Comparison of Religious Traditions
Middle Eastern (J-C-I)
Indian (Hindu)
Anthropomorphic Monotheism
Polymorphic Pantheism
God is transcendent
The One is immanent
Revealed—the Word of God
Nonrevealed—human insights
Outer search
Inner search
Catechismal
Experimental
Congregational
Individualistic
Exclusive
Inclusive
Proselytizing
Non-proselytizing
The Indian Religious Tradition: Hinduism
The Indian Religious Tradition: Hinduism
Early Period: Rig Veda and Brahmanas
Religion = priests + rituals (mechanical approach)
The Upanishads: spirituality, mysticism
The Nature of reality:
Maya (illusion): ignorance vs. sin
Brahman-atman (the “world soul”, ultimate reality)
eternal, unchanging, everywhere the same, one
The nature of life:
Atman (individual “soul”, eternal Self)
Samsara (reincarnation)—The human being:
physical body, outer self, inner Self (atman)
The Law of Karma (cause and effect)
“As ye sow so shall ye reap”
Caste hierarchy
Dharma (cosmic order; caste duty; right action)
The Indian Religious Tradition: Hinduism
The Goal of Life: moksha (release from samsara)
Paths to the goal: yoga (union with the One)
Unlimited possibilities
Some types:
Jnana yoga: wisdom, enlightenment
Karma yoga: work, dharma
Bhakti yoga: devotion
The key is selflessness
Indian Religious Tradition: Hinduism
The full development of Hinduism:
New Popular deities: the Trimurti
Brahma: the Creator
Vishnu: the Preserver
Shiva: the Destroyer
The Doctrine of Avatars (incarnations)
Hinduism absorbs all deities
The Ideal Pattern of Life:
Student
Householder
Forest dweller (sadhu)
Sannyasin
The Indian Religious Tradition: Hinduism
(Shiva Nataraja)
Indian Religious Tradition: Jainism & Buddhism
Jainism: ahimsa (non-harm, non-injury)
Buddhism:
Siddhartha Gautama (the “Buddha”)
His life as a model (tathagata)
The four sights
His Enlightenment: the Four Noble Truths
1. Dukkha—pain, suffering, unsatisfactoriness
2. Cause of dukkha—attachment, wanting
3. Elimination of dukkha—non-attachment
4. The Eightfold Path—leads to Nirvana
Monasticism—separation from the world
Indian Religious Tradition: Hinduism and Buddhism
Similarities and differences:
Both agree that:
Life involves pain and suffering
This is caused by attachment
Relief comes from non-attachment
There is reincarnation
Happiness can be found in this life
Buddhism disagrees:
There is no Brahman
There is no Atman
Rejects the caste system
People (including women) are equal
Indian Religious Tradition: Images