Download All Roads lead to God

HINDUISM
•World’s oldest religion
”Santana Dharma” – Eternal Religion
•3000 BC
•Indus Valley
•1000 BC – “Aryans” (nobles from Europe and Asia)
migrated to India and culturally diffused
with Indians
•3rd largest religion
•+/- 900 million followers
•“All Roads lead to God”
•AUM – holy sign (represents god)
•Goal  recognize/reunite your soul (Atman) with
god
SACRED BOOKS
1)VEDAS
ancient scriptures
provide knowledge into the divine
provides info into early Aryan civilization
emphasizes sacrifice
can be difficult for most people to understand
2)Upanishads (“sitting down beside”)
fundamental teachings of Hinduism
introduces concepts of Karma, Samsara, Moksha,
Atman, Brahman, Yogas, and Meditation
emphasizes meditation
SACRED BOOKS
3)MAHABARHATA
longest epic poem
details a “family war” that probably happened
illustrates how “good” Hindus should live
illustrates that choosing God over individual
strengths and temptations is right decision
4)BHAGAVAD GITA (“Song of God”)
part of Mahabarhata
discussion between Arjuna (warrior) and Krishna (god)
about war
Krishna (8th avatar of Vishnu) 2 reasons to fight:
1)it is your Dharma to fight
2)good must defeat evil
excerpt from the Chandogya
Upanishad on the
“presence of Brahman”
Source: Philip Novak, The World’s Wisdom: Sacred
Texts of the World’s Religions. San Francisco:
Harper, 1994. pp. 21-23.
SALTWATER TEST
Trying to relay idea that god is present, but not seen
Father says to his son, place this salt in a glass
of water and come to me tomorrow morning.”
His son did as he was commanded and in
the morning his father said to him: “Bring me
the salt you put into the water last night.”
His son looked into the water, but could not
find it, for it had dissolved.
His father then said, “Taste the water from
this side. How is it?”
“It is salt.”
“Taste it from the middle. How is it?”
“It is salt.”
Taste it from that side. How is it?”
“It is salt.”
“Look for the salt and come again to me.”
The son did so, saying: “I cannot see the salt. I only
see water.”
His father then said: “In the same way, O my son,
you cannot see the Spirit, but in truth he is here.
An invisible but subtle essence is the Spirit of the
whole universe. That is Reality. That is Truth.
THOU ART THAT.”
SACRED BOOKS
5) LAW OF MANU – code of behavior
created “Caste System”
“All men are created UNEQUAL”
• Unless “unequals” are separated, the weak must compete against
the strong and stand no chance of being successful
1)Brahmins – priests (EYES)
2)Kshatriyas – chiefs / warriors (HEAD)
3)Vaishyas – commoners / merchants (ARMS)
4)Shudras – unskilled workers (LEGS)
5)(Dalits) UNTOUCHABLES
TODAY
CASTE SYSTEM IS
ILLEGAL IN
HINDUISM,
BUT IS STILL
PRESENT IN
HINDU CULTURE
HINDU BELIEFS
Reincarnation – soul (Atman) is reborn based on
your Karma and Dharma
After death, the soul goes to the next world, bearing in mind the subtle impressions of its
deeds, and after reaping their harvest returns again to this world of action. Thus, he who
has desires continues subject to rebirth.
Yajur Veda, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.4.6
Samsara – continuous rebirths until achieve Moksha
Atman – inner soul that is god
Moksha – when soul re-unites with god, no longer in
cycle of reincarnation
HINDU BELIEFS
KARMA – Reap what you sow
According as one acts, so does he become. One becomes
virtuous by virtuous action, bad by bad action.
Yajur Veda, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.4.5
A person’s personal “Karma” is also affected by ”Group Karma”
– karma created by a group/country/etc…
DHARMA – your job/duty
THESE CONCEPTS DETERMINE YOUR POSITION IN YOUR NEXT LIFE
HINDU BELIEFS
• NO Satan
a)God cannot have a rival / there is no place God
isn’t
b)”Avidya” (Ignorance) is root of evil
c)”Maya” (Illusion) leads to Avidya
• Sets you back in next life – longer to reach Moksha
•Ahimsa – non-violence
• Pottu – 3rd Eye – spiritual awakening
YAMAS
NIYAMAS
things no one should do
Ahimsa – no harm
Satya – no lies
Asteya – no stealing
Brahmacharya – no
overindulging
Aparigraha – no greed
things everyone should do
Saucha – keep clean
Santosha – be content
Tapas – self-discipline
Svadhyaya – study
wisdom of Hinduism
Ishvara Pranidhana –
surrender to God
4 PATHS TO MOKSHA
PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT
1)Karma Yoga – path of work
– Do daily life duties (dharma) without
hope of reward – dedicate acts to god
– Do our best because that is the work God
has put in front of us
– –> FORM OF WORSHIP
2)Jnana Yoga – path of knowledge
– Spiritual knowledge
– Study and learn lessons of the masters
4 PATHS TO MOKSHA
3)Raja Yoga – meditation
– Concentrate so you can reach the “self” within
you and become one with Brahman
4)Bhakti Yoga – path of love
– Devoted to loving a god
– If you truly love Me, you’ll love everyone
– Surrender to God – “hang out with God”