India’s Religious Heritage

Religions of South Asia

Hinduism Pantheistic Complex Elastic & Eclectic Polytheistic

Pantheism The doctrine or belief that God is not a personality, but that all laws, forces, manifestations of the self- existing universe are god, that God is everything and everything is God.

Polytheism The belief or doctrine that the supernatural world is populated by a pantheon of deities, gods, or demi-gods, often arranged in some kind of hierarchical order.

The Vedas 1200 BCE-600 BCE.  1200 BCE-600 BCE.  written in S ANSKRIT.  Hindu core of beliefs:  hymns and poems.  religious prayers.  magical spells.  lists of the gods and goddesses. Rig Veda  oldest work. VEDA

BRAHMAN “The Soul” “It” BRAHMA The Creator (Few followers)VISHNU The Preserver SHIVA The Destroyer

DHARMA KARMA CASTE

Varna (Social hierarchy) Shudras Vaishyas Kshatriyas Untouchables Pariahs [Harijan]  Untouchables

The Caste System  The mouth?  The arms?  The legs?  The feet? WHO IS… What is aJATI? What is a JATI? Brahmins Kshatriyas Vaishyas Shudras

Sudras Household servants Tin knockers Rickshaw Drivers

UNCLEAN DIRT, DISEASE, & DEATH LOWEST WAGES, WORST LIVING NECESSARY TO UPPER CASTES

Caste defines life (i.e. Dharma) Occupation Marriage Social Discourse Religious duties Dharma is your Caste duty

ACTION CONSEQUENCE

Explains “what is” not “what will be” Justifies existing social order Inescapable=no forgiveness

Review of Wheel of Karma The purpose of life is to pay your soul’s spiritual debt The purpose of life is not action, but contemplation Your eventual goal should be, after thousands of times around the wheel of karma, liberation (moksha) Your duty is not to change the world, but to change your perception of the world.Your duty is not to change the world, but to change your perception of the world.

What is the fundamental cause of all suffering? Desire!  Therefore,  Therefore, extinguish the self, don’t obsess about oneself.

Four Noble Truths 1. There is suffering in the world. To live is to suffer. (Dukkha)  The Buddha found this out when he was young and experienced suffering and death in others.

Four Noble Truths 2. The cause of suffering is self- centered desire and attachments. (Tanha)

Four Noble Truths 3. The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments. (Nirvana = “extinction”)

Four Noble Truths 4. To reach nirvana, one must follow the Eightfold Path.

Eightfold Path Nirvana  The union with the ultimate spiritual reality.  Escape from the cycle of rebirth.

Types of Buddhism  Therevada Buddhism  Mahayana Buddhism  Tibetan Buddhism  Zen Buddhism

Theravada Buddhism  The oldest school of Buddhism.  The “Way of the Elders” or the “Small Vehicle.”  Found in southern Asia.  The monastic life is the best way to achieve nirvana.  Focus on wisdom and meditation.  Goal is to become a “Buddha,” or “Enlightened One.”  Over 100,000,000 followers today.

Theravada Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhism  The “Great Vehicle.”  Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).  Buddhism “for the masses.”  Seek guidance from Boddhisatvas, wise beings.  Goal: Not just individual escape from the wheel, but the salvation of all humanity through self- sacrifice of those enlightened few.

Mahayana Buddhism

Seated Boddhisatva – 16c Bhutan

Tibetan Buddhism  The “Diamond Vehicle.” [Vajrayana]  Developed in Tibet in the 7c CE.  A mix of Theravada and Mahayana.  Boddhisatvas include Lamas, like the Dalai Lama.  The Tibetan Book of the Dead [Bardo Thodol].

The Dalai Lama

Zen Buddhism  The “Meditation School.”  Seeks sudden enlightenment [satori] through meditation, arriving at emptiness [sunyata].  Use of meditation masters [Roshi].  Beauty, art, and aesthetics:  Gardens.  Archery.  Tea ceremony.  Calligraphy.

There is only one God (similar to Islam) God is without form, or gender Everyone has direct access to God Everyone is equal before God A good life is lived as part of a community, by living honestly and caring for others Empty religious rituals and superstitions have no value

Sikhs believe that human beings spend their time in a cycle of birth, life, and rebirth. (Similar to- Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism) The quality of each particular life depends on the law of Karma. The only way out of this cycle, which all faiths regard as painful, is to achieve a total knowledge of and union with God.

Jainism