Hinduism

basic philosophy

• people are different, so there are different paths to brahman
  • brahman: the source/essence of the universe, the grounding of all existence
  • “choose your own adventure” approach to religion → can be tailored to the individual’s wants/needs/interests
• all religions are the same and all lead to Brahman
• one God but endless names and aspects
• liberation: return to the sacred source
  • salvation: liberation from the human condition, reincarnation
  • the infinite is always there, below the surface; it pervades all things
  • time is relative; most small instances aren’t very important in the grand scheme of things, especially in relation to lifetime(s)
    • lose importance of self
  • jiva: any living being with a life force/soul
  • pass through many bodies and lifetimes
• ultimately seek release
  • om/aum: source/vibration/consciousness of the entire univerase
  • symbol of hinduism
  • infinite state, maya, dream state, conscious state, unconscious state
  • moksha: infinite release; escape from reincarnation
  • cannot be fully described because it is beyond words

the divine

• no personal God
• all reality (people, animals, the universe) is really just one thing
• the many gods and goddesses are masks of the one
• monism: the spiritual belief that everything is, on the most fundamental level, interconnected and one being
  • brahman
  • impersonal without characteristics—can’t be seen, heard, or thought about
  • described as not this and not that
  • can discover on a spiritual level by doing spiritual things (eg. yoga, temples, shrines)
  • means that we shouldn’t hurt other beings because we’re all one
• upanishads: philosophy, two hundred texts, commentary on the vedas
  • resides below the surface of things or reality
  • vedas: holy sanskrit poems
  • atman: brahman (as said in the upanishads)
• polytheism (300 million gods/goddesses)
  • each is like a part of water that makes its way to the ocean
  • all are masks of God or Brahman
  • gods reveal the ultimate reality to use because we can’t see Brahman or Atman on our own
  • no real explanation of why the universe is or why we come to exist, the goal is moksha
  • stopping the cycle of reincarnation/achieving ultimate good
  • creation and destruction of the universe goes on for countless cycles, so too do the creation and destruction of souls
• samsara: wheel of rebirth/reincarnation
  • most think atman is reincarnated, you can’t remember past lives
  • death is not final
  • humans, animals, plants, gods, demons, titans (good), ghosts (bad) reincarnate even if they live for thousands of years
• bhagavad gita
  • most popular religious text in hinduism
• law and order; escaping samsara
  • karma — the moral law of cause and effect that determines the nature of your reality
  • explanation for why some people inherently luckier/more privileged than others
  • dharma — ethical duty
  • sacred duty to perform
  • See guidance for dharma in a given situation
  • It helps you to become less selfish. You need to help out others. Similar to Christians, love everyone.
  • karma and dharma work together

identity

• your dharma is determined by gender, caste, and stage of life
• caste: the sect you are born into (determined by karma)
  • unofficial categorization
  • brahmin: priests, scholars, artists, and teachers
  • kshatriya: rulers, warriors, and administrators
  • vaishya: farmers, merchants, and artisans (create material things)
  • shudra: servants and laborers
  • untouchables: those outside of society
    • made illegal in large part due to Gandhi
• India is one of the few cultures that did NOT have slavery
• women
  • join husband’s caste when married (usually the same)
  • dharma is to obey men: father, husband, and sons and provide for the welfare of your family
  • not everyone follows
  • in Hindu society, women are seen as more dependable than men and responsible
  • sati: has been illegal since 1829
  • widows would kill themselves after losing their husbands
  • boy children are still much more preferred than girls

life stages and purpose

• stages of life
  • student
  • marriage
  • arranged by parents (too essential to be left to individual choice)
  • will reach a state of boredom “Is this all there is?”
  • forest dweller - grandparent, retreat from the world
  • seek answers to spiritual things you have been too busy to ask or answer
  • wandering ascetic: sannyasin
  • return to the world but detached
  • you have been changed; the finite self does not hold back the infinite
• four goals of life
  • Path of Desire 1: Karma
  • Path of Desire 2: Artha
  • Path of Renunciation 1: Dharma
  • Path of Renunciation 2: Moksha

paths to attain moksha

• karma marga

  • doing the right thing because it is the right thing (not for reward, recognition, or success)

• jnana marga

  • shortest but steepest way — philosophical reflection

  • study with many texts and teachers

  • knowledge → thought → change

  • become detached and see self in third person

  • three schools of hindu philosophical teachings

  • vendanta

    • the world and finite beings are maya (cosmic illusion brought about by divine creative power)
    • we are tricked into thinking the world we see is the ultimate reality
    • we are absorbed back into brahaman

  • sankya

    • reality is composed of matter and an infinite number of selves
    • matter and eternity is intertwined and you are stuck in samsara
    • origin of jainism and buddhism

  • raja yoga

    • physical and sociological practices
    • four layers of self: body, mind, subconscious, brahman
    • free yourself from bondage using the subconscious
    • cannot be done alone → must have a yogi (guide)
    • goal: samadhi
    • a state of intense concentration achieved through meditation; union with the divine
    • 8 steps to yoga

    1. abstain from 5 acts:

       1. harming living things, lying, stealing, unchastity, greed

    2. practice 5 virtues:

       1. cleanliness, calmness, self-control, studiousness, prayfulness

    3. sit to promote comfort and not drowsiness

       • ~84 positions, including lotus

    4. breathe in a rhythmic pattern with the entire body

    5. withdraw the senses from outside objects

    6. concentrate the mind on one thing and empty it of all other thoughts

    7. meditate in an even deeper state

       • time ceases to exist

    8. achieve samadhi

  • bhakti marga

  • loving devotion to one’s god or goddess

  • most popular form for those who have emotional attachment

  • focus more on gods/goddesses than needs and desires of self

    • must love them for themselves, not in hopes of gaining moksha
    • most Hindi are devoted to one god/goddess that they form a friendship with
    • brahma — the creator
      • not worshipped much anymore
    • vishnu — the preserver
      • avatars eg. krishna, rama
    • shiva — the destroyer
      • kali — the wife of shiva
    • ganesha — wisdom, remover of obstacles
    • avatar — an incarnation or living embodiment of a deity

  • worship through prayers, visiting shrines, candles, offerings, incense, rituals

  • have candles, images, and offerings at home

    • don’t worship the image itself, but the deity it represents
    • worship can involve the entire village

  • temples are visited

  • the river Ganges is considered sacred

  • cows are sacred and not eaten

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