1. Vedic Age Bellwork
What group moved into the Indian Subcontinent at the start of the Vedic Age?
Aryans
What language did these people bring to the Indian Subcontinent?
Sanskrit
What are the four classes of the Caste System?
Brahmans, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra

2. Objective
WWBAT: Discuss the major beliefs and teachings of the Hindu Religion especially the impacts of Dharma and Karma

3. Today’s Class
Over the weekend you gathered information about important terms relating to Hinduism and some of the origin stories of Hinduism
We will start out the class by discussing the information you found for a little bit
We will then start talking about the core beliefs and teaching of Hinduism

4. Interactive Notebook Setup
9/11/2015
Hinduism Notes
This will be on one page

5. Background
Core Beliefs
Karma
Dharma

6. The Hindu symbol for Om. It represents the divine

7. Background
Hinduism is the oldest continually practiced religion in the world
It is also the third largest religion in the world
There are around 1 Billion people who identify as Hindu
That’s around 15% of the world population
80% of the Indian population identify as Hindu

8. Background There is no single origin or specific founding date
Hinduism grew out of various groups in India
The Aryans added their religious beliefs to those of the Indus Valley
There is no singular founder of Hinduism

9. Background
Unlike Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Hinduism has no single holy book
Rather there are many significant Hindu writings
Some of the most important texts were:
Bhagavad-Gita, the Upanishads, and the Vedas

10. The Bhagavad-Gita is a conversation between a warrior and a god.

11. Core Beliefs Hindus believe in many gods
But there is little agreement about whether it is polytheistic or monotheistic
There is also little concern in the Hindu world about this topic
"The Truth is One, but different sages call it by different names.“Rig Veda

12. Core Beliefs
What everyone agrees upon is that Hinduism is a theistic religion
Theism means:
belief in the existence of a god or gods, especially belief in one god as creator of the universe, intervening in it and sustaining a personal relation to his creatures

13. Core Beliefs
Hindus believe that every god is a manifestation of one Supreme Being, Brahman
Everything in the universe is part of the unchanging & all powerful Brahman

14. Core Beliefs Brahman is too complex for people to understand
So other gods represent concrete aspects of Brahman
These gods include:
Brahma the Creator
Vishnu the preserver
Shiva, the destroyer
Sometimes called the Trimurti

15. The Trimurti

16. Core Beliefs Every person has their own atman, or inner-self/soul
This can only be known after enlightenment to be identical with Brahman
If atman is brahman in a pot (the body), then one need merely break the pot to fully realize the primordial unity of the individual soul with the plentitude of Being that was the Absolute.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika (4.50)

17. Core Beliefs
The ultimate goal of Hinduism is to achieve moksha or unity with Brahman
This usually takes more than one lifetime, Hindus believe in reincarnation
Reincarnation is the rebirth of the soul in another bodily form
Can be reborn as a human, animal, plant, ect

18. Core Beliefs Samsara is the wheel of rebirth
It suggests the cycle that every souls will experience during each incarnation

19. Core Beliefs
When a soul achieves moksha it breaks out of the cycle of reincarnation
Once moksha in achieved a soul will be united forever with the divine(Brahman)
Moksha results in infinite bliss and awareness

20. Dharma and Karma
Reincarnation is directly impacted by two major forces
Both can either ensure reincarnation into a higher or lower caste or life form
KARMA

21. Karma Karma is the belief that every action brings an equal reaction
If a person does a good deed, they will be rewarded in the future
Your good or bad deeds affect one’s future, and the futurre of those around one, for good or suffering

22. Karma Karma are performed in two ways: Nishkãm karmas
actions are performed without any expectation of material gain, ego, or material desires
Sakãm karma
actions are performed with an expectation of material desire or purpose

23. Dharma Dharma means ‘that which holds,’
Dharma is the idea that religious duties can help one acquire merit for the next life

24. Dharma
Obedience to religious and moral laws based on which caste a soul is in
Dharma is intended to secure both worldly joys and eternal bliss
Gives an experience of happiness, strength, and tranquility within one's self and makes life disciplined.

25. Hinduism Bellwork
What are the two forces that can impact how a soul is reincarnated?
Dharma and Karma
Who was the founder of Hinduism?
There is no specific founder
Explain what moksha is
A soul breaking out of the cycle of reincarnation and achieving unity with Brahman