HINDUISM Introductory Questions: Hinduism • Where did Hinduism originate? • Hinduism is considered a major world religion. Why do you think this is? • Is Hinduism polytheistic or monotheistic? Basics of Hinduism • Originated in India • Dates back to 1500 BCE and many consider it the oldest religion in the world • Third largest religion (# of adherents) • Practiced by 80% of India’s inhabitants • Derivative of word Hindu is the geographical term (Sindu River or Indus Valley) Indus Valley • 4000 – 2200 BCE • Built houses for worship • Stone sculptures and charms to ward off evil • Fire altars & animal sacrifices Aryans • 1500 BCE • Poems and ritual texts called VEDAS (early sacred writings) • Rig Veda – the oldest of the Sacred Texts • Agni - worshipped forces of nature as gods • Atman - human soul VEDAS • Composed in Sanskrit • Vedas literally means “knowledge“ • Vedas called “Shruti” by the Hindus • RIG VEDA • Upanishads – mystical texts on human existence EPICS • Ramayana – Hindu Epic of about 24000 verses including hero story of Rama • Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita Legal Codes • Laws of Manu Many Rivers to One Ocean HINDUISM • MANY RIVERS TO ONE OCEAN – HARMONY AND TOLERANCE ARE KEY ASPECTS OF HINDUISM – ALL BELIEFS AND PRACTICES ARE AIMING FOR THE SAME RESULT: SALVATION • “GOD IS ONE BUT MEN CALL HIM BY MANY NAMES” (from the RIG VEDA) HUMAN DESTINY: FROM WORLDLY REALMS TO THE DIVINE BEYOND • SPIRITUAL PERFECTION AMOUNTS TO A RETURN TO THE BEGINNING • THE FINAL DESTINY OF SALVATION THROUGH LIBERATION RETURNS THE INDIVIDUAL TO THE BEGINNING LIBERATION: RETURNING TO THE SACRED SOURCE • TO BE LIBERATED, OR ATTAIN SALVATION, MEANS TO BE RELEASED FROM THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE HUMAN CONDITION • THIS CANNOT BE ATTAINED IN ONE LIFETIME • REINCARNATION-SEVERAL LIFETIMES • MOKSHA: BEING RELEASED FROM THE HUMAN CONDITION INTO THE INFINITE OR DIVINE • THE HINDU WHO ATTAINS MOKSHA IS NEVER AGAIN REINCARNATED AND IS UNITED FOREVER WITH THE DIVINE THE DIVINE: ONE ULTIMATE REALITY, MANY “MASKS” • HINDUS WORSHIP MANY GODS AND GODDESSES; THOUGHT OF AS MANY MASKS OF GOD MONISM: ALL IS BRAHMAN • MONISM: THE BELIEF THAT ALL REALITY IS ULTIMATELY ONE • PLANTS, ANIMALS, GODS, GODDESSES, SHARE A COMMON ESSENCE • THIS ESSENCE IS CALLED BRAHMAN – BRAHMAN IS PURE SPIRIT, THE SOURCE OF THE UNIVERSE AND BEYOND HUMAN PERCEPTIONS AND THOUGHT • THE SACRED TEXTS, UPANISHADS, REFER TO BRAHMAN AS “NOT THIS, NOT THAT” Hindu Beliefs & Deities Categorizing the religion of Hinduism is somewhat confusing: • POLYTHEISTIC= worships multiple deities: gods and goddesses • MONOTHEISTIC = it recognizes only one supreme God: the panentheistic principle of Brahman, that all reality is a unity. The entire universe is seen as one divine entity who is simultaneously at one with the universe and who transcends it as well • TRINITARIAN= Brahman is simultaneously visualized as a triad -one God with three persons: Brahma (the Creator) Vishnu (the Preserver, Shiva (the Destroyer) • HENOTHEISTIC= recognize a single deity, and recognizes other gods and goddesses as facets, forms, manifestations, or aspects of that supreme God BRAHMAN: THE ESSENCE OF ALL REALITY • THE ULTIMATE REALITY CAN BE UNDERSTOOD THROUGH INWARD CONTEMPLATION OF THE SELF • THE ULTIMATE REALITY WITHIN IS NAMED: ATMAN – THE ETERNAL SELF • THE TERMS BRAHMAN AND ATMAN ARE INTERCHANGEABLE POLYTHEISM: 330 MILLION GODS AND GODDESSES • HINDUS REGARD ITS GODS AND GODDESSES AS EXTENSIONS OF ONE ULTIMATE REALITY • SINCE THE DIVINE REALITY IS BEYOND THE REACH OF THE HUMAN SENSES AND THOUGHT, HUMANS NEED POINTS OF CONTACT WITH THE DIVINE: MULTIPLE MASKS (GODS) • HINDUS MAY WORSHIP WHICHEVER GODS THEY LIKE, SINCE THEY ARE ALL THE ESSENCE OF THE ULTIMATE REALITY • MAYA= all forms of existence are temporary and illusionary • SAMSARA = endless cycle of reincarnation • KARMA = Basic belief of cause and effect (all actions have a consequence) • DHARMA =personal conduct and righteous living • MOKSHA= the liberation from samsara and the uniting of ATMAN (human soul) with Brahman (ultimate soul) – ॐ । असतो मा सद्गमय । तमसो मा ज्योततगगमय । मत्ृ योमागमत ृ ं गमय ।। – OM Asato mā sadgamaya, tamaso mā jyotirgamaya, mrityormāmritam gamaya – "OM (Lead me) from falsehood to truth, from darkness to light, from death to immortality." • Aum (also Om, ॐ) is the most sacred syllable in Hinduism and Vedas • Used in meditation and prayer as sound gives supernatural power • Represents the original sound of creation • To chant “om” will steady and elevate the mind • Good luck symbol representing “well being” • Usually illustrated in red • Used on wedding invitations, drawings • Used in rituals to bring good luck and protect against evil MANY WORLDS, MANY LIFETIMES: HINDU COSMOLOGY • IF EVERYTHING COMES FROM THE DIVINE, BRAHMAN, WHY DOES THERE APPEAR TO BE ANYTHING ELSE? • NO REAL IMPORTANCE IN EXPLAINING THIS OTHER THAN HUMANS HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE REALITY AND GAIN SALVATION CYCLES OF CREATION • TIME AND CREATION ARE VIEWED AS ONGOING CYCLES • LONG PATTERNS OF CREATION AND DESTRUCTION REINCARNATION • WHILE THE UNIVERSE GOES THROUGH THIS CYCLE, HUMANS ALSO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF REINCARNATION UNTIL THEY ATTAIN “MOKSHA” • “SAMSARA”: “WHEEL OF REBIRTH; THE INDIVIDIDUAL IS REINCARNATED FROM ONE LIFEFORM TO ANOTHER • INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS ARE NOT TRANSMITTED REINCARNATION (CON.) • REINCARNATION OCCURS ON MANY LEVELS: GODS, DEVILS ETC… • “BHAGAVAD-GITA”: HINDUISM’S MOST SACRED TEXT – THE GOD, KRISHNA, TEACHES THE WARRIOR, ARJUNA, ABOUT MANYY IMPORTANT RELIGIOUS ISSUES LAW AND ORDER: DIVINE PRINCIPLES IN THE WORLD • KARMA AND DHARMA CONNECT THE DIVINE WITH THIS WORLD • FORM A BASIS FOR MORAL LIFE AND PERMEATE THE EARTHLY LIFE WITH SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE KARMA • DETERMINES THE NATURE OF EACH REINCARNATION • MEANS “ACTIONS” OR “DEEDS” • INDIVIDUAL MORAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS • INDIVIDUAL KARMIC RECORD STAYS WITH YOU FROM REINCARNATION TO REINCARNATION • KARMA DETERMINES THE LIFEFORM INTO WHICH ATMAN APPEARS DHARMA • STANDARD OF ETHICAL DUTY BASED ON THE DIVINE ORDER OF REALITY • THE COMPLETE RULE OF LIFE • FOUR SOURCES PROVIDE GUIDANCE ABOUT DHARMA IN PARTICULAR SITUATIONS – – – – DIVINE REVELATION SACRED TRADITION EXAMPLES OF THE WISEST IN SOCIETY CONSCIENCE DHARMA (CON.) • DHARMA LIMITS PURSUIT OF DESIRES • SHIFTS SATISFYING OWN DESIRES TO THE CONCERN FOR OTHERS • IT IS THE ETHICAL FEATURE OF HINDUISM HINDU SOCIETY: MAPPING THE INDIVIDUAL’S IDENTITY • DHARMA IS CONNECTED TO SOCIAL ORDER DETERIMINED BY GENDER, CASTE AND STAGE OF LIFE DOING ONE’S JOB: THE CASTE SYSTEM • VARNA WAS THE ORIGINAL TERM • BRAHMIN – PRIESTS • KSHATRIYA – WARRIORS AND ADMINISTRATORS • VAISHYA – PRODUCERS: FARMERS, MERCHANTS,ARTISANS • SHUDRA – SERVANTS AND LABORERS CASTE (CON.) • ORIGINALLY THERE WERE OVER 3,000 CASTES • DEPENDENT ON OCCUPATIONS • FOR WOMEN, CASTE WAS CONTINGENT ON WHO SHE MARRIED • THIS WAS OFTEN DICTATED BY DHARMA • OUTCASTS OR “UNTOUCHABLES”, WERE ANOTHER CASTE • RIGIDLY MAINTAINED BY HEREDITY ACTING ONE’S AGE: FOUR STAGES OF LIFE • STUDENT – INTENSIVE STUDY OF SACRED LITERATURE • HOUSEHOLDER – MARRIAGE (ARRANGED) – PURSUING A CAREER, RAISING FAMILY • FOREST DWELLER – FIRST GRANDCHILD – RETREAT FROM WORLDLY BONDS • SANNYASIN (ASCETIC) SEEKING ONE’S DESIRE: FOUR GOALS OF LIFE • SENSUAL PLEASURE (KAMA) – A LEGITIMATE AIM OF LIFE • CELEBRATES THE PURSUIT OF PLEASURE – MUST REMAIN WITHIN THE LIMITS OF DHARMA • MATERIAL SUCCESS (ARTHA) – YEARNING FOR FULFILLMENT BEYOND SENSUAL PLEASURE • HARMONY WITH DHARMA – GOES BEYOND A DUTY GRUDGINGLY PERFORMED – PERFECT HARMONY WITH DHARMA • THE BLISS OF MOKSHA – PATHS TO ACHIEVE MOKSHA ARE NUMEROUS THREE PATHS TO LIBERATION • THREE PATHS BY WHICH THE PERSON MOVES CLOSER TO THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF LIBERATION • PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT TALENTS OR TENDENCIES – TO BE ACTIVE – TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE – TO EXPERIENCE EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT FOR THE ACTIVE: KARMA MARGA, “THE PATH OF WORKS” • SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS “KARMA YOGA” • MARKED BY AN ATTITUDE OF UNSELFISHNESS – ATTATCHMENT TO THE RESULTS OF ACTION MUST BE AVOIDED – DO THE RIGHT THING ONLY BECAUSE IT IS RIGHT • THIS PATH HAS ALL TO DO WITH LIVING IN ACCORDANCE WITH DHARMA • EXEMPLIFIED BY GANDHI – “RELIGION IS CONCERN FOR THE WORLD EXPRESSED THROUGH SOCIAL SERVICE” GANDHI • Best known Hindu in world • Fought to end discrimination against Indians in South Africa • Tolerant of all religions • Religious ideals on duty, truth, non-violence (ahimsa) and spiritual liberation (moksha) • Negotiated independence of India in 1947 • Opposed social injustice of Hindu society (ie. untouchables) • Assassinated in 1948 FOR THE PHILOSOPHICAL: JNANA MARGA, “THE PATH OF KNOWLEDGE” • THE STEEPEST ASCENT TO LIBERATION • REQUIRES DEVOTING TIME TO LEARNING AND MEDITATION; MORE PRACTICAL FOR THE BRAHMIN CLASS • EMPHASIZES ATTAINING KNOWLEDGE OVER IGNORANCE • IT GOES BEYOND THE MERE ACCUMULATION OF FACTUAL KNOWLEDGE • IT MEANS TO LIVE, TO EXPERIENCE THE TRUE NATURE OF REALITY THREE SCHOOLS OF PHILOSOPHY • THREE SCHOOLS OF HINDU PHILOSOPHY: THE ATTAINMENT OF KNOWLEDGE OVER IGNORANCE – VEDANTA • SHANKARA TAUGHT THAT REALITY AMOUNTS TO MONISM – SANKHYA • REALITY IS COMPOSED OF TWO DISTINCT CATEGORIES: MATTER AND AN INFINITE NUMBER OF ETERNAL SELVES • THE FOLLOWER OF SANKHYA ATTEMPTS TO FREE THE ETERNAL SELF FROM THE BONDAGE OF THE PERSONALITY – YOGA • TO FREE THE ETERNAL SELF FROM BONDAGE BY STRIPPING AWAY THE MANY LEVELS OF PERSONHOOD IN WHICH THE SELF IS WRAPPED • AN 8 STEP PROCESS THAT LEADS EVENTUALLY TO “SAMADHI”, A TRANCELIKE STATE I WHICH SELFCONCIOUSNESS IS LOST AND THE MIND IS ABSORBED INTO ULTIMATE REALITY (p. 56, 57) • 4 Paths to Salvation • 4 Stages of Life • 4 Goals of Life • Caste System • Puja • Upanayana • Vegetarianism “holy cow” • Arranged Marriages • Diwali – Festival of Lights • Ahimsa – non-violence • Yoga – philosophy and exercise together – very spiritual FOR THE EMOTIONAL: BHAKTI MARGA, “THE PATH OF DEVOTION” • LEADS SPIRITUAL ENERGY OUTWARD TOWARDS WORSHIP OF A DEITY • DEVOTION TO A DEITY REDUCES THE INDIVIDUALITY THAT BINDS THE SELF TO SAMSARA (CYCLE OF REINCARNATION) • ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON THE DIVINE, NOT ON THE SELF GODS AND GODDESSES • COMMONPLACE TO WORSHIP SEVERAL GODS • MORE POPULAR GODS: VISHNU, KALI, SHIVA, RAMA, KRISHNA • IMPORTANT TRIAD – BRAHMA=THE CREATOR – VISHNU=THE PRESERVER – SHIVA=THE DESTROYER Brahman -is the supreme being -entity without form or quality -soul of universe -divine, invisible, unlimited Preserver Destroyer Creator Brahma (Saraswati) Shiva Vishnu (Parvati) (Lakshmi) AVATARS • INCARNATION OR LIVING EMBODIMENT OF A DEITY – GENERALLY VISHNU • IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH A DIVINE PURPOSE Vishnu has many AVATARS (incarnations)who appear on earth as humans or animals to conquer evil and establish righteousness 7th- Rama 8th- Krishna 9th- Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) THE BHAGAVAD-GITA • MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH BHAKTI MARGA • ACCOUNTS WITH THIS TEXT FAVOR THE PATH OF DEVOTION ASPECTS OF DAILY DEVOTION • RITUAL, PRAYER, VISITS TO TEMPLES AND SHRINES. • VENERATION OF SACRED COWS HOUSEHOLD AND VILLAGE RITUALS • HOUSEHOLD DEITIES FREQUENTLY HAVE SHRINES IN THE HOME • VILLAGES OFTEN WORSHIP IN UNISON DURING ANNUAL FESTIVALS TO HONOR CERTAIN GODS OR GODDESSES HOLY PLACES • ALL RIVERS, IN PARTICULAR THE RIVER GANGES • PILGRIMS FREQUENTLY TAKE RITUAL BATHS IN THE GANGES IN ORDER TO SYMBOLLICALLY WASH AWAY THEIR SINS COW VENERATION • THE COW REPRESENTS LIFE • IN THE PAST, THE KILLING OF A COW WAS A CAPITAL OFFENSE HINDUISM IN THE MODERN WORLD • THE MODERN WORLD SEEMS TO POSE A CHALLENGE FOR HINDUISM SINCE INDIA’S STRUGGLE TO BECOME A DEMOCRACY, SEEMS TO BE IN CONTRADICTION TO HINDUISM’S CASTE CONCEPT. THOSE WHO HINDUS REVERE: RELIGIOUS LEADERS • BRAHMIN – TEND TO ANCIENT RITUALS • GURUS (ENLIGHTENED TEACHERS) – TEACH THE TRUTH OF THE uPANISHADS The ultimate aim of all Hindu thoughts is to attain the universal soul or divine wisdom called Brahman Hindu’s believe in the freedom to individually worship and guide own spiritual experience. The goals of Hinduism consist of personal conduct and righteous living which equals to dharma Goal to achieve moksha, (liberation) from endless cycle of rebirths called Samsara and reunite atman with Brahman