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HinduismHinduismComparative World ReligionsMarch 2006
Hinduism - OverviewHinduism - OverviewBeliefs, practices, and socio-
religious institutions of the Hindus
Indian civilization over last 2000 years
Evolved from Vedism
Hinduism - OverviewHinduism - OverviewEstimated that Hindus makeup
13% of world’s population700 million Hindus, most live in
India82% of the population of IndiaMore than 1 million Hindus in
North America
Hinduism among other Hinduism among other nationsnationsCountryCountry Percent HinduPercent Hindu
BangladeshBangladesh 1111
BhutanBhutan 2525
FijiFiji 4141
MauritiusMauritius 5050
NepalNepal 89 – state religion89 – state religion
Sri LankaSri Lanka 1515
SurinamSurinam 2727
TrinidadTrinidad 2525
Hinduism – OverviewHinduism – OverviewLiterary, artistic, social,
economic, and religious aspectsComposite of diverse doctrines,
cults, and ways of life
General NatureGeneral NatureWorship of local deities does not
exclude belief in pan-Indian higher gods
Does not exclude belief in a single high God
Tolerant – allows others to believe what suits them best.
General NatureGeneral NatureHindus distinguish by practice
rather than doctrineBoth a civilization & a
congregation of religions
Common Characteristics of Common Characteristics of Hindu beliefHindu beliefAuthority of the Veda and the
Brahman class
Veda & Brahman classVeda & Brahman classVeda – most ancient body of
religious literatureReveals fundamental truthBrahmans are the priestly classPossess spiritual supremacy
Doctrine of atman-Doctrine of atman-brahmanbrahmanUncreated, eternal, infinite,
transcendent, and all-embracing principal
Comprising in itself being and nonbeing
Sole realityUltimate cause & foundationUltimate reality is called BrahamAtmam (self) is extended from
and one with Brahman
BrahmanBrahmanBrahman is in all things, the
ultimate reality Brahman is the Self (atman) of
living beingsBrahman is the creator,
preserver, or transformer and reabsorber of everything
May be thought of as a high God (Vishnu or Siva)
Ahimsa: non-injuryAhimsa: non-injuryAbsence of the desire to harmKeystone of ethicsCombined with idea of
vegetarianismGrowing importance of
veneration and protection of the cow
AhimsaAhimsaNeither ahimsa or vegetarianism
ever found full acceptanceMany Hindus eat beefNonviolence has never been a
notable characteristic of Hindu behavior
Goals in LifeGoals in LifeYou can have what you want
But: What do you want?
Goals - Four Aims of Goals - Four Aims of HumansHumans1. Pleasure
2. Worldly Success
3. Path of Renunciation - Duty
4. Something more
PleasurePleasureIf pleasure is what we want do
not suppress the desireSeek it intelligently and morallyEventually realize that pleasure
is not allPleasure is too trivial to satisfy
one’s total nature
Worldly SuccessWorldly SuccessWealth/Power/FameAll 3 are exclusive thus
competitiveDo not multiply when sharedCenters meaning in the self
which is too small for perpetual enthusiasm
Achievements are not eternal
Path of Renunciation/DutyPath of Renunciation/DutyLife holds more than what it is
now offeringServe others - the communityBrings respect and gratitude
from peersIn the end insufficient
What else?What else?Back to what do we really want?
What we really wantWhat we really want
1. Being2. We want to know3. People seek joy4. We want these infinitely
We already possess them!We already possess them!Underlying human self is the
AtmanReservoir of being that never
diesAtman is no less than Brahman
the GodheadEternal is buried under an almost
impenetrable mass of distractionsRealization of total being cannot
be described
Transmigration and KarmaTransmigration and KarmaReincarnationKarma – previous acts that
determines the conditions into which a being is reborn
Moral equivalent of natural law of cause and effect
We reap what we sow.
Transmigration and KarmaTransmigration and KarmaReincarnation – actions from previous
life follows us into this lifeSamsara – whole process of rebirthsEver revolving wheel of life, death,
and rebirthMoksha – final freedom from KarmaRealizing the individual self is an
illusion and only undifferentiated oneness with Brahman is real
Transmigration and KarmaTransmigration and KarmaGoal is for individual self to lose
its separate identity in the universal Self.
Religions that sprang from Religions that sprang from HinduismHinduismJainismBuddhismSikhism
SummarySummaryHinduismHinduism
GodGod Impersonal force of existence, Impersonal force of existence, beyond all distinctionsbeyond all distinctions
HumanityHumanity Continuous in the sense of being Continuous in the sense of being extended from the Being of Godextended from the Being of God
Humanity’s ProblemHumanity’s Problem IgnoranceIgnorance
The SolutionThe Solution Liberation from illusion and Liberation from illusion and ignoranceignorance
The MeansThe Means Striving to detach oneself from the Striving to detach oneself from the separated ego and seeking to be separated ego and seeking to be aware of one’s unity with the divine aware of one’s unity with the divine through self effortthrough self effort
The OutcomeThe Outcome Merge into Oneness; the individual Merge into Oneness; the individual disappearsdisappears