Transcript Slide 1

HINDUISM
•World’s oldest religion
”Santana Dharma” – Eternal Religion
•3000 BC
•Indus Valley
•1000 BC – “Aryans” (nobles from Europe
and Asia) migrated to India
•3rd largest religion
•+/- 900 million followers
•“All Roads lead to God”
•AUM – holy sign (represents Brahman)
SACRED BOOKS
1)VEDAS
ancient scriptures
provide knowledge into the divine
provides info into early Aryan civilization
emphasizes sacrifice
can be difficult for most people to understand
2)Upanishads (“sitting down beside”)
fundamental teachings of Hinduism
introduces concepts of Karma, Samsara, Moksha,
Atman, Brahman, Yogas, and Meditation
SACRED BOOKS
3)MAHABARHATA
longest epic poem
details a “family war” that probably
happened
illustrates how “good” Hindus should live
illustrates that choosing God over
individual
strengths and temptations is right
decision
4)BHAGAVAD GITA (“Song of God”)
part of Mahabarhata
discussion between Arjuna/Krishna
Arjuna questions war
Krishna (8th avatar of Vishnu) 2 reasons to fight:
SACRED BOOKS
5) LAW OF MANU – code of behavior
created “Caste System”
“All men are created UNEQUAL”
1)Brahmins – priests (EYES)
2)Kshatriyas – chiefs / warriors (HEAD)
3)Vaishyas – commoners / merchants (ARMS)
4)Shudras – unskilled workers (LEGS)
5)(Dalits) UNTOUCHABLES
TODAY
CASTE
SYSTEM IS
ILLEGAL IN
HINDUISM,
BUT IS STILL
PRESENT IN
HINDU
CULTURE
HINDU GODS
brahman
Henotheistic
Brahman – God
Created all things
Brahman is in everyone = “Atman”
excerpt from the Chandogya
Upanishad on the
“presence of Brahman”
Source: Philip Novak, The World’s Wisdom: Sacred
Texts of the World’s Religions. San Francisco:
Harper, 1994. pp. 21-23.
[Father] “Bring me a fruit off the banyan
tree.”
“Here it is father.”
“Break it.”
“It is broken, Sir.”
“What do you see in it?”
“Very small seeds, Sir.”
“Break one of them, my son.”
“It is broken, Sir.”
“What do you see in it?”
“Nothing at all, Sir.”
Then his father spoke to him: “My son, from the
very essence in the seed which you cannot see
comes in truth this vast banyan tree.”
“Believe me, my son, an invisible and subtle
essence is the Spirit of the whole universe.
That is reality. That is Atman. THOU ARE
THAT.”
“Explain more to me, father,” said Svetaketu.
“So be it, my son. Place this salt in water and
come to me tomorrow morning.”
Svetaketu did as he was commanded, and in the
morning his father said to him: “Bring me the salt
you put into the water last night.”
Svetaketu looked into the water, but could not find it,
for it had dissolved.
His father then said, “Taste the water from this side.
How is it?”
“It is salt.”
“Taste it from the middle. How is it?”
“It is salt.”
Taste it from that side. How is it?”
“It is salt.”
“Look for the salt and come again to me.”
The son did so, saying: “I cannot see the salt. I only
see water.”
His father then said: “In the same way, O my son,
you cannot see the Spirit. But in truth he is here.
An invisible but subtle essence is the Spirit of the
whole universe. That is Reality. That is Truth.
THOU ART THAT.”
Vishnu
Brahma
Shiva
HINDU IDEAS
Reincarnation – soul (Atman) is continuously reborn until
achieves Moksha
Samsara – continuous cycle of rebirths based on karma
After death, the soul goes to the next world, bearing in mind
the subtle impressions of its deeds, and after reaping their
harvest returns again to this world of action. Thus, he who has
desires continues subject to rebirth.
Yajur Veda, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.4.6
HINDU IDEAS
KARMA – Reap what you sow
According as one acts, so does he
become. One becomes virtuous by
virtuous action, bad by bad action.
Yajur Veda, Brihadaranyaka
Upanishad 4.4.5
QUESTION
Why do you think
religions have ideas
like Karma, Golden
Rule, etc…?
**”Group Karma” – also affects individuals and countries
DHARMA – your job/duty
THESE CONCEPTS DETERMINE YOUR
POSITION IN YOUR NEXT LIFE
GOAL OF HINDUISM
MOKSHA– when soul re-unites with Brahman
**no longer in cycle of reincarnation**
Your “AtmAn” (soul) reunites
with Brahman
HINDU IDEAS
• NO Satan
a)God cannot have a rival / no place God isn’t
b)”Avidya” (Ignorance) is root of evil
c)”Maya” (Illusion) leads to Avidya
• Sets you back in next life – longer to reach Moksha
•Ahimsa – non-violence
• Pottu – 3rd Eye – spiritual awakening
YAMAS
things no one should do
Ahimsa – no harm
Satya – no lies
Asteya – no stealing
Brahmacharya – no
overindulging
Aparigraha – no greed
NIYAMAS
things everyone should do
Saucha – keep clean
Santosha – be content
Tapas – self-discipline
Svadhyaya – study
wisdom of Hinduism
Ishvara Pranidhana –
surrender to God
4 stages of life
Student
adolescence to about age 20 when one
learns and studies
Householder
when one takes on the responsibilities of
adult life. It is the time for marriage, raising
children, being involved in business and
one's community
contemplates their life and attempts to
formulate an understanding of "what it's all
about."
Retired person
“Forest Dweller”
Ascetic
rejection of life and all that it means in
exchange for a search to attain Moksha
4 PATHS TO MOKSHA
--PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT—
1)Karma Yoga – path of work
– Do daily life duties (dharma) without
hope of reward – dedicate acts to god
– Do our best because that is the work God
has put in front of us
– –> FORM OF WORSHIP
2)Jnana Yoga – path of knowledge
– Spiritual knowledge
– Study and learn lessons of the masters
4 PATHS TO MOKSHA cont.
3)Raja Yoga – meditation
– Concentrate so you can reach the “self”
within you and become one with Brahman
4)Bhakti Yoga – path of love
– Devoted to loving a god
– If you truly love Me, you’ll love everyone
– Surrender to God – “hang out with God”