Exploring Religions: Hinduism

karma yoga

"Action yoga." Proposes all useful work, if done unselfishly, can be a way to perfection. Deeds performed without desire for reward.

bhakti yoga

"Devotion yoga." Promotes devotion to God or saint, guru (spiritual teacher), parents, spouse. Expressions of devotion: chants, songs, food offerings, anointing statues.

jnana yoga

"Knowledge yoga." Good for priests and intellectuals, studying Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita.

veda

"Knowledge" "Science", Vibrational wisdom. DNA of universe in sound. Ancient Sanskrit writings that are the earliest sacred texts of Hinduism.

raja yoga

"Royal yoga." Promotes meditation. Uses a mantra to clear the mind.

Bhagavad Gita

"Song of the Divine One." A sacred song of God. The most important work of Indian sacred literature, a dialogue between the great warrior Arjuna and the god Krishna on duty and the fate of the spirit. Arjuna must decide whether to fight his cousins or accept their rule.

Brahman

"The great one." The divine reality at the heart of all things. All things are one because they come from this sacred source. The Divine Spirit. Beyond time and space. Can be known, not just believed in. The experience of the sacred within nature and the exterior universe.

Kathenotheism

"any-which-god-ism." Worship of any god as supreme.

Dharma

"firm" Structure of reality.

hatha yoga

"force yoga." Involves physical exercises.

moksha

"freedom" "liberation" The ultimate human goal. The Hindu concept of the spirit's 'liberation' from the endless cycle of rebirths. Ultimate freedom comes when karma stops and rebirth ends. Liberation from change and impermanence which create inevitable suffering.

Gurus

"heavy dudes." Heavy with knowledge. They search for something that never changes. Thinkers and teachers.

maya

"illusion" brought about by a divine power. Nature is maya and God is ruler of maya. Time is relative. The outside world shifts and changes, just like dreams do.

Stages of life: Student

(brahmacharin). Ages 8-20. Studies religion and lays religious foundation for their life.

Stages of life: Householder

(grihastha). Marriage (traditionally arranged) and raising children.

Stages of life: Renunicate

(sannyasin). May leave home. Free to wander, settle in caves, live off the land. Free oneself of all attachments. Work to attain moksha.

Stages of life: Retiree

(vanaprastha). Spend more time on religious matters.

5 social classes of the caste system

1. Priest (brahmin) 2. Warrior - noble (kshatriya) 3. Merchant (vaishya) 4. Peasant (shudra) 5. Untouchable (dalit)

The four stages of life in Hinduism

1. Student (brahmacharin) 2. Householder (grihastha) 3. Retiree (vanaprastha) 4. Renunicate (sannyasin)

Brian Weiss

A Yale psychiatrist who had patients with problems in their past life. Past life regression.

the caste system

A division of society into social classes that are created by birth or occupation. Mentioned in the Rig Veda and Bhagavad Gita. You can't change the caste you're born into, but a good life means you'll move up a caste in your next life. Divided into five main social classes.

Upanishads

A major book in Hinduism that is often in the form of dialogues that explored the Vedas and the religious issues that they raised. Includes ~100 written works that discuss internal and external reality. Includes ideas of Brahman, Atman, maya, karma, samsara, and moksha.

kudalini yoga

A mix of meditation and physical exercises. The idea that seven psychic centers (chakras) exist vertically along the spinal column.

Karma marga

A path to liberation. The path of action. Involves sacrificial rituals and good moral behavior.

Jnana marga

A path to liberation. The path of knowledge. Involves experience in meditation and yoga.

Bhakti marga

A path to liberation. The path of love. Involves prayer, worship, meditation, sacrifices, self-surrender, etc.

Hinduism

A religion and philosophy developed in ancient India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation and a supreme being who takes many forms. (an etic term.)

Vedas

Ancient Sanskrit writings that are the earliest sacred texts of Hinduism. Include information about gods and worship during the Vedic period (2000 to 500 BCE). Consist of four basic sacred text collections.

Goal of bhakti marga

Goal: Experience of divine love, on earth and/or in heaven beyond rebirth or uniting forever with deity

Goal of jnana marga

Goal: Liberation from birth-death cycle. Realization of atman/brahman identity.

Goal of karma marga

Goal: Upholding cosmic/societal order. Attaining wealth, health, progeny. Immortality inheavenly world (svarga)(in later times - favorable rebirth, or liberation from rebirth)

Sri Ganeshaji

God of beginnings. Elephant head on kings body, shows that intelligence rules, great wisdom can remove obstacles in your path.

Brahma

God of creation.

Hanuman

God of strength and devotion. Has a monkey face.

Sarasuati

Goddess of learning. Holds stringed instrument. Goddess celebrated at the school festivals.

Nirguna

Impersonal Brahman

marga

Path to liberation. There are three major margas.

Brahmin

Priests.

Duhkha

Radical frustration and suffering. We suffer due to our own actions.

The four basic Vedas

Rig Veda (Hymn knowledge) Yajur Veda (Ceremonial knowledge) Sama Veda (Chant knowledge) Atharva Veda (Knowledge from teacher Atharva)

Three Parts of Brahman

Sat (reality), Chit (pure consciousness), ananda (bliss)

Brahmanas

Scripture. Texts regarding ritual. "Priestly books."

Scriptures (karma marga)

Scriptures: Vedas, esp. injunctions. Brahmanas. Laws of Manu (Dharmasastras) Later Bhagavad Gita.

Scriptures (jnana marga)

Scriptures: Upanishads, philosophy sutras (Darsnana) such as yoga sutras, samkhyakarika, and vedanta sutras

Scriptures (bhakti marga)

Scriptures: Puranas, Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Devotional poems

warrior-noble (kshatriya)

Second level of the caste system. Protects society, the traditional caste of the aristocracy.

Vishnu

Seen with a conch shell (representing space) and a disk (representing time). "U" mark on forehead.

Krishna

Seen with a flute. Peacock feather. Radha (one of his wives). A form of VIshnu.

Lksmi

Shooting gold out of hand. Holding lotus flower. Wife of Vishnu.

Sita

Wife of Rama.

mantra

Word or brief phrase is repeated to clear the mind.

Henotheism

Worship of one god in the presence of others. (there is one god we worship among the many that exist)

Vaisnavas

Worshipers of Vishnu.

devas

divine powers (of earth, atmosphere, and sky) which uphold rta.

Atman

The experience of the sacred within oneself. Deepest self, both divine and timeless. The deepest level of oneself is a divine reality and a divine spirit.

Yugas

The four sections of time in Hinduism. The four ages that repeat forever like seasons for cycles of 311 trillion years, which is the lifespan of each creator god. (Time and space are infinite)

The Vedas

The holiest of Hindu scriptures are ...

Karma

The idea that every action has an automatic moral consequence. Spiritual law of action and reaction. NOT punishment from God. Gives direction to rebirth. Good karma (from good actions) = higher rebirth Bad karma (from bad actions) = lower rebirth

Avidya

ignorance. The only evil in the world is ignorance.

Reincarnation

The idea that when a living being dies, it is reborn in a new form. You either achieve a higher rebirth or a lower rebirth. In Hinduism and Buddhism, the process by which a soul is reborn continuously until it achieves perfect understanding.

Rig Veda

The most important of the vedas. Has an account of the origin of the universe. "Hymn knowledge." Collection of more than a thousand chants to the Aryan gods.

yoga

The philosophy and practice of meditation. Methods that can be used to help people live spiritually. Yoga is used to calm the mind, everything is vibration, "om" represents the first vibration and helps to calm the mind.

Six yogas

jnana yoga, karma yoga, bhakti yoga, raja yoga, hatha yoga, kudalini yoga

Name the three margas

karma marga, jnana marga, bhakti marga

priest (brahmin)

Top level of the caste system. Performs Vedic rituals and acts as counselor.

Smrti

What is remembered.

monism

oneness in everything.

rsi

sage, a wise one, from long ago. The Vedas were revealed to them and they transmitted them to later generations. (pronounced "rishi")

Balarama

Brother of Rama. Sometimes is seen holding a bow, but is usually off to the side of Rama.

Presupposition of Indian thinking

Basic ideas of Indian thinking. 1. Universe is real and knowable. (It can be known through senses as well as meditation and yoga and inner experience.) 2. Universe is orderly. (Time and space are infinite) 3. There is an underlying unity to life. (Everything comes from one thing - Brahman) 4. Each rebirth is a new birth. (Samsara) (Humans have a "wavelength," pattern of birth and death and birth, etc) 5. Birth and experience are determined by karma. 6. Human condition is misery and opportunity. 7. Goal of human endeavor is liberation from change. 8. There are many suitablemeans,each is free to choose his own techniques and/or path. 9. The most reliable source of knowlege is yoga experience. 10. Universe is heirarchical in structure 11. Only evil is ignorance 12. Ultimately inner experience is the crux of religion.

Darshan

Connection between you and deity. Holy viewing and interaction with deity.

Puja

Daily worship, either at home (usually) or at a temple. Hindus use fire during puja.

Directed to (bhakti marga)

Directed to: Chosen personal deity (ista-devata, saguna-brahman, siva, devi, krsna, rama, ganesa, etc.)

Directed to (jnana marga)

Directed to: Impersonal form of God called "purusa" or atman or nirguna-brahman

Directed to (Karma marga)

Directed to: Vedic deva; ancestors. Hindu devas. Fulfilling duty. Developing evenness of mind.

untouchable (dalit)

Fifth and lowest level of the caste system. Dirtiest work: Cleaning toilets, sweeping streets, collecting animal carcasses, tanning hides, etc.

Followers (Karma marga)

Followers: Brahmins (priests), top three (twice-born) castes esp. as householders

Followers (bhakti marga)

Followers: all castes, all ages/stages, devotees of Siva, Visnu, Goddess

Followers (jnana marga)

Followers: yogins; intellectuals of Samkhya, Vedanta. sannyasins (renunciates)

peasant (shudra)

Fourth level of the caste system. manual labor, serves upper castes.

samadhi

deepest absorption

Ancient India

Indus Valley Civilization. Civilizations that settled around the Indus River.

Siva

Is seen holding a trident. Three stripes. Lingam.

Means to goal of bhakti marga

Means to goal: Puja (worship) and chanting, Prayer, pilgrimage, vows meditation, service, rituals, sacrifices, self-surrender

Means to goal of jnana marga

Means to goal: direct experience in meditation (yoga), intellectual discrimination of spiritual core

Means to goal of karma marga

Means to goal: Fire sacrifices (yajna), duties according to caste and stage of life (varnasrama-dharma), later-in Gita: any action done without attachment to fruits

Rama

Model of righteousness. Is seen holding a bow. A form of Vishnu.

Hinduism: polytheism or monotheism?

Neither. Hinduism doesn't fit in either category. It doesn't fit in our western terms. It's better to try and understand it rather than creating our own terms to try and define it.

Om

The earliest vibration. Often referred to as the primal vibration. It's believed that it occurred at the beginning of the universe.

Sanatana Dharma

The emic term used to describe Hinduism. Sanatana = eternal (Hinduism is an etic term; not used by hindus)

Samsara

The cycle of birth and death. Suggests the world is full of change, struggle, and suffering. Vibration has wavelength and so do humans, the wavelength of birth and death and birth... etc.

Trimurti

The three divine manifestations of Brahman—Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. The three faces of God.

Yajur Veda

The veda of ceremonial knowledge. Contains matter for recitation during sacrifice.

Sama Veda

The veda of chant knowledge. handbook of musical elaborations of Vedic chants.

Atharva Veda

The veda of knowledge from the teacher Atharva. Consists of practical prayers and charms.

merchant (vaishya)

Third level (middle) of the caste system. Consists of landowners, moneylenders, artisans, etc.

Sanskrit

an ancient Indian language

pressupposition

an assumption about a religion that needs no proof because it is known and accepted as the truth.

rta

truth, underlying cosmic structure (pronounce "ritta")

Axis Age

~500 BCE. Everything turned in a new direction at this time. Vedic religious beliefs were questioned. Some experimented with ways to alter consciousness. This time resulted in the Upanishads.