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Hinduism

Began in India about 3000 BC

No Individual began Hinduism

Christ = Christianity Muhammad = Islam

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Sacred Writings • Very important to the development of

Hinduism

• The Vedas

• (1500-700 BC)

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Vedas Contain Hymns

• Ritual Works

• Sayings

• Philosophical Speculations

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The Upanishads

• (End of the Vedas)

• (800-300 BC)

• Most Philosophical Writings

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Major Philosophical Tradition: • “Advaita Vedanta”

• Shankara (750 AD)

• “Advaita” = Non-Dualism

• “Vedanta” = Summation of the Vedas

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Summary: • 1. Everything that exists is Brahman

• 2. Brahman can be interpreted as

• (God): Impersonal Force

• Supreme Principle

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3. Creation is the Dance of Brahman

“Lila”

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4. Atman is the Soul of the Individual

5. Atman and Brahman are One and the Same

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6. Brahman is not to be confused with

• Brahma = a Hindu god

• Brahmin = Hindu Priest or Caste

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• 7. Why do we not understand that Brahman = Atman?

• MAYA = Illusion

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8. Our goal in life is Liberation from the cycle of Samsara

• Samsara = Reincarnation

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9. And reach “Moksha”

• Moksha = Nirvana (Buddhism)

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10. This is when the individual soul (Atman) in absorbed into Brahman

• “Like a drop of rain being absorbed

into a lake”

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11.The Law of Karma

• Governs the cycle of samara

Karma • The good and bad deeds that we do

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• Good deeds

• better rebirth into this world • a god

• a human • an animal • an insect

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• Bad deeds

• worse rebirth into this world

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The Ethics of Hinduism

• 3 Ways or Paths to Good Karma

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The Way of Activity

“Karma Marga”

• Emphasis upon “good works”

• Offerings and sacrifices to gods

• Helping the poor

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The Way of Knowledge

• “Jnana Marga”

• Study

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• Practicing Yoga

• Yoga • Means to be “yoked”

• A discipline of in the Way of Knowledge

• Thru intense concentration, one

become yoked or attached to Brahman

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• Or according to the Laws of Manu

• Following the proper life path

• Four stages of Life Student

• Householder • Forest Dweller

• Ascetic

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The Way of Devotion (Bhakti) • Personal devotion to a particular god

(Avatar)

• Avatar • Manifestation of Brahman usually as a

god

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• Krishna • Brahma = Creator

• Vishnu = Preserver • Shiva = Destroyer

• Etc

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• Also other world religious leaders are viewed as Hindu Avatars

• Christ • Allah • Tao • Etc.

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The Caste System • 5 Categories

• The Brahmin Caste

• (Priests)

• Warrior Caste • (Governing Class)

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• Middle Class Caste • (Workers)

• Sudra Caste

• (Farmers, peasants, manual laborers)

• Untouchable Caste • (lowest class, beggars, aliens, lepers,

etc.)

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Sacred Cow

• The protection of the Cow is prescribed by Hindu scripture in the Rig Veda

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• The Cow represents symbolically and in reality, earthly terms the Hindu reverence for the Divine in all life.

Hindu Ethics • Karma Marga = The Way of Activity

• Jnana Marga = The Way of Knowledge

• Bhakti Marga = The Way of Devotion

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