Hinduism

Vedas

• Vedas are the earliest and oldest sacred texts that are still in use

• Has no author and no beginning

• Passed down orally

  • They were memorized and put down later

Upanishads

• They were teachings, and the teacher would reveal a secret wisdom

• They’re understood as secret teachings about the nature of ultimate reality

  • For people with high levels of qualification 

• Contains secret teachings about the ultimate essences of the cosmos and ourselves (each Veda has them within)

Brahman

• The absolute, the highest essence of the foundation of the cosmos

  • Highest, deepest essence of the entire universe

  • Ultimate reality 

atman

• Self (atma, atman)

• Your deepest individual self/essence

Vishnu—Vaishnavism

• practiced by Vaishnavas, or followers of the god Vishnu.

• Depicted as a king

• Where’s a crown and a lot of jewelry 

• Embodies dharma

• Protects his devotees from evil

Shiva—Shaivism

• practiced by Shaivas, or followers of the god Shiva 

• Symbol of renunciation

• Ideal yogi (practitioner of yoga)

Devi/Shakti—Shaktism

• practiced by Shaktas, or followers of Devi, the goddess

• Shakti: ultimate reality

• Devi is depicted as having many arms and holding a bunch of weapons

• Kali is a manifestation of Devi

  • Protects her devotees from evil

  • Defeating demons, not humans 

• Dragua is more gentle 

ishta-devata 

• One’s “chosen deity,” i.e., the divine form to which a person is centrally devoted.

• One deity is the one you worship

• The main one

avatar

• when deities come down to earth and take on a human or animal form

• Reincarnation

• Important avatars 

  • Rama: embodiment of dharma and righteousness 

  • Krishna: a more mischievous figure 

Dharma

• Duty, virtue, righteousness, ethics.

four castes

• Brahmins (priests, teachers)

  • Only group in Hindu society supposedly authorized to teach the Vedas

• Kshatriyas (warriors. rulers)

  • Role is to protect society by fighting during war and governing during peace

• Vaishyas (merchants, traders)

  • Power of wealth and economic decision lay with them

• Shudras (servants, menial laborers)

  • Duty is to serve the other classes and cannot accumulate wealth

Karma

• Karma = “action”

• Is the reason why samsara goes on and on forever 

  • If you perform good karmas (good actions) -> merit 

  • If you perform bad karmas (bad actions) -> demerit 

• Through your speech, through your thoughts, and through your bodily deeds, you perform certain actions -> has results 

Samsara

• The cycle of rebirth.

• cycle of existence, cycle of rebirth 

• All of us are trapped in samsara

moksha 

• Liberation 

• liberation/freedom 

• By discovering the Self you can escape this cycle of rebirth 

• Ultimate goal 

Yoga

• Yoga: spiritual discipline or method for reaching liberation

• Spiritual practice 

• Karma-yoga: yoga of action

• Bhakti-yoga: yoga of devotion

• Jnana-yoga: yoga of knowledge 

• Dhyana-yoga: yoga of meditation 

Guru

• a spiritual teacher, guide, or master

Mantra

• Words or short, formulaic phrases that are said to have transformational potency and are important to tantric and temple practice.

• sacred utterance that possess mystical or spiritual efficacy

Tantra

• A body of ritual practices and text interpreting them, which appears to be independent of the vedic tradition

Mahabharata

• One of two Epics from ancient Hinduism

• one of the two great Hindu Sanskrit, is described as a "Veda"

Darshana

• lit., "seeing": the act of worship in which one sees (and is seen by) a deity or guru

• Literally “seeing”: the act of worship in which one sees (and is seen by) a deity or guru. 

• Act of going to a temple and seeing the deity

Prasada

• Literally “grace”: offerings (typically of food) made to a deity during puja and then distributed to devotees as a blessing. Get food back as a blessing

• Offerings made to a deity during puja

Puja 

• rituals performed in the home, one of the most significant ways in which Hindus express their devotion to a deity or a spiritual teacher

Upanishads

- What is about ?

- Brahman and duty

- Importance?

- Knowledge about self

- 3 requirements of duty (sacrifice, austerity, study as a student)

Bhagavad Gita

- What is it?

- Two families at war

- Arjuna is iffy about going to because he doesn't want to kill family

- Krishna tells him to fight anyways

- Importance?

- Act without desires, self is immortal, doing what is right is good karma and one's dharma

Swami Ramdas

- What is it ?

- About Ram mostly

- Swami Ramdas (Vittal Rao, same person this is pre enlightenment) journey

- Importance?

- Renunciation, love and utter lusting devotion, stages of life

Anandamayi Ma

- What is it?

- Pretty much just a q&a with lady

- Instructional and straight forward

- Importance?

- Ways of meditation and yoga