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Hinduism
• "When you hear about
the Self,
meditate upon the Self,
and finally realize the
Self...
you come to understand
everything in life."
--Brihadaranyaka
Upanishad 4.5
Origins
Hinduism is an ancient religion with no
known founder or known date of origin.
Origins
The term "Hinduism" simply derives from
the word "India" and refers to a wide
variety of religious traditions and
philosophies that have developed in India
over thousands of years.
Origins
Therefore, Hinduism is really an
indigenous religion of India that has
developed over time to become what it is
today.
Adherents
• Hinduism is the third largest religion in the
world.
• Approximately 900 million people follow
Hinduism worldwide.
Adherents
The
followers of
Hinduism
are called:
Hindus
Views
• Hinduism embraces a
great diversity of beliefs,
a fact that can be initially
confusing to westerners.
• One can believe a wide
variety of things about
God, the universe and the
path to liberation and still
be considered a Hindu.
Views
• There is a common
misconception that
Hinduism is a polytheistic
religion. While Hindu’s
do worship many gods
and goddesses, they are
most often viewed as
different manifestations of
one supreme being,
Brahman.
Three Major Forms of Brahman
• Brahma the Creator
Three Major Forms of Brahman
• Siva the Destroyer
Three Major Forms of Brahman
• Vishnu the Preserver
Common Hindu Beliefs
• Everyone has a soul or Atman
Common Hindu Beliefs
• The Ultimate Goal: To reunite one’s soul
with Brahman, the universal spirit
Common Hindu Beliefs
• Reincarnation - Souls are born and reborn many
times into a different body.
Common Hindu Beliefs
Karma is the idea that a person’s actions
determine what will happen after his or her
death.
Moral Life =
Wealthy or wise
reincarnation
Immoral Life =
Poor or sick
person
Common Hindu Beliefs
• Moksha – Salvation from the cycle of
rebirth. This happens after building
enough good karma.
Common Hindu Beliefs
• Dharma – each person has a duty to
accept his or her place in the world without
complaint.
Life’s Purpose
• Humans are in bondage to ignorance and
illusion, but are able to escape.
• The purpose of life is to gain release
(moksha) from the cycle of rebirth, or at
least a better rebirth.
Afterlife
• Uniting with God (Brahman) as a drop of
rain merges with the sea.
General Practices
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Yoga
meditation
worship (puja)
devotion to a god or goddess
pilgrimage to holy cities
live according to one's dharma
(purpose/ role)
Holy Text(s)
• The Vedas (Book of Knowledge, most
sacred)
• Upanishads (means “Sitting near a
teacher”)
• Bhagavad Gita