Hinduism Flashcards
Hinduism
“Hinduism” is a 19th-century word Persian: Hindu Sanskrit: sindhu (“river”) Religions from the Indus Valley “Indian Religion(s)”
Sacred Writings (Hinduism)
Vedas (knowledge, wisdom)
- Oldest and most sacred scriptures
- Four collections including Rig Veda (over 1000 hymns to various gods)
Upanishads (philosophical extension of Vedas)
Bhagavad-Gita
- Epic poetry
- Most popular Hindu writing
God (gods): Brahman
- Ultimate reality
- Without qualities
Can not be visualized as He/She/It has no qualities
C.S. Lewis saw Brahman as “Grey Tapioca”
People worship 3 primary manifestations of Brahman (Brama, Vishnu, Shiva)
330,000,000 gods in total
Three primary gods of Hinduism
Brama – Creator
Vishnu – Sustainer
Shiva - Destroyer
Brahma
Not the same as Brahman! Creator of the universe Watchman god; just creates and leaves it alone Has four heads Brahman: has no qualities Brahma: have qualities
Vishnu
Sustainer of the universe
He is the one that keeps it going
Shiva
Destroyer
Do not want to meet
Always moving; constantly in motion
Almost like a god of chaos
Human Beings (Hinduism)
Atman – true self, soul, essence of human life
When the body dies, the jiva (individual soul) transmigrates (is reincarnated)
The form of the new body depends on karma (the consequences of actions taken in previous life)
Caste system
Caste System
Your position in society Born into a particular caste system and there you will stay Four (positive) castes (in this order): - Brahmins (seers) - Kshatriyas (adminstrators) - Vaishyas (artisans, farmers, craftsmen) - Shudras (unskilled laborers) One (negative) caste: - “untouchables” (today: “dalit”)
Moksha
NOT the same as Christian salvation
The Hindu’s ultimate goal is freedom from samsara (cycle of transmigration)
Final step: When one renounces all human trappings and discovers the truth within the deepest self, he finds that Atman is Brahman
Four traditional paths
Four Paths (Hinduism)
Reflective: through knowledge; Jnana (yoga)
Emotional: through devotion; Bhakti (yoga)
Active: through work; Karma (yoga)
Experimental: through experimental; Raja (yoga) [hatha]
Yoga = “union”
Common Preliminary Commitments
Cultivate habits of: Non-injury Truthfulness Non-stealing Self-control Cleanliness Contentment Self-discipline Compelling desire
Jnana Yoga/Path
Path to oneness with God through knowledge—a transforming intuitive discernment – turning the knower into that which she/he knows
Reflecting on the nature of the Atman – the self which is eternal and (in Advaita) identical with Brahman (sacred Power/Divine Being)
Shifting self-identification to the “abiding part” of her nature
“I am witness” approach to his own history/life
“Brahman is all, and the Self (Atman) is Brahman”
Karma-marga (karma yoga)
Most important for Hindus The way of action Most important for majority of Hindus Performance of meritorious religious deeds Ritual (daily, rites of passage) Festivals Pilgrimage For discussion: How do ritual, festival and pilgrimage play a role for Salvationists?
Bhakti-marga (bhakti yoga)
The way of devotion
Expressions of faith in and love for a personal deity of choice
Community worship
Personal care for an image of the deity (bathing, dressing, feeding, etc.)
What is done is not as important as how it is done; do it with faith and devotion
