Download A Snap-shot Of Hinduism

A Snap-shot Of Hinduism
Compiled By Dr. Gary M. Gulan, ©2008
- The name “Hindu” is derived from the word “Sindhu,” a Sanskrit term for the “Indus River.”
- Hinduism is often referred to as “Sanātana Dharma” a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal path or truth."
- Hinduism is the world's oldest major religion dating back to 4,000BC that is still practiced today.
- Hinduism is the world's third largest religion with approximately 905 million world-wide, and 920,000 in the USA.
- Hindus live in India, Nepal, Mauritius, Fiji, Guyana, Suriname, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Trinidad, Tabago, and Bhutan.
- The Swastika sign (which symbolizes auspiciousness) comes from Hinduism.
History or Founder of Hinduism
Hinduism has no single founder and its earliest origins can be traced to (1.) the ancient Vedic civilization at the Indus River
Valley and (2.) the Aryan (noble people) who invaded India. Hinduism is based on the accumulated treasury of spiritual laws
discovered by different persons in different times. Buddhism and Jainism adapted elements of Hinduism into their beliefs
making them similar to Hinduism. Hinduism has no central doctrinal authority and many practicing Hindus do not claim to
belong to any particular denomination. Not all Hindus believe the same thing. In the 19th century, Max Müller and John
Woodroffe brought Vedic, Puranic and Tantric philosophy into the United States. Hinduism infiltrated the United States
through: the Vedanta Society, Arya Samaj, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Theosophical Society and the
Self-Realization Fellowship. Hindu philosophers include, Shri Ramakrishna and Ramana Maharshi, Sri Aurobindo and
Swami Prabhupada (founder of ISKCON), Swami Vivekananda, Paramahansa Yogananda, B.K.S. Iyengar and Swami Rama
have also been instrumental in raising the profiles of Yoga and Vedanta in the West.
Type of Hinduism
Hinduism divides into four major sects, differing primarily in who is God and how to worship him.
1. Vaishnavism, Vaishnavas worship Vishnu as the supreme God;
2. Shaivism, Shaivites worship Shiva as the supreme;
3. Shaktism Shaktas worship Shakti (power) personified through a female divinity or Mother Goddess, Devi;
4. Smartism. Smartists believe in the essential oneness of five deities Shanmata as personifications of the Supreme.
Other sects like (1.) Ganapatya (the cult of Ganesha) and (2.) Saura (Sun worship) are not so widespread.
Other sects not easily placed in any of the above categories are (1.) Swami Dayananda Saraswati's (Arya Samaj), which
rejects image worship and veneration of multiple deities. It focuses on the Vedas and the Vedic fire sacrifices (yajña); (2.)
Banerji divides tantras as āstika or Vedic and nāstika or non-Vedic.
Hindu Books of Authority
Hinduism contains a vast body of scriptures: (1.) Śruti (revealed or heard), (2.) Smriti (remembered) and developed over
millennia, these scriptures expound on theology, philosophy and mythology, and provide spiritual insights and guidance on
the practice of dharma (religious living); (3.) Itihasas; (4.) Puranas; (5.) Agamas; and (6.) Darsanas. Hindu texts which
are the foremost in authority, importance and antiquity are the Vedas (1000BC and older) in four mantras (Samhitas) are: (1.)
Rig Veda (wisdom of the verses), (2.) Sama Veda (wisdom of the chants); (3.) Yajur Veda (wisdom of the sacrifical
formulas); and (4.) Atharva Veda (wisdom of the Atharvan priests). There are additional texts such as: (1.) Brahmanas
(discussions of the rituals); (2.) Aranyakas (books studied in the forest); and (3.) the Upanishads (philosophical poems)
(800BC-400BC) 15 volumes. Other major scriptures include, (1.) Puranas, 17 or 18 volumes in three categories, Brahama,
Vishnu, and Shiva; (2.) the Tantras, (3.) the sectarian Agamas, (4.) the epics Mahābhārata and Rāmāyana. The Bhagavad
Gītā, a treatise excerpted from the Mahābhārata, is sometimes called a summary of the spiritual teachings of the Vedas.
Hindu Beliefs
Hinduism is an extremely diverse religion. Although some tenets of the faith are accepted by most Hindus, scholars have
found it difficult to identify any doctrines with universal acceptance among all denominations.
1. Dharma (ethics/duties)
2. Samsāra (The continuing cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth)
3. Karma (action and reaction) the moral law of cause and effect (never ending karma relates to reincarnation). There are
three kinds of Karma: (1.) sanchita (accumulated works, (2.) Prarabdha (fructifying works, past that plays upon the
present); and (3.) Kriyamana o Agami (current works).
4. Moksha (liberation from samsara)
5. Yogas (paths or practices) can follow to achieve the spiritual goal of life (moksha, samadhi, or nirvana) include:
(1.) Bhakti Yoga (the path of love and devotion), (2.) Karma Yoga (the path of right action), (3.) Rāja Yoga (the path of
meditation) and (4.) Jñāna Yoga (the path of wisdom).[
6. Henotheistism (devotion to a single God while accepting the existence of other gods), however, Hinduism is a diverse
system of thought with beliefs spanning monotheism, polytheism, panentheism, pantheism, monism and atheism.
7. Atman is the spirit or soul, the true "self" of every person, is eternal and ultimately indistinct from Brahman.
8. Brahman is "The One Without a Second;" hence these schools are called "non-dualist."
9. Moksha, nirvana or samadhi (liberation or freedom) one’s innermost self realizes identity with Brahman.
10. God is called Ishvara ("The Lord"), Bhagavan ("The Auspicious One"), or Parameshwara ("The Supreme Lord")
11. Devas, "the shining ones" refer to celestial entities, "gods" or "heavenly beings".
12. Guru (teacher) recognized for his inspiring lectures on topics such as yoga and meditation.
13. Mantras, are chantings designed to help a devotee focus the mind on holy thoughts of devotion to God and the deities.
14. Diwali, the festival of lights, is a prime festival of Hinduism.
15. Pilgrimage is not mandatory in Hinduism though many adherents undertake them.
16. Hindus advocate the practice of ahimsā (non-violence) and respect for all life because it contains divinity.
17. Hindus embrace vegetarianism to respect higher forms of life, though vegetarianism is not a requirement
Two Hindu Goals of Life
Classical Hindu thought accepts two main life-long dharmas: Grihastha Dharma and Sannyasin Dharma.
1. The Grihastha Dharma recognize four goals known as the purunhārthas. They are: (1.) kāma: Sensual pleasure and
enjoyment, (2.) Artha: Material prosperity and success (3.) Dharma: Correct action, in accordance with one's particular duty
and scriptural laws, (4.) Moksha: Liberation from the cycle of samsara
2. The Sannyasin Dharma recognizes, but renounces Kama, Artha and Dharma, focusing entirely on Moksha.
Divisions of Hundu Life (Ashramas)
Traditionally the life of a Hindu is divided into four Āshramas (phases or stages; unrelated meanings include monastery).
1. Brahmacharya, the stage as a student, is spent celibate under the spiritual guidance and training of a Guru.
2. Grihastha is the householder's stage, in which one marries and satisfies kāma and artha.
3. Vānaprastha, the retirement stage, is gradual detachment from the material world spending more time in religious service.
4. Sannyāsa, the stage of asceticism, renouncing all worldly attachments to find the Divine and shed the body for Moksha.
Hindu Caste System (Varnas)(Hindus and scholars debate if it is a part of Hinduism, and if it is an outdated social custom)
Hindu society has traditionally been categorized into four classes, called Varnas (Sanskrit: "color, form, appearance").
1. the Brahmins: teachers and priests;
2. the Kshatriyas: warriors, nobles, and kings;
3. the Vaishyas: farmers, merchants, and businessmen; and
4. the Shudras: servants and laborers.
Becoming A Hindu
1. Concepts of conversion, evangelization, and proselytizing are absent from Hindu literature.
2. Hinduism is opposed to the idea of conversion from (any) one religion to (any) another per se.
3. Many Hindus believe that Hinduism is an identity that can only be had from birth.
4. Many other Hindus believe that anyone who follows Hindu beliefs and practices is a Hindu.
5. Converting to Hinduism through marriage is needed to fully participate in their spiritual role within Hindu society.
6. Converting to Hinduism is marked by a ritual called dīkshā ("initiation") the beginning of spiritual life after conversion.
Problems with Hinduism
1. Hinduism is both polytheistic and pantheistic with 330 million gods and goddesses, however, all gods come from one god.
2. Hinduism believes in religious tolerance, religious freedom and the right to retain one’s religion.
3. Hinduism believes that the goals of spiritual life can be attained through any religion, as long as it is practiced sincerely.
4. Hinduism believes in a false “trinity;” “Brahman” the “three-in-one” god: (1.) “Brahma” (creator); (2.) “Vishnu” (the
preserver); and (3.) “shiva/siva” (the destroyer).
5. Hindu salvation or “Moksha”(purification of one’s soul) is based on man’s works through three possible paths: (1.) the
way of works (Karma Yoga), (2.) the way of knowledge (deep meditation yoga), (3.) way of devotion (bhakti Yoga).
6. Hinduism is portrayed as “pacifistic” religion from Mahatma Gandhi, however, there is the “Kshatriyas” or the “warrior
cast” that recognizes the right to defend Hinduism.
7. Enlightenment can only be attained by “tuning into the Brahman within” which could be “the flesh” or a “demon.”
8. Bad “karma” are deeds against one’s “self,” however, “sin” is against God, others, and self.
9. Sin or “bad karma” causes penalties against self causing “repeated cycles of rebirth.”
10. Heaven or “Nirvana” is reaching an end to the cycles of rebirth and becoming one with Brahman.
11. Man is viewed as a manifestation of “Brahman” and man has no individual self or self-worth.
12. The world and everything in it is a manifestation of “Brahman.”
13. The cast system is heartless.
Meeting A Hindu
1. There is extreme diversity in Hindu thought making it very difficult to identify and deal with a Hindu on his terms.
2. Do not use the need to be “twice born” because at age 12 the upper three castes have a “re-birth” ceremony for all males.
3. Do not use “born again” because it is equal with “failure” and being a part of the endless cycle of rebirth (reincarnation).
4. Use “Karma” because every action, thought, or decision has consequences.
5. Use “Narvana” which is the goal of the Hindu, it is the release of the soul from the endless cycle of rebirths.
6. Some Hindus are vegetarians, so be careful offering them “meat” as it may offended them.