Download GOAL OF HINDUISM “Moksha” Re-uniting your Atman with God

•World’s oldest religion
HINDUISM
Indus Valley
•3rd largest religion
•900 million followers
 1000 BC “Aryans” migrated to India
 “cultural diffused” with Indian people
 Hinduism developed
 ”Santana Dharma” – Eternal Religion
 “Aum”
GOAL OF HINDUISM
“Moksha”
Re-uniting your Atman with God
HINDU BELIEFS
Rebirth of the “soul”
Continuous cycle of rebirth
Cause and Effect
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
Karma affected by:
1. Individual Karma
2. “Group” Karma
Duty / Obligation
Bhagavad Gita
HINDU BELIEFS
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
HINDU BELIEFS
NO Satan
1)God cannot have a rival
2)there is no place God is not present
Sin
a)”Avidya” = Ignorance
b)”Maya” = Illusion
 leads to Avidya
 sets you back in next life
Takes longer to reach Moksha
SACRED BOOKS
1) VEDAS
oldest text
“polytheistic”
Emphasizes sacrifice
2) Upanishads
“sitting down beside”
contains the “hidden meanings” of the practices in the
Vedas to help understand the reality and meaning of life
“monotheistic” – all gods come from
Introduced concepts of Moksha, Karma, Samsara, Atman,
Yoga
Emphasizes Meditation
SALTWATER TEST
From Chandogya Upanishad
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
3) BHAGAVAD GITA
“Song of God”
illustrates how “good” Hindus should live
illustrates that choosing God over individual strengths and
temptations is right decision
Discussion between Arjuna (warrior) and Krishna (god)
before a battle
Arjuna does not want to fight
Krishna (8th avatar of Vishnu) gives 2 reasons to fight:
1)it is your Dharma to fight
2)good must defeat evil
SACRED BOOKS
4) LAW OF MANU –
“Caste System”
“All men are created UNEQUAL”
• Unless “unequals” are separated, the weak must compete against the strong and
they 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)”Untouchables” (Outcastes / Harijan)
– considered “impure” from birth
– perform jobs considered “unclean”
MAIN HINDU GODS
BRAHMA = Creator
VISHNU = PROTECTOR
Very popular :: Maintains law/order :: “avatar” lord Krishna
Very popular :: destroys all that is evil :: makes “rebirth” possible
GANESHA
REMOVES OBSTACLES
Very popular :: wisdom :: “clears” paths
4 PATHS TO MOKSHA
PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT
1) Karma Yoga – path of work
– dedicate work to god…daily living is a devotion
– do our best because that is the work God has put in
front of us
– No attachment to success or failure
2) Jnana Yoga – path of knowledge
– Spiritual knowledge
– Study and learn lessons of the masters
4 PATHS TO MOKSHA
3) 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”
4) Raja Yoga – “Royal Yoga”
– Concentrate so you can reach the “self” within you and
become one with Brahman
– MEDITATION