HINDUISM–Introduction

Hinduism (हि�न्दू धर्म�; also known as Sanātana Dharma - सना�तना धर्म�, and Vaidika-Dharma - वै�दि�क धर्म�) is based on the Vedas and is the direct descendant of the Vedic religion.The Indo- Europeans (Aryans) Introduce the Vedic Age into India.

Timeline

The Jesus Templein New Delhi.

All of the Hindu Scriptures,Epics, Codes, and so forthare available in English at

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/

The Vedas

HOW THEY CAME TO BE WRITTENKrishna first reveals the Vedic knowledge to Brahma

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.5–37)Brahma passes the Vedas to Narada, who passes them to Vyasa

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.44–5)Vyasa compiles the four Vedas (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.4.15–25)

First he [Krishna-dvaipayana Vyasa] divided the Vedas intofour, then he explained them in the Puranas, and for less capable people he wrote the Mahabharata. In the Mahabharata there is given the Bhagavad-gita. Then all Vedic literature is summarized in the Vedanta-sutra, and for future guidance he gave a natural commentation on theVedanta-sutra, called Srimad-Bhagavatam” (Bhagavad-gita Intro)

Upanishads

Actions

Know the Atman (Self) as the lord of the chariot, and the body as the chariot. Know also the Intellect to be the driverand mind the reins. The senses are called the horses; the sense objects are the roads ("Katha Upanishad")

The Bhagavad Gita

Hindu theology, at present, depicts four (4) descending levels of deity and divinity:

1. The Brahman, the Absolute, the Infinite One, the IT IS.

2. The Trimurti, the supreme trinity of Hinduism. In this association Brahma, the first member, is conceived as being self-created out of the Brahman--infinity. Were it not for closeidentification with the pantheistic Infinite One, Brahma could constitute the foundation for a concept of the Universal Father. Brahma is also identified with fate.

The worship of the second and third members, Siva (Shiva) and Vishnu, arose in the first millennium after Christ. Siva is lord of life and death, god of fertility, and master of destruction. Vishnu is extremely popular due to the belief that he periodically incarnates in human form. In this way, Vishnu becomes real and living in the imaginations of the Indians. Siva and Vishnu are each regarded by some as supreme over all.

The Trimurti:Vishnu……Shiva……Brahma

3. Vedic and post-Vedic deities. Many of the ancient gods of the Aryans, such as Agni, Indra, Soma, have persisted as secondary to the three members of the Trimurti. Numerous additional gods have arisen since the early days of Vedic India, and these have also been incorporated into the Hindu pantheon.

4. The demigods: supermen, semigods, heroes, demons, ghosts, evil spirits, sprites, monsters, goblins, and saints of the later-day cults.

(or Ends)

FOUR ENDS OF HINDU LIFE (Purusharthas)

Based on the principle of progressive evolution of soul, the Doctrine of Four Ends forms the basis of individual and social life of a Hindu.

The Four Ends are :

1) Dharma - Righteousness and good moral and ethical practices in accordance with the scriptures. Includes all duties -- individual, social and religious

2) Artha (Wealth) - Not an end in itself but basic necessity, one must earn enough wealth in order to raise a family and maintain a household - Wealth must not be for hoarding but for sharing with those who are poor, handicapped or less fortunate - Dharma and Artha must be coordinated in order to earn decent living while recognizing that artha is not an ultimate end of Hindu religious life

3) Kama - Denotes the wants and desires of body and mind in the form of desires, passions, emotions and drives - Satisfaction of genuine human desires such as art, music, savory food, sports, conjugal love, filial affections, clothes, jewelry etc. are not suppressed but must be satisfied in a controlled fashion - Through controlled satisfaction of genuine desires and passions, an individual becomes free from kama - Freedom from sensual desires and passion is necessary for attaining moksha and is made possible by the proper coordination of dharma, artha, and kama

4) Moksha – The ultimate aim of all Hindus is to escape from cycle of birth and death and to make an individual a better person, so that he/she can live harmoniously in this world and seek union with God.

This escape or liberation is called Moksha, and it is a kind of salvation. If a person takes good actions in life and thus builds good karma, he or she will be born into a better life in the next incarnation. This cycle of birth and death continues until a person reaches moksha.

The soul changes bodies likea person changes his clothes.If you have lived badly, yournext overcoat may be rotting.

Actions that result in BAD KARMA

Actions that result in GOOD KARMA

eating meat anger vegetarianism self-control

violence greed non-violence truthfulness

ignorance attachments generosity

harshness desires charity

untruthfulness gambling forgiveness

lust alcohol cleanliness

pleasing oneself at the expense of others

being free from all attachments, desires, and selfishness

…. .

Ganga,The

Rivergoddess

………………………………………………………….

……

Ganesh, theelephant-nosedgod

Kartikeya

Krishna Hanuman

……

Worship

Mediation is often practiced, with yoga being the most commonsystem. Other activities include:

daily prayers,public rituals, andpuja, a ceremonial dinner for the god.

Dot for blessing

Selling flowers for puja

A Sadhu

…

Kites have been used in the past, among other things, for medical purposes, strategies in warfare and to ward off the evil eye.

OBJECTIVES

After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

- Identify the major spiritual disciplines including guru and yogic practices.

- Name the religion's major theistic cults and philosophical systems.

- Explain the importance of Hindu scripture, including the Ramayana and Bhagavad-Gita, to the religion.

- Describe some of the important worship practices. - Recognize important names and terms such as Sanatana

Dharma, Brahman, Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad-Gita, Vishnu, Siva, Krishna, atman, reincarnation, karma, moksha, samsara, bhakti, castes, mantras, yantras, yoga, guru, dualistic, monistic, puja, and darsan.

Review

1. The Hindu scriptures, the Vedas, were written in

a. Sanskrit.b. Aramaic.c. Hindi.d. Pali.

2. The Vedas are composed of four parts: the Samhitas, Brahmanas, the

_____________, and the Upanishads.

a. Ramayanab. Mahabharatac. Bhagavad-Gitad. Aranyakas

3. The Vedas are believed to have come directly from Brahman as heard by _____________, ancient wise men.

a. rishisb. gurusc. priestsd. brahmin

4. A(n) ______ is a monastic retreat community developed around a teacher.

a. sangatb. sanghac. ashramd. mosque

5. The Upanishads, the last of the Vedas, include teachings on

a) the nature of oneself.b) the nature of Brahman.c) the nature of the soul or atman.d) any of these.

6. The members of the Hindu caste system with the highest status were

priests or

a) Brahmins.b) Kshatriyas.c) Vaishyas.d) Shudras.

7. Members of the lowest caste group once called "untouchables" were

renamed "harijans" by Mahatma Gandhi. "Harijans" means

a) sons of Brahmin.b) God's chosen.c) redeemed ones.d) children of God.

8. ____________ is a poetic narrative epic depicting the struggle of Rama.

a) Hanuman, the Monkey Chiefb) Rama and Sitac) Ramayana

d) Mahabharata

9. Krishna's teachings to Arjuna as recorded in the Bhagavad-Gita include

lessons on

a) how to recognize what is eternal.b) how to transcend one's self.c) the importance of loving the Eternal Being.d) any of these.

10. A Hindu male's life time is traditionally divided into four stages--

student, householder, semi-retired person, and a

a) guru.b) monk.c) teacher.d) sannyasin.

11. Within the Hindu religion there has developed a variety of paths to achieve

liberation from suffering known as yoga. The four main yogic paths are jnana, karma, bhakti, and __________ , the path most

familiar to Westerners.

a) transcendental meditationb) Mokshac) Pujad) raja

12. The ultimate goal of yogic meditation is __________, a state of union with the

Absolute.

a) pujab) sadhanasc) nirvanad) samadhi

13. This yogic path emphasizes rational thought as the path to liberation.

a) jnanab) karmac) yogid) bhakti

14. This yogic path emphasizes helping others as the path to

liberation.

a) jnanab) karmac) yogid) bhakti

15. Most Hindus worship one of these three deities.

a) Vishn, Siva, Brahma b) Vishnu, Siva, Saktic) Agni, Siva, Indrad) Vishnu, Agni, Indra

16. The worship of the feminine form of the divine has been present in India

since ancient times. This divinity has been associated closely with nature

including the _________ River, which is considered especially sacred to Hindus.

a) Lunib) Godavaric) Gangesd) Yamuna

17. A major difference in the two major philosophical systems of Hinduism (Samkhya

& Advaita Vedanta) is their understanding of reality. While Advaita Vedanta is monistic,

holding that there is one reality, the Samkhya philosophy confirms that there are

really _________ realities.

a) twob) manyc) fourd) three

#1 ____ dharma____ karma____ reincarnation____ moksha____ samsara____ atman

a. the soulb. the transmigration of the soul into a new body after deathc. actions and the results of those actions on future livesd. the continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirthe. natural, social and ethical order; health and transcendental realizationf. liberation from the cycle of suffering--life, death, and rebirth

MATCHING QUESTIONS(SOME TERMS TO KNOW)

#3 ____ mantra____ bhakti____ guru____ yoga____ yantras____ puja

a. intense devotion to a personal godb. paths to liberation from sufferingc. spiritual teacherd. worshipe. linear images with cosmic symbolism used to still the mindf. verbal formulas used by priests

#2 ____ Brahman____ Vishnu____ Siva (Shiva)____ Vedas____ Aryans____ Upanishads

a. wisdom teachings, the last of the Vedasb. a form of the Supreme Being who incarnates again and again to save the worldc. Hinduism's major religious textd. Indo-European tribes thought to have migrated to India from southern Russiae. the Absolute, Supreme Being f. Harappan civilizations may have worshipped this god, one of the major forms of the Supreme Reality worshipped today

1.Annie Dillard in Pilgrim at Tinker Creek writes, "The one thing that all religions recognize as separating us from our creator--our very self consciousness--is also the one thing that divides us from our fellow man." Explain how this idea applies to the basic beliefs of Hinduism.

2. Describe the evidence that connects the Harappan civilizations to the Hindu religion that exists today.

3. Explain the differences between the Aryan Invasion Theory and the Indian tradition regarding the origins of Hinduism.

4. All religious activities can be diminished by an emphasis on the exterior rather than the inner experience. With this in mind, explain the importance of Hindu rituals such as the fire sacrifice.

5. Trace the development of the concept of bhakti in Hinduism.

6. Describe the cycles of time in Hinduism. What evidence do you see that we are currently in the fourth cycle?

7. Discuss the relationship of the caste system to the Hindu concept of dharma. Include a discussion of the religious roles of women.

8. What do the major Hindu philosophical systems have in common?

SOME QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT

(more)

Any Questions?

Next……Buddhism