If you could be reincarnated or reborn in another life, who or what would you choose? Why?

Hinduism

Aryans from Eastern Europe invaded the Indus River Valley They subdued the local inhabitants & developed a new civilization that eventually spread over much of S. Asia - Aspects of this civilization exist today

If the term Aryan sounds familiar to you, it probably is. The Nazis adopted the swastika because it was understood as an Aryan symbol indicating racial purity and superiority. (The Nazis propagated a historical theory in which the early Aryans of India were white invaders.) There may also be a connection with the swastika's magical connections, for Hitler and other Nazi leaders were keenly interested in the occult. Source: The symbol of the swastika is very commonly used in Hindu art, architecture and decoration. It can be seen on temples, houses, doorways, clothing, cars, and even cakes. It is usually a major part of the decoration for festivals and special ceremonies like weddings. Its name comes the Sanskrit word svasti (sv = well; asti = is), meaning good fortune, luck and well-being. It is most commonly used as a charm to bring good fortune (in which case the arms are bent clockwise), but it has a variety of religious meanings as well. The right-hand swastika is one of the 108 symbols of the god Vishnu as well as a symbol of the sun and of the sun god Surya. The symbol imitates in the rotation of its arms the course taken daily by the sun, which appears in the Northern Hemisphere to pass from east, then south, to west. (It is also a symbol of the sun among Native Americans.) The left-hand swastika (called a sauvastika) usually represents the terrifying goddess Kali, night and magic. However, this form of the swastika is not "evil" and it is the form most commonly used in Buddhism.

Tribes: warlike; chariot races; singing & dancing - headed by a rajah = chief - wealth was measured in cattle - Aryans raided each other’s herds -often at war Since the Indus River valley was arable, eventually the Aryans settled down into agricultural life. - cattle provided milk & ghee (liquid butter); also hunted game & butchered sheep & goats - Later, herds became so sacred that a meat ban was imposed

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Vedas – Holy books containing hymns, poems, legends & religious rituals – written once the Aryans developed written form of Sanskrit Aryans brought with them 4 main social classes – Varnas - this propagated the idea of cultural superiority

Brahman – priests -- performed elaborate rituals & studied the Vedas – only they could teach the Vedas Kshatriya – rulers, warriors, landowners – could study Vedas, not teach Vaishya – merchants -- tended cattle, lent money, traded goods, cared for the land Shudra – artisans, farmers, servants --served other Varnas

Later, this hierarchy was named the Caste System by the Europeans (casta=Portuguese for breed, race or kind) - within system, people are ranked - were born into a group; couldn’t change groups; married within your group; didn’t mix socially Pariahs/Harijan – did work considered unclean (skimming bodies of water, tanning hides, cleaning latrines) - were called: “outcastes” or “untouchables” -etymology of the word “outcast” originates here Another group, considered so low that they were outside of the caste system, and thus, not part of the Varnas were:

Hinduism not founded on teachings of one person no holy book based on beliefs & practices that had roots in Vedas and Indian epics Also based on Upanishads (writings from thinkers discontent with Vedic rituals)

Hindu philosophy: There is a universal spirit present within all life; “a light that shines beyond all things on earth” All living things have souls - Animals, thus, were sacred and killing them was forbidden All souls are part of one eternal spirit: Brahman Nerguna - To know true freedom, one must be separated from the material world and united with this * “As a lump of salt thrown into water dissolves, and cannot be taken out again as salt, though wherever we taste the water there is salt.”

Hinduism taught self denial to help people achieve union with the universal spirit. - encouraged Yoga – exercises & meditation that facilitates tranquility Reincarnation/Rebirth: - The soul passes through many lifetimes before it finally achieves union with the universal spirit This cycle of rebirth is determined by Karma – how a person lives his/her life determines the next life’s form

Reincarnation/Rebirth (con’t): To do this, one has to live a good life and fulfill one’s Dharma … this was the duty that was appropriate for age & class – doing what’s required of one’s Varna - one could go up or down This creates the desire to live a good life – out of this desire arose the practice of nonviolence towards all living things - Ahimsa The ultimate aim was to achieve Moksha – breaking the cycle of rebirth – complete freedom from constant rebirth - prayer, self-denial, religious rituals, and rejection of all worldly possessions helped achieve this