HINDUISM

HINDUISM

1. REINCARNATION (samsara)

   • cycle of life
     • samsara
       • Dharma ( duty)
         • Karma( action)
           • Moksha ( liberation from samsara

2. GOD/SHRINES/WORSHIP

   • TRIMURTI : Brahman (god is described firstly through the trimurti
     • VISHNU
       • the preserver
         • Operator
     • SHIVA
       • the destroyer
         • Destroyer
         • GOD
     • BRAHMAN
       • the creator
         • Generator
     • +
     • +
     • =
   • AVATARS
     • 1) an avatar explains the story of Brahman and his relationship with the world. An avatar is a incarnation of God.
     • 2) avatars will come when "the sacred law falls and evil raises his head
       • 3) it means that he will take the body of a body ( human or animal)
         • 4) when the avatar is on earth he roots out sinners and established the sacred law
   • WORSHIP
     • Puja is Hindu worship and can be performed in a Hindu temple or at home
       • They start by either ringing a bell or use a plate .
         • They often pray to Ganesh to take away any barriers in prayer.
           • A food based paste is then put on the gods and their faces - they also put their hands over a candle then their hair and face
             • They ale an offering and then pray using OM and a different language .
               • sometimes the eat the food that they have just offered to the Gods to feel blessed.
           • GANESH is the hindu god of wisdom and love and his parent were Parvati ( god of life) and shiva (destroyer)

3. MEDITATION

   • See Buddhism meditation as reasons 4 meditating is similar

4. CASTE SYSTEM

   • Brahmin ( priests)
     • Kshatryia ( warriors - gives food , protects people and earth - ruler /warrior)
       • Viasya (merchants who sell products unlike sudra who sell services
         • Sudra ( commoners , peasants , slaves)
           • Untouchable (street / toilet cleaners)
   • BELOW THE CASTE SYSTEM

5. Gandhi

   • Original name was mahandas but now mahatma ( great soul)
   • Born 1869 to middle class hindu family
     • married at 13 to kasturba
       • trained as a lawyer in england then went to S.Africa @ work 4 indian law firm
         • Experienced racial prejudice under apartheid law
           • non- whites segregated and discriminated
             • Gandhi bought 1st class ticket but was told to go in 3rd class - when he refused he was thrown off the train
               • Gandhi was a pacifist and starved himself
                 • Gandhi campaigned for indians to live in S.Africa using mass civil disobedience
                   • people beaten, jailed and killed but after 7 years unfair tax was abolished
                     • see GANDHI essay 4 more details

6. SACRED COW

   • Hinds believe that that cow is sacred as they respect it for its gentle nature, non injury ( a hindu principal), ghee, strength and giving and and taking
     • ghee is a milk butter - used in indian cooking
   • In india it is against the law to kill a cow and no hindu would ever eat one. also cows can roam wherever that like - including busy roads