1. The Eternal Cycle of All Life
Ch. 7 Hinduism #2

2. Samsara: The Wheel of Life
All life governed by a law of birth, death, & rebirth
when reborn: not necessarily again as human
Moksha: the goal of life, liberation from samsara

3. Karma Law that determines how one is reborn
What one does in a life affects what one will be in the next
Best way to ensure karma?
Do good deeds, follow one’s duty, i.e., dharma

4. The Divine: Brahman
Brahman: the power that sustains the universe, its deepest reality
Upanishads: shifted Hindu thinking that:
Consciousness unites everything
The self one experiences in their consciousness is one with Brahman (the reality of the universe)
Brahman can’t be named, many forms of the deities express the various aspects of Brahman

5. Atman One’s true self A fragment of Brahman
Everyone is part of the divine
Coming to a consciousness of oneself as Brahman is the way to defeat death
The obstacle to this consciousness?
Our many distractions

6. Maya Humans see & sense things as different, (i.e., not One)
This illusion: maya
Seeing things as separate from each other, one doesn’t see the divine oneness (Brahman) of all things
To be set free:
Realize that Brahman or atman present in all

7. Caste System Traditional Hindu society, hierarchy
Karma & dharma: higher level
This belief  society divided into castes
Castes determined: roles, jobs, social standing, religious structures
Caste system from around 1500 BCE with Aryans
Following dharma: follow rules of caste
Acting above one’s caste:  bad karma

8. Outcastes / Untouchables
Four Basic Castes (+…)
Priests
Warriors
Business people
Farmers
Outcastes / Untouchables

9. Brahmans
Priestly caste
Study and teach matters of faith
Lead most key rituals

10. Role: protect people & run a fair government
Kshatriyas
Warrior caste
Role: protect people & run a fair government

11. Vaishyas Traders, merchants, farmers, artists, business people
Role: care for economic needs of the community

12. Sudras Lowest caste Serve the higher castes
Unskilled workers, servants, menial workers

13. Untouchables A.K.A. “outcastes”
May not interact in any way with other castes
Do the dirtiest of work
Live separately
This system is changing.

14. Student, 7 – 20 Religious education, search for truth
Four Stages of Life
Student, 7 – 20 Religious education, search for truth
Householder, 20-50, duty to family, raising children, earning living
Semi-retired, when family self-supporting
Wandering ascetic. Living a holy, detached life, no possessions or responsibilities: sanyasin

15. Life Milestones 16 noted in Hindu scriptures
(e.g., Conception, birth, naming, 1st haircut, religious graduation, marriage, retirement, death & cremation)
NAMING
@ home, 12 days after birth
Traditional rules dictate number of syllables, caste, deity of devotion
Modern rules more flexible

16. Sacred Thread
Initiation ceremony, upper caste boys between 7-12
Marks becoming a student
Boy introduced to guru, sacred thread over him
Must wear the thread at all times as a reminder of responsibilities of caste & study of Vedas

17. Family carries body to cremation grounds Body placed on pyre
Death
Family carries body to cremation grounds
Body placed on pyre
Ashes scattered on water, preferably a river
In Canada, Hindus have adapted their funeral practices