HinduismHinduism

Mr. Tackabury

HinduismHinduism

Has no single founder, and no single sacred Has no single founder, and no single sacred texttext

Religion started when the Aryans (nomadic Religion started when the Aryans (nomadic people) blended with the Indus valley peoplepeople) blended with the Indus valley people

Many Gods, and many forms of worshipMany Gods, and many forms of worship

Many gods-or one?Many gods-or one? Hindu thinkers came to believe that everything in Hindu thinkers came to believe that everything in

the universe was part of a unchanging, all the universe was part of a unchanging, all powerful spiritual force called Brahmanpowerful spiritual force called Brahman

Most important Hindu Gods:Most important Hindu Gods:       -Brahman- the creator-Brahman- the creator       -Vishnu- the preserver-Vishnu- the preserver       -Shiva- the destroyer-Shiva- the destroyer *each represents aspects of the Brahman**each represents aspects of the Brahman*

Would you want any of this?Would you want any of this?

The Goal of life:The Goal of life: Every Hindu has an essential self called atman (really Every Hindu has an essential self called atman (really

just another name for Brahman)just another name for Brahman) The ultimate goal of existence is to achieve Moksha The ultimate goal of existence is to achieve Moksha

(union) with Brahman (union) with Brahman In order to accomplish this:In order to accomplish this:       -Individuals must free themselves from -Individuals must free themselves from selfless selfless

desires desires       -reincarnation-rebirth of the soul in another -reincarnation-rebirth of the soul in another

bodily form bodily form             -allows people to work towards Moksha -allows people to work towards Moksha through through

several lifetimesseveral lifetimes   

Karma and DharmaKarma and Dharma

Come closer to achieving Moksha by obeying the law of Come closer to achieving Moksha by obeying the law of KarmaKarma

Refers to all the actions in a person's life that will affect Refers to all the actions in a person's life that will affect his/her fate in the next lifehis/her fate in the next life

To Hindus, all existence is rankedTo Hindus, all existence is ranked:: -Humans are the closest to Brahman then comes -Humans are the closest to Brahman then comes

animals, plants, and objects like rocks and wateranimals, plants, and objects like rocks and water Live a good life, earn good Karma=rebirth into a higher Live a good life, earn good Karma=rebirth into a higher

level of existence level of existence Live a bad life= reborn into sufferingLive a bad life= reborn into suffering Dharma- the religious and moral duties of an individual Dharma- the religious and moral duties of an individual Duties depend upon a person's class, occupation, gender, Duties depend upon a person's class, occupation, gender,

or age or age

Ahimsa (non-violence)Ahimsa (non-violence)

To Hindus all people and things are aspects of To Hindus all people and things are aspects of Brahman and should therefore be respectedBrahman and should therefore be respected