Hinduism

Question 0

Definition of Hinduism -Indian Supreme Court 1966 (reaffirmed 1995)

Answer 0

Acceptance and reverence for the Vedas
A spirit of tolerance
Belief in vast cosmic periods of creation and destruction
Belief in reincarnation
Recognition of multiple paths to salvation and truth
Polytheism
Philosophical flexibility (no single dogma)

Question 1

Hinduism - etymology

Answer 1

Hinduism is 19th century word 
Persian: Hindu
Sanskrit sindhu ("river")
Religions from the Indus Valley 
"Indian religions"

Question 2

Sacred writings

Answer 2

Vedas: knowledge, wisdom
   Oldest and most sacred scriptures 
   Four collections including Rig Veda (over 1000 hymns to various
   gods)
Upanishads (philosophical extension of the Vedas)
Bhagavad-Gita
   Epic poetry, mythology 
   Most popular Hindu writing

Question 3

God (gods)

Answer 3

Brahman
Ultimate reality
Without qualities
Cannot be visualized as he/she/it has no qualities
C.S. Lewis saw Brahman as “gray tapioca”
People worship 3 primary manifestations of Brahman
Brama, Vishnu, and Shiva

Question 4

Brahma

Answer 4

Not the same as Brahman

Creator of the universe

Question 5

Vishnu

Answer 5

Sustainer of the universe

Question 6

Shiva

Answer 6

Destroyer

Question 7

About how many gods are there in Hinduism?

Answer 7

330,000,000

Question 8

Human Beings

Answer 8

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 (consequences of
actions taken in previous life)
Desires: pleasure, wealth, community, moshka
Four stages of life: student, householder, forest dweller, renunciation
Caste system

Question 9

Caste system

Answer 9

Four (plus) castes:
Brahmins (seers)
Kshatriyas (administrators)
Vaishyas (artisans, farmers, craftsmen)
Shudras (unskilled laborers)
“Untouchables” (today: “Dalit”)

Question 10

Moksha

Answer 10

Not the same as Christian salvation
The hindu’s ultimate goal is freedom from samsara (cycle of transmigrations)
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

Question 11

Four paths

Answer 11

Reflective: through knowledge - Janna (yoga)
Emotional: through devotion - Bhakti (yoga)
Active: through work - karma (yoga)
Experimental: through experiment - raja (yoga) [hatha]
Yoga: “union”

Question 12

Common preliminary commitments - cultivate habits of:

Answer 12

Non-injury
Truthfulness
Non-stealing
Self-control
Cleanliness
Contentment
Self-discipline
Compelling desire

Question 13

Jann yoga /path

Answer 13

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 (advaita) identical with Brahman (sacred power/divine beings)
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” (mandukya upanishad, 2)

Question 14

Karma-Marga (karma yoga)

Answer 14

The way of action
Most important for the majority of Hindus
Performance of meritorious religion deeds
Ritual (daily, rites of passage)
Festivals
Pilgrimage

Question 15

Raja yoga/path

Answer 15

Disciplined bodily and mental activity designed to explore the nature of true self.
Layers of human being
Bodies
   Minds
      Subconscious
         Being itself

Question 16

Eternity

Answer 16

The closest concept to eternity in Hinduism is ultimate reality (Brahman)
The world is not reality; it is maya (magic, trickery) and lila (God’s play)
Even the cosmos is cyclically destroyed and regenerated
To escape, one must renounce all that and seek truth