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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
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