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Indian Belief Systems Sometimes summarised as '"dharmic religions" or "dharmic traditions" (though subtleties in the meaning of dharma or dhamma differs according to the religion), Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism share certain key concepts, which are interpreted differently by different groups and individuals. All four traditions have notions of karma, dharma, samsara, moksha and various forms of Yoga. Of course, these terms may be perceived differently by different religions. For instance, for a Hindu, dharma is his duty. For a Jain, dharma is righteousness, his conduct. For a Buddhist, dharma is usually taken to be the Buddha's teachings. Similarly, for a Hindu, yoga is the cessation of all thoughts/activities of the mind.[14] For Jains, Yoga is the sum of all physical, verbal and mental activities. Hinduism Founder Where and When founded About the founder Founder’s birth culture Influenced by Main Spreader (s) Texts http://www.patheos.com/Library/Hinduism/Origins/Founders.html India, 2000 – 1500 BC Historic Vedic religion evolved into Hinduism http://www.patheos.com/Library/Hinduism/Origins/Beginnings.html Indus Valley Civilization, Aryan Vedic tradition, Jainism, Buddhism, Islam See: http://www.patheos.com/Library/Hinduism/Origins/Influences Vedic Rishi (received the vedas directly from Brahma) Vedic Texts: 1. the Rigveda: hymns (for the chief priest to recite) 2. the Yajurveda: formulas (for the priest to recite) 3. the Samaveda: formulas (for the priest to chant) 4. the Atharvaveda: collection of stories, spells, and charms The religious realm of the Vedas is centered on the proper performance of ritual sacrifice, which, essentially, involves the offering something of value—an animal or food—in order to receive the favor of the gods. There are 108 extant Upanishads (philosophical texts) The basic teaching is that the self (atman) is really identical to the foundation of all reality (Brahman). Most people are unaware of this and, so, remain caught in the cycle of death and rebirth. Realization of this truth, on the other hand, provides release (moksha). The Upanishads focus on how to free oneself from the bonds of material attachments, and thereby attain a state of oneness with Brahman. Smriti Literature refers to 'memorized' or 'remembered' poetry and epic stories. The three most important are: Main Concepts, Philosophy and The Bhagavad Gita – A conversation between Krishna and Arjuna, called the "Song of the Adorable One", written about the 2nd century BC and forms the sixth part of Mahabharata. It contains Hinduism’s lessons about the nature of God and of life. The Mahabharata - The world's longest epic poem written about 9th century BC, and deals with the power struggle between the Pandava and the Kaurava families, with an intertwining of numerous episodes that make up life. The Ramayana - It tells the story of Rama, especially of his expedition through the Decean to Ceylon, to recover, by the aid of the monkey-god Hanuman, his wife Sita, who was captured and taken there by the demon Ravana. Rama is eventually restoration to the throne. According to Hindu philosophy, all living beings have an atma (soul) that is reborn several times, in both human and animal form. The karma (actions) of people in one life will decide his/her fate in the next life. practice Existence is cyclical; everything in the universe — except for Brahman and certain Hindu scriptures — is created, maintained for a certain amount of time, and then destroyed in order to be renewed in ideal form again. Prominent themes include: Dharma (ethics and duties) Samsara (rebirth) Karma (right action) Moksha (liberation from the cycle of Samsara) It also believes in proper living: truth, honesty, non-violence, celibacy, cleanliness, contentment, prayers, austerity, perseverance, penance, and pious company. Castes: Deities Hindus have a multitude of gods and goddesses that symbolize the one abstract Supreme Soul, the universe and everything in it, or Brahman (distinct from Brahma, creator god) Thus Hinduism is a pantheistic religion: It equates God with the universe. Yet Hindu religion is also polytheistic: populated with myriad gods and goddesses who personify aspects of the one true God, allowing individuals an infinite number of ways to worship based on family tradition, community and regional practices, and other considerations. Most temples are dedicated to Brahma , Vishnu and Shiva. Brahma – the creator (commonly worshiped, the minor of the three gods), rides a swan. F: Saraswati Vishnu – the protector (Angkor Wat was originally built to Vishnu), rides a garuda. F: Lakshmi He maintains the order and harmony of the universe, which is periodically created by Brahma and periodically destroyed by Shiva to prepare for the next creation. Shiva – the destroyer /transformer, god of fertility (like Baal), rides a bull. F: Parvati. Shiva’s destructive power is regenerative: It’s the necessary step that makes renewal possible. There are four main sects within Hinduism: Shaivism, in which Shiva is worshipped as the main god; Vaishnavism, in which Vishnu is the main god; Shaktism, in which the female aspect of god is primarily worshipped; and Smartism, in which six main gods are worshipped: Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, Ganesh, Murugan and Surya. Other Popular Gods Ganesh (elephant head): remover of obstacles. Rides a mouse. Rama: incarnation of Vishnu (7th). Central figure in the story of Ramayana, Angkor Wat. Assisted by Hanuman, apelike god. Krishna: incarnation of Vishnu (8th), a prankster, Hindus identify Krishna as the teacher of the sacred scripture called the Bhagavad Gita and as the friend and mentor of prince Arjuna in the epic the Mahabharata. For the vast majority of Hindus, the most important religious path is bhakti (devotion) to personal gods. Symbols AUM - (also spelled Om) is a Hindu sacred sound that is considered the greatest of all mantras. The syllable Om is composed of the three sounds a-u-m (in Sanskrit, the vowels a and u combine to become o) and the symbol's threefold nature is central to its meaning. It represent several important triads: the three worlds - earth, atmosphere, and heaven the three major Hindu gods - Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva the three sacred Vedic scriptures - Rg, Yajur, and Sama Om is spoken at the beginning and the end of Hindu mantras, prayers, and meditations and is frequently used in Buddhist and Jain rituals as well. Om is used in the practice of Yoga and is related to techniques of auditory meditation. From the 6th century, the written symbol of Om was used to mark the beginning of a text in a manuscript or an inscription. Swastika – comes from the Sanskrit word svasti (sv = well; asti = is), meaning good fortune, luck and well-being. http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/symbols/swastika.htm Safron – the color of fire reflecting the Supreme Being Bindi – a mark in the form of a tilak worn on a married woman’s forehead in the place of the third eye he area between the eyebrows where attention is focused during meditation Linga and Yoni – male and female sex organs, symbols of fertility Lotus - represents beauty and non-attachment. Pratik (magen david in a circle with swastika) - The pratik ("emblem") is the symbol of the Ananda Marga ("path of bliss") movement, which was founded in India in 1955 and emphases social service along with yoga and meditation. The pratik symbol consists of the following elements: upward-pointing triangle representing one's external actions (social service) downward-pointing triangle symbolizing one's internal work (meditation, self-realization) rising sun symbolizing spiritual progress through the balance of external and internal efforts swastika representing fulfillment or one's ultimate spiritual goal Rituals Purity and Pollution: The most notable feature in religious ritual is the division between purity and pollution. Purification, usually with water, is thus a typical feature of most religious action. Avoidance of the impure--taking animal life, eating flesh, associating with dead things, or body fluids--is another feature of Hindu ritual and is important for repressing pollution. Offerings: belief in the efficacy of sacrifice, including survivals of Vedic sacrifice. Thus, sacrifices may include the performance of offerings in a regulated manner, with the preparation of sacred space, recitation of texts, and manipulation of objects. The concept of merit, gained through the performance of charity or good works, that will accumulate over time and reduce sufferings in the next world. The home is the place where most Hindus conduct their worship and religious rituals. The most important times of day for performance of household rituals are dawn and dusk. For many households, the day begins when the women in the house draw auspicious geometric designs in chalk or rice flour on the floor or the doorstep. For orthodox Hindus, dawn and dusk are greeted with recitation from the Rig Veda of the Gayatri Mantra for the sun--for many people, the only Sanskrit prayer they know. After a bath, there is personal worship of the gods at a family shrine, which typically includes lighting a lamp and offering foodstuffs before the images, while prayers in Sanskrit or a regional language are recited. In the evenings, especially in rural areas, mostly female devotees may gather together for long sessions of singing hymns in praise of one or more of the gods. Minor acts of charity punctuate the day. During daily baths, there are offerings of a little water in memory of the ancestors. At each meal, families may set aside a handful of grain to be donated to beggars or needy persons, and daily gifts of small amounts of grain to birds or other animals serve to accumulate merit for the family through their self-sacrifice. Influenced Center and Sacred Sites No of followers Schools/Versions Geography Festivals There are life-cycle rituals for pregnancy, birth, infancy, death and funeral. Buddhism The Ganges river is considered to be holy by most Hindus, who believe that bathing in it (in God) will wash away their earthly sins. According to Hindu mythology, Ganga flowed in the heavens but then was ordered to go down to earth. Fearing that her forceful descent might wash away the earth, the gods sought the help of Shiva. Shiva broke the fall of Ganga-Ganges by capturing her in his mighty locks. Since then, Ganga-Ganges resides on top of Shiva's head as his second wife, the first being Parvati. 1.1 billion Hinduism is divided into numerous denominations, primarily Shaivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism, Smarta The majority of Hindus live in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka and Bali. About 90% of Hindus reside in the Republic of India, accounting for 83% of its population. Holi, March. The festival of colors, Holi celebrates the coming of spring. A huge bonfire is held in the evening prior to the festival. Diwali, October/November. The festival of lights. Celebrated with diyas, candles, colorful lights, sweets and plenty of fireworks. Dussehra, October/November. Held on the last day of Durga Puja. Celebrates the victory of good over evil. Huge effigies of the mythological characters Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meghnad are stuffed with fireworks and burned. Janmashtami, August/September. Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. Marked by devotional songs and dances. Khumbh Mela, dates vary. This Hindu festival occurs every 3 years and alternates between Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. None of the events are small, but the Maha Khumbh Mela (held every 12 years at Allahabad) is the largest gathering on Earth, attended by millions of bathers and observers. Mahashivaratri, March. Dedicated to Lord Shiva. At night, leaves are offered to the idol. Ganesh Chaturthi, August/September. According to legend, Lord Ganesh was born on this day. It is at its most elaborate in Maharashtra. Rathyatra, around July. Known As the "Car Festival" and dedicated to Sri Krishna. It is celebrated all over India, though the main activities are held in Puri, where a gigantic chariot is drawn through the town by thousands of devotees. Indian Buddhism – Theravada Buddhism Founder Where and When founded About the founder Founder’s birth culture Influenced by Main Spreader (s) Texts Siddhartha Gautama born 563 BCE – beginning of the Buddhist Calendar Nepal 500s BCE. See Holy Sites, below. Hindu Hinduism Monks The fundamental teachings were collected into their final form around the 3rd century BCE, after a Buddhist council at Patna in India. The teachings were written down in Sri Lanka during the 1st century CE. They were written in Pali (a language like Sanskrit) and are known as the Pali canon. It's called the Tipitaka - the three baskets. The three sections are: the Vinaya Pitaka (the code for monastic life) o the Sutta Pitaka (teachings of the Buddha) o This contains the whole of Buddhist philosophy and ethics. It includes the Dhammapada which contains the essence of Buddha's teaching. the Abhidamma Pitaka (supplementary philosophy and religious teaching) o Main Concepts, Philosophy and practice These rules are followed by Buddhist monks and nuns, who recite the 227 rules twice a month. The texts have remained unaltered since they were written down. Buddhist monks in the Theravada tradition consider it important to learn sections of these texts by heart. Theravada means "The Way of the Elders" in Pali, reflecting the Theravadins' belief that they most closely follow the original beliefs and practices of the Buddha and the early monastic Elders. Noble Truths Impermanence – everything is in a state of change. (Also the idea of Transient Self.) Suffering (dukkha) - Craving causes suffering. Followers of the Theravada branch describe themselves as imperfect beings that have a temporary stay on this earth. When an individual understands this nature of existence, they find nothing valuable in this world. Through this knowledge, there is no sense of greed in their lives. Through detachment, elimination of the cause (craving) eliminates the result (suffering). Then with this knowledge, a Theravada Buddhist can reach the state of perfection and enter nirvana. The purpose of life for Theravadins is to become an arhat, a perfected saint who has achieved nirvana and will not be reborn again. As a result, Southern Buddhism tends to be more monastic, strict and world-renouncing than its Northern counterpart, and its approach is more philosophical than religious. The Theravāda Path to detachment starts with learning, to be followed by practice, culminating in the realization of Nirvana. The Eightfold Path is best understood as a collection of personal qualities to be developed, rather than as a sequence of steps along a linear path. It requires right view, intention, speech, actions, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration. Because of our ignorance (avijja) of these Noble Truths, because of our inexperience in framing the world in their terms, we remain bound to samsara, the wearisome cycle of birth, aging, illness, death, and rebirth. Craving propels this process onward, from one moment to the next and over the course of countless lifetimes, in accordance with karma, the universal law of cause and effect. According to this law, every action that one performs in the present moment — whether by body, speech, or mind itself — eventually bears fruit according to its skillfulness: act in unskillful and harmful ways and unhappiness is bound to follow; act skillfully and happiness will ultimately ensue.[13] As long as one remains ignorant of this principle, one is doomed to an aimless existence: happy one moment, in despair the next; enjoying one lifetime in heaven, the next in hell. The Buddha discovered that gaining release from samsara requires assigning to each of the Noble Truths a specific task: the first Noble Truth is to be comprehended; the second, abandoned; the third, realized; the fourth, developed. The full realization of the third Noble Truth paves the way for Awakening: the end of ignorance, craving, suffering, and kamma itself; the direct penetration to the transcendent freedom and supreme happiness that stands as the final goal of all the Buddha's teachings; the Unconditioned, the Deathless, Unbinding - Nirvana. (See Greek Philosophy, Stoicism - Indifference to pleasure or pain; impassiveness) Deities Symbols Rituals Because of this focus on personal attainment and its requirement that one must renounce the world to achieve salvation, Mahayana Buddhists refer to Theravada Buddhism as the "Lesser Vehicle" (Hinayana). In Theravada, it is thought to be highly unlikely, even impossible, that a layperson can achieve liberation. Because Mahayana disagrees, it regards itself as providing a "Greater Vehicle" to liberation, in which more people can participate. Buddah is a divine being. Gods exist as various types of spiritual being but with limited powers. Buddah The Buddha — the "Awakened One" — called the religion he founded Dhamma-vinaya — "the doctrine and discipline." To provide a social structure supportive of the practice of Dhamma-vinaya (or Dhamma for short), and to preserve these teachings for posterity, the Buddha established the order of bhikkhus (monks) and bhikkhunis (nuns) — the Sangha — which continues to this day to pass his teachings on to subsequent generations of laypeople and monastics, alike. Most Theravada monks live in monastery communities. Some join as young as seven, but one can join at any age. A novice is called a samanera and a full monk is called a bikkhu. The monastic community as a whole is called the sangha. Monks (and nuns) undertake the training of the monastic order (the Vinaya) which consist of 227 rules (more for nuns). Within these rules or precepts are five which are undertaken by all those trying to adhere to a Buddhist way of life. The Five Precepts are to undertake the rule of training to: Refrain from harming living beings Refrain from taking that which is not freely given Refrain from sexual misconduct Refrain from wrong speech; such as lying, idle chatter, malicious gossip or harsh speech Refrain from intoxicating drink and drugs which lead to carelessness Theravadan monks and nuns are not permitted to eat after midday or handle money. The relationship between monks and lay people in Theravada Buddhism is very strong. This type of Buddhism could not, in fact, exist in its present form without this interaction. It is a way of mutual support - lay people supply food, medicine, and cloth for robes, and monks give teachings, spiritual support, and blessing. Meditation: - The Theravada tradition has two forms of meditation. Samatha: Calming meditation; Vipassana: Insight meditation. Insight must come from the aspirant's experience and critical reasoning instead of by blind faith. Mudras - Symbolic hand gestures. Communication through hand gesture. Veneration of Buddhas and Deities Influenced Center and Sacred Sites The four holy sites are places of importance in the life of Lord Buddha. Lord Buddha, himself, referred to these sites as most worthy of pilgrimage. Lumbini, Nepal The birthplace of the Buddha. He was born a prince. Because astrologers at his birth said he would choose his own path, he was sheltered by his father from the outside world until an eventful journey in which he witnessed the "Four Sights" - an old man, a sick man, a poor man, and a corpse. This led him to leave his life of luxury to seek the meaning of life through meditation and self-denial. For six years, Siddhartha submitted himself to rigorous ascetic practices, studying and following different methods of meditation with various religious teachers. But he was never fully satisfied. Bodhgaya, India Site of the Buddha's enlightenment. After Guatama had nearly killed himself with fasting and self-denial to no avail, he was offered a bowl of rice from a young girl and he accepted it. In that moment, he realised that physical austerities were not the means to achieve liberation. From then on, he encouraged people to follow a path of balance rather than extremism. He called this The Middle Way. That night Siddhartha sat under the Bodhi tree, and meditated until dawn. He purified his mind of all defilements and attained enlightenment at the age of thirty-five, thus earning the title Buddha, or "Enlightened One". He abandoned the life of an ascetic (extreme self-denial) for the middle way. Sarnath, India Site of the Buddha's first sermon. Shortly after his enlightenment, the Buddha shared what he had learned with a small gathering of friends in a deer park at modern-day Sarnath. This event is known as "the turning of the wheel of the Dharma" - here the Buddha set in motion the teachings of Buddhism that would spread throughout the world. For the remainder of his eighty years, the Buddha preached the Dharma in an effort to help other sentient beings reach enlightenment. Kushinagar (Kusinara), India Kushinagar is the place of the Buddha's death, or passing into nirvana. Along a journey, accompanied by his disciples, the Buddha announced his time had come and lay down. He lapsed into a peaceful meditative state, then passed into Nirvana in that reclined position. The Buddha's parinirvana, as this event is called, represents the ideal death for a Buddhist and is frequently depicted in Buddhist art. No of followers Geography Festivals Pantheism = 100 Million Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar There are numerous ceremonies and commemoration days which lay people celebrate, such as Wesak which marks the birth, enlightenment, and parinibbana (passing away) of the Buddha, and for these events everyone converges on the local temples.