Type I: Type I:

Do you believe that good things come Do you believe that good things come to those who do good? Do you believe to those who do good? Do you believe that bad things happen to those who that bad things happen to those who do bad? Why or why not? Do you do bad? Why or why not? Do you have any examples? have any examples?

5 lines minimum, 5 words per line 5 lines minimum, 5 words per line minimumminimum

HINDUISMHINDUISM

Introduction to the culture and the religionIntroduction to the culture and the religion

OriginsOrigins

No real founder.No real founder. Approx 2000-Approx 2000-

3000B.C. the 3000B.C. the Aryan Invasion Aryan Invasion happened (maybe)happened (maybe)

Introduced the Introduced the ideas of written ideas of written language and language and created the first created the first caste system.caste system.

SanskritSanskrit

Sanskrit is the written language of Sanskrit is the written language of ancient Indiaancient India

Sanskrit is related to English as an Sanskrit is related to English as an Indo-European language.Indo-European language.

Founder of HinduismFounder of Hinduism

Unlike Unlike JudaismJudaism (Abraham), (Abraham), ChristianityChristianity (Jesus of Nazareth), (Jesus of Nazareth), IslamIslam (Mohammed), (Mohammed), BuddhismBuddhism (Siddhartha (Siddhartha Gautama), Gautama), DaoismDaoism (Laozi), and (Laozi), and ConfucianismConfucianism (Kong Fu Zi), (Kong Fu Zi), HinduismHinduism has no founder, origin myth, or church.has no founder, origin myth, or church.

One of the theories is that the English One of the theories is that the English needed to explain the culture and needed to explain the culture and applied western ideas to Indian culture.applied western ideas to Indian culture.

Mishra’s Mishra’s God of New God of New ThingsThings

When the English arrived they understood When the English arrived they understood Christianity and wanted to find something Christianity and wanted to find something similar so when they couldn’t find it they similar so when they couldn’t find it they created it.created it.

Hinduism defies regular understanding when Hinduism defies regular understanding when it comes to the ideas of religion. it comes to the ideas of religion.

Hinduism contradicts itself all of the time if Hinduism contradicts itself all of the time if we try to understand it as a religion.we try to understand it as a religion.

But at the same time it is essential to But at the same time it is essential to understand if we want to understand anything understand if we want to understand anything about India.about India.

Poly or Mono-theistic?Poly or Mono-theistic?

Monotheistic religions believe in one Monotheistic religions believe in one supreme god.supreme god.

Polytheistic religions believe in Polytheistic religions believe in multiple gods.multiple gods.

Hinduism is neither of these.Hinduism is neither of these. Max Muller was a German orientalist Max Muller was a German orientalist

who invented the idea of comparitive who invented the idea of comparitive religion and he coined a new word for religion and he coined a new word for HinduismHinduism

HenotheisticHenotheistic

Devotion to one god while accepting Devotion to one god while accepting the idea of other gods. Monotheism the idea of other gods. Monotheism in principle, polythisim in fact.in principle, polythisim in fact.

By last count there were over By last count there were over 330,000,000 different gods in 330,000,000 different gods in Hinduism.Hinduism.

Technically there is only one and the Technically there is only one and the rest are versions of that one.rest are versions of that one.

Brahman (note the Brahman (note the spelling)spelling)

The supreme force in Hindu belief is one The supreme force in Hindu belief is one called Brahman.called Brahman.

Brahman is nameless, formless, infinite, Brahman is nameless, formless, infinite, and everything (and nothing) at the same and everything (and nothing) at the same time.time.

Humans are too stupid to understand such Humans are too stupid to understand such a large concept. (Blind men and an a large concept. (Blind men and an elephant)elephant)

To combat human ignorance lesser gods To combat human ignorance lesser gods were created that we can understand. The were created that we can understand. The Vedic Triad is the best known example.Vedic Triad is the best known example.

VEDIC TRIADVEDIC TRIAD

Brahma (note the spelling)Brahma (note the spelling) VishnuVishnu ShivaShiva

BrahmaBrahma

Brahma is known Brahma is known as the creator as the creator force.force.

Usually shown Usually shown with four faces with four faces (originally had (originally had five)five)

Self-born in some Self-born in some legends.legends.

VishnuVishnu

Vishnu is the Vishnu is the ‘preserver’ of the ‘preserver’ of the Triad.Triad.

He maintains order He maintains order in the world.in the world.

He reincarnates to He reincarnates to help us keep the help us keep the world going.world going.

My favorite My favorite reincarnation…reincarnation…

VAMANAVAMANA

The dwarf that comes to earth to help the The dwarf that comes to earth to help the king learn about ignorance.king learn about ignorance.

He is often shown with blue skin (as all He is often shown with blue skin (as all incarnations of Vishnu are). incarnations of Vishnu are).

This could be the original SmurfThis could be the original Smurf

VishnuVishnu

Vishnu’s most known incarnations Vishnu’s most known incarnations are Rama and Krishna.are Rama and Krishna.

Rama is the ideal man and star of Rama is the ideal man and star of the epic Ramayana.the epic Ramayana.

Krishna is the star of the Bhagavad Krishna is the star of the Bhagavad GitaGita

SHIVASHIVA

Shiva is the ‘destroyer’ god who end the Shiva is the ‘destroyer’ god who end the universe.universe.

But in a positive way.But in a positive way. Shiva is more supreme than the other gods.Shiva is more supreme than the other gods.

TrimurtiTrimurti

Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are all Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are all part of Brahman (the supreme part of Brahman (the supreme force).force).

Humans possess Atman which is also Humans possess Atman which is also part of Brahman.part of Brahman.

But of course there are multiple But of course there are multiple other gods as well.other gods as well.

Ganesha and KaliGanesha and Kali

Four Main Ideas of Four Main Ideas of HinduismHinduism

DharmaDharma KarmaKarma SamsaraSamsara MokshaMoksha

Key Concept of HinduismKey Concept of Hinduism

Dharma: which Dharma: which means job, duty, means job, duty, responsibility, etc. It responsibility, etc. It also means ‘law’.also means ‘law’.

This is the idea that This is the idea that your life has meaning your life has meaning and you need to and you need to figure out what that figure out what that meaning is. If you meaning is. If you don’t figure it out, don’t figure it out, don’t worry.don’t worry.

SamsaraSamsara

Samsara is the idea of reincarnation. If Samsara is the idea of reincarnation. If you don’t figure out your dharma in this you don’t figure out your dharma in this life you get many more to work it out.life you get many more to work it out.

Many, many, many more.Many, many, many more. ““you” don’t come back, your atman you” don’t come back, your atman

returns. You have no memory of prior returns. You have no memory of prior lives, etc.lives, etc.

You don’t have to be human (or animal).You don’t have to be human (or animal).

KarmaKarma

Karma means “action” and it implies Karma means “action” and it implies that all actions have consequences. that all actions have consequences. Some good and some bad.Some good and some bad.

Karma is the idea that everything Karma is the idea that everything you do has some universal you do has some universal consequence to it and your goal is to consequence to it and your goal is to escape this.escape this.

Karma is a zero-sum game.Karma is a zero-sum game.

MokshaMoksha

Moksha means release.Moksha means release. It is kind of like heaven in a non-It is kind of like heaven in a non-

heaven sort of way.heaven sort of way. It is what happens when you no It is what happens when you no

longer get reincarnated. longer get reincarnated. You return to being one with You return to being one with

Brahman and you become Brahman and you become everything.everything.

How long? Long!How long? Long!

The Vedas say that it takes 10 to the The Vedas say that it takes 10 to the 4646thth power to achieve Moksha. That power to achieve Moksha. That looks like this:looks like this:

100,000,000,000,000,00100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,0,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 000,000,000,000,000 years!years!

Please sit with the Please sit with the groups you were groups you were with yesterday.with yesterday.

Thank youThank you

In GroupsIn Groups

You will be asked to do the followingYou will be asked to do the following One Person will summarize the moral One Person will summarize the moral

dilemmadilemma One Person will provide their opinion on One Person will provide their opinion on

the right choicethe right choice Any dissenting voices will be allowed to Any dissenting voices will be allowed to

speak next.speak next.

Type I: Do as you enter Type I: Do as you enter classclass

Do you believe that people can Do you believe that people can improve their status in life or are improve their status in life or are people ‘stuck’ where they were people ‘stuck’ where they were born? Explainborn? Explain

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Main ideas of HinduismMain ideas of Hinduism

You have a DharmaYou have a Dharma You work towards your dharma and You work towards your dharma and

your work has consequenses. This is your work has consequenses. This is known as karmaknown as karma

Your karma determines your Your karma determines your samsarasamsara

Your goal is to be released into Your goal is to be released into MokshaMoksha

ResultsResults

The major result of these ideas is The major result of these ideas is that of the caste system.that of the caste system.

The caste system is a class structure The caste system is a class structure that you are born into and can not that you are born into and can not leave. leave.

This isn’t as important today as it This isn’t as important today as it was in traditional India. Only in the was in traditional India. Only in the country-side does it matter anymore country-side does it matter anymore at all.at all.

CASTECASTE

Brahmins (note Brahmins (note spelling)spelling)

KshatriyaKshatriya VaishyaVaishya ShudraShudra Dalit (not an Dalit (not an

official caste)official caste)

BrahminsBrahmins

Brahmins are the priestly classBrahmins are the priestly class They are in charge of religion and They are in charge of religion and

they are wealthy.they are wealthy. They are the ‘head’ in the body They are the ‘head’ in the body

analogyanalogy

KshatriyaKshatriya

This is the warrior/politician caste.This is the warrior/politician caste. They are the arms in the body They are the arms in the body

metaphor.metaphor.

VaishyaVaishya

This is the merchant class and the This is the merchant class and the last of the ‘twice born’ castes.last of the ‘twice born’ castes.

They are the legs of the metaphorThey are the legs of the metaphor

ShudraShudra

These are the lowest class workers.These are the lowest class workers. They are the feet of the body.They are the feet of the body.

DalitsDalits

The ‘untouchable’ caste isn’t The ‘untouchable’ caste isn’t considered human.considered human.

They do the stuff that no self-They do the stuff that no self-respecting human would do.respecting human would do.

The president of India was a dalit in The president of India was a dalit in 2002.2002.

TextsTexts

Vedas are the original texts that Vedas are the original texts that explain how the world works. explain how the world works. The Rig The Rig VedaVeda is the most famous. is the most famous.

The UpanishadsThe Upanishads (or secret teachings) (or secret teachings) are the second most famous.are the second most famous.

The The MahabharataMahabharata or the epic of the or the epic of the great war.great war.

The Bhagavad Gita story of the archer The Bhagavad Gita story of the archer Arjuna.Arjuna.