Hinduism Flashcards
Hindu Goals for Living
• moksha (liberation)
• dharma (righteousness)
• kama (pleasure/desire)
• artha (wealth)
Moksha - goal for living
• liberation - freeing the soul
• no more return to the cycle of rebirth, bliss
• highest objective of human-life/ highest aim, but comes from following the others
dharma - goals for living
• doing your duties as a son, daughter, parent, employee
• choosing right and good things
• upholds society
• most important in life
• universal balance
• regulates artha and kama (so they are not misused)
Kama (desire/pleasure)
• pleasure of life
• food
• sexuality
• sport
• bodily enjoyment
Artha (wealth)
• successes of life
• working efficiently, achieving, promotion, making money morally
• using wealth to help others
• moral and social success
Dharma definition
Translated to duty or righteousness, the meaning of the term is to ‘behave appropriately for your essential nature’
Dharma facts
• living and non-living should fulfil their dharma
• always results in victories
• ‘to hold or support’ scripture
• ecological balance, food chain, planet alignment
• important we fulfil our dharma
• humans have special traits
Adharma
• opposite of dharma (not doing your dharma)
• force of evil - causes imbalance
Sanatana dharma meaning
Universal order
Four goals of life in Hinduism (translated)
• purushartha
Vanashramadharma broken down
Varna = the Hindu community or group that someone is born into.
Ashrama - the stage of life that the Hindu is in, e.g. student or retirement
• dharma - your duties
What are the four ashramas?
• student
• householder
• retirement
• renunciation
Student ashrama
• a time of education in preparation for family life, a profession, for religious duties or other responsibilities
• they can get good karma by:
• celibacy
• studying
• respect
• develop skills to earn a living
• leaving family home - traditionally only boys, live with a guru
• yoga
• study scriptures
• science
• art
Householder ashrama
• marked by wedding ceremony
• Hindu will marry and raise a family, earn a living and contribute to the community
• acquire wealth
• fulfill desires
• under guidance of dharma
• start family
• provide financial support
Retirement ashrama
• Hindu will begin to withdraw from buisness and household responsibilities to spend more time in meditation and prayer
• detachment from traditional life
• focus on making spiritual progress
• give up job
• give up household responsibilities
• advisory role with family
• mediation, contemplation, pilgrimage
Renunciation ashrama
• Hindu turns away from the world completely to become as close as possible to God.
• break all ties with family and friends and renounce all property/wealth
• how to get good karma:
• giving up all worldly ties and possessions
• giving up money
• pilgrimage in prayer
• meditation
• studying holy texts
• commit themselves to being at service to mankind
• teach other about sacred texts, teach life lessons
What does the Rig Veda say about society?
• described as if a human body
• teachers and priests are like the head
• warriors and leaders are like the upper body
• merchants, traders and farmers are like the legs
• manual workers and labourers are like the feet
Could be interpreted as showing that all humans depend on each other in one body. However, it has sometimes been used to justify unequal treatment or deny the rights of the ‘lower castes’
Brahmins
• thinkers - the head
• priests, teachers, doctors
• must understand the scriptures
• set a moral example to others
• considered the purest
Kshatriyas
• leaders - the upper body
• craftsmen, workers and servants
• duty to protect society
• royal family, prime ministers, members of the government
• rulers and military forces
• responsible for leadership, ruling society
Vaishyas
• deal with money and commercial activities
• responsible for providing material goods and the wealth of a society
• buisness people
• bankers, directors of companies, financial advisors, shop owners traders
Shudras
• worker bees - the feet
• craftsmen, workers and servants
• serve the needs of other castes
• support the rest of society
• farm labourers, factory workers, builders, manual workers
Dalits (untouchables)
• not part of the caste system
• must do ‘unclean jobs’ e.g. dealing with dead animals or rubbish
• untouchables
• renamed by Ghandi as Harijans (‘children of God’)
Krishna quote about the soul
‘The soul is eternal, it is never born, nor does it die. It is not slain when the body is slain’
Krishna quote for dharma
‘It is better to do one’s own duty imperfectly than to do another’s duty perfectly. If you abandon your duty as a warrior, you will be failing in your responsibility and dishonouring yourself’
Krishna quote about fighting without attachment to results
‘Fight with a calm mind, free from desire and attachment. This is the path to peace and liberation’
Karma Yoga (The Path of Selfless Action)
• doing your duty without worrying about result or reward
• Krishna says, ‘You have a right to perform your duty, but not to the fruits of your actions’
• should focus on doing good work without reward, and you will free yourself from the chains of selfishness to eventually reach moksha
Bhakti Yoga (Path of Devotion)
• love and devotion to God, by dedicating yourself to him you can achieve liberation
• ‘Those who worship Me with devotion, they are truly dear to Me’ - Krishna
• close to the divine
Jnana Yoga (Path of Knowledge)
• wisdom and understanding about the true nature of the soul to achieve liberation
• ‘The wise see that the self is eternal and unaffected by the physical body’
• can overcome ignorance and maya (illusion) to reach moksha
Raja Yoga (Path of Meditation)
• mind and body control through meditation
• Krishna explains the importance of controlling the mind in order to become detached from physical desires and attachments
• ‘For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends, but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain his greatest enemy’
• practise self discipline and self control to achieve moksha
Gita/Krishna teaching about artha
The Gita teaches that wealth must be earned in line with one’s dharma, and attachment to it should be avoided
Ahmisa (Gita teaching)
Krishna explains that harmlessness is a divine quality but reminds Arjuna that as a Kshatriya, he may need to fight in certain situations. Ahmisa also involves rejecting anger and hatred
Gita teaching about Kama
Desires are natural but they should be controlled otherwise we become too attached to earthly desires and we will not achieve moksha
Gita teaching about respect
Arjuna respects Krishna by seeking his advice and listening carefully. Krishna teaches Arjuna to respect all living beings, as they have the atman (soul)
Gita on Dharma
Arjuna is instructed by Krishna to fight as it is his duty as a Kshatriya. Fulfilling one’s duty is essential
Gita on Empathy
Krishna empathises with Arjuna’s fears about fighting and offers guidance. He teaches that detachment from desires leads to greater understanding and compassion for others
Gita on Moksha
Ultimate goal of life, signifying union with the Divine. It can be achieved through knowledge (Jnana Yoga) or devotion (Bhakti Yoga)
Gita on Mind/sense control
Krishna teaches Arjuna that controlling the mind and senses is essential for achieving moksha. Meditation and a disciplined lifestyle help with this
Gita teaching about humility
Krishna says that true wisdom begins with being humble which Arjuna shows by seeking guidance from Krishna
Gita on love
Krishna teaches that loving devotion (Bhakti) to God is a path to moksha. He also advises Arjuna to show love to all living beings, as they have the atman.
Ramayana on Kama
Rama and Sita exemplify love and loyalty to one another.
Demon Ravana’s lust for Sita becomes destructive, showing that desires must be controlled. Ravana’s sister tries to seduce Rama, but he resists out of loyalty to Sita.
Ramayana on artha
The King’s wealth can bring stability to society. Rama gives up his wealth when he goes into exile. Ravana’s obsession with wealth leads to his downfall.
Ramayana on ahimsa
Ravana’s brother rejects the violence of the demons. Rama is motivated by justice, not anger.
Ramayana on respect
Rama respects his father by obeying his command. Ravana shows disrespect toward Sita. Rama honours the sages and elders he meets.
Ramayana on dharma
The entire Ramayana centre around doing what is right with a core theme being triumph of good over evil. Rama does his duty by obeying his father’s command. Sita does her duty as a loyal wife by joining Rama in exile.
On the other hand, Ravana is a cautionary example of someone who fails to uphold righteousness.
Ramayana on moksha
Though not a main focus, the importance of dharma as a path to moksha is evident. Hanuman models devotion as a path to moksha through his love for Rama.
Ravana’s failure to control his desires and ego prevents his moksha.
Ramayana on empathy
Rama understands his father’s difficult position, accepting his exile without protest.
Ramayana on compassion
Hanuman shows compassion toward Sita by reassuring her and risking his life to help her.
Puja traditions (home)
• can take place at a shrine
• food is offered, blessed and eaten
• incense used to enter a spiritual state
• bell is rung to announce a presence
• draw lines on forehead to show which deity they worship
Advantages/disadvantages of worship
• access and travelling can be an issue
• brings you closer to God
• helps your spiritual growth and journey
What is worship?
A practise/ritual which brings you closer to God
Puja in the mandir
• water is sprinkled on hands to purify
• shoes are taken off
• bell is rung to announce presence
• fruit offered to deities and eaten
• circumambulate the deity
• usually made for a specific deity
What does Diwali celebrate?
• story of Rama and Sita
• triumph of victory over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance
• first day = celebrate Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity, whose was born from the churning of the ocean on this day
• second day - Lord Krishna and Goddess Kali are believed to have destroyed the demon Narakasura and freed 16,000 captive princesses on this day
• day four = Lord Krishna’s defeat of Indra (the rain God)
• awareness of inner light - biggest spiritual meaning
How do Hindus celebrate?
• shops and public places are decorated with divas - kept lit through the night
• spring clean of the home - ready to welcome Lakshmi
• wear new clothes
• draw Rangoli near the main doorway to the house to ward off evil spirits
• fireworks and sweets
• play cards and gamble - auspicious, brings wealth
• demon effigies are burnt
Why do Hindus celebrate Diwali in this way?
• divas = climax of the Diwali legend when Rama and Sita return to the kingdom after fourteen years of exile
• light the way for Goddess Lakshmi in the hope she will bless them with prosperity
• Awareness of inner light = central to Hindu belief is the the understanding of atman beyond the physical body
• celebration of victory of good refers to light of higher knowledge, remembering the ultimate reality
What is a pilgrimage?
• A journey to a place of religious significance in order to gain spiritual benefit.
Why do Hindus go on pilgrimage?
• to make amends for wrongdoing
• to become closer to God
• to demonstrate commitment to God or deity
• offer pilgrimage on someone’s behalf
• part of dharma
• family tradition
• find out about a holy place
• offer thanks
• ask for help/healing
Why is pilgrimage important to Hindus?
• lead them to moksha and strengthen faith
• healing and cleansing of sins
• offering of thanks
Varanasi
• one of the oldest and most respected cities
• shiva founded Varanasi and lived there
• river Ganges runs through - Hindus bathe here and hope to wash sins away
• scatter ashes here to become closer to Moksha
• ghats - two of these are dedicated to funeral rituals where bodies and washed before cremation
• 23,000 temples for Shiva
• at night Hindus worship together
• Maha Shivarati - commemorating a time when Shiva saved the world from destruction and day Shiva married Pavarti, so single people will pray
Vrindavan
• Krishna is believed to have spent his life here as a child
• 1000 temples for Krishna and his consort
• Hindus visit places Krishna went/lived
• go to river Yamuna and mark foreheads with yellow clay as a sign of Krishna’s protection
• walk around the city 12km clockwise to show devotion
• ritual - do not ring the bell in the morning
• Hindus entertain/tell stories
• hope to achieve moksha
Puja teaching
‘If one offers to me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or even water.’
I delightfully partake of that article offered with love’
Brahman/moksha teaching
‘by working without being attached to the fruits, one attains the supreme’
Raksha Bandhan
•Protection and tie
• festival of love and loyalty
• traditionally between a brother and sister, could be between friends
• tilak- mark on forehead
• dress up in traditional clothes
• Rakhi for brother - promise if loyalty to protect sister
• sister says prayer to keep him happy and healthy
• younger one has to touch feet as a sign of respect
• Lakshmi, Vishnu’s wife, missed her husband because he was guarding Bali’s door. She went to Bali in disguise asking to stay in the palace. Bali agrees and treats her like a sister. Eventually, allows Vishnu to go back with Lakshmi
Holi
• festival of colour
• spring festival - end of Winter and time for renewal
• live music and dancing - ‘colour runs’ for charity too
• throw paint - can hit anyone, originates from Krishna
• burn popcorn and chick-peas
• effigies of Holika are burnt the night before
• Holika was destroyed by flames when she tried to trick her brother, but Vishnu saved him because Prince Prahlad was a devoted follower
• celebrate good overcoming evil
• each colour represent virtues of the soul - green is love, red is power
• should mend friendships and forgive past offences
Havan
• presenting an offering and making it into a sacred fire
• while kindling the fire, prayers are said and a deity is invoked to purify
• happens on a special occasion , e.g. naming of a child or wedding q
Aarti
• offerings to God - humility and devotion
• objects representing the five elements, eg water in a conch shell and incense
• incense offered to show pure mind
Darshan
• standing before an image or murti
• means ‘sight’
• devotion flows from worshipper and divine blessings are received in return
Bhajan
• ‘sharing’
• singing and playing music to show devotion
• devotional poem as a song with a chorus
Kirtan
• ‘telling’
• singing and playing music
• call and response - mantra is chanted and audience chants back
• major part of Vasihnavism
Japa
• repetition of the name of a God or a mantra
• use mala to aid
• mala are prayer beads, count the number of mantras
• mantra can be mental or spoken aloud
