Transcript Reincarnation and Karma

Hindu Origins…
Hinduism is the chief religion of India& is
over 4,000 years old; its roots are in Aryan
beliefs called “VEDAS” (hymns & religious
ceremonies passed generationally).
It has no founder or formal church.
The Vedas: contain eternal truths that
were revealed to wise men
HINDU BELIEFS…polytheistic
Brahma:
Creator
Siva:
Destroyer
Brahman:
Supreme force
Wives of
3 main gods
Vishnu:
Preserver
Children of
3 main gods
Unlimited
BRAHMAN
Each of the thousands of gods takes many
forms.
India, has many sects, religious groups that
worship one or another of these gods or their
many wives and children.
Atman: the essential self of each person (a
soul) which is part of a universal soul-including all things in nature--and Brahman.
Reincarnation and Karma
Karma
Death
Karma
Reincarnation
Death
Moksha: freeing of
the soul from the
body to unite with
Brahman
Reincarnation
Karma
HINDU PRACTICES…
• MEDITATION/YOGA – a method of training developed
by the Hindus that is supposed to lead to oneness
with BRAHMAN (the single supreme force of the
universe that is nameless, formless & unlimited.)
• VEGETARIAN
• DEVOTION to gods & goddesses at Hindu Temples
(called PUJA – it was prayer and small sacrifices of
flowers, food, etc. to the deities for your own
salvation & for your daily life to run smoothly).
DHARMA
• Dharma aka “The Divine Law” requires all
Hindus to do their duty – which is directly
related to your societal status. Sometimes the
higher classes had more restriction/obligations
(priests couldn’t eat meat) but often the lower
classes had the worst “duties” to fulfill;
Reincarnation was tied into dharma in that if
you fulfilled your duty well you might improve
your condition in the next life; so this did give
hope to those at the lower end of the social
scale. Still it also helped to create prejudice &
discrimination against the lower castes.