Hinduism/Buddhism Flashcards
Upanishads
- Record the teachings of holy men.
-Means “to sit down before” a teacher.
-Are like the Catholic Catechism and
-Discuss the mind, senses, worship, meditation and means of liberation.
-Discuss concepts that represent Hinduism’s most central beliefs.
*focus = meditation, inner self
The focus here turned inwards, from ritual worship (and sacrifice) to meditation and the discovery of the truths behind all appearances (remember everything is an illusion).
Vedas
-The four Vedas are considered Hinduism’s most authoritative, sacred and oldest writings, with some dating back as early as 1200 B.C.E.
-The word Veda means “knowledge”.
-The Vedas are written in a language called Sanskrit, and are hymns considered to be religious truths of high importance.
-This collection of writings covers subjects ranging from the divine spirit to medicine and the sciences.
-These books concentrate on the lengthy RITUALS which were important during the Vedic period.
-The four Vedas include the Rig Veda (the oldest of all four) which is made up of hymns that praise the ancient deities.
-Mantras or psalms of praise make up the main body of Vedas.
Indus Valley Civilization
-By approximately 2500 B.C.E. a complex and sophisticated civilization had arisen in the valley of the Indus River, located in northwestern India.
-Scholars do know that the people living in the valley of the Indus River were farmers who domesticated animals, grew cotton, barley and wheat.
-There are several things we can assume about their beliefs from archeological and historical evidence:
-They likely were MATRIARCHIC (followed female leaders)
-Worship fertility gods/goddesses associated with farming and fertility.
-Their pantheon was likely headed by a Great Mother Goddess.
-They were likely peaceful.
Aryans
-In about 1500 B.C.E. This land was overrun by invaders from the North (central Asia).
-The invaders were Aryans, who came from north of the Hindu Kush mountains, spoke an early form of Sanskrit and were nomadic hunter/gatherers who had developed written language.
-These invaders were conquerors who alternatively destroyed or took over
-The Aryans were skilled warriors who used chariots in combat.
-Aryan life was based on cattle herding.
-Their religious beliefs were likewise male, sky gods associated with the hunt.
-When they settled into the Indus Valley, they divided their society into those who were warriors, priests and cattle herders (farmers).
-Originally the purpose of this system was to separate the Aryans from the Indus Valley Peoples, and the top three castes were all Aryan.
Brahman
-The Supreme Being, an entity without form and quality
-The soul of the universe, from which all existing things arise, and into which they all return
-They worship different deities that they consider manifestations, or expressions, of Brahman
Brahma and Saraswati
-Power of creation
-Brahma has four faces, facing a cardinal direction direction
-Brahma holds the Vedas, a water pot, prayer beads, and a sacrificial tool in his hands
-Partner: Saraswati, goddess of learning and art
Atman
-Atman is a drop of the divine Brahman
-Atman exists within a person = your true self
Vishnu and Lakshmi
-Preserver God (keeps things in order balance between good and evil)
-He is the most interested in humans and their actions. Vishnu uses many avatars (bodily manifestations on earth)
-Lakshmi is Vishnu’s partner, goddess of wealth, happiness, and good fortune
Shiva and Pavarti/Kali
-Power to destroy and regenerate
-The Destroyer God
-Shiva is a divine reminder of life and death in the universe
-Shiva’s partner is two sides of mother nature, Kali is bad side, Pavarti is the good side
-Shiva and Pavarti had child together named Ganesh
Maya
-For Hindus, everything we see, smell, touch, hear, or think is illusion
-Maya, or illusion, keeps us from knowing the truth
Samsara
-Hindus believe that life exists in circles (rather than in a line) (birth, death, rebirth)
-The goal of life is to release yourself from the cycle of time
-When you die your soul (atman) finds another vehicle in which to inhabit
Moksha
-Moksha is the goal of all Hindus - the release from Samsara
-“Extinction” -Atman becomes one with Brahman
Karma
-This means action
-Karma means that every person is born into a station of life that is merited by the deeds of their former life
-It is literally the law of cause and effect
-Everything you do ultimately affects your destiny
-People may be reincarnated at a higher or lower level of existence depending on their karma from their present life
Dharma (Buddhism)
-Buddhas teachings
-same for everyone
-reveal the path to enlightenment
Dharma (Hindu)
-Dharma is connected to Karma
-Your Karma determines your station in life
-Your Dharma are the duties and requirements of that station in life
