InHinduism,therearemanycorevalues,beliefsandbehaviorsthattheyseekasimportant.Hindus believethattruthiseternalandthatthewisewillexpressthetruthinavarietyofways.TheHindus believeinmultiplegods,butthere'sonlyonetruegod,Brahman,whoisessentiallyformless, limitless,allinclusive,andeternal.TheyseeBrahmanasnotabstract,butarealentitythat encompasseseverythinginalloftheuniverse.Theyseetheirgodasaveryimportantfigureanditis keytotheirreligionandbeliefs.AlongwithbelievinganddoingallrightintheHinduismreligion, allHindusshouldstrivetoachievedharmawhichhelpsoneunderstandthefaithofHinduism. Dharmacanbeexplainedasrightconduct,righteousness,moral
...Getmorecontent...
Throughouttheworld,differentnationshavedifferentbeliefsorreligion.Somereligionsevolve fromothers,andothersarecombinationofotherreligions.Religionisawayoflife,alifestyle;it shoulddictatehowyouliveyourlife.Forinstance,inIndia,BuddhismevolvedfromHinduism,a religionwerepeoplebelievein300,000gods.Eventhough,HinduismandBuddhismhavedifferent similaritiessuchasbelievesingod,soul,andrituals,whichinsomewaysconnectedtoeachother, bothreligionsbelieveofwhathappensafterlife.
AlthoughBuddhismevolvedfromHinduismitdiffersfromHinduismingodbeliefsAccordingto BuddhiststhereisnoGod,buttheyreverencetheBuddhaandhisteachingsasthoughhewere one.showmorecontent
Vishnu,tohisworshipers,isall–powerfulandsupreme.Heisbelievedtobetogodfromwhose navelalotusspranggivingbirthtoBrahma,thecreator.Vishnucreatedtheuniversebyseparating theheavensandtheearthandhasrescueditonanumberofoccasionsAsHopfeandWoodward state"Vishnuisknownasagodoflove,benevolence,andforgiveness(Hinduism94).""Insome incarnations,hehascomeasaman."(94).ThethirdpopulargodisBrahma,thecreatoroftheworld.
SinceBuddhismandHinduismhavedifferentbelievestheyalsohavedifferentholydays.Moreover, becauseHindusworshipvarietyofgodstheyhaveavarietyoffestivalsThethreemainfestivalsof Hinduismare:Holi,Divali,andDasehra.Holiisthemostpopularfestival.Thisholydayis celebratedeachyearduringFebruary–Marchtowelcomespring."HoliisdedicatedtogodKrishna anditwasonceafertilityceremony(104)"ThroughoutthedaysofHoli,manyofthecastsand taboorestrictionsaresetasideandpleasureisemphasized.ThesecondceremonyDivali,celebrated inNovember,isafestivaltowelcomeanewyear.Finallythethirdfestival,theDasehra,celebrated uptoninedaysinOctober,inhonorofDurga,aconsortofShiva.OntheotherhandBuddhismis dividedinmanywaysaccordingtophilosophyandgeography.Themajorfestivalsthatare celebratedbymostBuddhistsareNewYear,Buddha'sbirthday,thefestivalofsouls,androbe offering.In
...Getmorecontent...
HinduismandIslamaretwolargelypracticedreligions,specificallyinIndiaandthesubcontinents. BothHinduismandIslamhaveuniquepracticesandtraditions,whichcanvarydependingonthe town,regionorpeople.Theyshareacommonbeliefinasupremegod,thatbeingeitherBrahmaor Allahrespectively.Thetraditionsdifferonthecentraltextsused,aswellasdifferencesinthe processofreachingtheafterlifeandbasicbeliefsAlthough,Hinduismmightberegardedbysome asapolytheisticreligioninitsmostbasicformHinduismisbasedaroundonedeity.TheBrahmais thegodthatalloftheothergodsarederivedfromandeachgodisamanifestationoftheonebeing.
Therearefourothermaindeities,asidefromBrahma,showmorecontent AllahisthecreatorofeverythingandisheldinthehighestregardforIslamicpeople.Althoughthere isonegod,thereareamultitudeofprophetswhobringthewordofGodtotheMuslimpeoplemuch likethemultipledeitieswhocomefromBrahma.ItisbelievedthatGodsentmultipleprophetsto tellofthelastandmostsignificantprophet,Muhammad.TheseprophetsalsopreachedtheOneness ofGodandwouldtellfollowerstoavoidsinMuhammad,whoisbelievedtobeaprophetofGod,is consideredthelastprophetsentbygodtotheMuslimpeople.Muhammadisbelievedtohave broughtthewordofGodthroughtheQur'an.TheProphets'lifestartedinMeccawherehegrewup orphaned.Duringhislife,specificallyinthemonthofRamadan,hewouldspendtimeinacave outsideMeccawhereheoriginallyreceivedrevelationsaboutthesacredtext.OriginallyMuhammad foundlittlesuccesspreachingGod'swordbuteventuallygainedafollowingofMuslimpeople, whichwouldturnintothetraditionitistoday.Althoughtheirbeliefinasupremegodalignsinboth IslamandHinduism,thetraditionsdifferonthetextsusedcentrallyineachpractice.TheVeda, writtenbetween1750BCEand600BCEareancientscriptures,whicharethesacredtextsof Hinduism.OneoftheformstheVedaistheShruti,whichis"thatwhichwasheard"andtheother formistheVedirseersorRishiswhichmeans"saw".TheVedaissplitintofour
...Getmorecontent...
ComparingHinduismandBuddhism
WhileHinduismandBuddhismcomefromthesameculturalbackgrounds,theyareextremely diverseintheirbeliefsonafterlife,deity,andrituals.Bothreligionsbelieveinreincarnation,butitis whereanindividualgoesafterheorshegetsofftheendlesscyclethatdiffersThesereligionsalso partwhenitcomestowhomtheydoordonotworship.Everyreligioncomeswithritualsand HinduismandBuddhismarenoexceptions.
Hindufollowershavenodoubttheygotomokshaaftertheyaccomplishredemption,butBuddhists believethatthemaingoalistoachievenirvanaintheafterlife.AHinducanconquerredemptionby livingalifeofasceticism.AfterbecomingaSadhu,orholyman,andrenouncingshowmore content
TheEight–FoldPathessentiallystatespupilsshouldhavetherightknowledge,speech,aspirations, behavior,livelihood,efforts,mindfulness,andknowself–concentrationFollowingtheEight–Fold Pathleadstoachievingnirvana.
AnotherdistinctionbetweenHinduismandBuddhismistheirconceptsofdeity.AlthoughHinduism claimstobeamonotheisticreligion,worshipingonlyBrahmaNerguna,Hindusworship33million othergodsthatareaspectsofBrahmaNergunaSomeofthemostcommongodsoraspectsare Ganesha,Vishnu,andShiva.Ganeshaisthegodofgoodluck,Vishnuisthegodoffamilies,health, andchildren,andShivaisthedestroyer.Buddhismhasdifferentbranchesthatseemtocontradictits originalteachingsSomeBuddhistsworshipBuddha,whiletheremainderofBuddhistthinkof Buddhaasjustamanandfollowhisteachings.
AnadditionalpolarityofHindusandBuddhistsaretheiruniqueritualsandpractices.Themost fundamentalceremoniesforeveryHinduarethosethatinvolvetheritesofpassage.Thesebegin withthefirsttimeachildeatssolidfoodThelastritesarethefuneralceremoniesandtheyearly offeringstodeadancestors.RotatingprayerwheelsisaritualofTibetanBuddhists.Theprayer wheelshaveinscribedmantrasorsacredchants.Thewheelisbelievedtoreleasebenevolentforces andacquiremeritfortheworshipper
HinduismandBuddhismhaveavarietyofdifferentbeliefsInHinduismyoubecomeone ...Getmorecontent...
Hinduism
InIndiatherearesixorthodoxschoolsofphilosophywhichrecognizetheauthorityoftheVedasas divinerevelation,andtheygenerallyfunctionaspairs–NyayaandVaishesika,Mimamsaand Vedanta,andSamkhyaandYogaThosewhodidnotrecognizethisauthorityweretheJains, Buddhists,andmaterialists.EveninIndiawherespiritualideasdominatetheculturetherewere somewhowereskepticalofthoseidealsandheldtoamaterialistviewoftheworld;theywerecalled Carvaka,andtheirdoctrinethatthisworldisallthatexistsiscalledLokayata Thematerialistsdidnotbelieveinanafterlifeandfoundsenseperceptiontobetheonlysourceof knowledge,denyingthevalidityofinferenceorgeneralconcepts.Theyshowmorecontent
Howcanfasting,begging,penance,andexposuretotheelementsbecomparedtotheravishing embracesofwomenwithlargeeyesandprominentbreasts?Thepleasuresoflifearenomoretobe avoidedbecausetheyaremixedwithpainthanaprudentpersonwouldthrowawayunpeeledrice becauseithasahusk.Sacrifices,recitingtheVedas,andpenancearemerelywaysthatignorantand weakmencontrivetosupportthemselves.
Yetuponanalysisitwasoftenfoundthatthematerialists'theorythatnogeneralinferencescanbe madecontradictedtheirownviewsaboutthenatureoftheworld.Neverthelesstheirhedonistic philosophyattimesgaveahumanisticcriticismoftheethicalcontradictionsofothersInthegreat epicMahabharataaCarvakaisburnedtodeathforpreachingagainstthebloodshedofthegreatwar andcondemningYudhishthiraforkillingthousandstoregainhiskingdom.Theydidcriticize sacrificesandvaluedtheartsasameansofpleasureHelltheybelievedtobethepainexperienced inthisworld,butallthisendedindeath.LikeEpicureanstheyfoundthatpleasurecouldbe maximizedandpainminimizedbydetachment(vairagya).Immortalitywasonlyfoundinthefame oneleavesbehindfornobledeedsperformed.
NyayaandVaishesika
TheNyayaandVaishesikaschoolsareprimarilyanalyticandarethereforemoreconcernedwith logicandepistemologythanethics.Thewordnyayameansthatbywhichthe
...Getmorecontent...
Tobegin,mypartoftheprojectfocusedonthegodsKrishna,ParvatiandShivaandthesethreegods playasignificantroleinHinduism.Hinduismhasmanydeitieswithinthisreligionanditismost commonlypracticedinSouthAsiaincountriessuchasIndia.Hinduismcurrentlyhasover900 millionfollowers.Thefirsttopic,inmyessay,IamgoingtocompareandcontrastHinduismfrom theAbrahamicreligionstoHinduismMostreligionslikeChristianity,IslamandJudaismhavea founderandamainreligioustextbutHinduismontheotherhandisuniqueinitsownway.Inthe secondtopicIamgoingtotalkaboutthegodsthatIchoseformypartintheproject.Thegod KrishnainHinduismisoneofthemostpopulargodsofthereligionshowmorecontent
BecauseHinduismwasstartedinIndia,someareoffshootsofit,oneisconsideredtobeadirectlink ofitandtheothersaremovementsofitbasedonacertaingurutheyfollow.Herearesomeofthe religionsthataresimilartoHinduism,BuddhismandthemovementsareHare–Krishna'sand followersofboththeSaiBabagurus.HerearesomeofthingsthatmakeBuddhismandHinduism similar,bothbelieveinreincarnationandpracticedifferentkindsofyogaAnotherthingthatis commonbetweenthetwoisthatAshokaGautamawasaHinduandheisthefounderofBuddhism andhisreligionstillincorporatessomeofthepracticesthatarefromHinduism.Hare–Krishnaisa movementthatwasfoundedintheU.S.inrecenttimesandtheyfocustheirbeliefonKrishna.The founderofthismovementwasA.C.Bhaktivedantaandhewastoldtobringtheteachingshelearned tothewesttospreadthewordandsparkinteresttojointhismovementTheirteachingscome primarilyfromtheBhagavadgitaandanothertext.Anotherthingthattheypracticeistheyviewthe cowverysacredandarevegetariansjustlikeotherHindus.Alsotheyareverysmallinnumbersbut theydohavetheirowntemplesThisgroupissimilarbecauseofhowtheylookatonlyonepartof theyoga'sBhakti,buttheydofolloweverythingelseofthereligion.Anothermovementof Hinduism,arethefollowersofSatyaSaiBabaandbelievedhewasthereincarnationofthegod Shivaandalsoalivinggod.Hewasalsoknownforsayingheperformedmiraclesjustlikethegod Krishnadid,buttherewasalotofspeculationthathedidn't.Alsohewaswellknownforhis philanthropyonprovidingcleanwaterinruralareasofIndiaandhasotherprojectsthatarecurrently goingon.TheotheroneistheoriginalSaiBaba,hisnameisSaiBabaofShirdiandhealsowasa spiritual
...Getmorecontent...
CulturalImpactofHinduisminIndia
Hugepopulation,pollution,peace,snakes,saris,dance,curry,andreligionareprobablythemost popularwordsthatcomeupwhenwethinkaboutIndia.Indiaisawell–knowncountry.Althoughit isarelativelypoorcountry,ithasarichanddiversecultureIndiaispopulatedbyapproximately 953millionpeople.Ithasbeenahomeformanyreligions,includingHinduism,Buddhism,Sikhism, Jainism,IslamandChristianity.ThefirstfourmentionedaboveoriginatedinIndia(Finegan151). SeventypercentofthepopulationsareHindusInfact,Hinduismistheoldestandthirdlargest religionintheworld.HinduismhasdeeplyinfluencedIndiansociety,forseveralreasons:ithasa longhistoryinshowmorecontent
Hindusbelievethatone'skharmacandeterminehowone'snextlifewillbe.Kharmaliterallymeans labor.Itmeansthesumofwhatonedoesinlife,boththegooddeedsandbaddeeds.
HinduismhasbeeninIndiaforever.Nobodyknowsexactlyhowthisreligionstarted.P.N.Chopra notesinhisReligionsandCommunitiesofIndiathatIndiaisahallowedandsacredlandforHindus (17).IthasbeeninIndiaforthousandsofyears.Itstartedsomewherebetween4000and2200BCE, inthecivilizationoftheIndusValley.Inoneoftheplaceswherethecivilizationoftheworld started,theMahenjo–DaroandHarappa,whichwaslaidalongtheIndusvalleygavesomany evidencesabouttheexistenceofthisreligion.Thearcheologistshavefoundthethree–facedgodon theIndussealissimilartothegodSivathatisveryforemostinHinduismuntiltoday(Finegan49). Theyalsofoundsomemetalsculpturesfromthepre–Harappaerathatshowtheirworshiptogods andgoddess.Hinduismisanoldreligionandnobodyissureaboutwhenitexactlystarted,andit doesnotholdonespecificpersontobeitsfounder.ThelonghistoryofHinduisminIndiamakesit reallyrootedinIndia.EvenSharmastatesthatifHinduismislooklikenaturalandveryold,itis becauseoftheagethatmaybeolderthancivilization(36).ThelonghistoryofHinduisminIndia hasbeeneffectingitsstrengthAlthoughtherewere
...Getmorecontent...
November19,1997ByJordanBruinsBuddhism/HinduismComparisonReportHinduismisthe oldestknownreligionandisveryrichwithliterallyhundredsofgods,symbolisticritualsand beliefsItisbelievedtohavebeenestablishedaround1500BCbutnoonepersonfounded Hinduismasitevolvedoveralongperiodoftime.Buddhismontheotherhandhasadefinite founder,SiddharthaGautamawhoisotherwiseknownastheBuddhaorEnlightenedOnewholived from565to483BCBoththesereligionsoriginatedinIndiaSiddharthaGautamawasaHinduwho foundHindutheologylackingandafteryearsofsearchingfortruthcreatedareligionnowknown asshowmorecontent
TheultimategoalistoachieveNirvana.Therearenumerousrudimentarysimilaritiesand differencesbetweenHinduismandBuddhism.InBuddhismtheplaceofwomenisaninferiorone whichstemsfromtraditional,cultural,andsocialvaluesofAsiaAlthoughfemalescanaccumulate goodkarma,theycanrarelyattainNirvanaandthereforemustwaituntiltheyarebornasmen.In Hinduismtheroleofwomenisdowngradedaswellandnoactistobedoneaccordingtoherown will.Awomanmustalwaysbecheerfulandcleverinthehouseholdbusinessandkeepthefurniture wellcleaned.Shemustalwayshaveafreehand.Shemusthaveonlyonehusband,evenifhedies.If awomancommitsadultery,shemustbeburnedtodeathandallpropertyacouplemayacquire belongstothemale.Buddhistspreachcompassion,charityandnonviolenceandwhileHindus professpacifismandahimsawhichistheavoidanceofharmtopeopleandanimalstheystillbelieve warisjustifiableincertaincasesTheyseeitastheirdutytofightinajustwarHarmingothersis wrongbutifrefusinggotowarwillcauseunduesufferingtoothers,thenviolentactsarejustifiable. "Thereisnogreatergoodforawarriorthantofightinarighteouswar"(BhagavadGita 2:31)ManyBuddhistbeliefsandgoalsaresimilarifnotthesameasHindubeliefsandgoals.The conceptthatlife
...Getmorecontent...
ThewordHinduhasevolvedfrombeingthewordthePersiansusedfortheIndusRiverin500BC totheacceptednamefortheprimaryreligionofIndiathisnamewasoriginallygivenbyforeign rulersandultimatelyusedbyEuropeansinthe1500'sastheofficialnameofthereligion.History playsanimportantpartofHinduismbecausenewdevelopmentsreinterpretanupdatepastpractices ratherthanendthemTheHindureligionisbrokedownintothreeperiodstheVedicperiod,the Upanishadicperiod,theclassicalperiod,andthedevotionalperiod.
TheVedicperiodlastedfrom1500to600BCE.TheDravidiancivilizationwaslocatedintheIndus ValleyofnorthwestIndia,thisareaisnowknownasPakistanTheDravidianswere advanced...showmorecontent...
TheUpanishadscripturessuggestthatfollowersexercisetheirbodyandmind.Theseexercises becomemoreimportanttoHindupracticeastimegoesby.ThroughtheteachingsofUpanishads thereisaspiritualessencecalled"Brahman".Brahmanisasingleworldsoulthatisthebaseofall physicalmatter,energy,timeandspaceBrahmanisallthingsonearthandbeyondItisthoughtthat aperson'sinnersoulknownasthe"atman",ispartofBrahmanandtherefore;aperson'sinnermost soulispartofthesingleworldsoul.Themeditationassociatedwiththesearchforperfect knowledgehasevolvedintoapermanentaspectofHinduismandisknownas"Yoga".Duringthis periodBuddhismandJainismwerecreatedasadditionalwaysofreachingenlightenmentwhile denyingkeyteachingsandpractices
TheClassicalperiodlastedfrom400–600BCE.Therewasachangeinrulewhichaffectedallof Indiaduringthisperiod.TheMauryandynastywasproBuddhistandextendedAryanruletoallof IndiaTherewasanincreaseinthenumberofconversionstoBuddhismandJainismTherising numberofconvertscausedtheHindureligiontointegrateforeignelementsintoHindutradition.The scripturesofVedawasnowdeemedcompatiblewiththeUpanishadicteachingsandaddedintothe Vedicbodyofscriptures.Duetoacastesystemupperclassesacceptedthetraditionofthelower classandcontrolledthewaylowerclass
...Getmorecontent...
Therearemanyreligionsthatrelatetooneanotherinmorewaysthanone.Hinduismisavery interestingreligiontostudy.ThereisalotofhistoryknowinHinduism.Hindu'sthemselvesbelieve inmanydifferentritualsandactivitiesthatwillbringenlightenmenttotheirsouls.Thisonereligion basesmostofitsreligiousaspectontheend,indeath.WhatisinterestingaboutthisisHindusspend alotoftimedoingcertainritualstocleansetheirsoulssotheycanachievepeaceThisreligionalone alsohasaveryinterestinglineofgodstheyworship.Thispaperwillexplainthesedifferent concepts,beginningwithaHindu'slifestory..
Samsaraisanendlesscycleinahuman'slifeKarma,spiritualresultsofactions,moksha,theshow morecontent...
Karma,Jnana,Ashtanga/Raja,andBhaktiyoga.Karmayogaareselfcenteredactivitiesthat,later on,linktoagreaterobjective.Itusuallyrequiressomeamountofsacrificeforuseinthenextlife. Thisformusuallyenjoysworldlypleasures.Jnanayogapromotesphilosophicalwisdomand knowledgeThistypeisusuallyinasecludedspacetostudy,withminimalactivityAshtangaor Rajayogaaredividedintoeightessentialstages.Mostmoderndayyogaisbasedoffofthis.This yogarequiressomedifficultstandardstopeopletoparticipatein.Itissaidtohavemysticpowerto become"smallerthanthesmallest."Lastly,Bhaktiyogaisapathtodevotionalservice.Thisisa combinationofalltypesofyoga.Thisisarecommendedpracticetothoseemotionalpeopleasa symbolicworship
...Getmorecontent...
HinduismHinduism,knowntodayasSanatanaDharma,originatedprimarilyinIndiaandisthe oldestreligioninhistory.UnlikeChristianity,Hinduismcannotbedatedbacksoitisunknown exactlywhenthisreligioncameabout.Hinduismisoftenbrokendownintothreedifferentgroups whichexpressBrahmanindifferentforms.HindusrecognizeoneGodknowntothemasBrahman. BrahmanisthecreatorofeverythingandispresentineverythingBrahmanrepresentsmany differentgods.Therearethreegodsthathaveamajorinfluenceoverthereligion,theyareVishnu, whoisthepreserveralongwithhisthreeincarnationsRama,KrishnaandNarasimha;Shiva,the destroyer;andSakti,theMotherofGoddesses,alsoknownasParvati,showmorecontent OnthingthathasremainedrelativelythesameistheorganizedfunctioningofIndia'ssocietywhich includesacleardivisionoflaboramongfourmajoroccupationalgroups;thislaterbecameknownas thecastesystem.Thepurposeofthecastesystemistoupliftpeoplefromworldlyconcernsandto encouragethemtobehaveaccordingtothehigherlaws.Thisdivisionoflaborthatisrepresentedby thecastesystemisastrongpartofSanatanaDharma'semphasisonsocialdutiesandthesacrificeof anindividualsdesiresforthesakeofthesocialstructure.Thisreligionconsistsofmanyotherthings thatinfluencethecultureaswell.Suchasarrangedmarriageswhicharedifferentthanaforced marriage.Inanarrangedmarriagebothparentsofeachthebrideandthegroombelievethatthere sonanddaughterarecompatibleandcouldformalifelongpartnership.Thebrideandthegroom bothmustagreetotheceremonybeforeitoccursHinduscripturesprohibitanyuseofphysical punishmentorblackmailshouldeitherpartydisagreetothemarriage.Hindu'sbelieveinacycleof birth,death,andrebirthalsoknownassamsara.Thiscycletheybelieveiscontrolledbywhatthey callkarmaTheybelievethateachtimetheyarereborntheyarebornagainasahirebeingthanthere lastformonearth.Thisisbecauseofkarma.Ifinaperson'slifetheyperform,think,anddesireonly goodthingsthanwhendeathcomesthey
...Getmorecontent...
WhatisHinduism?SanatanaDharma,otherwiseknownasHinduism,means"eternalreligion".
DefiningHinduismmaybedifficultduetomultiplevariationsofreligions,suchasBuddhism, JainismandSikhism,whichhavesteamedfromSanatanaDharmabeliefs.Insteadoffocusingona directdefinitionofHinduism,itmightbeeasiertoidentifyHinduphilosophiesandkeypractices thatmakeupHindubeliefsIsitareligionorisitaculture?Thetruthis–itisbothareligionanda wayoflife.Hinduismisalsoknownas"SanatanaDharma"toHindus.Hinduismwasfoundedand inIndia.Indiagavetotheworldtheoriginal,oldestandmostprofoundphilosophyoflife.The brilliantancestorsofpresent–dayIndiansexploredtheTruthbehindshowmorecontent SinceHindubeliefsarebasedonVedicliterature,Hinduismisvitaltothepreservationofearly Indianhistoryandbeliefs.ThefourmainpartsoftheVedaaretheRig–veda,Yajur–veda,Sama–veda,andAtharva–veda.HinduismisinfluencedbyallfourpartsoftheVedaandtheVedaisheld sacredinHindureligion.
TheVedaiswhatwouldbecomparabletotheChristianBibleortheMuslimQuranbutisHindu belief.AllfourpartsoftheVedaincludeseparate,butrelated,philosophies.SinceVedicliteratureis vastitisimportanttoknowwhatthefocusoftheVedais,AbsoluteReality.AbsoluteRealityis liberationfromthematerialworldwiththeunderstandingofone'sSelfandwhatcannotbe experiencedthroughthefivesensesLiberationisobtainedthroughnumerousreincarnationsofthe soulintootherlifeformsuntilthesoulisliberatedfromrebirthsduetoachievingmoksha,or realizationoftheimmortalAbsolute.Desireforliberationofearthlyexistenceisthedesiretobe freedofearthlydespair
Thecastesystem,originallydescribedintheVedas,butmuchabusedandmalignedovertheyears, isnothingbutarepresentationofanefficienthumansociety.Thefourcastesdescribedinthe scripturesare–theBrahmins,theKshatriyas,theVaishyas,andtheShudras.Accordingtothe Vedas,anefficienthumansocietyisbasedonthestrengthofitseducational/knowledge–pursuit system
...Getmorecontent...
Itcanbesaidthatareligionofparticularculturesreflectsthepsychologyofthatculture(Cohen,Wu andMiller1236–1249).Inotherwords,thephilosophyandopinionsofagroupwhencombined againfortothereligionthefollowing.Sobystudyingaparticularreligion,wecantherebygetafeel forthephilosophyandpsychologyofaculture.
Easternphilosophiesandreligionshavelongbeenagainsttheideaofindividualism(Cohen,Wuand Miller1236–1249).Hinduismforinstance,believesthatindividualismisanillusion(Cohen,Wu andMiller1236–1249)ItisthecollectivethatholdsthepowerinsuchbeliefsTheideathatan individualisanydifferentfromthecollectiveisconsideredtobeanaïveview.Itisnotthatthe philosophydiscountstheexistenceoftheindividual,itonlygoesagainstthefactthatanindividual issomehowdifferentfromthecollective.Inotherwordsanindividualispartofthewhole,andthus thefeelingandsenseofidentityisanillusion(Cohen,WuandMiller1236–1249).
HinduismoriginatedinIndianotthroughtheworksofanyspecificfounderbutfromthevarious waysoflivingthatexistedinancientIndia.Hinduismrecognizesmanydifferentculturalstructures andauthorities,thoughthehighestauthoritiesarerecognizedastheVedas.TheRamayana, MahabharataandBhagavad–gitaareotherrecognizedauthoritiesthatareoflesserimpact.
"Hindusbelievethatdivinebeingsexistinunseenworldsandthattemple
...Getmorecontent...
Hinduismistheoldestreligionintheworld.Itisalsothe3rdmostpopularreligion.Originatingin NorthernIndiabyagroupofpeopleknownasBrahmins.Hinduismisaverycomplexculturethat hasbeenaroundforthousandsofyears.TeachingsarebasedonancientAryonpractices.Hindusare bornintoacasteandremaininthosecastestherewholelives.Hinduismisaculturethatbelievesin 4goalsTheyworshipmanygodsbutbelieveinonepowerfulgodWorshipingtakesplaceina HinduTemple,wherepeoplegathertoworship.Hindusbringofferingstothegodswhen worshiping.Offeringsincludewater,fruit,flowers,andincense.
Hinduismfollowsacastesystemalsoknownasasocialorder.Theybelievepeoplearedifferentand fitindifferentaspectsofsociety.Hindusarebornintoacasteandremainthereshowmore content
Dharmameansrighteousnessandisthefirstgoalinhumanlife.Dharmaisaverychallengingtaskto achieveandexistsinalllevelsofcreationAusterity,cleanliness,mercy,andtruthfulnessareall partsofdharma.Arthameanswealthandisthesecondmostimportantadjective.Arthaiswealthin allformsandhouseholderneedswealthtofulfilltheneedsoffamilyandsociety.Hinduism recognizestheimportanceofwealthforoverallhappinessandwellbeingtoeachindividual.Kama ispleasuremainlyinasensualsense.Kamaisconsideredtobetherootcauseofhumansuffering. NotasinglethinggoesunnoticedandshouldbedonenotexpectingarewardorgiftAccordingto Hinduismsexualactivityisprohibited.Sexualdesireisfulfilledforprocreation,continuationof family,andsocialorder.Mokshameansabsenceofdelusion.Thisisthemostimportantgoalfor livingMokshacanbeginatanytimeofaperson'slife,andbecomesimportanttheoldersomeone gets.ByunderstandingMokshawecanunderstandwhydharmaisimportant.InHinduism everythingisgovernedby
...Getmorecontent...
Introduction
Religiousactivitieshavediversifiedacrosstheworldintherecentpast.Theseactivitiesareoften basedonthebeliefsofparticulargroupsofpeoplethatareoftengearedtowardupholdingthesocial gracesthatmakeasocietyprosperEachreligionhasitsuniquefeaturesthatdifferentiateitfrom otherreligionsacrosstheworld.Thebeliefsandpracticesofvariousreligionsoftenfollowasetof principleslaidbythefoundersofthatreligion.Inmostcases,theseprinciplesoftenhaveaprimary themethattheytendtosupportThemajorreligionsthatarepracticedbmanypeopleacrossthe worldareChristianity,Islam,andHinduism.Thethreereligionsarepracticedindifferentpartsof theworlddependingonthebeliefsofthepopulationinaparticularpartoftheworld.Hinduismisa religionthatisdominantinSouthAsia.Inparticular,theHindureligionismostlypracticedinIndia thaninothercountries.RankedasthethirdlargestreligionafterChristianityandIslam,thereligion oftenhasrulesandprinciplesthatareembracedbytheIndiansandothersmallgroupswiththe interestinprofessingtheHinduregion.Thereligionhassetoutvarioustraditionsthatoughttobe followedbyallpeoplewhowishtoprofessit.Inparticular,thereligion'straditionsinclude Shaivism,VaihanivismaswellasShaktivismamongnumerousothertraditions.Thereligionfurther hasabroadspectrumofruleandregulationsaswellasprescriptions
...Getmorecontent...
TheHindureligionandcultureisaverycomplexsubject.TheHindureligioncombinesrichethnical andstandardbeliefs.WewilltakeacloserlookandtrytounderstandtheHindureligionandculture. TheHindureligionistheoldestreligionofthefivemajorreligions,whichareIslam,Christianity, Judaism,Buddhism,andHinduism(MajorWorldReligions,2006).TheHindureligionbeganto developabout4000yearsagoinIndia,butittherewasnosinglefounderorsystemofbelief(Major WorldReligions,2006).TherearemanydiverseandvariousGodsintheHindureligion.Oneofthe mostimportantbeliefsisthetheoryofkarma,whichholdsthatallbeings,humanoranimalhave karmawhichdetermineswhichsoulisforwhichbodyandshowmorecontent Hindushavetobepatientintheirreligiontoachievetheirpeacefulness.Hindusarealsoknowntobe veryfriendly.Havingsuchcharacteristicswouldgreatlyempowerourwholesocietynomatterwhat religionsomeoneisfrom.MyintervieweeTonyKhanna,afellowco–worker,tookmetohistemple hegoestoworship,onaSundayevening.HetookmetotheSriMeenakshiDevasthanamlocatedin Pearland,TexasThefirstthingInoticeduponarrivalatthetempleisthebeautifularchitectural buildingdesignoutside.Iwasinamazementofhowbeautifulthetemplewas.Ihadnotseen somethingsobeautifulinquiteawhile.Thetempleisvisiblefromaquiteadistanceawayandhas twostunningwhitetowers.WhencominguptothetemplefromtheparkinglotTonyindicatedto methatthetemplewasestablishedin1977andwasareplicaofafamoustempleinIndia.Therewas ahugewhitegatewehadtowalkthroughtogettothemaintempleOnceinsideIwasgreetedby manyHindu'sthatwerequitepleasantandtalkativetowardsthisoutsiderthatIwas.Beforethevisit oneofmyquestionstoTonywasifHindu'swelcomedoutsiderswithintheirtemples.Heindicated thatHindu'sareveryopenandthatIwouldbewelcomedIwasquitesurprisedforthistobesotrue WithintheconfinesofthetemplethereweremanydifferentkindsofsymbolsthatIwasnotquite familiarwith.AcouplethatInotedwasaDiya,Om,andSwastika.Therewere
...Getmorecontent...
Hinduism
Introduction
Hinduism–standsforthefaithandthewayoflifemostofthepeoplewholiveinIndia
Hinduismissuchanancientreligionthatithadmanytypesofbeliefsandreligiouspractices. Around1750BCAryaninvadersfromcentralAsiasettledinNorth–WestIndiaandintroduced theirownreligiousideas.
SlowlytheHinducametoaccepttheideaoftheexistenceofaneternalsupremebeing.Theycalled thisbeing,Brahman.Hindusalsoworshipdifferentgodswhichindividuallyrepresentoneparticular aspectofBrahmanThemostpopularoneofthelessergodsareBrahma(thecreator),Vishnu(the preserver),andShiva(thedestroyer)
Hinduismhasnofounder.Itisareligionthathasshowmorecontent
Hisupperrighthandisholdingadrum(tobeattherhythmofthetime)whiletheupperlefthand holdsaflames(elementofdestruction)
Hissecondrighthandisraisedforblessing,whilehissecondlefthandpointstotheraisedleftfoot (symbolizesrelease).Therightfoottreadsonadwarfthatrepresentsignoranceandspiritual blindness
LifeBeforeandAfterDeath
AHindubelievesandhopesthateventuallyhissoulwilljoinwith BrahmanTheywelcomedeathasasteptowardsgainingthiseverlastingunionwithhimThey believethattheirsoulswereneverbornandthereforeneverdies,butitmovesonfromonebodyto another.Thismovementformonebodytoanotherinthecycleofbirthdeathandre–birthiscalled reincarnationThisbeliefthatapersonwillbebornagainfollowingthedeathislinkedwiththelaw ofkarma.Theyalsobelievethatthetypeofexistenceapersonwillexperienceinthenextlife dependsonthegoodandbadkarmabuiltupinthepreviouslifeThewhitecowsareconsidered holybecausetheybelievethattheyareasymbolof"atman",whichmeansthesoulinallliving things.
TheCasteSystem
Acasteisagroupofpeoplewithaparticularplaceinsociety.Hindupeoplearebornintotheircaste, wetherhighorlow,theymustaccepttheirplacewithoutquestion.Thismeansthatapersoncanonly bebornaHinduTomaintainpurityHinduscanonly
Hinduism:ARealmOutsideofMyOwn
TogetfromSouthIndiatoSouthFlorida,normally,apersonwouldneedtotravelroughly15,117 kmor9,394miles.Beingthatitishardlyjustahop,skip,andajumpaway,membersoftheSouth Floridacommunity,whoarealsoapartoftheHinducommunity,desperatelywantedaplacewhere theycouldfeelclosetotheirmotherlandandyetremainneartheirnewfoundhomesToensurethis dreamwouldbecomeareality,devoteesgatheredfundsandsupportfromfriendsandfamiliesto buildwhatwouldlaterbeknownastheSouthFloridaHinduTemple.Interestingly,thistemple, dissimilartomanyothersinthecountry,wasbuiltstrictlyfromloveandcharityAllofthefunds usedtocreatetheholyplace...showmorecontent...
Whileitmaybearguedthatallreligions,attheircore,aretolerant,Ihavepersonallyneverfeltso welcomedinacommunitywhereIexpectedtobeanoutsider.Withmymindateaseandmy defenseslowered,Icouldfinallycompletelyopenmyselfuptothebeliefsofthesegentlepeople. OneofthemaintruthsofHinduismisthatthereisone"supremebeing",aGod,ifyouwill,thatis madeupofeverythingandinturnmakesupeverything.Thistruthisthebasisformany,ifnotall,of theothertruthsfoundinHinduism.Forexample,anotherHindubeliefisthatalllifeistobe preserved,cherished,andvaluedequally.Withthatbeingsaid,Hindusareexpectedtopractice ahimsaornonviolence;thatisbyactionorbyword.InaHindu'smindtobeviolentordisrespectful towardsanythingandanyonewouldbetheequivalentofbeingviolentordisrespectfultoGod; consideringwhoeverorwhateveryouaredisrespectingismadefromtheessenceofthe"supreme being".Hinduismisknownforitsmanygodsandgoddessesordeitiesthatdevoteesworshipona dailybasisInfact,itisnotuncommontofindthatawifeholdspreferencetoadeityandher husbandanother.However,therearedifferentsects,suchasShaivismandVaishnavism,whereone deityisprimarilyworshiped.TheSouthFloridaHinduTemplefallsunderadifferentsect; Smartism.IntheSmartismsect,devoteesareallowedtoshowpreferencetowhicheverdeitythey
...Getmorecontent...
Hinduismisoneoftheworld'soldestreligionsinexistence(Srinivasan66).Itranksasthethird largestreligion.TodaythereareaboutfiftymillionHindusworldwide,majorityofthemlivingin India(Wangu6).Inordertounderstandthefollowersofthereligion,youmustfirstrealizethat Hinduismismoreofawayoflifethanareligion(Srinivasan66).Hinduismholdstogetherdiversity andnotonlyforitsownspiritualtradition,butfortheentiresubcontinentof India(Berry3).AlltraditionswithinIndiaaresomehowassociatedwithHinduism."Thediversity whichmarksHinduismbeginswiththenotionofdeity"(Boraks14)."Thereisastrangekindof unityinthevastmultiplicityoftheHindupantheon"(14)"Oneshowmorecontent
"OneofthefourVedascontainshymns,chantsandpraisestogods"(Wangu9).
"AnotherVedasservesasaguidebookforritualsandpriestlybehavior"(9)."Athirdoffers informationonmagicandcharmsthatcanbeusedasblessingsorcurses,andthefourthgives musicalnotestobechantedwhileperformingrituals"(9).Thelatestoftheshrutitextsarethe Upanishads(Wangu9)TheUpanishadswerewrittenaround700–500BC(9)Mostofthe Upanishadsarewrittenintheformofdialogue,possiblybetweenateacherandastudent(9).The mostimportantconceptsexplainedintheUpanishadsaretheconceptsofkarma–thebeliefthat onesbeliefswilllaterhaveanaffectinthislifeoranotherlife,samsara–reincarnation,andmoksha –releasefromthecyclesofsamsara(9).InthetextsoftheUpanishadsonefindsmoreofthe philosophicaloutlookofHinduism,especiallyconcerningthe,meaningoflifeandthevalueof suffering(Boraks17).ThesetwogroupsofbooksaretheprincipaldoctrinesoftheHindufaith (Wangu10).AlloftheworksthatcomeaftertheVedasandUpanishadsaresmrititexts(10).The smrititextsincludeepics,Puranas,Sutras,Shastras,anddevotionalBhaktisongs (Wangu10).TwogreatsmritiepicsthathavehadasignificantinfluenceonHinduismarethe MahabharataandtheRamayana(10).Thesetwoepicshaveundergonenumerouschanges throughoutthecenturies
...Getmorecontent...