Hinduism

Paths to Salvation

Caste System

Paths to Salvation - Yoga

Dharma - One’s moral and sacred duty as defined by: their stage in life (student / householder /

retirement / renunciation) their caste – determines one’s occupation their gender

Yoga – to yoke or bind together

4 Paths to Salvation

Bhakti Yoga – love and devotion (to be attracted to god)

Karma Yoga – good deeds and thoughts

Jnana Yoga – scripture and meditation

Raja Yoga - meditation

Bhakti Yoga – love and devotion

Most simple path to salvation

Devotion and love towards a personal deity

Provides an opportunity to worship Brahman in a concrete way, rather than as an abstract notion

Images / statues of deity help followers focus their devotion

Prayer / ritual

Karma Yoga – good deeds and thoughts Good deeds lead to the

accumulation of good karma

Unselfish actions don not for reward but because they are morally right

Duty of an individual

Jnana Yoga – scripture and meditation

Difficult path

Guidance of a guru / teacher

Learn about: the relationship between the

Brahman and atman Nature of the universe Scriptures

Meditate to gain the insight needed to achieve salvation / moksha

Raja Yoga - meditation

Achieve salvation through intense mediation / contemplation on mediation on Brahman

Trans like state

Become one with Brahman

Strict physical and spiritual discipline