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What does this parable reveal about truth?
What do you think it reveals about the Hindu
view of God?
Summarize Randall Niles’ explanation of the
parable – does the parable necessarily say
that there are many truths?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJVBQef
NXIw&feature=related
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Hinduism is a Western term for an Indian set of traditions.
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It has no known founder; grew over a period of about
4000 years.
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Hinduism’s origins might be the combination of 2
cultures around 1500 BCE :
Indus Valley civilization
Aryan invaders
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Hinduism has many sects and has no well-defined
organization (e.g. a head of the religion).
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Civilization advanced in
building
worship of a mother
goddess
Symbols include the
swastika
cremated their dead
Hindu god images appear
in similar forms as gods of
IVC
Crash Course: World History (Indus Valley Civilization)
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Around 1500 BCE, Aryans migrated to India from the
northwest (Caucasus?)
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Spoke an early form of Sanskrit
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Brought with them the sacred writings, the Vedas
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nature deity, fire worship
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Sacrifices made to please gods
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Brought the concept of atman, the human soul
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Hinduism can be seen as:
polytheistic (many gods)
monotheistic (one god) and
monistic (belief in an unknowable force)
The impersonal, abstract force is known as
Brahman – not a “he” or a “she”.
All other Hindu deities are seen as
manifestations of this force
God cannot be limited by one name or form
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First phase - Brahmanism; priests performed the sacrifice.
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sacrifice kept proper relations with the gods/universe.
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The Aryans were the Brahmin (or priestly) caste – Aryans
brought caste system to India
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They alone could read scripture, perform rituals excluded lower castes.
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The Vedas, were brought to India by the Aryans – Sanskrit
(language only they understood).
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The disillusionment of lower castes resulted in
asceticism.
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Anyone (any caste) could become an ascetic–an
accepted stage of life.
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Known interchangeably as sadhu, sanyasi,
wanderer
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Ascetics dedicate their lives to spiritual and self
discipline.
Defined as “training”,
lifestyle that limits physical
pleasure while striving for
spiritual goals.
 Exists in some form in all
religions (except modern
Judaism)
 Usually includes owning
very little, celibacy,
devotion to prayer, living
life according to vows
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Read pages 123-126 in “Exploring World Religions”.
Read “Hinduism – Basic Features” and “Goals of Hinduism” from the
Hindu Students Organization (UWO)
 ONCE ALL READING IS COMPLETE, answer the following:
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What is a Hindu’s goal in life? Explain the meaning of the Sanskrit
phrase tat twam asi.
What is the nature of the atman? Use the description and the
passages from Hindu scriptures of explain.
What is samsara? Draw a picture or diagram along with your
explanation to illustrate this concept.
What is maya? How does it describe the physical world?
What is moksha? Draw a picture or diagram along with your
explanation to illustrate this concept.
Define the term karma. Draw a picture or diagram along with your
explanation to illustrate this concept. Give a real life example of
“good” karma” and “bad karma”.