Hinduism notes PDF

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Hagele- Survey of World Religion. Notes on entire unit....

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Hinduism notes: Video 1- Using the Term ‘Hinduism’: - “Hinduism” one of the most complex religions Teaches us the lesson of the worlds complexities. There are limitation when using the terms Hindu or Hinduism. - Recent term for modern religion/people. The people back then would not have used this term to describe this religion or themselves. - Imposed by outsiders (British) Insider/outsider debate- Insiders are the people who believe in the religion and practice the religion. Outsiders are those who do not actively participate in the religion. Mainly the outsiders named the Hindus “Hindus”, the Hindus themselves did not name them that. - Plurality (Hinduisms) collective term. Today we know there are many different diversities in Indian traditions. And different branches of Hinduism. But the British used the term Hinduism as a term for all the religions that they did not understand- Umbrella term. Video 2- The origin of Hinduism: This is prior to the religion of Hinduism - Indus Valley civilization or Harappa culture - represented of several different communities from 2750 -1750 BCE. BCE- Before the Common Era. - Great Bath: Basically, a big basin filled with water at times. Perhaps a ritual cleansing taken place in these great baths. - Fire Alters: location within the homes of the community that had fire present but not for food or warmth. Maybe a home alter that fire was used for religious purpose. - Images of deities: might be carvings/ engravings of figures on bowls/ plates. Might be 3D of character that show up over and over again. These might be images of Deities since they show up over and over again as statues and near the fire alters signifying that they connect to the ritual or religion. - Indo-Europeans 2000BCE (may not be true but it’s the most dominant story to explain the history) Hypothesis: group of people living in central Asia, the people group break up into two groups- one heads to north and west into modern day Europe and the other half go towards modern day India. Scholars believe that these two groups may have been connected due to the evidence of similar linguistics. Words used are very similar. The people going towards India are running into the people already in the Indus Valley Civilization (250 year overlap). The idea is that the Indo-Europeans are going to become the ancestors of modern Indians, were actually borrowing certain elements of the Indus valley civilization and eventually coming up with their own innovative ideas and practices. - Hinduism- fusion of Indus Valley civilization and new creative insights of the IndoEuropeans. Seen by the use of the great baths and use of fire. The same deities are similar as well.

Video 3- The Vedas: Earliest sacred Hindu teachings The word Vedas itself means knowledge- these teachings possess knowledge about ourselves and the world around us. These texts are seen as the most authoritative of all of Hinduism. Teaches are composed of a large span of time. - 1500-600 BCE- about 900 year of Vedic teaching. Similar to biblical Judaism - Rishis (seers)- Composers. The ideas that they composed that did not originated in their own minds, but they saw the ideas. Perfect truth. - Shruti- That which is heard. Signifies a non-human origin of teaching of Vedas. - Four Collections (each with same four sections)- compilations of teachings over time. A lot of overlap each colletion has 4 sections. 1: HymnsEarliest teachings. Diswordly focus. Later hymns are more so about beyond this life and more so speculation- more about the creation of the universe. Questions about how everything came into creation and exists. 2: Ritual Treatises “Hymn to the Supreme Person”- answers about how the universe came into creation (ex. Genesis 1). How a supreme person sacrifices his body that then becomes the universe. Each body part is a different part of the universe 3: AranyakasThe compositions of the forest. We find questions about individual existence starting to be asked .. Who am I? What happens when I die? What is the purpose to my life?... these questions are asked by people going into the forest seeking answers. 4: UpanishadsSitting near the teachers. Experienced wisdom, you know from deep within you. Fundamental feature is the relationship between atman and brahman.

Video 4- Karma, Samsara and Moksha: - Karma- Action System (LAW) of reward and punishment that is attached to those various actions. Because all actions produce karma, karma needs to work itself out through the consequences - Samsara- As the cycle of death and rebirth (reincarnation). Soul must come back again to face the actions of previous lifetime. - Moksha- The liberation from samsara. Escaping from cycle of karma Video 5- Atman and Brahman: - Atman-Inner self/spirit/soul (Human Soul). The body houses the atman until the body dies. Atman is immortal and eternal. The soul is what continues lifetime after lifetime. - Brahman- Thought of as god but, brahman is not a supreme being. Not a particular part of reality but reality itself. The highest universal principle/ the ultimate reality. Brahman is "world soul" or "cosmic soul." It is the eternal essence of the universe and the ultimate divine reality. It is the life source of all that has been, is and will be throughout the entire cosmos.

Video 6 Smrti and Ramayana: - Smrti- That which is remembered. Can be questioned or challenged. Three primary times/groups: 1: Epics- 1st of the two epics- Ramayana- story of Ram 2: Puranas- Stories or tales of gods and goddesses. Different from of literature. 3: Dharmashastras- Very interesting in that portions of them have a great deal of importance to this day while others have been largely rejected/challenged/abandoned by many Hindus today and maybe even back then. - Ramayana- 1st epic. Key element of story has to deal with the fact that Ram is exiled from the Kingdom. As a person you have many different dharma’s. one as a child, parent, teacher, student, employee and sibling. Different obligations due to different relationships. Ram- Prince, whose father exiles him and says it is his obligation as a son to leave. Even after the dad dies, Ram says he still needs to fulfil his Dharma Sita- Wife of Ram who says it is her dharma to accompany him. Ravana- Demon king, comes and takes sita captive. Tries to seduce sita, but she consistently rejects him and says it is her dharma to remain faithful to her husband. Haunman- Monkey with divine ancestry. Can speak and has human characteristics. Helps Ram find Sita. Leads to epic battle - Dharma- Relationship- specific moral obligation. Is it about morality and ethics. Video 7: The Bhagavad Gita: - Mahabharata- longest poem. Around the turn of the common era. This is about a great struggle between two warring groups of family members. - Bhagavad Gita- The two sides are lined up ready to battle for control of the kingdom This story is about the conversation between Arjuna and Krishna in the middle of the battlefield right before the battle is about to start. - Krishna- Arjuna’s chariot driver and lifelong friend. Eventually in the story it is revealed he is the earthly form of the god Vishnu. - Arjuna- One of the warriors asks his chariot driver to drive into middle of battlefield so that the Arjuna can look at both sides. - Renunciation of dharma? Do nothing and no karma good or bad? Inaction is negative so therefore doing nothing will result in bad karma. Fulfilling action is important. Karma yoga- path of action: selfless acts always fulfilling dharma but not being selfish. Jnana yoga- path of knowledge: My soul vs supreme being. Gain insight about yourself and reality. The wisdom can burn off the karma (good or bad) can burn off. Bhakti yoga- path of devotion: Easiest path. Devote yourself (in love and worship) to himthen he will grant the grace to reach moksha. Video 8 Trimurti and Deities: - Trimurti- The Three Deities

Relate to notion of trinity in Christianaity. Three is important. The three gods who are responsible for the cycle of creation and destruction. Brahma—God of Creation, not Brahman (supreme being) specific quality, male. Minor deities. Vishnu—God of Preservation Shiva—God of Destruction - Vishnu (avataras), Shiva and Parvati (supreme personal forms of Brahman) most important, elevated and most commonly worshiped because they can implement grace for Bhakti yoga. - Devi- Goddess principle. Ex- Parvati (wife like figure to Shiva) Most popular, Kali, etc. Video 9: Dharmashastras, Manu and Four Stages: - Dharmashartras- 3rd shruti teaching. Teachings on dharma. Many different dharmashartras. Teaching people the law of life. - Laws of Manu (varnas- caste system and jatis- birth groups, connected to occupation)First man of current cycle (Adam in Christianity). Born into caste, obligations to your caste and other castes. There’s discrimination between caste as well as gender discrimination. Brahmin- priestly caste Warrior- ruler caste Merchant- producer caste Servant- worker caste - Four Stages of Hindu Life- men of the upper caste system life. Student (upanayana)- rebirth in not just the son of your father but your career. And study the Vedas Householder- graduate and get married and have children Forest Dweller- the man is going to partially go into retire from social obligations and go into forest in order to get back on spiritual path Renunciant- man should completely renounce all dharmas to make spiritual progress. Video 10: The Four Aims: - Dharma- Moral obligations depending on relationships - Kama- sexuality and sensual pleasure- enjoyment through senses. - Artha- material wealth and power. Not greedy, but okay to make money and support family and others. - Moksha- liberation from samara. Video 11: Vedanta: Means End of Vedas- Upanishads - Vedanta Philosophy- Most important teaching - Atman- individual soul - Brahman- supreme being, reality itself, indescribable - Shankara- Vedanta philosopher, approaches all these theories

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Advaita Vedanta- theories from shankara. Non dualistic, only one- atman isn’t separate from brahman. All is one. Brahman is the only reality. Maya- Illusion I am living under the illusions that I am isolated/separated from all other entities of reality. (Matrix- living like we are in the matrix- what we think is real is not real) when we dream, we believe what happened was real until we wake up. We need to wake up and see through the illusion, then we will experience the knowledge (death releases us from the illusion) Ramanuja- a theistic Vedanta philosopher. Focused on the divine. Doesn’t agree with Shankara’s idea of maya. Theistic Vedanta- There is a true reality and we have to understand the ultimate unityconnect to personal god/goddess.

Video 12: Yoga and Tantra: - Yoga- Many different definitions. In this regard as spiritual, physical and mental discipline that is supposed lead to some sort of religious experience (depends on religious perspective). Bodily postures/ stretching. - Tantra- tantric practices. Not all Hindus practice this. Experiences of the union of energies that dominate our reality. (Ying/yang) Began as something separate from Hinduism. During middle millennium of CE, Hinduism absorbs tantra. Left/right hand tantrism. Sex with not your partner to experience the other sex in a spiritual context. - Kundalini yoga- Right hand tantra, Kind of mediation like. Female energy uncoils, experience male energy. More symbolic, encourages the production of spiritual energies. Video 13: Bhakti, Alvars, Kabir, Caitanya and ISKCON: - Wave of bhakti- wide circulation of bhakti yoga - Southern India (sixth century CE)- people sing songs of devotion. - Alvars- 12 of them over a couple hundred years. Sing about love, worship and devoting to Vishnu. - Vernacular- translate to in the local language - Openness to all- tears down boundaries of who can make spiritual progress - Kabir- claimed by two different religions. Tried to ease tension with Islam and Hindus. More common ground versus differences - Caitanya- Bhakti thinker- not just one possible path to moksha but must rely on bhakti yoga. But believed in Krishna - Hare Krishna (ISKCON)- bring others into community to spread religion. Video 14: Modern Hindu Reform: Improving women’s rights, ending caste discrimination, abolition of sati, better access to education and health care - Modern Reform- changing ways of the religion/ traditions - Common Goals (sati)- abolish sati

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Brahmo Samaj- reform group, devoted to Hinduism but said the problem is that “we’re exposed to irrationality through certain parts of our tradition. Bring more rational will recognize all the things needed to change. Focus on rational things that will eventually lead us to treat others better. Focus on Upanishads Arya Samaj- reform group. Same goals, but the issue isn’t rationality.. it is that Hinduism throughout its development lost its way. Need to get back to model in early Vedas (golden age) Ramakrishna- individual, establishes Ramakrishna movement, inspired by bhakti movement. No one is better than anyone else- relying on god/goddess to bring us to goals. Teaches lessons on humility and equality. Vivekananda – disciple of Ramakrishna. If we all recognize that we are all one, then we will treat each other more fairly (shankara teaching) World’s Parliament of Religions 1893- in Chicago, 1st ever. Beginning of a western academic study of eastern traditions. Vivekananda- becomes one of the primary Hindu representatives.

Video 15: Om, Worship, Forehead Marks and Festivals: - Om- Universal symbol of sacred sound, syllable. Different meanings attached to the sound. - Temple of Worship- Many go to temples for festivals or come and go as you please at any time. Many believe that the statute aren’t just statues but actual deities there. - Puja- act of worship, worship gods/goddesses in home versus temples - Forehead Marks- Common practice worn by women, single red dot. Used to signify martial status. And also, possible to have religious significance with different marks. Men will sometimes wear for holy days. - Navaratri- major festival. Celebrate goddesses commonly. - Deepavali- major festival. Celebrates new year or krishnu Video 16: Life Cycle Rituals, Sai Baba and Gandhi: - Hindu marriages/weddings- Very important life cycle moments. Many were arraigned. Many times, astrology was used to assist in arranging a proper marriage. Moment of giving away the bride. Certain traditions, ie. bride and groom walk around fire. - Sai Baba- well renowned religious teacher. - Gandhi (Ahimsa, Satyagraha- truth force)- Work influence MLK jr. Important figure in fighting for India independence. Violence not the answer....