Section 1: Beliefs Flashcards
3 beliefs about Brahman
- the ultimate reality
- eternal and the source of all life
- comes to earth in many different forms
3 facts about Brahman
- Hinduism has many different deities that represent different aspects of Brahman
- root word ‘bhri’ in Sanskrit = ‘to grow’
Nirguna Brahman
Brahman without form or qualities
Saguna Brahman
Brahman with infinite attributes
Brahman
Residing everywhere
Antaryami
Residing within
Bhagavan
Residing outside (the material world)
Brahma - The Creator
- mala beads = aid to meditation
- 4 faces = to see everything (omniscient)
- lotus flower = purity
- water vessel = spiritual cleansing
Vishnu - The Preserver
- cobra = gives him power to preserve
- arises from ocean of milk = endless bliss
- blue skin = divine nature
- discus = order in universe
- conch shell = music calling people to live a spiritual life
Shiva - The Destroyer
- dancing = represents bringing power/energy into the world
- tiger skin = overcoming pride
- blue skin = divine nature
- tangled hair = Ganges
Explain 2 reasons why the Trimurti is important for Hindus
- it shows and displays purposes of God which tells them how God comes in many different ways (divine nature)
- when the world is out of order someone will always be there to help
Who are 2 avatars of Vishnu?
Krishna and Rama
Outline 3 Hindu beliefs about the avatars of Vishnu
- one yet to come called Kalki
- some of the avatars destroyed or helped to destroy demons
- they protect our world
Krishna
- blue skin = divine nature
- yellow clothes = God in earthly form
- flute = music represents bliss of realising the true nature of God
- crown = royal attributes
- his consort (Radha) and him display Bhakti for each other
Why Krishna is important for Hindus
- overcomes evil by defeating demons
- guide in how to live life
- symbolises Bhakti
- fulfils his dharma
ISKCON
- originated in India in the 16th century
- emphasises Bhakti yoga
- popular in the west from 1960s onwards
- live life according to the brahmacharya stage of life
Rama
- Ramayana
- 7th avatar of Vishnu
- blue skin
- yellow clothes
- fulfils charmer
- archer = fighting evil
What is Shakti?
A power possessed by all female Hindu deities -> male deities need it to exert their powers
Parvati
- Shiva’s consort
- displays the perfect wife
Durga
- bravery
- tiger shows she can control the wild
- Carries weapons to kill demons
Kali
- ferociousness
- dark in colour + tongue hangs out = scares enemies
Lakshmi
- Vishnu’s consort
- represents beauty and prosperity
- lotus = purity
- pink flowers = kindness
- pray to her for good fortune
Saraswati
- Brahma’s consort
- goddess of knowledge
- mala beads + holds ancient scriptures
- lotus
- reminds Hindus the importance of prayer, studying scriptures and purity of mind
- swan is her vehicle
Atman
- eternal
- indestructible
- lives on after the body dies
Consequences of Atman
- respect for life (ahimsa)
- shared values (strengthen Hinduism)
- respect and tolerance
- compassion for others (dharma)
- belief in reincarnation (samsara)
Karma
Consequence of our actions
Karma in scripture
Sanchita -> karma carried forward in this life from past lives
Prarabdha -> karma that is a problem in this life
Kriyamana -> everything we do in our present life which shapes our future
State 3 facts about karma
- bad actions equal bad karma
- it is the consequence of actions
- it is shown in scripture in 3 ways
Explain 2 Hindu beliefs about karma
- it will affect your caste -> bad karma = low caste
- fulfilling dharma results in good karma
Moksha
The ultimate artha (goal) that can only be achieved after liberation from the Samsara cycle
Facts about the Purusharthas
- first referred to in Vedic texts
- translated in Sanskrit as ‘the soul’s purpose’
- they are universal aims that influence our lives
The Purusharthas
Dharma
-> laws that must be followed to ensure a harmonious world
-> ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness), astray (not stealing), sauca (purity of mind and body)
Artha
-> earning money honestly for your family
-> wealth is good but not the most important thing (Maya)
Kama
-> pleasure of loving relationships but maya
Moksha
-> ultimate goal in life
Importance of the Purusharthas
- only way to leave the samsara cycle
- set the example of how to fulfil dharma
Sanatan Dharma
- ‘eternal religion’
- no beginning
- no founders
- should be unique to everyone -> don’t complete someone else’s dharma (Bhagavad Gita)
Varnashramadharma
- your identity
- identity comes from your Varna (caste) and ashrama (stage in life)
Varna
- each one has a job to fulfill
- can’t leave your caste or have friends outside your caste
The Ashramas
Brahmins
-> role is to teach others (priests/teachers)
Kshatriyas
-> ruler, warrior + protect community
Vaishya
-> merchants who give us what we need to live
Shudra
-> farmers who perform a service
Dalits
-> ‘untouchables’
Varna Evaluation
For:
- need to follow it to fulfil dharma and leave samsara cycle
- everyone has a role -> harmonious world
- part of a Hindu’s varnashramdharma
Against:
- discrimination
- doesn’t follow ahimsa (Purusharthas)
- rich people get an immediate advantage BUT they deserve it from previous good karma
Ashramas
- 4 natural stages of a Hindu’s life
- part of your varnashramadharma
- found in Manu Smriti
The Ashramas
Brahmacharya
-> student stage
Grihasta
-> householder
-> marriage
Vanaprastha
-> retirement stage
Sannyasin
-> give up all possessions
-> pilgrimage
Why Varnashramadharma is important for Hindus
- only way to be released from samsara cycle
- Hindu’s purpose
- Justice for those with good karma
- in the scripture (Manu Smriti)
- helps accept their Varna
State 3 facts about the Varna system
- one is called Shudra
- Brahmins are teachers
- Vaishyas give us what we need to live
State 3 facts about the Ashramas
- they are the 4 natural stages of Hindu life
- found in the Manu Smriti
- brahmacharya is the student stage
Outline 3 Hindu beliefs about the Purusharthas
- they are the universal aims
- they must fulfil them to get good karma
- they are the only way to leave the samsara cycle
Outline 3 Hindu beliefs about Sanatandharma
- they are the external laws of nature
- it is the way of life
- it has no beginning or founder
Outline 3 Hindu beliefs about suffering
- it’s a natural part of the samsara cycle
- it comes from bad karma
- can come from desiring things to be different
- can come from attachment to the physical world
- you can choose to suffer to get closer to God
‘The caste system causes suffering’
For:
- encourages people to look down on others
- lower castes have less opportunities
- increases discrimination against Dalit women
- people can’t move up because they’re trapped in spiritual suffering
Against:
- it’s the consequence of people’s past actions
- result of physical attachment
- people cause suffering not the Varna system
Gandhi
- adhered to dharma
- hunger strikes + boycotts
‘An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind’
Reason for violence
- need it to fulfil dharma (kshatriyas)
- violence in scriptures (Ramayan etc)
Attitudes towards suicide and euthanasia and challenges against these attitudes
Suicide -> carry your troubles into the next life
Euthanasia -> disturbs the natural samsara cycle (bad karma for doctor and patient’
Challenges:
- suffering
- suicide is mentioned in the Ramayana as a religious act
- suti -> widows traditionally threw themselves on funeral pyre of husband (seen as noble)
- prayopavesa -> fasting until death by sannyasins (noble + holy act)
Attitudes towards abortion and challenges to these
- causes pain to mother and fetus
- preventing opportunity of somebody joining the samsara cycle
- causing harm to Brahman -> fetus has an Atman as Hindus believe life begins at conception
- preventing the strengthening of the Hindu community
- scriptures against it (Upanishads)
- dharma -> householder’s duty to produce children
Challenges:
- rape
- disability
- health of mother
- overpopulation
- some scriptures of compassion
Sewa UK
Raise awareness and money for this suffering from natural disasters
‘Ahimsa is impossible to practice today’
For:
- dharma can involve violence -> kshatriyas
- abortion, euthanasia
- bullying, war
Against:
- only impossible if you have a wrong mindset -> need peace of mind
- need ahimsa to achieve moksha and leave the samsara cycle
Outline 3 Hindu beliefs about the origin of the universe
- no single creation
- time is divided into 4 cycles
- there are many universes
- universe is cyclically created and destroyed
What does the creation story tell us about Brahman?
- he is residing everywhere -> has the ability to create everything whilst being everything all at once
-> Upanishads: ‘he spreads throughout both the material and spiritual skies’ - he is also everything with nothing -> has the ability to form the whole universe despite starting from nothing
- source of all life
- tells us about Nirguna Brahman and how there is one God that comes in many forms (Trimurti)
Rig Veda
- one of the books of the Vedas
- 1500 BCE
- 1028 hymns in 10 books
- ‘who can swear, how creation came, when it where’
- don’t know how creation came about
Outline 3 Hindu beliefs about the yugas
- last for millions of years
- we are now in the Kali Yuga
- at the end of each one the universe is dissolved
Explain 2 Hindu beliefs about many worlds and their diverse inhabitants
- there are multiverses -> Puranas ‘there are innumerable universes besides this one’
- the inhabitants have life spans that can last up to 100,000 years
Pakriti
- what makes up the universe
- female and associated with shakti
- has 3 elements
Gunas
Tamas - ignorance
-> laziness
Rajas - passion
-> selfishness
Sattva- goodness
-> calm, happiness
State 3 facts about the Gunas
- there are 3 Gunas
- a guna is a state of mind
- controlled by the Trimurti
Outline 3 Hindu beliefs about the Gunas
- Hindus believe you must go through the other Gunas first to get salvation
- they bind our spirit to our body
- tamas is the lowest Guna
4 paths the salvation
Hindus can overcome the Gunas by following certain paths called margas
Jnana Yoga -> the way of knowledge
Karma Yoga -> the way of duty
Bhakti Yoga -> the way of devotion
Raja Yoga -> meditation
