Hinduism
IGE101: Truth and Services
By: Sukanya Radanachaless
5305020140
Quick facts about Hinduism
• The religion of most
people in India and Nepal.
• It has over 900 million
followers around the world.
• The oldest living religion
• The third largest religion
• No single founder
• No single scripture
http://nemf.org
Defining Hindu
……………………………………………………………
• The word ‘Hindu’ was from the Sindhu.
• ‘Tellingly, Hindus cannot even agree on what to call
their religion. One of the most common claims
among Hindus in the west is that Hinduism is a way
of life rather than a religion’
from the book God Is Not One.
• Hinduism is also closely associated with the other
Indian religions such as Jainism,
Buddhism and Sikhism.
Their deities
• ‘Hindus worship many gods through many
different paths(margas), disciplines(yogas), and
philosophies(darshanas). Their deities appear as
powerful kings, starving ascetics, brave
monkeys, graceful dancers,
blue-faced flute players, and impersonal stones.’
• From the book God Is Not One
Their deities (con.)
• ‘Some Hindus believe that there are many gods
but only one is supreme. Still other says there
are many gods and all are equal. Some Hindus
even say there is no god.’
• From the book God Is Not One
The Hindu trinity
1. Brahma
• Brahma's job is creation
of the world and all
creatures.
http://simple.wikipedia.org
2. Vishnu
• The second god in the
Hindu triumvirate.
• The preserver and protector
of the universe
• His role is to return to the
http://silkpaintings.wordpress.com
earth in troubled times and restore the balance of
good and evil.
3. Shiva
• The third god in the Hindu triumvirate
• His role is to destroy the universe
in order to recreate it.
• Shiva is therefore seen as the
source of both good and evil
http://zimbio.com
Worship
• You must have the image, or icon, which can be
worshipped either at home or in the temple.
• Mostly an individual action
• Family often worships together
• At a Hindu temple, different parts of the building
have a different spiritual or symbolic meaning.
Problem : The nature of reality
• Samsara is the problem.
• Samsara refers to the cycle of life, death,
and rebirth.
• Hindus have seen that it is a problem
rather than a reward for human.
• It is a cycle of impermanent happiness.
Philosophical Hinduism
• The philosophical Hindus believe that
‘Inside each of us, there is unchanging and eternal
soul. And we are that soul. But our souls are trapped in
the prisons of our bodies and in the illusions (maya)
these bodies are conjuring up. As long as we inhabit
flesh and bones, we are destined to suffer. Yet death
offers no release either because, after we die, we will
be reborn in other bodies and repeat again and again.’
• From the book ‘God Is Not One’
The goal
• The goal is not to leave this world and go
to heaven but rather to escape from
heaven and earth altogether.
• This Hindus goal is called moksha which
means ‘release’.
• It’s not salvation.
How to achieve the goal?
There are three different disciplines
1. Discipline of action
2. Discipline of wisdom
3. Discipline of devotion
Sannyasins :
The earliest exemplars
• ‘ Philosophical Hinduism also introduced various
meditative and yogic techniques designed to
awaken liberating insight in practitioners willing to
withdraw from the world into lives of celibacy and
other austerities. These mystics, known as
renouncers(sannyasins), become Hinduism’s
earliest exemplars. ’
• From the book ‘ God Is Not One’
Characteristics of
a good person in Hinduism
‘ Hinduism now recognizes dharma(duty), artha(power),
and kama(sensual pleasure) as a legitimate aims of life.’
From the book ‘ God Is Not One’
1. Dharma: Living ethically and correct your life
2. Artha:
Working hard to achieve the success
3. Kama:
Pleasure
4 fundamental questions
• What is real ?
• The cycle of life, death, and rebirth are things we
cannot avoid.
• What is the quality of life ?
• To have a material success and whatever
happiness is possible in this imperfect world.
4 fundamental questions
• What is truly good person?
• ‘ It affirms that neither priestly sacrifice nor
philosophical knowledge is necessary for release
from the bondage of samsara. All that is needed
is love
heartfelt devotion to the god of your
choosing.’
• From the book ‘God Is Not One’.
4 fundamental questions
• How do you become a good person ?
• Achieving moksha
• Renouncing worldly things
• Having good karma
The dimensions of religion
• Ritual
• Narrative
• Material
Cites
•
•
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism
http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/index.htm
http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/religionet/er/hinduism/hrlif
e.htm