What is Hinduism?

1. What is Hinduism? • One of the oldest religions of humanity • The religion of the Indian people • Tolerance and diversity: "Truth is one, paths are many" • Many deities but a single, impersonal Ultimate Reality • A philosophy and a way of life – focused both on this world and beyond

2. How did Hinduism begin? • No particular founder • Vedic Tradition 3500 – 2500 years ago: • rituals and many gods (polytheism) • sacred texts (Vedas) • social stratification (caste system) • Vedic Tradition develops into Hinduism

3. Despite the complexity of the religion, all Hindus have the same goal and core beliefs. One force, brahman, underlies everything. The goal of life is to achieve moksha, or union with brahman. Every person has an atman, or essential self, and experiences reincarnation. Karma holds that our actions affect our fate in the next life.

4. What are the Sacred Texts? • Vedas - four sets of these. • Rig Veda – oldest, written about 1500 B.C.E. and codified about 600 B.C.E. • Upanishads – mystical and metaphysical section • Mahabharata (includes Bhagavad-Gita) • Ramayana • Plus others

5. What do Hindus believe? • One impersonal Ultimate Reality – Brahman • Manifest as many personal deities • True essence of life – Atman, the soul, is Brahman trapped in matter • Reincarnation – atman is continually born into this world lifetime after lifetime (Samsara) • Karma – spiritual actions keeps us bound to this world (good and bad) • Ultimate goal of life – to release Atman and reunite with the divine, becoming as one with Brahman (Moksha)

6. What do Hindus believe? Hindus believe in dharma, the religious and moral duties of the person. They practice ahimsa, nonviolence. • Brahma, the Creator • Vishnu, the Preserver • Shiva, the Destroyer Hindus worship many gods. The most important are:

7. How does Hinduism directlife in this world? • Respect for all life – vegetarian • Human life as supreme: • Four “stations” of life (Caste) - priests & teachers, nobles & warriors, merchant class, servant class. Fifth = untouchables • Four stages of life – student, householder, retired, renunciant • Four duties of life – pleasure, success, social responsibilities, religious responsibilities (moksha)

8. How do Hindus worship? • Bhakti Yoga is seeking union with the divine through loving devotion to manifest deities • In the home (household shrines) • In the Temples (priests officiate) • Puja– making offerings to and decorating the deity images • Darsan– “seeing” the deity (not idol worship) • Prasad – taking the divine within your own being through eating of food shared with the deity

9. Who do Hindus worship? – the major gods of the Hindu Pantheon Brahma, the creator god

10. Who do Hindus worship? – the major gods of the Hindu Pantheon Vishnu, the preserver god Incarnates as ten avatars (descents) including: Rama (featured in the Ramayana) Krishna (featured in the Mahabharata) (Each shown with his consort, Sita and Radha, respectively)

11. Who do Hindus worship? – the major gods of the Hindu Pantheon Shiva, god of constructive destruction(the transformer) Appears as Shiva Nataraj,lord of the dance of creation… and with his wife, Parvati, and son Ganesha (the elephant headed remover of obstacles)

12. And we too are manifest forms of Brahman! “We are not human beingshaving spiritual experiences;We are spiritual beingshaving a human experience!” Hinduism is about recognizing the all pervasiveness of the divine

13. Jainism: The Religion • Jainism is an ascetic religion of India • Teaches the immortality and pilgrimage of the soul • Denies the existence of a supreme being and emphasizes the art of non-violence.

14. Jainism: The Religion • Response to Hinduism and rejection of castes system • “Founder”—Mahavira or the last of 23 founders • Tirthankaras—“ford builders” or “crossing builders”

15. The founders of Jainism 24 Tirthankaras(“ford maker”): great teachers • Going back countless thousands of years before recorded history • Mahavira(“great hero”) – the 24th and final Tirthankara – reformer of ancient Jainism • NataputtaVardhamana • Lived 599 - 527 BCE in northeast India • 30 years as student (never married) • 12 years as ascetic renunciant • 30 years as spiritual teacher (tirthankara)

16. Mahavira ca. 599-527 BCE • Parallels Buddha’s life • Family wealth vs. poverty • Joined ascetics • Ahimsa yields true release • Ahimsa produces Jina (release from this life or conqueror over attachment, hence the name Jain)

17. Key Figures in Jainism Left:Mahavira picture Top:Mahavira statue Right:Mahavira on LionThrone Above: Rock image of 24 Tirthankaras

18. Major Tenets Everything is eternal; there is no all-powerful “God” that has created the world. When a living being dies, it is reincarnated. All living beings have souls. The 3 gems. Reverence for the deities (Siddhas, Jinas, and the 24 Tirthankaras). Vegetarianism, or Fruitarianism. The great vows, the Mahavrats.

19. Karma • Karma is the natural moral law of the universe, in which every good or bad action has a corresponding effect on the person doing that action. • According to Jainism there are 2 types of Karma . Ghati (destructive) and Aghati (non-destructive), each containing several sub-categories. • The goal of Jainism is to liberate one’s soul, to become a Jina (spiritual victor). To become a Jina, one must escape Karma by leading an ascetic and intrinsically pure life.

20. Buddhism

21. What is Buddhism? • Buddhism is a major world philosophy. • It is the 4th largest “religion” of the world, and has about 300,000,000 people living by it. • It explains the purpose of life, injustices and inequality around the world. • It also helps people by providing a way of life that will lead to true happiness.

22. The History of Buddhism • It was all started by Siddhartha Guatama (Buddha) who was a prince in Lumbini, 2500 years ago. • He was very unhappy in his royal life, so he set off on a 6 year journey, exploring other religions. • After his long journey and much meditation he was finally “enlightened”. • He found the middle path, the key to human happiness. For the rest of his life he wandered Asia, preaching his new religion.

23. What Did Buddha Teach? • He taught the 4 Noble truths which sum up Buddhism philosophy. • He also taught the noble eight fold path • He also taught the 5 precepts • The final goal for the Buddhist is nirvana, union with the universe.

24. What are the Four Noble Truths? • The first was that life is suffering • You can’t live without death, frustration, etc. • The second is that suffering is caused by craving and aversion • Getting what you want doesn’t guarantee happiness, it deprives you of it • The third is that suffering can be overcome, and true happiness attained • If we stop craving useless things, and live each day at a time (not living in the future) we will be happy and free. • The fourth is that the Noble eight fold path leads to the end of all suffering

25. The Noble Eightfold Path • It taught 8 simple rules: • To have a right understanding • To have right thoughts • To use right speech • To do right actions • To deal with right livelihood • To give a right effort • To have a right mindfulness • To use the right meditation

26. The 5 precepts • Do not take the life of anything living • Do not take anything not freely given • Abstain from sensual overindulgence • Refrain from untrue speech • Avoid intoxication • Do not lose mindfulness • This is the moral code of the Buddhists

27. THE “ULTIMATE QUESTIONS” • Nature of the soul • Life after death • Origin of the universe • THESE ARE NOT ADDRESSED

28. Buddhism rejected the Hindu caste system. Rather than focusing on priests, ritual and deities, Buddhism encouraged each person to seek self-enlightenment, thus a philosophy instead of a religion.

29. Spread of Buddhism

30. Mahayana Buddhism Emerged between the 3rd Century B.C.E. & 1st Century C.E. – very popular Reduced obligation on Buddhists Gave Buddha divine status Bodhisattvas delay entry to nirvana to help others Monasteries accepted gifts that merited salvation.

31. Decline of Buddhism Buddhism eventually declined in India as it took root in other parts of Asia.

32. Religions Founded in India