Hinduism Flashcards
Who founded Hinduism
No particular founder
What religions did Hinduism give birth to
Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism
When did Vedic traditions begin
2500-3500 years ago
How many gods?
Many deities but a single impersonal God
When was Hinduism started
5000 years ago
What are Vedic traditions
Rituals and many gods, sacred texts, caste system
What are the sacred texts?
Vedas
Upanishad traditon
Metaphysical philosophy
What are the sacred texts?
Shruti, Smirti,
Shruti
Oldest, most authoritative
types of Vedas
Myths, rituals, chants
Upanishads
Metaphysical speculation
Smiriti
“Remembered” great Indian epics
Examples of Indian epics
Ramayana and Mahabarta
Brahman
One impersonal reality
Can Brahman be directly worshiped?
No. Only realized
Atman
True essence of life (the soul)
Maya
The illusion of and ignorance of the atman being in the cosmos
All sin is the result of
Maya
Karma
Hindus beleive that every thought, word, or deed brings about good or bad karma
Samsara
Wheel of creation
What do Hindus believe about salvation
Atman is continually born into life until reaching salvation
Moksha
Ridding oneself of karma - atman stops reincarnating
Ahimsa
Non violence
Four stations of life
Priests and teachers, nobles and warriors, merchant class, servant class
Four stages of life
Student, householder, retired, renunciant
Four duties of life
Pleasure, success, social responsibilities, religious responsibilities
Karma yoga
Path of action through selfless service
Jnana yoga
Path of knowledge
Raja yoga
Path of meditation
Bhakti yoga
Path of devotion
Guru
Spiritual teacher
Bhakti yoga
Seeking union with the divine through loving devotion to manifest deities
Puja
Making offerings and decorating images
Darsan
Seeing the deity
Prasad
Taking the divine with your own being through eating food with the deity
