Hinduism
“Hinduism is more of a
culture than a creed or
religion.”
“Hinduism is a loose
confederation of cults and
customs, a collage of ideas and
spiritual aspirations.”
• Hinduism is very patriotic, it is a focus on “Mother
India” and Indian traditions
• Hindu’s tend to be non-judgemental and open to
many viewpoints
Is there a God?
• Most Hindus believe in a God or many Gods, but
some forsake Gods and worship and focus on the
self
• Hindus can worship as many Gods as they like (there
are many)
• Most Hindus do not consider themselves polytheistic
because they believe all deities come from Brahman
(reality), and that any Gods are just personifications
or ways to approach Brahman
Holy Texts
• The Upanishads (cultural reform)
• encourages looking to the self for truth, instead of
looking to Gods
• emphasizes that the path to salvation is knowledge
and insight
• teaches that truth can be verified by logical reason
and experience
Holy Texts
• The Ramayama (role models)
• Rama (husband) -- the personification of
righteousness
• Sita (wife) -- epitome of piousness, loyalty, and
courteousness
Holy Texts
• The Bhagavad Gita (ethics)
• emphasizes the role of a person is to perform their
duty without fail
• teaches that knowledge, work, and devotion are they
keys to
salvation
• teaches that salvation is available to all, social class
is not a barrier to salvation
Hindu Core Beliefs
• Caste System
The “world soul” (the basis for social order) is divine
intervention -- the intended natural order
• Brahmans -- rulers
• Rajanya -- nobles
• Vaishya -- wealthy, powerful
• Shudras -- working class, serfs
• Untouchables -- lowest class of person
Hindu Core Beliefs
• The Cycle of Births and Deaths
• Hindus believe in transmigration of the soul, or
reincarnation based on your Karma you are reborn
higher or lower in the cycle
• a person’s goal is to climb the cycle until they reach
Moksha (salvation) and escape from the cycle
• Hindus believe in cremation so that their ashes can
be spread out over the Ganges River, “the river of
life” and then begin their next life
• rivers are very important to Hindus because of their
cyclic nature
Hindu Core Beliefs
• Karma (actions) and Dharma (duty)
• there are no absolutes, truth is individual and depends on caste
• your goal is to fulfill your duty, and no one else's it is better to fail
at your own duty than to succeed at another’s
• duty is appropriate to each person and their time of life e.g.
• children should love their parents and study
• husbands should love and respect their wives
• parents should love and guide their children
• the only absolute duty is the pursuit of Moksha
Hindu Core Beliefs
• Paths to Salvation (Moksah)
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The Way of Knowledge
spiritual knowledge replaces human ignorance
discipline through meditation -- Yoga
control of breath allows for escape of the soul
“Om” -- calling on the ultimate and asking for
guidance
Hindu Core Beliefs
• Paths to Salvation (Moksah)
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The Way of Action
live your life correctly
meet your obligations -- Dharma
fulfill ethical obligations -- action is greater than
inaction
Hindu Core Beliefs
• Paths to Salvation (Moksah)
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The Way of Devotion
make a commitment to God and accept his truths
perform acts of worship -- hymn, prayer, statues, etc.
recognize that salvation is a gift from God
Hindu Core Beliefs
• Moksha
• release from evil, grief, suffering and decay
(considered the dominant aspects of life)
• the end of the cycle of births and deaths
• the end of suffering and human limitations
Hindu Core Beliefs
• Non-Violence
• fundamental element of Hindu culture and beliefs
• stems form the open-mindedness and acceptance of
Hindus
• Mohandes (Mahatma) Gandhi
Hindu Core Beliefs
• The Sacred Cow
• the cow is a symbol of the earth and “mother India”
• feeding a cow is a holy ritual, everything about a
cow’s life is sacred
• Most, but not all Hindus are vegetarians, but that is
not solely because of this belief