HinduismHinduismComparative World ReligionsMarch 2006

Hinduism - OverviewHinduism - OverviewBeliefs, practices, and socio-

religious institutions of the Hindus

Indian civilization over last 2000 years

Evolved from Vedism

Hinduism - OverviewHinduism - OverviewEstimated that Hindus makeup

13% of world’s population700 million Hindus, most live in

India82% of the population of IndiaMore than 1 million Hindus in

North America

Hinduism among other Hinduism among other nationsnationsCountryCountry Percent HinduPercent Hindu

BangladeshBangladesh 1111

BhutanBhutan 2525

FijiFiji 4141

MauritiusMauritius 5050

NepalNepal 89 – state religion89 – state religion

Sri LankaSri Lanka 1515

SurinamSurinam 2727

TrinidadTrinidad 2525

Hinduism – OverviewHinduism – OverviewLiterary, artistic, social,

economic, and religious aspectsComposite of diverse doctrines,

cults, and ways of life

General NatureGeneral NatureWorship of local deities does not

exclude belief in pan-Indian higher gods

Does not exclude belief in a single high God

Tolerant – allows others to believe what suits them best.

General NatureGeneral NatureHindus distinguish by practice

rather than doctrineBoth a civilization & a

congregation of religions

Common Characteristics of Common Characteristics of Hindu beliefHindu beliefAuthority of the Veda and the

Brahman class

Veda & Brahman classVeda & Brahman classVeda – most ancient body of

religious literatureReveals fundamental truthBrahmans are the priestly classPossess spiritual supremacy

Doctrine of atman-Doctrine of atman-brahmanbrahmanUncreated, eternal, infinite,

transcendent, and all-embracing principal

Comprising in itself being and nonbeing

Sole realityUltimate cause & foundationUltimate reality is called BrahamAtmam (self) is extended from

and one with Brahman

BrahmanBrahmanBrahman is in all things, the

ultimate reality Brahman is the Self (atman) of

living beingsBrahman is the creator,

preserver, or transformer and reabsorber of everything

May be thought of as a high God (Vishnu or Siva)

Ahimsa: non-injuryAhimsa: non-injuryAbsence of the desire to harmKeystone of ethicsCombined with idea of

vegetarianismGrowing importance of

veneration and protection of the cow

AhimsaAhimsaNeither ahimsa or vegetarianism

ever found full acceptanceMany Hindus eat beefNonviolence has never been a

notable characteristic of Hindu behavior

Goals in LifeGoals in LifeYou can have what you want

But: What do you want?

Goals - Four Aims of Goals - Four Aims of HumansHumans1. Pleasure

2. Worldly Success

3. Path of Renunciation - Duty

4. Something more

PleasurePleasureIf pleasure is what we want do

not suppress the desireSeek it intelligently and morallyEventually realize that pleasure

is not allPleasure is too trivial to satisfy

one’s total nature

Worldly SuccessWorldly SuccessWealth/Power/FameAll 3 are exclusive thus

competitiveDo not multiply when sharedCenters meaning in the self

which is too small for perpetual enthusiasm

Achievements are not eternal

Path of Renunciation/DutyPath of Renunciation/DutyLife holds more than what it is

now offeringServe others - the communityBrings respect and gratitude

from peersIn the end insufficient

What else?What else?Back to what do we really want?

What we really wantWhat we really want

1. Being2. We want to know3. People seek joy4. We want these infinitely

We already possess them!We already possess them!Underlying human self is the

AtmanReservoir of being that never

diesAtman is no less than Brahman

the GodheadEternal is buried under an almost

impenetrable mass of distractionsRealization of total being cannot

be described

Transmigration and KarmaTransmigration and KarmaReincarnationKarma – previous acts that

determines the conditions into which a being is reborn

Moral equivalent of natural law of cause and effect

We reap what we sow.

Transmigration and KarmaTransmigration and KarmaReincarnation – actions from previous

life follows us into this lifeSamsara – whole process of rebirthsEver revolving wheel of life, death,

and rebirthMoksha – final freedom from KarmaRealizing the individual self is an

illusion and only undifferentiated oneness with Brahman is real

Transmigration and KarmaTransmigration and KarmaGoal is for individual self to lose

its separate identity in the universal Self.

Religions that sprang from Religions that sprang from HinduismHinduismJainismBuddhismSikhism

SummarySummaryHinduismHinduism

GodGod Impersonal force of existence, Impersonal force of existence, beyond all distinctionsbeyond all distinctions

HumanityHumanity Continuous in the sense of being Continuous in the sense of being extended from the Being of Godextended from the Being of God

Humanity’s ProblemHumanity’s Problem IgnoranceIgnorance

The SolutionThe Solution Liberation from illusion and Liberation from illusion and ignoranceignorance

The MeansThe Means Striving to detach oneself from the Striving to detach oneself from the separated ego and seeking to be separated ego and seeking to be aware of one’s unity with the divine aware of one’s unity with the divine through self effortthrough self effort

The OutcomeThe Outcome Merge into Oneness; the individual Merge into Oneness; the individual disappearsdisappears