Intro to Hinduism (Part II)

R12: Major World Religions

Mr. Guzmán | January 2022​

Intro to Hinduism

• For class today, we will continue our introduction to Hinduism, focusing on the idea of worship.

• As we go through the slides, consider how these ideas should are understood from a Hindu perspective.

• HW: Read pp.65-78 in The Essentials of Hinduism

Please remember to bring your book to class!

Today's Class

A refresher from last class

But First....

Multiple Choice

In 2015, Hinduism compromised about 15% of the world population, approximately ____ followers

• 1.1 billion

• 1.1 million

• 2 billion

• 2.3 million

Multiple Choice

Hinduism & India are both derived from the same word: sindu. Sindu means

• river

• lake

• mountain

• valley

Multiple Choice

In Hinduism, there is ___ founder that established the religion.

• no single

• a single

Multiple Choice

The _________ represent the kings, administrators, and warriors in the caste system.

• brahmin

• kshatriya

• vaishya

• shudra

Multiple Choice

The ________ represent merchants and traders in the caste system.

• brahmin

• kshatriya

• vaishya

• shudra

Open Ended

What are the four goals of human life in Hinduism?

Remember to go back and refresh your memory. 😉

Did you get them all?

R12: Major World Religions

Brahmanist/Vedic Metaphysics

• All of creation is made of the same divine material, every being endowed with eternal Atman

• There is one, eternal reality:  Brahman

• Atman strives to join together with Brahman: moksha

• Samsara:  the cycle of birth, suffering, death, rebirth

• All things are striving for unity with that which is Absolute Truth.

• Every incarnation is an opportunity for the soul to journey closer to moksha.

R12: Major World Religions

The Divine Image

Primary form of worship - puja

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Way of worship - darsan ("seeing")

- importance of imagery in Hinduism

R12: Major World Religions

The Divine Image - Darsan

To See the Deity

- Use of religious icons to facilitate devotion & worship

- Deity is present in the image

- Sense of sight → symbolic of knowledge

To Be Seen By the Deity

- Deity sees worshipper through the image

- Importance of the eyes of the icon, image, or statue

- Perception goes both ways

Multiple Choice

Darsan require a Hindu to use an image in order ___ by the God.

• to see the deity

• to be seen by the deity

• both

• neither

R12: Major World Religions

Darsan - Hinduism and the Visual

R12: Major World Religions

Karma

• "action" or "deeds"

• System of moral cause and effect

• Every action produces a justified effect based on its moral quality

• Morally good actions → beneficial consequence

• Morally wrong actions → detrimental consequence

R12: Major World Religions

Karma

• Karma determines all particulars of a person’s situation in life

• Brahman is equally present in everything, but not equally manifest in everything.

• People’s “selves” get in the way

• Light bulb → bad karma is a shade that darkens the light

R12: Major World Religions

Dharma

• “duty” or “obligation” -- VIRTUE

• Establishes set of rules and duties that governs karma

• Different roles - different obligations

• Close equivalent to “religion”

• A person’s dharma is their set of rules which determines which acts are right and wrong

Open Ended

How would you describe someone's duty? Try to avoid talking about karma or the ideas of write & wrong

Samsara - Reincarnation

• Samsara – cycle of rebirth when soul is reborn into different body

• Soul lives on after death – not final

• Hindus expect to reborn numerous times

R12: Major World Religions

Samsara - Cycle of Reincarnation

• People can be reborn into HIGHER or LOWER forms, determined by their karma

• In simple terms, karma can be understood as residue that prevents one from God consciousness.

• Good actions burn up karma – higher form (humans @ top).

• Bad actions accumulate more karma that prevent us from God consciousness – lower form (plants, animals)

• Moksha:  burning up all karma, attaining pure God-consciousness; Absolute Truth

Poll

Do you believe in the idea of samsara?

• Yes

• Maybe

• Not Sure

• Uncertain

• No

Moksha – The Final Goal

• “release” or “liberation” from the cycle of samsara

• Become forever united with the divine. Infinite bliss and awareness

• Union with the divine Atman (individual soul) joins Brahman (Supreme Soul) Loss of the self

• Analogy ~ Water droplet returned to the ocean

R12: Major World Religions

Homework

• ​For HW, read pp.65-78 in The Essential of Hinduism.

• ​As you read, remember to write down and define any key you did not understand from the reading.