Religion - Hindusim

The Vedas

The earliest sacred scriptures of Hinduism which contain hymns to the deities and formulas for sacrificial offerings

-Vedas was revealed to ancient seers called "Rishis"

Upanishads

a collection of over 200 texts composed between that provide philosophical commentary on the Vedas. The authors are anonymous.

Moksha

"liberation" or "release" of the individual self, atman, from the bondage of samsara; salvation; one of the four goals of life.

-where the atman is united with Brahman.

-characterized of infinite awareness, and infinite bliss, and it defies description.

Monism

the doctrine that all reality is ultimately one.

-gods, goddesses, plants, animals, the materials, universe and humans or from the same essence. (Brahman)

Polytheism

-although there are many gods and goddesses (330 million) there is an underlying monotheism, as the divine is thought to be ONE ESSENCE. All the deities can provide a way to the divine.

Brahman

The eternal essence of reality and the universe.

-it is beyond human thought and perception

-"whatever the senses can perceive, whatever the mind can ponder, these are not Brahman"

Atman

The eternal self, which the Upanishads identify with Brahman.

Reincarnation

The wheel of rebirth which individuals are repeatedly reincarnated is called "Samsara".

-the atman or (jiva) travels from one life to the next, losing most aspects of personality and forgetting. past lives.

-this cycle includes animals, plants, gods, goddesses, and demons.

Bhagavad Gita

-most widely known of the Hindu scriptures, and considered essence of Vedic knowledge.

-a dialogue between a warrior, Arjuna and the deity Krishna.

-Krishna teaches Arjuna on many subjects (reincarnation, karma, dharma, moksha)

Karma

-meaning "action" or "deed". Best understood as the moral law of cause and effect, karma thus determines the nature of each reincarnation.

-"as you sow, you shall reap"

Dharma

a person's religious and moral duties based on the divine order of reality.

-closest equivalent to the West's term, 'religion'.

Hindus look to 4 things to determine Dharma:

1) divine revelation

2) sacred tradition

3) example of the wise

4) conscience

caste system rules

-caste are hereditary, identity is lifelong

-marriage ought to occur only within caste

-caste governs ones dharma

-discrimination is illegal

4 caste

Brahmin: consisting of priests

Kshatriya: warriors and administrators

Vaishya: producers (farmers, merchants, artisans)

Shudra: servants and labourers

Untouchables (Dalits)

Lowest of the caste system (sometimes not even considered part of the caste) do all the dirty work of society.

Four stages of life

1. Student (Brahmacharya)

-intensive study of the Vedas until marriage

2. householder (Grihastha)

-pursue a career and family

3. Forest dweller (Vanaprastha)

-begins at the birth of the first grandchild. Retreat from worldly bonds and engage fully in a spiritual request.

4. Wandering ascetic (Sannyasin)

-renunciation and detachment from the world and its attractions

four aims/goals of life

1. Moksha

-"the ultimate goal of freedom", "where the atman is united with Brahman" release from samsara. etc.

2. Kama

-pleasure through sensors desires

3. Artha

-Material wealth, and social prestige and power and success.

4. Dharma

-one's ethical duties according to his/her's caste in life

3 paths to liberation

1. Karma Marga (The path of Works)

-has everything to do with living according to ones dharma

-includes household rituals, public ceremonies, dietary laws, and marriage restrictions.

-but also a concern for fellow human beings and unselfish attitude

2. Jnana Marga (The path of Knowledge)

-intended for those talented with philosophical reflection

-practical for brahmin class

3 schools = Vedanta, Sankhya, Yoga

3. Bhakti Marga (The path of devotion)

-through the worship and devotion of a deity (within the pantheon. Focusing attention on the divine and away from selfish concerns of the flesh.

Maya

cosmic illusion brought about by divine creative power.

ex. individuality, ignorance, seeing multiple different things instead of one.

Vedanta

-school that teaches the prominent monism. It is an arduous path demanding a unique kind of knowledge, not simply knowing the subject matter.

Sankhya

-school that teaches reality is composed of two categories.

1) matter

2) infinite number of eternal selves

-teaches that somehow, selves gets entwined with matter, becoming bound to the world of samsara.

-follower seeks to escape the bondage of personality and individuality.

Yoga

-refers to any spiritual practice.

-the objective is to free the eternal self from bondage by stripping away the many levels personhood.

samadhi

a trancelike state in which self-consciousness is lost and the mind is absorbed into the ultimate reality; the culmination of the eight steps of Yoga.

avatars

an incarnation, or living embodiment of a deity, usually Vishnu.