Eastern Religions I
Origins in North India (1500 BC). WORLD RELIGIONS HINDUISM Practitioners and scholars would tell us it has been around for millions of years; since the creation of all things Hinduism has no real founder nor any unifying philosophy or tradition. It evolved as a mingling of historic religious influences that are not necessarily compatible with one another 1500 BC Aryans (Afghanistan) began 1,000 yr long conquest. Brought their culture and religion to the region In Iran it resulted in Zoroastrianism as a revolt, in India it evolved to Hinduism 780,547,000 in the world. 910,000 in US
HINDUISM THE VEDAS There are hundreds of Hindu scriptures but 4 foundational ones. Revealed to a group of holy men, the Rishis, who wrote them down for posterity. The 4 VEDAS ( knowledge ) c. 1500-1000 BC,are the earliest texts within Hinduism. Compilations rather than unitary works Rig-Veda: 1,028 prayerful hymns Yajur Veda: Mantras (short verses) recited by priests SamaVeda: Songs and chants used by priests AtharvaVeda: Magic spells and incantations (folk religion) considered inferior to the other three Each Brahmin priest specializes one of the four Vedas Memorizing the entire Veda and all associated commentaries and rituals
Deity Dyaus Pitar Pritivi Mater Varuna Indra Mtra Rita Vishnu Rudra Agni Soma Brahmanaspati Vedic Gods Features Original supreme sky god, losing significance Mother Earth Later sky god, losing significance King of gods, supreme during Vedic period A son god; ritual and moral purity God of truth and right A son god; later the Preserver Capricious mountain god; later Shiva God of fire God of drink or immortality Spoken word; gaining significance
HINDUISM 3 Primary gods emerged in Hinduism Brahma Creator Vishnu Preserver Shiva Destroyer (of evil and recreator) There are over 330 million gods (from 33 Vedic gods) within Hinduism and most Hindus worship multiple gods. Devas Good gods / Asuras malicious gods SHIVAand VISHNUare monotheistic deities within some forms of Hinduism. Other deities include Kali/Durga/Shakti, Krishna, Rama, Ganesh, and Hanuman.
Brahma Vishnu Shiva
Major Historical Figures WORLD RELIGIONS HINDUISM Parmenides(c. 515-450 B.C.), very close to the time of Malachi and the close of the Old Testament. lived in Elea, Italy. He studied under Xenophanes and some think that Parmenides actually met Socrates in Greece during when he was younger. Due to interest in politics, he is said to have drawn up laws for the city of Elea. He employed the Laws of Logic and used these to defend Monism.
HINDUISM MONISM 1) There cannot be more than one thing (absolute Monism) 2) If there were two things [or more], they would have to differ 3) For things to differ, they must differ either by being or by non-being 4) But since being is that which makes them identical, they cannot differ by being 5) Nor, on the other hand, can they differ by non-being, for non-being is nothing, and differ by nothing is not to differ at all. 6) Therefore, there cannot be more than one being [plurality of beings] but only one single indivisible being-rigid monism Do you see the problem with this argument?
HINDUISM MONISM 1. The claim that Nor, on the other hand, can they differ by non-being, for non-being is nothing, and to differ by nothing is not to differ at all is circular; it Begs the Question; It assumes what it is suppose to prove. 2. How so? Parmenides assumes that all being is the same. What if there are different beings? Of course there are finite beings and one infinite being. There are human beings, angelic beings and God as a Spiritual Being. 3. He assumes a Univocalconcept of God. Univocal in this sense means entirely the same, thus Parmenides assumes that all being is the same, but this isn't so since there are different beings.
HINDUISM Major Historical Figures AdiShankara(AD 788-820), considered the greatest philosopher of Hinduism; refined earlier pantheism into a philosophy known as AdvaitaVedanta (or Monism) in which God is totally impersonal and without attributes The Alvarsaints of South India (c. 800 AD 1000), among the most important founders of the Bhakti (devotional) schools of Hinduism, worshipping God as a supreme person or one or more of the manifestations of God (such as Rama or Krishna). This philosophy was the opposite of Shankara simpersonal Monism, and is reflected today in the Hare Krishna movement
HINDUISM Other Important writings The Brahmanas: c. 900-500 BC, mainly texts of rituals and mantras The Upanishads: c. 800-500 BC, consists of 108 philosophical works. The Dharmashastras: c. 100 BC 200 AD, moral living, civil and criminal law (including Laws of Manu). The Brahma Sutras: c. AD 100, 550 verses of cryptic descriptions on God, reality and salvation and other matters. The Ramayana: c. 500 BC and the Mahabharta(c. 400 BC AD 300), epic poems (the latter including the Bhagavad Gita). The Puranas: c. AD 400-1000, containing the history of the universe. The Tantras: AD 300-1100, containing magical/occult rituals and spiritual exercises to accelerate enlightenment.
HINDUISM Three Major phases Chronological yet once in place became three separate threads (Ways) The Way of Works: 1500 BC. Development and adherence to Vedas and Laws of Manu. Ritual and legal requirements administered by the professional priesthood The Way of Knowledge: 500 BC. Deeper (mystical understanding) recognition of Atman-Brahman. Emphasis on Upanishads (supplement to Vedas) Revolt against the priesthood. The Way of Devotion: 200 BC, AD 800. Attachment to one god or goddess. Emphasis on Bhagavad Gita. Later became known as Bhakti (loving attachment) Hinduism and is at the heart of contemporary Hinduism (Three main schools)
HINDUISM 3 MAIN SCHOOLS 1. SHAIVISM: a tradition with multiple expressions, the most significant one (Shaiva Siddhanta) being theistic rather than impersonalistic. 2. VAISHNAVISM: emphasizes the worship of Vishnu, understands Brahman in terms of more personal manifistations(such as Ram and Krishna, hero of Bhagavad Gita). 3. SHAKTISM: emphasizes devotion to Shakti or the Devi (the divine mother) as the ultimate expression of the godhead.
HINDUISM KEY TEACHINGS: God: While originally polytheistic (many gods), in time it became a pantheistic philosophy (all is God) all is divine and the divine is in everything. Yet, Hindu schools sometimes differ and teach forms of theism, etc. For non-theists, God is impersonal and thus not a personal creator. God, therefore, is not distinct from creation (but in various ways part of it/in it). Both creature and its source is part of the big reality, called Brahman-Atman. For example: They call it Indra, Mitra, Varuna, and Agni and also the heavenly, beautiful Garutman: The real is one, though sages name it variousy (Rig Vedas) Religious Pluralist John Hick rewrites it this way: They call it Jahweh, Allah, Krishna, ParamAtma, and also holy, blessed Trinity: The real is one, though the sages name it differently In short,braham is the Divine Totality, the ultimate reality, and Atman is the divided soul, like a spark from the huge fire of Brahman. Indian Guru Maktanadasaid, Worship your inner self. God lives within you as you.
KEY TEACHINGS: WORLD RELIGIONS HINDUISM Brahman is God conceptualized as an impersonal, all pervasive being Brahman is actually all there is (Monism) Everything that is not Brahman is Maya play or illusion We live in ignorance to our own divinity connection to Brahman (Atman) Caste System 4 Major Castes Mentioned in Vedas, elaborated in Laws of Manu. Inflexible Brahmin Priests Kshatryas Warriors Vaishyas Merchants/Owners Shudras Workers; exist to serve other castes (numerous sub castes. Dalits)
Aumis a mystical symbol and sound prominent in the Hindu religion. Hindus often intone the aumat the beginning and the end of a mantra, or prayer.
HINDUISM KEY TEACHINGS Life and Salvation: All souls will in time merge with Brahman following multiple reincarnations, even thousands of reincarnations. (not found in Vedas). The life cycles are called SAMSARA( wandering ). Being liberated and merging with Brahamanis not a heavenly bliss as seen in Theism. The human soul s final release from suffering and the cycles of reincarnation occurs when the soul dissolves into Brahaman(the Universe) like a raindrop falling into the ocean. NIRVANA MOKSHA- amounts to the extinction of the individual personality (really no-more-you). Essentially annihilationism History is viewed in terms of vast cycles of creation and destruction, including the FOUR ERAS known as YUGAS; this understanding permeates its doctrines and practices
HINDUISM Hindus believe that divine beings exist in unseen worlds and that temple worship, rituals, sacraments and personal devotionals create a communion with these devas and Gods. Hindus believe that an enlightened master, or satguru, is essential to know the Transcendent Absolute, as are personal discipline, good conduct, purification, pilgrimage, self-inquiry, meditation and surrender in God. Hindus believe that all life is sacred, to be loved and revered, and therefore practice ahimsa, noninjury, in thought, word and deed. Hindus believe that no religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others, but that all genuine paths are facets of God's Light, deserving tolerance and understanding.
HARE KRISHNA International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) A legitimate form of Vaishnavite Bhakti Hinduism 16 th Century Caitanyaa teacher proclaimed Krishna as highest godhead Krishna -The 9 th Avatar of Vishnu Popular in 1960 s in America Five Essential teachings Krishna is supreme form of personal god (essentially monotheistic) Salvation obtained by continually chanting Hare Krishna 1,000 times/day Bhagavad Gita is inspired scripture Life of pure devotion to Krishna (abstaining from meat, caffeine, sweets and sex for pleasure Distribution of literature that disseminates message of Krishna consciousness
i WORLD RELIGIONS Zoroastrianism 189,000 worldwide Aryans: 1500 BC -6 th century BC in Iran 2 kinds of spiritual beings Ahuras: Lords good Daevas: Shining ones evil Remnant roots of monotheism div once meant single god DyausPiter, father god (Zeus Pater, Jupiter) lived in the sky 6 th century Rise of Magi (priestly aristocracy)
Zoroastrianism Zoroaster circa 628-551 BC At 30 had a vision from AhuraMazda (wise lord) Six more visions over eight years Teaching cut at livelihood of priesthood Collection of scriptures called the Avesta Return to monothesim Ahura Mazda (wise lord) Daevas; evil spirits (not divine) AhuraMazda divided into 6 attributes (3 male, 3 female) but all one god, similar to Trinity (6 Holy Immortals)
Zoroastrianism Evil spirit (AngraMainyu) Seeks to divert people from commands of Ahura Mazda Not equal to AhuraMazadabut moral battles in our lives are resolved by who we listen to Evolved into dualism Deeds are accumulated throughout life Support truth: rewards on Earth and heaven Support lie: punishment
Zoroastrianism Muslim conquest of Iran in 7 th century AD ended era of Zoroastianism Driven out of Iran mostly to Bombay India Called Parsis(Persians) Teachings of Zoroaster faded and yielded into polytheistic culture with Ahura Mazda (Ohrmazd) primary and highest god Pluralistic view of other faiths Emphasis on ritual and ceremonial cleansing Religion tied to ethnicity resist outside converts (contamination) World will end in molten metal flood bath of warm milk to righteous
Jainism Jainism 4,886,000 worldwide Mahavira Born Nataputta Vardhamana, similar to Sidhartha Gautama Disillusioned with life of wealth and luxury Forsakes everything for life of ascetisism No clothes, no shelter, avoids harming any living thing After 13 years achieved enlightenment and understood the universe Became known as Jina (conqueror) followers called Jainists
Jainism Many distinct souls differs from monistic pantheism each soul (jiva) is distinct and sacred Left alone souls should float like a balloon to the top of a humanshaped universe to exist forever Souls have been contaminated and are being weighed down by karma Living a pure life purges the body from karma matter Greatest achievement is to starve to death under a tree Hindu but gods are for personal piety not for enlightenment
Jainism Five Vows Ahisma No harm to any living thing Truth-Telling Fear of contradiction so finish every sentence with maybe or somehow Abstaining from theft Don t accept anything that isn t given no property Conquering sexual desire Suppress all carnal desire Detachment Renouncing everything, family, self, body, even name
Sikhism Sikhs 19,161,000 worldwide Attempt to create harmony between Islam and Hinduism fusing them but not a compromise believed to be true in its own right 16 th century India ruled by Muslim emperors. Relations between them was constantly volatile Nanak (1469-1538) The true God transcends established religious distinctions. No Muslims, no Hindus Dressed in combination of Muslim and Hindu garments When he died, his body was left out for a day and vanished
Sikhism One God but known by different names, but not personal His ID is beyond categorization imposed by man Karma, reincarnation and moksha Emphasis is on devotion to God not rituals Belief in 10 successions of gurus embodied by God to teach the divine AdiGranth(holy book)is the final guru Persecutedby Muslims so trained to do battle to protect their own existence Defeated by British and then recruited to become local forces