HinduismHinduism

The Aims of LifeThe Aims of Life

What are your aims in life?What are your aims in life?

1.1. To what extent have you thought about what To what extent have you thought about what you want from your life?you want from your life?

2.2. What things would you like to achieve in What things would you like to achieve in your life? What kind of a person would you your life? What kind of a person would you like to become? Make a list like to become? Make a list

3.3. What do you think are the most important What do you think are the most important things on this list? Why? things on this list? Why?

4.4. What principles or ‘values’ are reflected in What principles or ‘values’ are reflected in your list?your list?

Hindu AimsHindu AimsHindus believe in reincarnation and the concept of Hindus believe in reincarnation and the concept of Samsara…Samsara…

……a never-ending cycle of birth, death and re-a never-ending cycle of birth, death and re-birth.birth.

Whilst some of us might like the idea of another Whilst some of us might like the idea of another go at life, Hindus see Samsaric existence as go at life, Hindus see Samsaric existence as being full of suffering…being full of suffering…

……pain, illness, loss and death.pain, illness, loss and death.

For this reason, their ultimate aim is For this reason, their ultimate aim is MokshaMoksha

Escape from Samsara and reunion with BrahmanEscape from Samsara and reunion with Brahman

Hindu AimsHindu AimsHowever, this does not mean that Hindus do not However, this does not mean that Hindus do not have values or aims they try to incorporate within have values or aims they try to incorporate within their day to day their day to day samsaricsamsaric existence. existence.

While the While the dharmadharma or duties of individuals depend or duties of individuals depend on their caste (on their caste (varnavarna) and occupation () and occupation (jatijati), there ), there are are fourfour aims all Hindus try to achieve: aims all Hindus try to achieve:

1.1. Dharma – Dharma – fulfilling religious and social dutiesfulfilling religious and social duties

2.2. ArthaArtha – earning material wealth – earning material wealth

3.3. Kama Kama – enjoying the pleasures and beauty of life– enjoying the pleasures and beauty of life

4.4. MokshaMoksha – working towards the final goal of – working towards the final goal of liberation from samsaraliberation from samsara

DHARMADHARMAIn Sanskrit, the word In Sanskrit, the word DHARMADHARMA translates translates roughly as ‘supporting harmony, order and truth’roughly as ‘supporting harmony, order and truth’

Thus the concept of Thus the concept of dharmadharma links to the law of links to the law of karmakarma – cause and effect.– cause and effect.

Good deeds bring good results for everyone.Good deeds bring good results for everyone.

So So dharma dharma refers to all the things that need to refers to all the things that need to be done to ensure that everyone can lead a be done to ensure that everyone can lead a happy, well-ordered, and harmonious life…happy, well-ordered, and harmonious life…

……our dutiesour duties

DHARMADHARMAThe idea that there are certain actions and The idea that there are certain actions and moral principles that ensure balance and moral principles that ensure balance and harmony in life is known as SANATAN harmony in life is known as SANATAN DHARMA – eternal or sacred truthDHARMA – eternal or sacred truth

Basic principles include…Basic principles include…

AhimsaAhimsa –not harming other living things, non- –not harming other living things, non-violence (many Hindus are vegetarian)violence (many Hindus are vegetarian)

SatyaSatya – truthfulness – truthfulness

AsteyaAsteya – not stealing – not stealing

SaucaSauca – purity of mind and body – purity of mind and body

VARNASHRAMADHARMAVARNASHRAMADHARMAHowever, Hindus also understand their lives in However, Hindus also understand their lives in terms of VARNA ASHRAMA DHARMA: terms of VARNA ASHRAMA DHARMA: the duties and responsiblities which come from the duties and responsiblities which come from membership of a caste (varna) and the membership of a caste (varna) and the stage stage of lifeof life they are in – their ASHRAMA they are in – their ASHRAMABased on the natural process of growing up Based on the natural process of growing up and growing old, Hindus believe there are and growing old, Hindus believe there are fourfour distinct distinct ashramas.ashramas.Set out, along with ideas about caste, in the Set out, along with ideas about caste, in the ancient law books of ancient law books of ManuManu, each brings , each brings different duties which relating the individual to different duties which relating the individual to the greater good. the greater good.

Stages of Life in Our CultureStages of Life in Our CultureQ.Q. Does our own culture have distinct stages of Does our own culture have distinct stages of

life? If so, what are they?life? If so, what are they?(in ‘As You Like It’ William Shakespeare wrote that (in ‘As You Like It’ William Shakespeare wrote that

there were ‘seven ages of man’:there were ‘seven ages of man’:InfancyInfancyChildhoodChildhoodThe LoverThe LoverThe SoldierThe SoldierThe JusticeThe JusticeOld AgeOld AgeExtreme old ageExtreme old age

The Ashramas:The Ashramas:BrahmacharyaBrahmacharya - Student- Student

In Hinduism, the first stage of life In Hinduism, the first stage of life or or ashramaashrama is that of the is that of the studentstudent..Marked by the Marked by the Sacred ThreadSacred Thread ceremony, the student stage is ceremony, the student stage is when boys from the three upper when boys from the three upper castes learn about their religion as castes learn about their religion as well as their caste and social well as their caste and social duties.duties.Traditionally this involved leaving Traditionally this involved leaving the family home to study the family home to study scriptures with, and serve, a scriptures with, and serve, a teacher or teacher or GuruGuru..

The Ashramas:The Ashramas:BrahmacharyaBrahmacharya - Student- Student

They lead a life of They lead a life of simplicity, celibacy and simplicity, celibacy and self-discipline.self-discipline.They should avoid gossip, They should avoid gossip, greed, make-up, playing greed, make-up, playing music, singing, dancing music, singing, dancing and looking at or touching and looking at or touching the opposite sex.the opposite sex.The emphasis is on The emphasis is on learning the rules and learning the rules and rituals of the Hindu rituals of the Hindu tradition.tradition.

The Ashramas:The Ashramas:GrihasthaGrihastha - Householder- Householder

The Householder stage begins when the student returns The Householder stage begins when the student returns from his studies, marries and takes on the sacred duty from his studies, marries and takes on the sacred duty of continuing the family.of continuing the family.

No man or woman’s life is seen as complete without No man or woman’s life is seen as complete without marriage.marriage.

Most Hindus never get past this stage.Most Hindus never get past this stage.

Householders should give to charity, care for aged Householders should give to charity, care for aged parents, offer hospitality and run a well-ordered parents, offer hospitality and run a well-ordered household.household.

The Ashramas:The Ashramas:GrihasthaGrihastha - Householder- Householder

Male householders are expected to earn money Male householders are expected to earn money honestly and provide for their wife and children, as well honestly and provide for their wife and children, as well as educating and arranging marriages for his children.as educating and arranging marriages for his children.

Traditionally, married women’s duties include raising Traditionally, married women’s duties include raising children in accordance with Hindu tradition, managing children in accordance with Hindu tradition, managing household expenses, cooking, cleaning, preparing the household expenses, cooking, cleaning, preparing the home for religious rituals, celebrations and festivals.home for religious rituals, celebrations and festivals.

The Ashramas:The Ashramas:VanaprasthaVanaprastha – ‘Forest Dweller’– ‘Forest Dweller’

This is similar to our culture’s idea of ‘retirement’.This is similar to our culture’s idea of ‘retirement’.

Vanaprastha means " forest dweller“ and this Vanaprastha means " forest dweller“ and this stage indicates the beginning of old age. stage indicates the beginning of old age.

It occurs when children are grown up, married, It occurs when children are grown up, married, and there is a grandson to ensure the family will and there is a grandson to ensure the family will continue.continue.

The Ashramas:The Ashramas:VanaprasthaVanaprastha – ‘Forest Dweller’– ‘Forest Dweller’

Householder responsiblitites are handed over Householder responsiblitites are handed over to the eldest son.to the eldest son.

Traditionally, they wouldTraditionally, they would lead a simple life lead a simple life away from society in the forest, devoting time away from society in the forest, devoting time to quiet meditation and study of the scriptures.to quiet meditation and study of the scriptures.

Those in this stage are seen as wise elders in Those in this stage are seen as wise elders in the family and are seen as a source of advice the family and are seen as a source of advice and help in educating children.and help in educating children.

Not everyone takes on the dharma of this Not everyone takes on the dharma of this stage but those that do gain great respect and stage but those that do gain great respect and good karma.good karma.

The Ashramas:The Ashramas:Sannyasin Sannyasin - Renouncer- Renouncer

The final ashrama is that The final ashrama is that of the ‘Sannyasin’.of the ‘Sannyasin’.

Especially noted in Especially noted in Hinduism, it requires Hinduism, it requires completely giving up all completely giving up all worldly ties and worldly ties and possession,possession,

and devotion to the and devotion to the spiritual goal of liberation spiritual goal of liberation or or MokshaMoksha

The Ashramas:The Ashramas:Sannyasin Sannyasin - Renouncer- Renouncer

Being a Sannyasin usually Being a Sannyasin usually means becoming a wandering means becoming a wandering holy men, with no fixed abode, holy men, with no fixed abode, begging for food.begging for food.

They spend all their time on They spend all their time on pilgrimage, praying, meditating pilgrimage, praying, meditating and studying scripture.and studying scripture.

Few enter this ashrama but Few enter this ashrama but sannyasin are revered by sannyasin are revered by Hindus for their spirituality.Hindus for their spirituality.

Hindu Aims and Stages TasksHindu Aims and Stages Tasks

1.1. What are the four aims of Hindu life? 4KUWhat are the four aims of Hindu life? 4KU2.2. In your view, what are the benefits and/or In your view, what are the benefits and/or

disadvantages of these aims? How useful disadvantages of these aims? How useful are they in providing a guide to life? Is are they in providing a guide to life? Is there anything you think is missing? 6AEthere anything you think is missing? 6AE

3.3. Explain what Hindus understand by Explain what Hindus understand by ‘dharma’? 6KU‘dharma’? 6KU

4.4. In what ways does the idea of ‘dharma’ In what ways does the idea of ‘dharma’ affect the way Hindus lead their day-to-affect the way Hindus lead their day-to-day lives? 6AEday lives? 6AE(Hint: Think of both ‘sanatan dharma’ and (Hint: Think of both ‘sanatan dharma’ and ‘varna ashrama dharma’)‘varna ashrama dharma’)

Hindu Aims and Stages TasksHindu Aims and Stages Tasks5.5. What is an ‘ashrama’? 2KUWhat is an ‘ashrama’? 2KU6.6. Give a brief description of each ‘ashrama’. 8KUGive a brief description of each ‘ashrama’. 8KU7.7. Hindus are often said to have a strong sense of Hindus are often said to have a strong sense of

duty.duty.a) Are there people in modern Scotland that a) Are there people in modern Scotland that display this sense of duty? Which ones? 4AEdisplay this sense of duty? Which ones? 4AEb) Do you think our culture could learn anything b) Do you think our culture could learn anything from the Hindu idea of from the Hindu idea of dharmadharma or duty? Does or duty? Does dharma dharma benefit or hinder society? 4AEbenefit or hinder society? 4AE