World Religions · World Religions 4 goals of human life: 1. Dharma – proper behavior. ^that...

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World Religions Session 3: Hinduism Part 2 Pre-ramble: Our faith is important to us. In fact it should be the MOST important thing to us. So when we meet folks who profess a faith different from our own we may feel that they threaten our faith. And so we approach their faith as something we must discredit in order to affirm our own faith. Can we rest secure in our own faith while at the same time finding something good in another person’s faith? Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, ‘Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, “To an unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.” Acts 17:22-25 And as we find goodness in other’s religions, might we apply the goodness we find to our own religion? Let’s discuss Hinduism from the perspective of Christianity. What similarities and differences do you see between the two religions? From the videos you watched last week you should have gleaned that the people of India practice a lot of religions, many of which fall under the umbrella of Hinduism. The religion goes back about 3,500 years. Hinduism is as much a way of life as it is a formal religion. 7 core beliefs of Hinduism 1. There is one supreme spiritcalled Brahman the universe and the material that makes up the universe. 2. The soul or Atman is eternal 3. Karma things happen for a reason, and your actions determine your future. 4. Belief in Moksha getting back to Brahman. Realizing oneness with Brahman. 5. Belief in the Vedas 4 books. Divinely revealed to Hindu sages. 6. Belief in samsara time has no beginning or end. Endless cycles of cycles, each cycle with 4 ages. Each cycle is millions of years and ends when morality has declined to the point where Shiva (the destroyer god) obliterates everything. 7. Belief in Dharma proper behavior according to your status (more on this later). There are many sacred texts in Hinduism. The most important are the 4 VEDAS 1. Rig veda songs praise and discuss ideas like truth, reality, universe 2. Yajur veda sacrificial rites and rituals. 3. Sama Veda “Sweet song that destroys sorrow.” 4. Atharva Veda curses and charms, instructions. Other sacred texts include the Upanishads sequels” to the Vedas that help explain them and the Puranas, the Bhagvad Gita, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata. The last two are epic adventure stories. The core message of the Ramayana and th Mahabharata is that Dharma must be followed for SOCIETY to function.

Transcript of World Religions · World Religions 4 goals of human life: 1. Dharma – proper behavior. ^that...

Page 1: World Religions · World Religions 4 goals of human life: 1. Dharma – proper behavior. ^that which all existing beings must accept and respect to sustain harmony and order in the

World Religions Session 3: Hinduism Part 2

Pre-ramble: Our faith is important to us. In fact it should be the MOST important thing to us. So when we meet folks who profess a faith different from our own we may feel that they threaten our faith. And so we approach their faith as something we must discredit in order to affirm our own faith. Can we rest secure in our own faith while at the same time finding something good in another person’s faith? “Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, ‘Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, “To an unknown god.” What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.” Acts 17:22-25 And as we find goodness in other’s religions, might we apply the goodness we find to our own religion? Let’s discuss Hinduism from the perspective of Christianity. What similarities and differences do you see between the two religions?

From the videos you watched last week you should have gleaned that

the people of India practice a lot of religions, many of which fall under the umbrella of Hinduism.

The religion goes back about 3,500 years.

Hinduism is as much a way of life as it is a formal religion.

7 core beliefs of Hinduism

1. There is one supreme spirit– called Brahman – the universe and the material that makes up the universe.

2. The soul – or Atman – is eternal

3. Karma – things happen for a reason, and your actions determine your future.

4. Belief in Moksha – getting back to Brahman. Realizing oneness with Brahman.

5. Belief in the Vedas – 4 books. Divinely revealed to Hindu sages.

6. Belief in samsara – time has no beginning or end. Endless cycles of cycles, each cycle with 4 ages. Each cycle is millions of years and ends when morality has declined to the point where Shiva (the destroyer god) obliterates everything.

7. Belief in Dharma – proper behavior according to your status (more on this later).

There are many sacred texts in Hinduism. The most important are the 4 VEDAS

1. Rig veda – songs praise and discuss ideas like truth, reality, universe 2. Yajur veda – sacrificial rites and rituals. 3. Sama Veda – “Sweet song that destroys sorrow.” 4. Atharva Veda – curses and charms, instructions.

Other sacred texts include the Upanishads – “sequels” to the Vedas that help explain them – and the Puranas, the Bhagvad Gita, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata. The last two are epic adventure stories. The core message of the Ramayana and th Mahabharata is that Dharma must be followed for SOCIETY to function.

Page 2: World Religions · World Religions 4 goals of human life: 1. Dharma – proper behavior. ^that which all existing beings must accept and respect to sustain harmony and order in the

World Religions

4 goals of human life:

1. Dharma – proper behavior. “that which all existing beings must accept and respect to sustain harmony and order in the world” (J. A. B. Van Buitenen, "Dharma and Moksa", Philosophy East and West, Vol. 7, No. 1/2 (Apr.–Jul. 1957), pp. 33–40). Dharma must be followed to achieve Moksha.

2. Artha – prosperity and good reputation. Artha is objective and virtuous pursuit of wealth for livelihood, obligations and economic prosperity. It is inclusive of political life, diplomacy and material well-being.

3. Kama – desire, wish, passion, longing, pleasure of the senses, the aesthetic enjoyment of life, affection, or love, with or without sexual connotations. Kama is considered an essential and healthy goal of human life when pursued without sacrificing Dharma, Artha and Moksha.

4. Moksha – the ultimate, most important goal in Hinduism. In one sense, Moksha is a concept associated with liberation from sorrow, suffering and saṃsāra (birth-rebirth cycle). In some schools of Hinduism, moksha is a goal achievable in current life, as a state of bliss through self-realization, of comprehending the nature of one's soul, of freedom and of "realizing the whole universe as the Self” (E. Deutsch, "The self in Advaita Vedanta", in Roy Perrett, Indian philosophy: metaphysics, Volume 3, pp. 343–360)

Concept of God

Hinduism is a diverse system of thought with beliefs and its concept of God is complex and depends upon each individual and the tradition and philosophy followed. The Supreme Being or Spirit, called Brahman, manifests itself variously as Vishnu, Brahma, Shiva, or Shakti, depending upon the sect.

Next Tuesday (November 5) I will be part of an interfaith panel speaking at the Jewish Community Center on Manor Road. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. You are all invited to attend. It’s free and there will be refreshments served after the talk.