Hinduism
The Aims of Life
What are your aims in life?
1. To what extent have you thought about what
you want from your life?
2. What things would you like to achieve in
your life? What kind of a person would you
like to become? Make a list
3. What do you think are the most important
things on this list? Why?
4. What principles or ‘values’ are reflected in
your list?
Hindu Aims
Hindus believe in reincarnation and the concept of
Samsara…
…a never-ending cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
Whilst some of us might like the idea of another
go at life, Hindus see Samsaric existence as
being full of suffering…
…pain, illness, loss and death.
For this reason, their ultimate aim is Moksha
Escape from Samsara and reunion with Brahman
Hindu Aims
1.
2.
3.
4.
However, this does not mean that Hindus do not
have values or aims they try to incorporate within
their day to day samsaric existence.
While the dharma or duties of individuals depend
on their caste (varna) and occupation (jati), there
are four aims all Hindus try to achieve:
Dharma – fulfilling religious and social duties
Artha – earning material wealth
Kama – enjoying the pleasures and beauty of life
Moksha – working towards the final goal of
liberation from samsara
DHARMA
In Sanskrit, the word DHARMA translates
roughly as ‘supporting harmony, order and truth’
Thus the concept of dharma links to the law of
karma – cause and effect.
Good deeds bring good results for everyone.
So dharma refers to all the things that need to
be done to ensure that everyone can lead a
happy, well-ordered, and harmonious life…
…our duties
DHARMA
The idea that there are certain actions and
moral principles that ensure balance and
harmony in life is known as SANATAN
DHARMA – eternal or sacred truth
Basic principles include…
Ahimsa –not harming other living things, nonviolence (many Hindus are vegetarian)
Satya – truthfulness
Asteya – not stealing
Sauca – purity of mind and body
VARNASHRAMADHARMA
However, Hindus also understand their lives in
terms of VARNA ASHRAMA DHARMA:
the duties and responsiblities which come from
membership of a caste (varna) and the stage
of life they are in – their ASHRAMA
Based on the natural process of growing up
and growing old, Hindus believe there are four
distinct ashramas.
Set out, along with ideas about caste, in the
ancient law books of Manu, each brings
different duties which relating the individual to
the greater good.
Stages of Life in Our Culture
Q. Does our own culture have distinct stages of
life? If so, what are they?
(in ‘As You Like It’ William Shakespeare wrote that
there were ‘seven ages of man’:
Infancy
Childhood
The Lover
The Soldier
The Justice
Old Age
Extreme old age
The Ashramas:
Brahmacharya - Student
In Hinduism, the first stage of life
or ashrama is that of the student.
Marked by the Sacred Thread
ceremony, the student stage is
when boys from the three upper
castes learn about their religion as
well as their caste and social
duties.
Traditionally this involved leaving
the family home to study
scriptures with, and serve, a
teacher or Guru.
The Ashramas:
Brahmacharya - Student
They lead a life of
simplicity, celibacy and
self-discipline.
They should avoid gossip,
greed, make-up, playing
music, singing, dancing
and looking at or touching
the opposite sex.
The emphasis is on
learning the rules and
rituals of the Hindu
tradition.
The Ashramas:
Grihastha - Householder
The Householder stage begins when the student returns
from his studies, marries and takes on the sacred duty
of continuing the family.
No man or woman’s life is seen as complete without
marriage.
Most Hindus never get past this stage.
Householders should give to charity, care for aged
parents, offer hospitality and run a well-ordered
household.
The Ashramas:
Grihastha - Householder
Male householders are expected to earn money honestly
and provide for their wife and children, as well as
educating and arranging marriages for his children.
Traditionally, married women’s duties include raising
children in accordance with Hindu tradition, managing
household expenses, cooking, cleaning, preparing the
home for religious rituals, celebrations and festivals.
The Ashramas:
Vanaprastha – ‘Forest Dweller’
This is similar to our culture’s idea of ‘retirement’.
Vanaprastha means " forest dweller“ and this
stage indicates the beginning of old age.
It occurs when children are grown up, married,
and there is a grandson to ensure the family will
continue.
The Ashramas:
Vanaprastha – ‘Forest Dweller’
Householder responsiblitites are handed
over to the eldest son.
Traditionally, they would lead a simple life
away from society in the forest, devoting
time to quiet meditation and study of the
scriptures.
Those in this stage are seen as wise elders
in the family and are seen as a source of
advice and help in educating children.
Not everyone takes on the dharma of this
stage but those that do gain great respect
and good karma.
The Ashramas:
Sannyasin - Renouncer
The final ashrama is that
of the ‘Sannyasin’.
Especially noted in
Hinduism, it requires
completely giving up all
worldly ties and
possession,
and devotion to the
spiritual goal of liberation
or Moksha
The Ashramas:
Sannyasin - Renouncer
Being a Sannyasin usually
means becoming a wandering
holy men, with no fixed abode,
begging for food.
They spend all their time on
pilgrimage, praying, meditating
and studying scripture.
Few enter this ashrama but
sannyasin are revered by
Hindus for their spirituality.
Hindu Aims and Stages Tasks
1.
2.
3.
4.
What are the four aims of Hindu life? 4KU
In your view, what are the benefits and/or
disadvantages of these aims? How useful
are they in providing a guide to life? Is
there anything you think is missing? 6AE
Explain what Hindus understand by
‘dharma’? 6KU
In what ways does the idea of ‘dharma’
affect the way Hindus lead their day-to-day
lives? 6AE
(Hint: Think of both ‘sanatan dharma’ and
‘varna ashrama dharma’)
Hindu Aims and Stages Tasks
5.
6.
7.
What is an ‘ashrama’? 2KU
Give a brief description of each ‘ashrama’. 8KU
Hindus are often said to have a strong sense of
duty.
a) Are there people in modern Scotland that
display this sense of duty? Which ones? 4AE
b) Do you think our culture could learn anything
from the Hindu idea of dharma or duty? Does
dharma benefit or hinder society? 4AE