Hinduism

What is Hinduism? The worlds oldest religion still being

practiced. Roots are tied to Aryan beliefs and

practices. Third largest religion with a billion

followers.

Where does the name Hindu come from?

When visiting India Had to cross the Sindhu river.

Could not pronounce it properly and called it Hindu.

They referred to people living on the other side of the river as Hindus.

Pluralism

Hindus believe that all religions are different ways to reach God.

Hindus believe that no religion is better than another one.

Some basics

Polytheistic Pantheistic (aspects of one god-

essence in everything) Monistic (everything is connected;

non-dualistic) Holistic (shapes entire way of life)

gods

Brahman = supreme life force of universe, a god-essence present in all things

The various gods in the Hindu cosmos are simply aspects of Brahman – Brahman taking form

“The Hindu Trinity”Brahma: creator Vishnu:

preserver Siva/Shiva: destroyer

Brahma: creator

Vishnu: preserver

Siva/Shiva: destroyer

Who is god?

There are many different ways to view god.

Hindus are allowed to chose the way they like to think about god.

God as a person

Hindus are allowed to think of god as a person.

They are allowed to choose the way they would like to picture god.

Is God Male or Female?

Some Hindus like to think of god as a father in heaven.

Some Hindus prefer to think of god as a mother in heaven.

God Without Shape

Some Hindus do not like to think of god as a person, but rather a being without shape.

Sometimes fire is used as a symbol of god without shape.

Ataman

Hindus believe that god lives in everyone.

Hindus call our innermost-self, Ataman: god as all of us.

Maya

Maya = illusion of physical world, illusion of “separateness,” illusion of duality

In gods role as Concealer he unleashed the power of Maya.

This physical world is to make people believe what they experience through their senses is true.

Karma

What ever we do produces results that can not be avoided.

We are responsible for everything we do and what will happen to us.

If you do good things, good results will follow.

If you do bad things, bad results will follow.

SamsaraThe cycle of life/death/rebirth – Also

known as reincarnation.

Driven by karma

The only thing that comes with us when we die and are reborn is our character.

fooled by maya – keeps going

Samsara

Moksha

liberation from maya & samsara

Total enlightenment

Atman-Brahman unity

no more mortal lives

Caste System evolution of Varnas each caste has duty – “dharma”

1. Brahmins/Brahmans – priests, intellectuals2. Kshatriyas/Ksatriyas – warriors, rulers,

officials3. Raishyas/Raisyas – producers (farmers,

artisans, etc.)4. Shudras/Sudras – servants, laborers5. Untouchables – outcasts, dregs, “harijan”

no mobility!!!

Caste System

Thousands of castes and subcastes.

Higher the caste, the purer and closer you are to moksah.

Rules were developed to help people remain spiritually pure.

Caste System

Could become “spiritually unclean” if your shadow crossed paths with an untouchable.

Interdependence – Each caste has it’s own jobs that they can do.