Transcript Document
Hinduism Points of View Perspective • Worldview – The Absolute – The World – Humans • The Problems for Humans • The Solution for Humans – Community and Ethics – Rituals and Symbols • Life After Death • Hinduism and Other Religions Worldview • The Absolute – The force of life is everywhere – The depictions of deities are not to be taken literally – The number of deities heighten the belief that one can worship many manifestations of the same essence. • The World – – – – – The world is. It is good and bad. Creation involves destruction. Life leads to death. The gods represent a balance of forces. • Humans – Humans are more than corporeal nature. – The physical is only a glimpse of that which was, and is and is to come. – One follows the Law of Karma. – Although one cannot change what one is now, one can change now what one will be in the future. • Problem for Humans. – Samsara. The endless cycle of birth and death of the immortal soul. – The caste that one is in is the one that one is supposed to be in based on one’s previous actions. • Solution for Humans – One wants to break free from the cycle and be united with Brahman. – Atman is liberated from maya (illusion) – One can be reconciled to Brahman through one of the many paths. • Community and Ethics – Hinduism has strong moral code. – The family is sacred. • “Husband and wives should be loyal to each other.” (116) • They have the responsibility for caring for the children. – Hindus are not to harm other people or property. – The are responsible for helping holy people who are seeking god. – The cow is “a symbol for the value of all living things.” (116) – Hindus have strong humanitarians concerns. • Rights and Symbols – Samskaras – the rites by which a Hindu becomes integrated into the community. – Upanayana – in initiates a boy as twice born signifying that “he is responsible for his actions in religious regulations.” (117) – Vivaha – marriage; it is the entrance into the second stage of life, that of a householder. – Antyesti – funerals are the last rites for Hindus. Most people are cremated in a shraddha and is usually performed by the eldest son. – Puja is a form of worship that an individuals addresses toward a deities or a pair of deities. • Life After Death – Each soul is indestructible and the Law of Karma is in effect. • Hinduism and Other Religions – Although Hinduism response to other religions is varied Hindus usually do not try to convert others and also resist conversion. – In fact, many Hindu religious leaders point out similarities between Hinduism and other religions.