Transcript Hinduism - SharpSchool

Hinduism
• "When you hear about the
Self, meditate upon the Self,
and finally realize the Self...
you come to understand
everything in life."
--Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
4.5
Origins
Hinduism is an ancient religion with no
known founder or known date of origin.
Origins
The term "Hinduism" simply derives from
the word "India" and refers to a wide
variety of religious traditions and
philosophies that have developed in
India over thousands of years.
Origins
Therefore, Hinduism is really an
combination of local religions of India that
has developed over time to become what
it is today.
Adherents
• Hinduism is the third
largest religion in
the world. The
followers of
Hinduism are called
Hindus
• Approximately 900
million people follow
Hinduism worldwide.
• Hinduism embraces a
great diversity of beliefs,
a fact that can be initially
confusing to westerners.
• One can believe a wide
variety of things about
God, the universe and the
path to liberation
depending on your point
of view and place in
society.
• That being said, there
are some common
views all Hindus agree
with.
Religious Views
Common Views 1: A Multi-faced God
• There is a common
misconception that
Hinduism is a polytheistic
religion.
• Its not! Many faces of one
God. NOT POLYTHEISITC!
• While Hindu’s do worship
many gods and
goddesses, they are
different shapes of one
supreme being, Brahman.
Three Major Forms of Brahman
Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, & Siva the Destroyer
Generator + Operator + Destroyer = GOD
Common Hindu Beliefs 2: All are One
»Everyone has a soul or
Atman, and they are all
one piece of a whole.
»Hindus believe we all
come from one source and
that we all go back to that
source in the end when
we are perfect, like
Brahman.
Common Hindu Beliefs 3: Dharma
• Dharma – each person has a duty to accept
his or her place in the world without
complaint. Tied directly to the Caste System.
Common Hindu Beliefs 4: Karma
• Karma – the effects that good or bad actions
have on a person’s soul and life
You get what you
give. If you are
nice, nice things
happen to you.
If you mistreat
someone, then you
will be mistreated
Hindu Caste-System
You are stuck wherever you
are born for this lifetime.
People move up the order
when they are ready.
Brahmans – Priests and
scholars
Kshatriyas – rulers and
warriors
Vaisyas – farmers and
merchants
Sudras – artisans and workers
Dalits - untouchables
This case is technically illegal.
But try telling that to the 160
Common Hindu Beliefs 5:
Reincarnation
According to Hinduism a soul
reincarnates again and again
on earth till it becomes perfect
and reunites with it Brahman.
A being has to live many lives
and undergo many experiences
before it can attain perfection,
becoming one with the divine.
Your next incarnation depends
on how you did last time.
Good you go up the latter, bad
you stay and try again.
Common Hindu Beliefs 6: Nirvana
In Hindu tradition, nirvana
(more commonly called
Moksha in India) is the
reuniting with Brahman, the
universal God or universal
soul. This is the goal.
In traditional Hinduism, a soul
reaches this state after living
many lives in which it climbs up
through the caste system and
builds up good karma.
Life’s Purpose
• Humans are in bondage to
ignorance and illusion, but
are able to escape. It just
takes multiple lives to do it.
• The purpose of life is to gain
release (nirvana/moksha)
from the cycle of death and
rebirth, or at least a better
rebirth.
Afterlife
• Uniting with God (Brahman) as a drop of
rain merges with the sea.
General Practices
• Yoga, moving meditation
• Meditation-clearing one’s mind of
thought
• worship (puja) to Brahman
• devotion to a god or goddess,
different faces of Brahman
• pilgrimage to holy cities in Hindu
history
• live according to one's dharma
(purpose/ role)