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Part 2: Hinduism

Explore the origins of Hinduism through the study of the Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavad Gita. Learn about concepts like moksha, reincarnation, and the caste system that shaped the religion. Discover how Hinduism evolved to address the needs of ordinary people while still preserving its core teachings.

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Part 2: Hinduism

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  1. Part 2: Hinduism Lesson 13

  2. ID & SIG • Bhagavad Gita, moksha, reincarnation, Upanishads, Vedas

  3. Hinduism • While Buddhism was growing and evolving in China, Hinduism gradually displaced Buddhism as the most popular religion in India • Like Mahayana Buddhism, Hinduism experienced changes in doctrine and practices to more effectively address the interests and needs of ordinary people

  4. Roots of Hinduism: The Vedas • The Vedas (“Wisdom”) were collections of prayers and hymns of the Indo-European Aryans who migrated into India around 1500 B.C. • Reflect the knowledge that priests needed to carry out their functions • The Aryans developed a social structure with sharp distinctions between individuals and groups according to the occupations and roles in society • These distinctions became the basis of the caste system • Brahmins (priests) were at the top of the caste system Fanciful depiction of the Indo-Aryans entering India

  5. Roots of Hinduism: The Vedas • The Vedas required ritual sacrifices by which the Aryans hoped to win favor of the gods • Gods required constant attention • Proper honor for the gods required households to have brahmins perform no less than five sacrifices per day • As time passed, many Aryans, to include the brahmins became dissatisfied with the sacrificial cults of the Vedas, viewing them as sterile rituals rather than genuine means of communicating with the gods • Sought something to satisfy their spiritual longings

  6. Roots of Hinduism: The Dravidians • Beginning about 800 B.C., many individuals retreated into the forests of the Ganges Valley, lived as hermits, and contemplated on the relationships between human beings, the world, and the gods • They drew inspiration from the Dravidians who believed human souls took on new physical forms after the death of their bodily hosts • Transmigration and reincarnation: An individual soul could depart one body at death and become associated with another body through a new birth Idyllic representation of the Dravidians before the arrival of the Indo-Aryans

  7. Roots of Hinduism: The Upanishads • Aryan and Dravidian values began to blend • The Upanishads were Indian reflections and dialogues from around 800-400 B.C. that reflected basic Hindu concepts • Upanishads means “a sitting in front of” and refers to the practice of disciples gathering before a sage for discussion of religious issues

  8. Roots of Hinduism: The Upanishads • Upanishads taught that appearances are deceiving, that individual human beings are not separate and autonomous creatures • Instead, each person participates in a larger cosmic order and forms a small part of a universal soul (Brahman) • The physical world is a theater of change instability, and illusion • The Brahman is an external, unchanging, permanent foundation of all things that exist– the only genuine reality

  9. Roots of Hinduism: The Upanishads • Individuals souls were born into the physical world not once, but many times • Souls appear most often as humans, but sometimes as animals, plants, or other vegetable matter • The highest goal of the individual soul is to escape this cycle of birth and rebirth and enter into permanent union with Brahman

  10. Roots of Hinduism: Teachings of the Upanishads • Samsara • Upon death, individual souls go temporarily to the World of the Fathers and then return in new incarnation • Karma • “Now as a man is like this or like that, according as he acts and according as he behaves, so will he be: a man of good acts will become good, a man of bad acts, bad. He becomes pure by pure deeds, bad by bad deeds.” • Brhadaranyaka Upanishad

  11. Roots of Hinduism: Teachings of the Upanishads • Mosksha • The goal (escaping the cycle of rebirth) • A deep, dreamless sleep that came with permanent liberation from physical incarnation • Obtained by asceticism and meditation • Separation from the physical world to merge with Brahman Shiva: The Lord of Yoga meditating on Mount Kailasa in the Himalayas

  12. The Emergence of Popular Hinduism • Bhagavad Gita • Short poem finalized around 400 A.D. which represented the new Hindu ethical teaching that promised salvation to those who participated actively in the world and met their caste responsibilities • “Strive constantly to serve the welfare of the world; by devotion to selfless work one attains the supreme goal in life. Do your work with the welfare of others always in mind.” • Contrast with the Upanishads that taught that individuals could escape the cycle of incarnation only through renunciation and detachment from the world

  13. The Emergence of Popular Hinduism • Bhagavad Gita and other new teachings made life easier for the lay classes • Individuals should meet their responsibilities in a detached fashion without striving for reward or recognition • Perform your duties faithfully, concentrating on your actions alone, with no thought of the consequences

  14. Four Principal Aims of Human Life • Dharma • Obedience to religious and moral laws • Artha • The pursuit of economic well-being and honest prosperity • Kama • The enjoyment of social, physical, and sexual pleasure • Moksha • The salvation of the soul • A proper balance of dharma, artha, and kama would help an individual attain moksha

  15. Nirvana • Living this lifestyle will lead to personal salvation– escape from the cycle of incarnation and the attainment of nirvana • Nirvana is the state of perfect spiritual independence The Wheel of Dharma symbolizes samsara, the continuous cycle of birth, life, and death. One is liberated from this endless cycle of rebirth when nirvana is achieved.

  16. Popularity Spreads • As devotional Hinduism evolved and became increasingly distinct from the Upanishads and the brahmins, its appeal spread across Indian society • Hinduism gradually displaced Buddhism as the most popular religion in India • Buddhist monks began to confine themselves to their monasteries rather than actively seeking to spread their message

  17. Major World ReligionsSource: About, Inc http://christianity.about.com/library/weekly/blreligiontop.htm ReligionMembers Christianity 2 Billion Islam 1.2 Billion  Hinduism 785 Million  Buddhism 360 Million Judaism 17 Million  Sikhism 16 Million Baha‘i 5 Million Confucianism 5 Million Jainism 4 Million Shintoism 3 Million Wicca .7 Million Zoroastrianism .2 Million

  18. The CIA World Factbook reports India is 81.3% Hindu 12% Muslim 2.3% Christian 1.9% Sikh 2.5% other groups including Buddhist, Jain, Parsi Religion Today in India

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