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1.

Major world religions.
Buddhism, Sikhism
Kovaleva Tatiana, Orlova Evelina 409/1

2.

The major world religions are
broadly divided into two
families: Abrahamic and
Indian/Dharmic.
ABRAHAMIC
INDIAN/DHARMIC
• Christianity
• Islam
• Judaism
• Baháʼí Faith
• Hinduism
• Buddhism
• Sikhism

3.

Other Significant
Groups
• Chinese folk religions
• Indigenous/tribal
religions
• Non-religious

4.

5.

BUDDHISM
Buddhism is a major world
religion and philosophy
based on the teachings of
Siddhartha Gautama.

6.

Core Facts
• Followers: ~530 million worldwide (one of the
five largest religions).
• Goal: End suffering (dukkha) and break the
cycle of birth-and-rebirth (saṃsāra) by attaining
nirvāṇa (liberation, extinguishing of craving and
ignorance).
• Timespan: Over 2,500 years; spread from India
to Southeast Asia, East Asia, Central Asia, and,
since the 20th century, the West.

7.

8.

Buddhists believe in the Four Noble Truths:
• Dukkha: Suffering is a part of life.
• Samudaya: Ignorance, attachment, and aversion cause
suffering.
• Nirodha: There is a way to end suffering.
• Magga: One can be liberated from suffering by following
the Eightfold Path.

9.

KEY CONCEPTS
⚬ Impermanence (anicca): all phenomena constantly
change.
⚬ Non-self (anattā): no fixed, permanent identity.
⚬ Karma: intentional actions have consequences shaping
future experience.
⚬ Rebirth: continuous cycle until nirvāṇa is achieved.
⚬ Compassion (karuṇā) and wisdom (prajñā) as central
virtues.

10.

PRACTICE
TODAY
Meditation: mindfulness (vipassanā),
concentration (samatha), Zen koans,
tummo, deity yoga, etc.
Community: Saṅgha (monastic
order) + lay supporters; festivals
(Vesak/ Buddha’s birthday,
Ullambana, Losar, etc.).
Modern Influence: Secular mindfulness
programs, Buddhist engagement in
social justice, environmental ethics, and
psychology.
Ethics: Five Precepts (no killing,
stealing, sexual misconduct, false
speech, intoxicants) for laypeople.

11.

12.

Buddhism says there is no permanent ‘self’ because
everything changes (your cells, your thoughts, your
personality).
Look back at yourself from 5 years ago.
Are you the same person you were then? (Same
beliefs? Same likes? Same body?)

13.

SIKHISM
Sikhism (Gurmat, “the Way of the Guru”)
is the world’s tenth-largest and youngest
major religion, founded in the Punjab
region of northern India in the late 15th
century by Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469–
1539).

14.

Core Facts
• Followers: ~30 million worldwide (≈0.35 % of global population);
most live in India’s Punjab state, with large diasporas in Canada,
UK, USA, and Australia.
• Goal: Achieve union with the One God (Waheguru) by overcoming
ego (haumai), living ethically, and serving humanity; liberation
(mukti) is possible in this very life.
• Timespan: Just over 500 years; spread globally via migration in
the 20th–21st centuries.

15.

Three Core Principles:
⚬ Ik Onkar – Strict monotheism: One formless, eternal
Creator; no icons, no caste, no gender inequality.
⚬ Naam Japo – Constant meditation on God’s name
(prayer, chanting Waheguru) to keep the mind
aligned with divine will.
⚬ Kirat Karo & Vand Ke Shako – Earn an honest living
through hard work, then share (traditionally 10 % =
dasvandh) with the community and the needy.

16.

Key Concepts:
• Ego (haumai): The root obstacle; must be dissolved through
remembrance of God.
• Karma & Rebirth: Intentional actions shape future lives;
liberation ends the cycle.
• Equality: “There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim”; women
and men are equal; caste is rejected.
• Miri-Piri: Simultaneous temporal (political/defense) and
spiritual authority; defend the weak against tyranny.
• Sarbat da bhala: Pray for the welfare of all humanity; active
pursuit of social justice.

17.

The Five Ks
The Sikh community of men and women is
known as the Khalsa which means the
'Community of the Pure'.
In order to become a Sikh and join the
Khalsa, people need to follow the Five Ks.

18.

19.

What is the Sikh holy book?
The Sikh holy book is called the Guru Granth
Sahib. The tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh,
said that after him there would be no other
living gurus.
The Guru Granth Sahib is a collection of
lessons from the ten gurus as well as Sikh,
Hindu and Muslim saints. It is written in
Punjabi and is greatly respected by all Sikhs
as the living word of God.

20.

Where do Sikhs worship?
The Sikh place of worship is called a
Gurdwara which means 'Gateway to the
Guru'. A Gurdwara is any building where the
Guru Granth Sahib is kept.
In the UK, Sikhs usually go to the Gurdwara
on Sundays. During the services they listen
to teachings based on the Guru Granth
Sahib. They also chant and say prayers
from the gurus. These are called Keertan.