Hindu Beliefs Content Flashcards
What does Hindu cosmology try to explain?
The difference between spiritual worlds and material worlds
What do Hindus believe about creation?
There are many stories about creation but no one knows for certain which one is true
What do Hindus believe about the material world and time?
It is cyclical and the material world is repeatedly created
What is the cycle of the four ages?
Hindus believe that the universe passes through a cycle of time that passes through four yugas. The ages repeatedly rotate
What is the golden yuga?
- A time of perfection
- no evil or suffering
- humans are happy
- the longest yuga
What is the silver yuga?
- truth/goodness/virtue start to decline
- war begins as people fight for power
- the environment begins to corrupt
What is the copper yuga?
- humans disconnect from one another
- war is frequent
- famine/drought etc are common
What is the iron yuga?
- age of ignorance
- the natural world is at it’s breaking point
- shorted yuga
- war is frequent and brutal
What happens at the end of the iron yuga (end of time)?
Vishnu (in the form of Kalki) will appear with Shiva, will destroy the universe and bring about the birth of a new universe. The cycle then starts again
What is the Hindus understanding of the universe?
There are many universes each like clusters of bubbles floating in space. These are created from Vishnu’s breath
What is in each universe?
- an upper realm of heavenly planets
- an earthly realm where humans live
- a lower realm full of less pleasant beings
Every form of creation has its place within these universes. In a new creation humans may move into a different realm
What is prakriti?
Matter
What is purusa?
Spirit
What do Hindus believe about purusa and prakriti?
SOME think they exist separately and that spirit must overcome matter
SOME think that they are needed together for the universe to be complete
What happens when a soul reaches enlightenment?
The world no longer has any substance (maya has been overcome)
What is enlightenment?
The gaining of true knowledge about God or self which leads to freedom from the cycle of rebirth
What are the three stages that matter goes through?
- creation
- maintenance
- destruction
THESE ARE KNOWN AS THE TRI GUNA
What is the tri guna seen as in humans?
Passion
Goodness
Ignorance
(A person’s personality is explained by the balance of these three in their personality)
What are shruti texts?
‘Those which have been heard’
- believed to have come straight from God
Examples of shruti texts?
The Vedas
The upanishads
What are smriti texts?
‘Those which have been remembered’
-texts have been changed/adapted over time
Examples of smriti texts
The Ramayanas
The Puranas
What is the denomination called that worship Vishnu?
Vaishnavism
What is the denomination called that worship Shiva?
Shaivism
What does Saguna Brahman mean?
The idea that God has form e.g. deities
Different images of Hindu Gods gives the supreme being form and personality
Benefits of worshiping Saguna Brahman:
- easier for Hindus to connect with
- easier for Hindus to understand
- many popular forms of worship, such as daily puma and Bhakti, are based on the personal relationship with specific deities
- Hindus can find a deity that they feel they connect with more
What is Nirguna Brahman?
The idea that God has no form or shape.
The Aum symbol is used to represent this (this is considered the first sound at the beginning of all creation and represents Brahman)
Qualities of Nirguna Brahman
Invisible
Eternal
Without origin or end
Transcendent
Benefits of worshipping Nirguna Brahman
- prevents Hindus getting distracted from the less important qualities of God (his many forms) and allows them to focus on what’s important (enlightenment)
Why do some Hindus find it hard to worship Nirguna Brahman?
Worshipping a God aims on building a relationship with them - it’s hard to do this when they have very impersonal qualities that Hindus can’t connect with
What does Bhagavan mean?
The supreme being existing in the world of deities and spirits
What is the atman?
A person’s inner self, soul and spirit
Quote about the atman
‘He does not die when the body dies’ (Upanishads)
What is the relationship between the atman and the body?
The atman is impersonal and shares none of the characteristics with the body it inhibits (has none of its own either)
CAR ANALOGY - when the car is broken, the driver gets out and finds a new car. The car won’t work without the driver.
What does transmigration mean?
The movement of the atman from one body to another.
Atman can live countless lives before being released from samsara cycle
What is the relationship between the atman and Brahman?
SOME think that the atman is the same as Brahman because Brahman is everywhere at the same time (Antyrami)
OTHERS think the atman contains only a part of Brahman because if it was exactly the same, Brahman wouldn’t be the supreme being
What is the samsara cycle?
The continuous cycle of birth, death and rebirth that the atman goes through
What are the four aims in life?
Four things that all Hindus must work towards
Moksha - being united with Brahman after death
Dharma - being a good Hindu
Kama - enjoying life responsibly
Artha - earning a lawful living through honest means
What do Hindus believe about free will?
Hindus believe strongly in this idea (actions and choices are totally your own responsibility).
Important concept because the idea of Dharma makes no sense without it - it’s impossible to make a good life + take responsibility of your life without free will
What is varnashrama dharma?
Further responsibilities which would apply to different people depending on their age, status in society etc
E.g. politicians need to make fair laws
What is sanatana dharma?
Things which all Hindus must try to develop no matter who they are or what they do
- eternal truths that all Hindus must live by
What do the six personal virtues work towards?
Dharma
What are the six personal virtues?
Ahimsa, love, humility, control, empathy, respect
What do Hindus refer to good as?
Knowledge
What do Hindus refer to bad as?
Ignorance
How can humans cause evil?
If humans don’t live correct,y and turn the atman into darkness it is no longer on the correct path of Brahman. Therefore it’s up to the person where the atman ends up based on how they live their life
How do Hindus believe suffering in the world can be overcome?
When the atman reaches moksha
