1. Hinduism
A brief overview

2. Name
“Hinduism” – Religion of the people who live on the other side of River Sindhu

3. Real Name Sanathana Dharma Not based on any one doctrine
Eternal and Universal Religion
Not based on any one doctrine
Not based on any one person
Not based on any one place
Not based on any one time
Based on spiritual experience and not against reason

4. Prasthana Thraya Upanishads Brahma Sutras Bhagavad Gita
Essence of the Vedas
Records of experiences of rishis
Brahma Sutras
Systematic logical presentation of philosophy
Bhagavad Gita
Methods of application in everyday life
Open to ever increasing array of saints
Open to ever increasing collection of books

5. Basic Principles What are the principles of Hinduism?
God has manifested as this world.
Aim of life is to realize God, and serve the world as a manifestation of God.
“As many minds, so many paths.”

6. Existence – Consciousness – Bliss
Concept of God
Basic qualities
Exists – Core of all existence - Asti
Is knowable – Core of all knowledge - Bhati
Is lovable – Core of all bliss - Priyam
Sat – Chit – Ananda
Existence – Consciousness – Bliss

7. Existence – Consciousness – Bliss
Aim of Life
Ultimatum of all human pursuits
Urge to exist
Urge to know
Urge to be happy
Sat – Chit – Ananda
Existence – Consciousness – Bliss

8. Aim of Life To be PERFECT Free from psychological complexes
Lust, greed, ego, anger, jealousy, delusion
Sees things in their true color free from bias and prejudice
Not perturbed or carried away by any situation
“Realize the infinitude and independence of the real Self”

9. Approaches to God Formless, free from qualities
Formless, with qualities
Natural phenomenon
Abstract form
Deity with a human form
Incarnation of God
God in everything and everyone

10. Major Paths Karma Yoga – Work Raja Yoga – Concentration
Yagna, Daana, Tapasya
Raja Yoga – Concentration
Yama, Niyama, …
Bhakti Yoga – Love
Father, mother, son, daughter, friend, master, …
Jnana Yoga – Intellect
Neti-neti, Koham

11. Significance of Idol Worship
Story of Swami Vivekananda and the Maharaja of Khetri
God is Omniscient. Don’t limit God
God with form and God without form
Ice and water in the ocean
God appears to man in his own form
Symbology of traditional forms

12. Why is there misery in the world?
Aim of life is not pleasure; Aim of life is wisdom.
World is a gymnasium for souls to evolve.
Opportunities are given to people to remove their defects and grow.
This is possible only in a world with a mixture of joy and sorrow.

13. Doctrine of Karma Cause and effect principle
“As you sow, so you reap.”
Physical and mental actions are causes
Reflectivity of action
What you do is assumed to be what you want to be done to you.

14. Concept of Heaven and Hell
Not a permanent place
A place to experience the fruit of action
Have to return back to this world of action
Personal development and eventual freedom is possible only from here.
Heaven and hell are both places where you would not want to be. – Mere waste of time

15. Virtues to Remember Yama Ahimsa Satya Asteya Brahmacharya Aprigraha
Niyama
Shaucha
Santosha
Tapah
Svadhyaya
Ishwara Pranidhana

16. Questions

17. More questions? gokulmuthu@yahoo.com