Hinduism

Oldest organized religion on earth (at

least 4000 + years old)

Aryans bring their religion to India when

they conquer subcontinent @ 1000BC

political and social organizations of

Aryan invaders and native civilizations

slowly change and evolve into Hinduism

Hinduism

Roots of Hindu thought and philosophy are in the VEDAS

The Vedas are a collection of hymns, legends and epic poems of deeds of Aryan warriors and heroes

Collected and organized by priests and penned in written form of Aryan sanskrit language

Vedas form the basis of Hindu religious practices and social codes

The RIG VEDA is world‟s oldest religious text

VEDAS outline the Hindu concept of duty and religious law (DHARMA)

One epic poem in particular, the BHAGAVAD GITA (a.k.a. “Song of the Lord”) expresses that duty through the story of the hero Arjuna

The Vedas also break down Indian society into separate classes, or CASTES

The concept of DHARMA involves living and acting in proper manners for your sex, age and caste

Hinduism – texts (cont)

UPANISHADS – collection of Hindu clergy writings, teachings and interpretations from 800 – 400BC

The UPANISHADS talk of a universal spirit (BRAHMAN) that exists in all living things (animals, people, gods)

The UPANISHADS also recommend the use of self-denial techniques like MEDITATION to reach a state of mental tranquility and union with the BRAHMAN

YOGA is another form of meditative practice designed to bring inner focus on BRAHMAN

OM the “sacred sound”; integral to Hindu meditative prayers

Hindu texts (cont)

Reincarnation

Hinduism believes that the soul is eternal

Souls pass through many lifetimes to learn and develop towards higher wisdom

The ultimate aim of a Hindu is to achieve MOKSHA – the release from the cycle of reincarnation and the reunion with BRAHMAN

Hindu concepts

To move towards union with Brahman, a Hindu must fulfill their DHARMA – proper role in life

One must continue to build up good KARMA –the actions and thoughts in this life that determine the form you will take in the next life

Part of building up good KARMA involves living by the concept of AHIMSA – nonviolence to all living things

Many Hindus are therefore vegetarians because animals have a soul too, so eating meat would go against AHIMSA and would build up bad KARMA

Hinduism - deities

Hinduism is POLYTHEISTIC in that it has multiple gods, but all gods stem from the ultimate source BRAHMAN

Hinduism contains hundreds of gods and demi-gods (even down to individual family gods)

The main focus of Hindu deity worship is the TRIMURTI – the three major gods BRAHMA, VISHNU and SHIVA (personifications of BRAHMAN)

Each of the TRIMURTI gods has had many AVATARS – earthly forms designed to bring knowledge and wisdom through revelation of the sacred Hindu texts

Hindu deities - Brahma

The Creator – personification of

Brahman, Brahma created the

universe and the earth

Brahma „s four heads survey the

totality of his created universe

The god of wisdom and fertility

Brahma is the bearer of the

VEDAS

Brahma (cont)

One of Brahma‟s

avatars is GANESHA

GANESHA has an

elephant head which

represents strength and

wisdom

Ganesha teaches as

divinity is in all things at

all times

Vishnu

VISHNU is the Preserver of the

universe

He is the embodiment of mercy

and forgiveness

VISHNU maintains the cosmic

order and dharma

Hindus believe BUDDHA was

Vishnu‟s 9th avatar

Vishnu is protected by ANANTA

(giant earth-regenerating snake)

Vishnu (cont)

Vishnu‟s 8th avatar

was KRISHNA

KRISHNA brought

the Bhagavad Gita to

Arjuna (revelation)

Krishna came to

earth to topple

tyrants and stress the

dharma

Shiva

The Destroyer

Maintains order among the

Trimurti

SHIVA dispels ignorance

and grants peace to worthy

souls

Four arms represent the

complementary power to

destroy and remake the

universe

Shiva (cont)

One of Shiva‟s avatars is

HANUMAN

HANUMAN has the

monkey-like traits of speed

and intelligence

Hanuman teaches humans

to respect the world of

nature and animals

Hinduism

Hinduism is practiced differently across India and has spawned three other faiths

BUDDHISM accepts many concepts from Hinduism but rejects the focus on one supreme external god and the Hindu caste system

JAINISM similarly rejects the rigid social structure and self-sacrificial activity of Hinduism; Jainism places special emphasis on the practice of ahimsa

SIKHISM is a relatively new faith (@ 500 years old) and combines elements of Hinduism and Islam; Sikhs are monotheists and believe in equality of the sexes

Hinduism

Mohandas Gandhi

Applied concept of Ahimsa to social

struggles

Developed SATYAGRAHA movement

which combats injustice in society thru

use of sit-ins, strikes and other

nonviolent protests

Inspiration for Martin Luther King and

his nonviolent campaigns of the Civil

Rights Movement

Buddhism

Stems from teachings of Siddharta Gautama in 5th century BC India

Rejects strict social codes of Hinduism but accepts much of its ethical codes

Four Noble Truths Life is suffering

Suffering is caused by attachment

Freedom from attachment is cure for suffering

Way out of suffering is by following the 8 Fold Path

Buddhism

8 Fold Path

1. right speech

2. right action

3. right livelihood

4. right concentration

5. right mindfulness

6. right effort

7. right understanding

8. right thought

Buddhism

Accepts Hindu concepts of karma and reincarnation

Rejects idea that individuals have a specific role to fill

Karma demands nonviolence and compassion towards others; “civic-mindedness”

Buddhist dharma – “the three jewels” of buddhist life

“six degrees of separation”?

Impermanence (the “three marks of impermanence” and the concept of “no-self”)

Buddhist sects: Theravada

Mahayana

Zen

Boddhisativas

Compassionate beings

who forego nirvana to

help others

14th Dalai Lama

This concept helps

Buddhism meld with

other religions in the

East Asian world