Hinduism Flashcards
Hur stor är religionen?
tredje största, 1 miljon följare
Main location?
South Asia
Definied by?
India, 95% population
important places?
Taj Mahal , start of the Ganges river
One of the oldest humanitity
4000 years
“hinduism”
not used until late 1800s
geografical reference or a way of life or a religion
gave birth to other religions
Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism
Many deites but a single impersonal reality called
Brahman
Monist
All reality is one, no difference between the divine and the rest of the family
dualistic
God is separate from the individual and so devotion to God is possible
Monotheistic Aspects
One God with many representations
Indus river valley civilization
5000 years ago
Vedic tradition 3500 – 2600 years ago:
rituals and many gods (polytheism) sacred texts (Vedas) social stratification (caste system)
Upanishads
(metaphysical philosophy) 2900 – 2600 years ago (Vendata or the End of the Veda)
first findings
Indus Valley Civilization Proto Shiva Seal
The vedas
Meaning – Knowledge or Wisdom Not of Human Agency but Revealed (sruti – “what is heard”) Vs. Other Texts (Smrti – “what is remembered” includes the epics such as the Ramayana & Mahabarata)
The Vedas & Their Function
For Ritual Source of Philosophy Recited /Sung & Sacred Source of Human Creativity Contemporary Relevance
The Vedic Canon
The Vedas (1500 – 600 BCE) Early Upanishads (900 – 600 BCE) or Vendata…And then the Mahabarata - Bhagavad Gita (~400 BCE - 100 CE) Vendanta: Renounced ritualism and re-interpreted the notion of “Veda” in purely philosophical terms.
AUM
A: This Worldly (Rebirth & Prosperity) Awake/Conscious AU: Intermediate Realm (Human & Brahman) Unconscious AUM: The Highest Self that is Beyond The Highest Life
Transition & Continuity: Changing Emphasis From The Vedic to the Upanishadic World View
Vedic This World, Spiritual Virtue & Success, Ritual, Community, Vedas
Uspandic Liberation (Moksa) & Karma, Knowledge Community Individual Upanishads or Vendata
Brahman
Unity of Existence Indescribable: Neti, Neti (Not this not That)
Brahman: The Before & After
Brahman Beyond Physical Sacrifice “Great Making Power” Original: Prior to Existence/NonExistenceSolution to Suffering and Cycle of Rebirth
Atman: The Self
Identical with the: Ground for All Existence
Atman
How Does One Express the Self If.. the Self is… Identical with The Ground for All Existence
From Atman to Brahman: The Quest
Yoga “Yoking or Uniting” – Uniting the self with Brahman Karma Yoga – Discipline of Ritual action (sacrifice) Jnana Yoga – Discipline of Wisdom - Upanishads Bhakti Yoga – Discipline of Devotion Goal for All is Moksha Internalization of Ritual Renunciation
Socio-Religious Ideas for Upanishads
Samsara & Karma Present Action Determines Future Life: Morality
Dharma & Moksha: The Four Purposes Morality (Dharma), Goods/Wealth (Artha), Enjoyment (Kama) Moksha: The Aim of All
Classes/Varnas (Priest, Warrior, Farmers, Servants) Follow Dharma & Organize Society
Life Stages Student Householder Forest Dweller Sannyasa: Renunciation
Classes or Castes
To Brahmanas (mouth) he assigned studying and teaching, rituals, giving and receiving donations, the Ksatriya (arms) to protect, perform yajna, study, the Vaisyas (legs) are to, farm, trade, lend money, yajna, study, the Shudras (feet) to serve the other three classes.
hinduism
Cyclical view of life were the ultimate goal is for the self to realize an ultimate connection to the supreme unitary reality rather than this world
Essential Teachings of Hinduism
God is one and many. The many gods are all manifestations of the supreme Brahman, which is pure consciousness and pervades all things. God is manifest in nature. Realization that the soul or atman is one with God is the basis of enlightenment.
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu God of Creation •Brahma is traditionally depicted with four heads and four faces and four arms.
Shiva
Shiva is the Destroyer •Even though he represents destruction, Shiva is viewed as a positive force •Shiva is the supreme God in Shaivism
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Preserver, he is most famously identified with his human and animal incarnations (AKA, avatars)•He manifested Himself as a living being in ten avatars. •They are (in order of avatar) •(Fish) •(Turtle) •(Pig/Boar) •(Lion man / from the torso upwards lion, below, human) •(First fully human form as a dwarf sage who has the ability to grow very, very tall) •(Fierce man / Hunter) •(Greatest Warrior/ Ideal man) •(Mentally advanced man) •(Sage who is completely still) •(Prophesied, yet to take place) •For Vaishnavas, he is the Ultimate Reality or God. The Brahman.
Theistic Hinduism
Main Hindu Sects: Vaishnava: Worship of Vishnu Shaiva: Worship of Shiva Shakta: Worship of the Goddess (Shakti/Devi) - Female “counterpart” to Brahman ©
And we too are manifest forms of God!
We are not human beings having spiritual experiences; We are spiritual beings having a human experience!”
God as an Image
A Manifestation •An Embodiment •A Symbol •The Cow as Sacred & Monotheistic Views of Hinduism as Pagan (Mere Idol Worship)
Karma
law of cause and effect . Karma, a force that determines the quality of each life, depending on how well one behaved in a past life.
Samsara
endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth, reincarnation
Moksha
liberation from samsara through realization that God is all things Moksha is when a soul finally escapes the karmic cycle, it becomes one with Brahman when the last bodily incarnation dies.
Renunciation
giving up attachment purifies oneself and helps one realize the true relationship between the soul and God
Reincarnation is the belief that the soul repeatedly goes through a cycle of being born into a body, dying, and being reborn again in a new body.
