World Religions: Hinduism: The Persian version of “Sindhu”, the Sanskrit word for River

Basics of Hinduism Founder: None (So ancient that it can’t be traced back) When: 2500 BCE 1500 BCE written Where: India God:Brahma (One great reality) Text:Vedas; Upanishads; Mahabharata; Gita – Written in Sanskrit Tradition: Considered a Religious Tradition more than a religion, because there many Hinduisms. Sects: None Structures: Temples

Basics of Hinduism Beliefs: Everything is part of Brahma Life results from karma (previous life and deeds); Reincarnation (moksha) ends through dharma. Practices: Follow dharma; puja (worship); yoga; meditation. Life Purpose: Follow dharma; do not harm living things. Clergy: Brahman priesthood Vegetarianism is personal choice.

Origins of Hinduism: 15,000– 800BCE Developed in the Indus River Valley, where settlements date back to 15,000 BC (Modern day Pakistan) Developed in the Indus River Valley, where settlements date back to 15,000 BC (Modern day Pakistan) Began as a pagan religion 5,000-8,000 years ago: Worshipped a pantheon of Spirits who controlled nature. Began as a pagan religion 5,000-8,000 years ago: Worshipped a pantheon of Spirits who controlled nature. This period brought: Vedas (the holy books which describe proper rituals) and Priests (who enacted the rituals) This period brought: Vedas (the holy books which describe proper rituals) and Priests (who enacted the rituals) Vedas: Guides to ritual worship (not historical books) Vedas: Guides to ritual worship (not historical books) Thought to be complete texts by 1200BC Thought to be complete texts by 1200BC

Origins of Hinduism: 800BCE – 100 CE 800BC: increasing abuse by Brahmin priests triggered a reformation of Vedic Hinduism. 800BC: increasing abuse by Brahmin priests triggered a reformation of Vedic Hinduism. Reforms included: Reforms included: Shift from emphasis on rituals to a meditative style of worship Shift from emphasis on rituals to a meditative style of worship New form of literature: Upanishads (highlighted oneness with spirit world) New form of literature: Upanishads (highlighted oneness with spirit world) Focus on Brahman: the unity of all existence. Focus on Brahman: the unity of all existence.

Origins of Hinduism: 800BCE – 100 CE Focus on Maya: the mental prison that prevents people from encountering the underlying reality of Brahman. Focus on Maya: the mental prison that prevents people from encountering the underlying reality of Brahman. For Hindus, sin is not immoral behavior, but ignorance of the real nature of existence. For Hindus, sin is not immoral behavior, but ignorance of the real nature of existence. Focus on Yoga: A way to release oneself from the world to glimpse Brahman Focus on Yoga: A way to release oneself from the world to glimpse Brahman Two types of Hindu monasticism develop: Jainism and Buddhism Two types of Hindu monasticism develop: Jainism and Buddhism

Origins of Hinduism: 100 CE –Present With Buddhism and Jainism becoming religions in their own right, Hinduism experienced a period of decline around the turn of the millennia. With Buddhism and Jainism becoming religions in their own right, Hinduism experienced a period of decline around the turn of the millennia. 100CE: The start of “Classical Hinduism”: what is practiced today 100CE: The start of “Classical Hinduism”: what is practiced today The Ramayana and the Mahabharata, 2 epic poems were written The Ramayana and the Mahabharata, 2 epic poems were written Worshippers began expressing loyalty to particular incarnations of Brahman, known as bhakti (gods and goddesses) Worshippers began expressing loyalty to particular incarnations of Brahman, known as bhakti (gods and goddesses)

Brahman has no gender associations, is never represented in human terms, and is not the object of bhakti. Brahman has no gender associations, is never represented in human terms, and is not the object of bhakti. Three ways to unite with Brahman through: Three ways to unite with Brahman through: 1. knowledge from study and contemplation 1. knowledge from study and contemplation 2. Action known as Karma 2. Action known as Karma 3. Acts of devotion and self-surrender to a particular incarnation of Brahman (bhakti). 3. Acts of devotion and self-surrender to a particular incarnation of Brahman (bhakti). In Bhagavid Gita, Krishna shows preference to #3, because people of accessibility to all classes. In Bhagavid Gita, Krishna shows preference to #3, because people of accessibility to all classes. Origins of Hinduism: 100 CE –Present

Familiar Hindu Concepts Guru: Someone with specialized knowledge. From Sanskrit, meaning destroyer of darkness Guru: Someone with specialized knowledge. From Sanskrit, meaning destroyer of darkness Karma : The universe’s way of teaching us to take responsibility for our thoughts and actions. Result is not felt in this lifetime: doing good deeds helps you attain a higher spiritual form in the next reincarnation Karma : The universe’s way of teaching us to take responsibility for our thoughts and actions. Result is not felt in this lifetime: doing good deeds helps you attain a higher spiritual form in the next reincarnation Reincarnation: Each human has a core entity: atman (individual self) that undergoes a series of incarnations before finally rejoining Brahman or Universal Self. Reincarnation: Each human has a core entity: atman (individual self) that undergoes a series of incarnations before finally rejoining Brahman or Universal Self.

What are the Sacred Texts? Shruti (“heard”) – oldest, most authoritative: Shruti (“heard”) – oldest, most authoritative: Four Vedas (“truth”) – myths, rituals, chants Four Vedas (“truth”) – myths, rituals, chants Upanishads - metaphysical speculation Upanishads - metaphysical speculation Plus other texts Plus other texts Smriti (“remembered”) – the Great Indian Epics: Smriti (“remembered”) – the Great Indian Epics: Ramayana Ramayana Mahabharata (includes Bhagavad-Gita) Mahabharata (includes Bhagavad-Gita) Plus others Plus others

Four Goals of Human Life Kama – fulfillment of desires Artha – accumulation of wealth Dharma – performance of social and religious duties Moksha – freedom from want, salvation

Life in this world Respect for all life – vegetarianism Respect for all life – vegetarianism Human life as supreme: Human life as supreme: Four “stations” of life (Caste) - priests & teachers, nobles & warriors, merchant class, servant class Four “stations” of life (Caste) - priests & teachers, nobles & warriors, merchant class, servant class Four stages of life – student, householder, retired, yogi Four stages of life – student, householder, retired, yogi Four duties of life – pleasure, success, social responsibilities, religious responsibilities (moksha) Four duties of life – pleasure, success, social responsibilities, religious responsibilities (moksha)

Spiritual Practices The Four Yogas - seeking union with the divine: The Four Yogas - seeking union with the divine: Karma Yoga – the path of righteous action through selfless service (releases built up karma without building up new karma) Karma Yoga – the path of righteous action through selfless service (releases built up karma without building up new karma) Jnana Yoga – the path of rational inquiry/knowledge (understanding the true nature of reality and the self) Jnana Yoga – the path of rational inquiry/knowledge (understanding the true nature of reality and the self) Raja Yoga – the path of meditation Raja Yoga – the path of meditation Bhakti Yoga – the path of selfless devotion Bhakti Yoga – the path of selfless devotion Guru – a spiritual teacher, especially helpful for Jnana and Raja yoga Guru – a spiritual teacher, especially helpful for Jnana and Raja yoga

Worship Bhakti Yoga is seeking union with the divine through loving devotion to manifest deities Bhakti Yoga is seeking union with the divine through loving devotion to manifest deities In the Home (household shrines) In the Home (household shrines) In the Temples (priests officiate). In the Temples (priests officiate). Puja: making offerings to and decorating the deity images Puja: making offerings to and decorating the deity images Darsan – “seeing” the deity (not idol worship) Darsan – “seeing” the deity (not idol worship) Prasad – taking the divine within your own being through eating of food shared with the deity Prasad – taking the divine within your own being through eating of food shared with the deity

Hindu Concept of God Hindu Concept of God Nirguna Brahman - God without attributes Saguna Brahman - God with attributes Saguna Brahman can be worshipped in any shape or form, human or otherwise.

Hindu’s Major Gods Brahma, the creator god (the generator)

Vishnu, the preserver and protector god Incarnates as ten avatars (descents) including: Rama (featured in the Ramayana) Krishna (featured in the Mahabharata) Hindu’s Major Gods

Shiva, god of constructive destruction (the transformer) Appears as Shiva Nataraj, Lord of the dance of creation and with his wife, Parvati, and son Ganesha ( the elephant-headed remover of obstacles) Hindu’s Major Gods

Hindu Goddesses (Devi) Saraswati - goddess of wisdom consort of Brahma Parvati, divine mother wife of Shiva Lakshmi, goddess of good fortune Consort of Vishnu

Durga: The protectress Kali, the destroyer of demons Plus about 330 million other deities Hindu Goddesses (Devi)

All these deities are but Manifest forms (attributes and functions) of the impersonal Brahman.

We are manifest forms of God! “We are not human beings having spiritual experiences; We are spiritual beings having a human experience!” Hinduism is about recognizing the all-pervasiveness of the divine.

Cows! Vegetarianism stems from principle of ahimsa: do no harm Vegetarianism stems from principle of ahimsa: do no harm The wish to avoid bad karma by killing a defenseless creature The wish to avoid bad karma by killing a defenseless creature Tradition: Childhood story of Krishna, an incarnation of the god Vishnu: Young Krishna appealed to cow herders to stop eating cows because they provided their livelihood. Tradition: Childhood story of Krishna, an incarnation of the god Vishnu: Young Krishna appealed to cow herders to stop eating cows because they provided their livelihood. Great Respect for Mothers and Milk. Great Respect for Mothers and Milk. Dairy Products are considered to promote spiritual, intellectual and physical health Dairy Products are considered to promote spiritual, intellectual and physical health In Daily Life, Cow Provides: labor for pulling carts, fertilizer, fuel, cooking (thru droppings) In Daily Life, Cow Provides: labor for pulling carts, fertilizer, fuel, cooking (thru droppings)

Temple Worship an atmosphere conducive for spiritual progress Centers of social and cultural activities a place for collective worship and prayers