Prejudice and Discrimination Teachings- Hinduism

Question 1

Satygraha

Answer 1

Absolute adherence to the truth and justice. It means “non-prejudical”. It brings change without violence to fight for justice. Fighting injustice requires one to love fellow beings and this love demands non-violence, or “ahimsa”.

Question 2

Karma, Samsura

Answer 2

Karma is the sense of getting what you deserve, and so prevents prejudice because one cannot be harmful in any way to others if one does not want to harm themselves. We are all on the cycle of Samsura and therefore deserve equal rights.

Question 3

Mahabhrata 5:39

Answer 3

“Do not do to another what you do not like to be done to yourself; that is the gist of the law- all other laws are variable”

Question 4

Purusha and the Four Varnas

Answer 4

Endorses prejudice, such as aclassism, because it encourages to treat people of a other classes differently. If people are of a higher class, they may belive they are more important,

Question 5

Dharma

Answer 5

This teaches that everybody has a different religious duty to carry out, which endorses prejudice because people will be treated differently according to their duty in life. However, Hinduism teaches that men and women are of equal worth, but just have different roles and responsibilities due to the different dharmas. Example: women have to do ‘puja’ and home, whilst men go to the temple to worship.

Question 6

The Four Ashramas

Answer 6

At different stages of your life, you are expected to do different things. On one hand, this respects old people and combats prejudice such as agism because they are valued and respected since they are closer to Moksha than anyone else. On the other hand, the Ashramas endorse prejudice because they teach that people of different ages have different roles in society. Also, the oldest ashrama is preparing for death, emphasising that old people are weaker.

Question 7

Gandhi

Answer 7

“I am a Hindu. I am also a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist and a Jew”