Download Pastor`s Class October 21, 2009 World Religions

Pastor’s Class
October 21, 2009
World Religions: Hinduism
Rev. Dr. Arthur Bergren
Welcome/Prayer
Origins and History
Oldest of all World Religions: 5000 years old
Other Names…
Sanatana Dharma – eternal religion
Vaidika Dharma – religion of the Vedas
Hinduism -- the most commonly used name in North America
Multiple Expressions and Variations of Hinduism
The word "Hindu" is derived from the name of River Indus,
which flows through northwestern India.
In ancient times the river was called the "Sindhu",
but the Persians who migrated to India called the river "Hindu," the
land "Hindustan" (Sanskrit, Hindi), and its inhabitants "Hindus"
In time, the daily life practices evolved as the religion followed by the Hindus
came to be known as "Hinduism."
The term generally denotes the religious, philosophical, and cultural traditions
native to the Indian subcontinent.
The word "Hindu," from "Sindhu", referred to the people who lived near or
across the Sindhu River and their religion later became known as "Hinduism."
God
Henotheistic
Religion possesses a single deity
But recognizes other gods and goddesses as facets, forms, manifestations,
or aspects of that supreme God.
3 Most Important Expressions of God
Triad – One God with three persons:
Brahma: the Creator
Vishnu: (Krishna) the Preserver
Shiva: the Destroyer
Other gods – a few examples
Ganesha
Depicted has having a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge potbellied body of a human being
The lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles
Known as the god of knowledge, wisdom and wealth
Rama
Symbol of chivalry and virtue
Embodiment of truth, of morality, the ideal son, the ideal
husband, and above all, the ideal king.
Lakshmi
Goddess Lakshmi means "Good Luck" to Hindus
Goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual
Depicted as a beautiful woman of golden complexion, with four
hands
Durga
The Mother Goddess— represents the fiery powers of the gods
Depicted as a Warrior riding a lion armed with weapons
Protector of the righteous, and destroyer of the evil.
Sacred Texts:
Many Texts
The most ancient religious texts still surviving today
Some being a 1000 years older than Some appear than the Hebrew
Scriptures (Old Testament)
The Vedas
Made up of four compositions
Four parts which are arranged chronologically.
The Samhitas are the most ancient part of the Vedas, consisting of
hymns of praise to God.
The Brahmanas are rituals and prayers to guide the priests in their
duties.
The Aranyakas concern worship and meditation.
The Upanishads consist of the mystical and philosophical teachings of
Hinduism.
The Samhitas
Rig-Veda Samhita (c. 1200 BCE) is the oldest of the four vedas and
consists of 1028 hymns praising the ancient gods.
Yajur-Veda Samhita is used as a handbook by priests performing the
vedic sacrifices.
Sama-Veda Samhita consists of chants and tunes for singing at the
sacrifices.
Atharva-Veda Samhita (c. 900 BCE) preserves many traditions which
pre-date the Aryan influence and consists of spells, charms and magical
formula.
Many Other Texts
Worship
Meditation: Yoga, Silence and Mantra often guided by a guru
Daily devotions: 3 Times a Day
Puja: ceremonial dinner for a God.
Done in Temple and in Homes
The regular offering of fruit, raw rice, flowers, incense, and other items
The offering is redistributed and consumed by the participants
as a way of receiving the deity's blessings.
Temple: Expression of a particular god
Pilgrimage
Festivals
Diwali - Festival of Lights
Biggest of all Hindu festivals
4 Days: Each Addressing a Particular god
Light of God
Holi – Festival of Colors
Holi is a celebration of life
Other Major Festivals
Regional
Popular Deities’ Birthdays
Durga Puja
Fall observance of
10 days of ceremonies, rituals, fasts, feasts, song and dance
Honor of the supreme mother goddess Durga.
Durga's victory of good over evil.
Rakhi
Celebration of the bond of brotherly/sisterly love
Winter Festivals
January is harvest time in India
Thanksgiving rituals and celebration of the bounties of nature
Theology
Dharma
Overseen by God that includes Human Participation
Eternal order, righteousness, religion, law and duty
Transmigration of the Soul
Transfer of one's soul after death into another body
A continuing cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth through their many
lifetimes. It is called samsara.
Karma is the accumulated sum of ones good and bad deeds.
Karma determines how you will live your next life.
With pure acts, thoughts and devotion, rebirth at a higher level comes
Eventually, one can escape samsara and achieve enlightenment.
Bad deeds causes a person to be reborn as a lower level, or even as an
animal.
The unequal distribution of wealth, prestige, suffering are thus seen as
natural consequences for one's previous acts, both in this life and in
previous lives. Led to the caste system: Priests, Nobles, Warriors,
Commoners and Servants
Purusharthas
The Activities that Hindus organize their lives around
Two Paths: Embracing the World and Rejecting the World
Pravritti – Those who are in the world
Dharma: righteousness in their religious life
Artha: success in their economic life; material prosperity.
Kama: gratification of the senses; pleasure; sensual, and mental
Nivritti – Those who renounce the world
Moksa: Liberation from "samsara."
This is considered the supreme goal of mankind.
Tolerant of other religions
Hindus have a saying: "Ekam Sataha Vipraha Bahudha Vadanti,"
which may be translated: "The truth is One, but different Sages call it
by Different Names"
Streams of Hinduism
80% of Hindus
Worship Vishnu: The Preserver
Urban Hindus follow one of two major divisions within Hinduism:
Vaishnavaism: which generally regards Vishnu as the ultimate deity
Shivaism: which generally regards Shiva as the ultimate deity.
Rural Hindus worship their own village goddess or an earth goddess.
Rule over fertility and disease -- and thus over life and death.
The priesthood is less important in rural Hinduism: non-Brahmins and nonpriests often carry out ritual and prayer there
Questions?
Coming Up:
28 October: Buddhism