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Hinduism

Hinduism. Basic Data. Terms. Important Terms. Atman: Hindu concept of the eternal soul Avatar: Hindu concept of the incarnation or earthly manifestation of a deity Bhagavad-Gita:  Sanskrit for 'Song of the Lord'; this text is regarded as the crowning achievement of Hindu sacred literature

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Hinduism

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  1. Hinduism

  2. Basic Data

  3. Terms

  4. Important Terms • Atman: Hindu concept of the eternal soul • Avatar: Hindu concept of the incarnation or earthly manifestation of a deity • Bhagavad-Gita: Sanskrit for 'Song of the Lord'; this text is regarded as the crowning achievement of Hindu sacred literature • Brahma: Hindu god of creation • Brahman: Hindu concept for the spiritual oneness of all reality • Brahmin: Priestly caste of Indian society

  5. Important Terms • Guru: Spiritual teacher • Krishna: Incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu • Henotheism: Belief in one god without denying the existence of others • Moksha: release from the cycle of death and rebirth in Indian religions; liberation • Samsara: Sanskrit for 'the cycle of rebirth‘ • Shiva: Hindu god of destruction and rejuvenation

  6. Important Terms • Puja: a religious ritual performed by Hindus as an offering to various deities, distinguished persons, or special guests • Karma: Action, deed; usually understood as cause and effect • Dharma: behaviors that are considered to be in accord with the natural order • Yoga: physical, mental and spiritual disciplines or practices • Upanishad: Philosophical materials in the Vedic literature • Vishnu: Hindu god of preservation and love; appears on earth on various forms (avatars) in times of crisis

  7. General Overview

  8. What is Hinduism • The term “Hindu” • Originally the name of the Indus River (Hindus => Indus) • Used by the English to describe the religion of people who were not Muslim, Buddhist, Jain or Sikh • Used primarily as a category in taking a census • “Hinduism” includes a wide variety of practices and beliefs • No central theological tradition • Some practices and beliefs are contradictory • Many core practices and beliefs have changed over time due to reactions against other religions, or influences by other religions

  9. What is Hinduism • KEY: All religious paths honoring the Vedas are commonly gathered under the term Hinduism • Preferred label is Sanatana Dharma • Sanatana= ageless • Dharma = behavior, way of life (religion) • This label emphasizes that Hinduism is not so much a systematic set of beliefs as a way of life

  10. Legal Definition • In 2002/2003, the Indian Supreme Court (2002/2003) stated that a Hindu: • Accepts that the Vedas are the foundation of Hindu philosophy; • Has a spirit of tolerance (truth has many sides); • Accepts the belief that vast cosmic periods of creation, maintenance, and dissolution continuously recur; • Accepts belief in reincarnation; • Recognizes that paths to truth and salvation are many; • Recognizes that there may be numerous gods and goddesses to worship [Henotheism]; • Does not believe in a specific set of philosophic concepts.

  11. A Philosophical System • Metaphysics: Monism • Epistemology: Natural knowledge of the Supreme • The Supreme is one (monotheism) • The Supreme has many forms • Moral: Ethics are central to an orderly social life • Theodicy: • Suffering occurs when karma is out of balance • The ultimate cause of suffering is people’s ignorance of the Self (which is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, perfect, and eternal) • Anthropology: The more a person understands the above, the more he will realize that he is god, and god is him. • Gandhi: Not “god is truth” but “truth is god”

  12. Vedas • The foundation for Hinduism are the Vedas • Hindu “holy book” • Consists of four parts • Samhitas:hymns of praise in worship of deities. • Brahmanas:directions about performances of the ritual sacrifices to the deities. • The Brahmanasexplain the symbolic correspondences between the microcosm of the ritual process and the “real world” in which rituals are performed. • Aranyakas: meditations by recluses • Upanishads: teaching from highly realized spiritual masters; they explain the personal transformation that results from psychic participation in the ritual process.

  13. Basic Beliefs

  14. Concept of God • Nirguna Brahman - God without attributes • Saguna Brahman - God with attributes • Saguna Brahman can be worshipped in any shape or form, human or otherwise

  15. Hindu “Trinity” • The Supreme God (Brahma) • Paramatma=The Supreme Soul • Three aspects, roles or powers of the same divine being • Brahma - the Creator • Vishnu/Krishna - the Preserver & Protector • Shiva - the Destroyer

  16. Soteriology • Hinduism teaches the cycle of life: birth, life, death, rebirth (reincarnation) • All life is created by the Supreme God (Brahama) • Every living thing has soul, called by Hindus, ATMA. • Deeds (Karma) in this life determine life form in the next life. • One can go through the cycle of birth and rebirth up to 84 million times as the belief is that there are 84 millions species on earth. • Reincarnation: eternal soul traverses through different bodies till it finds liberation (moksha)

  17. Karma • Karma - the law of cause and effect; “you reap what you sow” • Bad karma is weighed against good karma

  18. Moksha • The ultimate goal of existence is to achieve moksha • Moksha is the release of your atma to become part of the paramatma, or great soul of the universe. • Analogy: This is understood if we think of an eye-dropper of water squeezed out into the Atlantic thus ceasing to be a separate entity, but being absorbed into the ocean

  19. Four Goals of Human Life • Kama – fulfillment of desires • Artha– accumulation of wealth • Dharma – performance of social and religious duties • Moksha – freedom from want

  20. Four Paths to Moksha • Karma Yoga - Path of righteous action • Bhakti Yoga - Path of selfless devotion • JnanaYoga - Path of rational inquiry • Raja Yoga - Path of renunciation

  21. Temple Worship • Temples provide an atmosphere conducive for spiritual progress • Centers of social and cultural activities • Provide a place for collective worship and prayers

  22. Six Philosophical Schools • Sankhya - Sage Kapila • Yoga - Sage Patanjali • Mimamsa - SageJaimini • Vedanta – Sage Vyasa • Nyaya - Sage Gautama • Vaisheshika - Sage Kanada

  23. Brief History

  24. History of Hinduism • Originated between 4000 and 2000 BC • No single founder • Vedas: the oldest scriptures of Hinduism • Veda means “to know” • Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Veda • Upanishads explain the philosophical ideas in story and dialogue form

  25. Veda Vyasa • 1500 BC • classified the Vedas into the four traditional collections • composed the 18 Puranas • composed his great poetic work, the Mahabharata in a period of two and a half years

  26. Sankara • Advaitha philosophy • 7th century AD • traveled all over India having public debates with other philosophers • true happiness can be attained by removing avidya(ignorance) and maya (self deception)

  27. Ramanuja • 10th Century AD • Vishistadvaitha • wanted everybody irrespective of social standing to enjoy the eternal bliss of Lord Narayana • Bhakti - complete surrender to the Lord

  28. Madhva • Dwaitha philosophy • 12th Century AD • the world is not an illusion. • solitary study of the scriptures, performing one's duty without self-interest, practical acts of devotion

  29. Vivekananda • First Hindu leader to visit America • Famous address at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago on September 11,1893 • Spent three years preaching the Vedanta philosophy in America and England • Founded the Ramakrishna Mission

  30. Contemporary Hindu Leaders in America • David Frawley • Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami • Mahesh Yogi • Satchidananda • Mata Amritanandamayi

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