Hinduism

Samsara, Karma and

Reincarnation

Hindu Beliefs about Death• Although there are said to be millions of Hindu

gods and goddesses, Hindus believe there is one Great Power or God known as Brahman.

• Brahman is everywhere and everything that exists lives in Brahman.

• Thus, Hindus see the entire universe as one never- ending cycle of creation and destruction.

• When a living thing dies it does not disappear but changes into something else.

• This is known as REINCARNATION

Reincarnation• Hindus believe that every living thing

contains a soul or ‘atman’…

eternal, indestructible…

…like a little bit of Brahman in each of us.

• Reincarnation is the idea that when you die, your atman or soul will be reborn in another person, animal, or plant.

• Where your atman goes depends on how you have lived in this life – your karma.

Samsara• The never-ending cycle of birth, death and rebirth

is known as Samsara.

• Although some of us might like the idea of reincarnation, Hindus see life as being full of suffering – pain, loss, fear, sadness etc…

• So the ultimate aim of Hindus is Moksha - escape from the realm of Samsara and reunion with Brahman

Samsara

Samsara, Karma, Dharma• For most Hindus though, Moksha - reunion

with Brahman - is a distant aim.

• They think it is more realistic just to try for a better life next time by gaining good karma.

• To that end, human life is better than life as an animal, and animal life is better than being reborn as a plant.

• To gain good karma and, thus, a better life, a Hindu believes that each living thing must fulfil the duties expected of it – its Dharma.

Task 1Copy and Complete:

Hindus believe that after we die, our soul is r____ as another p_____, ______, or plant. This is known as r___________. What we are reborn as depends on how we have _____ in our previous life – our _____.

Q. What differences and similarities can you see between Hindu beliefs about life after death and those in Christianity and Islam?

reincarnation lived karma person reborn animal

Task 1Copy and Complete:

Hindus believe that after we die, our soul is reborn as another p_____, ______, or plant. This is known as r___________. What we are reborn as depends on how we have _____ in our previous life – our _____.

Task 1Copy and Complete:

Hindus believe that after we die, our soul is reborn as another person, ______, or plant. This is known as r___________. What we are reborn as depends on how we have _____ in our previous life – our _____.

Task 1Copy and Complete:

Hindus believe that after we die, our soul is reborn as another person, animal, or plant. This is known as r___________. What we are reborn as depends on how we have _____ in our previous life – our _____.

Task 1Copy and Complete:

Hindus believe that after we die, our soul is reborn as another person, animal, or plant. This is known as reincarnation. What we are reborn as depends on how we have _____ in our previous life – our _____.

Task 1Copy and Complete:

Hindus believe that after we die, our soul is reborn as another person, animal, or plant. This is known as reincarnation. What we are reborn as depends on how we have lived in our previous life – our _____.

Task 1Copy and Complete:

Hindus believe that after we die, our soul is reborn as another person, animal, or plant. This is known as reincarnation. What we are reborn as depends on how we have lived in our previous life – our karma.

Q. What differences and similarities can you see between Hindu beliefs about life after death and those in Christianity and Islam?

Differences• No Afterlife• No Heaven or Hell• Come back to life on

Earth

Similarities• Death is not the end• How you live affects

what happens after you die

Task 2• Copy and complete the table matching the

Hindu terms with the correct definition:

Moksha Samsara KarmaAtman Brahman Dharma

The Hindu name for God

The eternal soul in each of us

The cycle of birth, death and rebirth

Escape from the cycle of samsara – the ultimate aim of Hindus.

What our next rebirth is decided by

The duties someone must fulfil to gain good karma.

Task 2• Copy and complete the table matching the

Hindu terms with the correct definition:

Moksha Samsara KarmaAtman Dharma

Brahman The Hindu name for God

The eternal soul in each of us

The cycle of birth, death and rebirth

Escape from the cycle of samsara – the ultimate aim of Hindus.

What our next rebirth is decided by

The duties someone must fulfil to gain good karma.

Task 2• Copy and complete the table matching the

Hindu terms with the correct definition:

Moksha Samsara KarmaDharma

Brahman The Hindu name for GodAtman The eternal soul in each of us

The cycle of birth, death and rebirth

Escape from the cycle of samsara – the ultimate aim of Hindus.

What our next rebirth is decided by

The duties someone must fulfil to gain good karma.

Task 2• Copy and complete the table matching the

Hindu terms with the correct definition:

Moksha KarmaDharma

Brahman The Hindu name for GodAtman The eternal soul in each of usSamsara The cycle of birth, death and rebirth

Escape from the cycle of samsara – the ultimate aim of Hindus.

What our next rebirth is decided by

The duties someone must fulfil to gain good karma.

Task 2• Copy and complete the table matching the

Hindu terms with the correct definition:

KarmaDharma

Brahman The Hindu name for GodAtman The eternal soul in each of usSamsara The cycle of birth, death and rebirthMoksha Escape from the cycle of samsara –

the ultimate aim of Hindus.

What our next rebirth is decided by

The duties someone must fulfil to gain good karma.

Task 2• Copy and complete the table matching the

Hindu terms with the correct definition:

Dharma

Brahman The Hindu name for GodAtman The eternal soul in each of usSamsara The cycle of birth, death and rebirthMoksha Escape from the cycle of samsara –

the ultimate aim of Hindus.Karma What our next rebirth is decided by

The duties someone must fulfil to gain good karma.

Task 2• Copy and complete the table matching the

Hindu terms with the correct definition:

Brahman The Hindu name for GodAtman The eternal soul in each of usSamsara The cycle of birth, death and rebirthMoksha Escape from the cycle of samsara –

the ultimate aim of Hindus.Karma What our next rebirth is decided byDharma The duties someone must fulfil to

gain good karma.

Task 3 – The Cycle of Samsara• Draw your own version of

this diagram in your jotter• It does not have to be an exact

copy, but should include, from the bottom up…

• a plant• an insect• an animal• a person• a holy person

Extension: Do you think it is better to be a person than an animal? Why?

Dharma and the Caste System• Hindus believe that the life we are born into

depends on our karma – how we lived our previous life.

• Good karma depends on fulfilling our duties – our dharma.

• All Hindus have a duty to worship God, be honest and respect others, for example.

• But the dharma of individuals also depends on the section of society they are born into –their caste.

The Caste System• In Hinduism, a person’s role is decided at birth and

the caste of the family they are born into.• They see society as being made up of four main

castes:

Brahmins – Priests and Teachers

Kshatriyas – Warriors and Kings

Vaishyas – Merchants and Farmers

Shudras – Servants and Builders• There is also a very large fifth group of ‘outcastes’ or

‘untouchables’ who do the jobs the others regard as dirty or ‘unclean’ – including midwives, street cleaners, and leatherworkers.

Caste, Karma, and Moksha• Hindus believe that a person’s caste depends on how

they lived in their previous life – their karma.• They might not like their role in society, but they learn

to accept their duties rather than complain about what is expected of them.

• However, they believe that a person can work their way up the caste system from lifetime to lifetime by fulfilling their dharma and worshipping Brahman.

• Only by becoming a Brahmin can they achieve their ultimate aim - Moksha – escape from Samsara…

• … by disciplining and purifying their mind through meditation and yoga and working for the spiritual well-being and karma of others.

Purusha and the Caste SystemSome Hindus explain the caste system through the story of Purusha – the primordial man whose sacrifice created the universe:

• The head represents the Brahmins – priests and teachers.

• The arms represent the Kshatriyas –warriors and kings.

• The thighs represent the Vaishyas – merchants and farmers.

• The feet represent the Shudras – servants and builders.

• Untouchables are seen as being outside the caste system.Untouchabl

es

Purusha and the Caste SystemTASK 4: Draw and colour in your own drawing of Purusha including the different castes and their duties.

Brahmins – Priests and TeachersKshatriyas – Warriors and KingsVaishyas – Merchants and FarmersShudras – Servants and Builders

and don’t forget…Untouchables – The Dirty Jobs

Extension: What do you think of the caste system? What advantages are there? What are the disadvantages?

Untouchables

Task 5Answer the following in full sentences:Q.1 What things are all Hindus expected to do as

part of their dharma?Q.2 What is an individual’s dharma decided by?Q.3a What are your duties? 3b Who decides what your duties are?

3c Pick one of your duties and explain the benefits of carrying out that duty is and the consequences if you do not.

Extension: What do you think about a person’s role in life being decided by the family they are born into?

Task 5Q.1 What things are all Hindus expected to do as

part of their dharma?

All Hindus have a duty to worship God, be honest and respect others

Task 5Q.2 What is an individual’s dharma decided by?

An individual’s dharma is decided at birth and the caste of the family they are born into.

Task 5Q.3a What are your duties?

3b Who decides what your duties are?

3c Pick one of your duties and explain the benefits of carrying out that duty is and the consequences if you do not.

Task 5Extension:

What do you think about a person’s role in life being decided by the family they are born into?