religion - unit 2

Hinduism

A religion native to India, featuring belief in many gods and reincarnation. No single founder, central authority, or scripture.

Dharma

To uphold moral order, righteousness, religion. One important Sanskrit text defines this as that which brings about well being both in this life and the next.

Dharma is____

revealed

Aryan Theory

The aryan race was superior and migrated to India and brought their religion and language. Aryan became Hinduism.

Out of India theory

The idea that the Aryans originated in India and migrated to other parts of the world.

Indus Valley Civilization

an early civilization, known for its advanced culture, that developed in the Indus River valley in India. Before 2000 B.C

Vedic period civilization

Veda = knowledge, revealed by the gods to the rishis, Devas = gods ( deus, deities, Devine )

Veda Texts

Rig-veda, Sama-veda, Yajur-veda, Atharva-veda

Yajnavalkya

Truth can be found only through the negation of all thoughts about it.

Brahman

God conceptualized as impersonal, all pervasive being.

Epic, Puranic, and Classical Age

500 BC-500 AD

Dharma sutras

3 forms of Dharma: revelation, tradition, and custom

Shastras

"rules"; "scriptures"

Mahabharata

epic 100,000 verses of poetry

Bhagavad Gita

Song of the lord, greatest single work of hinduism

Ramayana

epic Ramayana is tested repeatedly

Puranas

encyclopedia and religion

which 3 are essential to Hinduism?

Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana

Medieval Period

500-1500

Bhakti

devotion

Gurus

thinkers and teachers

Shankara

Traveled about advocating Hinduism and re-established authority of the vedas

Pre-modern period

1500-1757, rise of Islam, Bhakti, Sant

Niguna

God without qualities

Sanguna

God with qualities

The British period

1767-1947, Mohandas K. Gandhi (ahimsa - great soul) tried to free Indians from British rule - No violence

Independent India

1947-present, split India into 3 countries

India - hindu

Pakistan

East Pakistan (Bangladesh)

Kashmir

Deities and major philosophical systems

Bhagavad- God

Ishvara - God

Ishta devata - God of devotion

Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva

Devi

Great Goddess, Durga, Kala, Lakshmi, Sri, Saraswati - Goddess of knowlege

Brahman

absolute and ultimate reality, no form and is everywhere, not a person, source of all existence, Atman: Brahman in each human being

Brahma

First God of Trimurti, Greater of the universe, least worshiped god of hinduism

Vishnu

all pervading, preserver of the universe, 10 incarnations

10 incarnations of Vishnu

Matsya - fish

Kurma - turtle

Varuha - pig

Narasimha - half lion/man

Vamana - dwarf sage able to grow

Parasurama - fierce men/hunter

Rama - greatest warrior/ideal man

Krishna - mentally advanced man

Buddha - the all knowing man/Balarama

Kalki - expected at the end of the age

Shiva

The destroyer, responsible of change, "the illusion of individuality"

Major philosophical Systems

samkhya, advaita vedanta, yoga - all deeply rooted in vedas

Samkhya

To name together, number, two states of reality -

Purusha (self/spirit) Prakriti (nature/matter)

Metaphysical Dualism

theory of human nature that says we are made up of two essentially distinct substances, physical and spiritual

Prakriti

Gunas (qualities/properties)

Sattua (light goddess/intelligence)

Rajas (change/energy/passion)

Tamas (inactivity/dullness/despair)

Purusha (the transcendental self) - comprised of both a physical body and a "sign body" soul, Transmigrated (reincarnates)

Advaita Vedanta

Monism - one reality denies dualism and pluralism

Advaita - non secondness Maya- illusion

yoga

Cessation of the oscillations of the mind, Raja yoga, Jnana yoga, Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga

Raja Yoga

Asanas- physical postures

Mantra- verbal formulas to quiet the mind om = aum

Yantra - visual equivalent to mantra

Samdhi- ultimate goal of Raja Yoga, union with the absolute

Jnana Yoga

Based on the hindu philosophy of non dualism, the Advaita vedanta, uses rational mind

Karma Yoga

yoga of action, "the selfless devotion of all inner as well as the outer activities"

Bhakti Yoga

Yoga of devotion, "Love is god and god is love"

Vaishnavism

worship of Vishnu

Vishnu

10 incarnations, restores dharma

six qualities

all power, all knowledge, supreme strength, supreme majesty, unlimited energy, self sufficient

Shaivism

worship of Shiva

Shiva

The destroyer, worshiped as the destroyer and purifier of the world at the end of the cosmic cycle, the lord of humans and animals

Shaktism

The worship of Shakti as the wife of Shiva

Time

A cyclical and open, not linear and bounded, Yuga = age/era 1 divine year - 432,000 earthly years

Atman

The inmost self of spirit of a person. The fundamental, ultimate, eternal, pure consciousness. Atman is identical with Brahman

Tat tvasm asi (that art thou)

Karma

literally, "action, deeds"

A system of cause and effect in which a persons deeds have corresponding effects in the future

Samsara

the cycle of life and rebirth in Hinduism

Moksha

The Hindu concept of the spirit's 'liberation' from the endless cycle of rebirths.

Maya

Literally, "play" (same root as "magic")

the illusion that the world as we perceive is real

Varna (caste)

Brahmins- the intellectuals and priestly class

kshatriya- nobles or warriors- traditionally those who had power

vaishyas- Commoners or merchants- ordinary people who produce, farm, trade and earn a living

shudra- workers- traditionally those who served the higher classes, including laborers, artists, musicians, and clerks

untouchables- lowest class

Hindu worship

Home worship (puja)

1. seeing the deity

2. offering flowers and food

3. eating the blessed food

Temple worship - pilgrimages, festivals

Hare Krishna (iskcon)

Internal society of Krishna consciousness, founded in 1965 by Swami Prabhupada, Believes Krishna is the dole supreme deity

Transcendental Meditation

Founded by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (1918-2008), a "Technology of consciousness"

Bodhisattva

one who dedicates his life to liberating others from suffering

Siddhartha Gautama

The prince who is said to have founded Buddhism.

Shuddodana Gautama

Father of Siddhartha (buddha)

Mahamaya

Buddha's mother, had a baby that could speak, wherever he walked lotus flowers sprang up

ascetic

practice of severe self discipline

Overcoming suffering

left his family and became a monk, sat under a tree, finally became Buddha the Enlighten one, Buddha began to teach

Deer Park Sermon

Buddha's first sermon where he told his followers that there were two extremes to avoid: the path of pleasure and lust

sangha

Buddhist community of monks and nuns, Buddhas first nuns were his wife and aunt

Vinaya

The monastic code

Sutras

Buddhist sacred writings

Emperor Ashoka

sent lots of missionaries out of India

Monk nigrodha

Ashokas son

Pali Canon

Buddhist teachings written

Dharma (Buddhism)

Dhm- to uphold or support

Three levels of meaning

1. the words of the buddha

2. the practices buddha taught

3. the attainment of enlightenment

The Dharmas

The ultimate elements or particles of the universe, exist for only a split second, include all phenomena, mental and physical

Shunyata

emptiness

Bodhi

Enlightenment

Sattva

living being "an awakened enlightened being"

Nirvana (Buddhism)

ultimate reality/goal, the end of suffering, Sanskrit- to blow out; unbound

Karma

A volitional act: any act that is in your control any such act has moral consequences (vipaka)

1. intention behind the action

2. effects of the action on oneself

3. effect of the actions on others

Samsara (Buddhism)

cyclic existence; the continual round of birth, death, and rebirth, snake chasing a rooster, pig chasing snake, passing along karma

Three Marks of Existence

1. Impermanence (Anica)

2. No self/insubstantiality (anatta) Skandhas- changing aspects

3. suffering/frustration (dukkha) pain, frustration, dissatisfaction

Therevada Buddhism

"the way of the elders"

Theravada Buddhists view themselves as representing the original teachings of the Buddha. Enlightenment comes solely through ones own efforts

Vinaya Pitaka

Code of monastic discipline for monks and nuns.

Sutta Pitaka

the teachings of the Buddha

Abhidharma Pitaka

Part of Pali Canon, offers intricate analysis of the nature of mental and physical existence

Triple Gem/Three Refuges

Buddha- the enlightened one

Dharma- the teachings

Sangha- the community

Three Orientations

1. orientation toward enlightenment

2.orientation toward merit making

3. orientation toward escaping karma

Vajrayana Buddhism

Literally "Diamond Vehicle," it is the prominent branch of Buddhism in Tibet.

Tenzin Gyatso

14th and current Dalai Lama

Meditation techniques

Mantras- prayers that are repeated

mandalas- circular pattern with symbolism, sand or rice

mudras- hand postions

deity yoga - picture yourself as a deity WWBD?

subtle vital energies- physical energies you can learn to control with your mind

Zen Buddhism

zen - literally "meditation"

sanskrit - Dhyana

Chinese- Ch'an

Japanese - zen

History of zen

Lankavatara sutra, Toa- sheng, Bodhi - dirham, Rinzai: koan - a paradoxical puzzle or question that helps practitioners overcome the boundaries of logic, soto: zazen

the nature of zen

D.T. Suzuki- not founded upon logic and analysis

the 4 noble truths

1. life contains suffering

2. suffering is caused by craving, rotted in ignorance

3. suffering will cease when craving ceases

4. there is a way to realize this state: the eight fold path

The noble eight fold path

The division of wisdom

1. right understanding (view) - knowing accordingly penetration

2. right thought (motivation, aspiration)- detachment, love, non-violence

3.right speech

4.right action

5. right livelihood

6. right effort

7. right mindfulness

8. right meditation

Five Precepts

I observe the precept of abstaining from

-the destruction of life (ahimsa)

-taking that which is not given

-sexual misconduct

-falsehood

-intoxicating drink + drugs which leads to carelessness

Tirthankara (Jainism)

maker of the ford (river crossing), 24 in this age, each a jinx (conqueror) who has escaped samsara, kevala jnana- omniscience, parshvanatha 23rd, 7th century B.C, ascetic

Kevalin

Enlightened

Mahavira (Jainism)

24th, born nataputta, vardhamana, ascetic, maha = great, vira = hero, salekhana - fasted to death