, 2013)

• Originated around 550 BCE in India by Mahavira
• Worship is given to those that have attained "Jiva" (liberation of self) or dieties
• Believe in a several universe's
• multiply heavens
• multiply hells
• Practice meditation, karma, and are strict vegetarian's
• Practice non-violence
• verbal, physical, mental, speaking truth, sexual monogamy, detachment from material posessions
• Need to attain "Jiva" (as noted above)
• eliminate accumulated Karma
• Discipline in knowledge
• control bodily passions
• Four different types of Jainism sects
• Digambara
• Sthanakavasis
• Shvetambaras
• Terapanthis
• Religious text Purvas

(Molloy, 2013)

Danielle Elefsrud

REL/133

December 6, 2014

Dr. Gene Johnson

Reference

Molloy, M. (2013), Experience Worlds Religions Traditions, Challenge, and Change 6th ed.