Transcript HinduismOverview

Hinduism
Dr. Ashok Agarwal
Victoria Hindu Temple
3/28/2016
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Outline
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Introduction
Hinduism and humanity
Respect for Earth
Science and religion
Hinduism in the community
Recent changes
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Introduction
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What are the four aims?
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What is “Om” and its importance?
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What is meditation, bhakti, sadhana or devotion?
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What is yoga?
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What are the four aims?
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Hindus organize their lives around certain activities or
"purusharthas." These are called the "four aims of
Hinduism.“
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Dharma: righteousness in their religious life
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Artha: success in their economic life; material prosperity
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Kama: gratification of the senses; pleasure; sensual, sexual, and
mental enjoyment
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Moksha: Liberation from "samsara,"
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What is “Om” and its importance?
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"Om" is a holy word often spoken during the
practice of any Hindu rites.
Represents the trinity of three supreme Gods
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Brahma – the creator
Vishnu – the preserver
Shiva – the destroyer
Reincarnations of Lord Vishnu
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Lord Rama (Ramayana)
Lord Krishna (Mahabharata and the Gita)
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Gita narrates the meaning of life, karma, moksha, atma,
and parmatma
Man is mortal…the soul is immortal!
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What is meditation, bhakti, sadhana
or devotion?
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It is essentially a language of love
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This alone can give us the bliss of God-realization
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Sadhana serves to attract the devotee’s attention to the
Lord
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This makes the devotee free from sorrow and suffering,
and reveals Himself (God) before the devotee
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What is yoga?
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Method of keeping us in control of
our body, mind and actions
One must master these four types of yoga
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Jnana yoga – the path of knowledge
Bhakti yoga – the path of devotion
Karma yoga – the path of action
Raja yoga – the path based on control of one’s actions and
thoughts
Having learnt these, the body can be detached from the
soul.
Achieve union with the supreme self or God.
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10 Common Hinduism Questions
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Why does Hinduism have so many Gods?
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Do Hindus believe in reincarnation?
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Hindus all believe in one Supreme God who created many
Gods, highly advanced spiritual beings, to be His helpers
Yes, we believe the soul (without body) is immortal and takes
birth again and again.
What is Karma?
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Karma is the universal principal of cause and effect. Both good
and bad karma not only decide our fate (sorrow and happiness)
in the present life, but also in future life.
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10 Common Hinduism Questions
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Why do Hindus worship the cow?
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Are Hindus idol worshipers?
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We worship God through the image so that we can commune
with Him and receive His blessings.
Are Hindus forbidden to eat meat?
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By honoring this gentle animal, who gives more than she takes,
we honor the creatures as well.
Hindus teach vegetarianism as a way of life to not hurt living
creatures.
Do Hindus have a Bible?
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Our “Bible” is called the Veda which means “wisdom” and
which reveals the word of God.
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10 Common Hinduism Questions
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Why do many Hindus wear a dot near the middle of their
forehead?
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Are the Gods of Hinduism really married?
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It represents a divine sight and shows that one is a Hindu.
It is true that God is often depicted with a spouse in traditional
stories, a symbol of love between husband and wife.
What about caste and untouchability?
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Caste is the hereditary division of Indian society based on
occupation (priests, warriors, business people, and workers).
The lowest caste, untouchables, suffer from discrimination. It is
now illegal in India.
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Hinduism and Humanity
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Code of Conduct
 Nonviolence (ahimsa)
 Truthfulness
 Patience
 Compassion
 Honesty
 Purity
 Giving
 Faith in God
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Hinduism and Humanity
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According to Mahatma Gandhi, love, sacrifice
and truthfulness leads to comfort and pleasure
in everyday life.
Gandhi’s use of nonviolence was a strong weapon in
achieving India’s independence
Pluralism
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Hinduism promotes not only tolerance and respect for
differences in belief and religion, but also acceptance of those
paths as legitimate
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Respect for Earth
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Hinduism teaches us the need to care for the Earth and all
its beings by not killing animals and plants
Hindus worship mountains, oceans and the planets as
God, to give respect for both earthly and heavenly things
Vegetarianism has been advocated for many centuries.
According to reincarnation all souls upon death are reborn
in another body. Hence there is no difference between an
animal soul and a human soul. We should respect every
soul.
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Science and Religion
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Science without religion is lame, religion without science
is blind. Albert Einstein
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The roiling mystery of the world can be analyzed with
concepts (this is science), or it can be experienced free of
concepts (this is mysticism). Sam Harris
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Scientific discoveries often take years to uncover the
truth.
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Spiritual leaders spend years, before finally achieving
enlightenment.
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Science and Religion
Universe
Science
Science
Religion
Spirituality
God
Technology
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Religion
Religion
Religion
Religion
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Science and Religion
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Science and spirituality are the two different ways of
seeking answers to life's questions
Technology and religion are to make living and dying
more comfortable
Hinduism + Science sometimes agree and sometimes
don’t
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Hindus believe that the body dies, but the soul never dies;
science disagrees.
Hindu astrology accurately maps the positions of heavenly
bodies
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Hinduism in the Community
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Community temple brings together people to share ideas
and knowledge
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Most Hindu knowledge is transferred by word of mouth at
community gatherings
Children learn through cultural games, crafts and stories
Priest presents insight into various religious beliefs and
practices
Prayers and devotional songs are sung
In Victoria we have the Victoria Hindu Temple
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We meet every week on Saturday evenings and provide dinner
after prayer
Everyone is welcome
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Recent Changes
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Traditional Hinduism
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Derives origins from Aryans
Basic ideas are from the Vedas
Modern Hinduism
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Hinduism has no notion of conversion (born Hindu)
Preserve existing beliefs and ideologies
Self-defensive, self-assertive, and even aggressive
More worldwide acceptance of Hindu ideologies
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Spread of yoga, nonviolence and vegetarianism
Organizations such as ISKCON (International Society for Krishna
Consciousness), and Ramakrishna Mission
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Final Thoughts
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Hinduism is a whole and complete view of life,
characterized by wide tolerance and deep humanity.
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It is a religion of love, goodness, kindness, and sacrifice.
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It welcomes all religions.
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“Giving rather than taking in life” should be our motto to
bring peace and harmony in this modern world.
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Prayer
O mighty God! we are yours
Bless us always so we may do good, and never do bad,
So we may die happily !!
Whenever there is a rise in crimes, take care of us;
Even when others do bad, we do good;
We should never have feelings of revenge;
All our efforts should be towards love,
So there is no hatred around us !!
Darkness is spreading around us, man is confused and without goal;
Our "hope of happiness" is dying;
But only your light can remove darkness and illuminate our life !!
We are truly yours !!
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