HINDUISM

I. HISTORY

A. India…since ~2000BCPerhaps the world’s oldest living religionName probably comes from the Sanskrit word for the Indus River, Sindhu

1. Earliest stage: before 1000 BCVedic period: the Four Vedas or “Books of Knowledge”These writings describe the early life of Aryan (“noble, lordly”) people as nomadic and tribal (rajah is the “chief” of the tribe)

They reflect primitive nature worship with hymns to the gods (Rig), knowledge of rites (Yajur), songs from the rituals (Sama), and practical nature prayers (Atharva).

The multiplicity of gods developed in this period.

2. Priestly/Brahmanic period: 1000 - 800 BCA sort of monotheism developed in this period, the concept of Brahma as one god.

The caste system also took shape during this time:Priests (Brahmins)—they control the godsWarriors and rulers (Kshatriyas)Scribes and artisans (Vaishyas)Peasants, unskilled (Shudras)Outcasts/untouchables (Dalit)

3. Philosophical Hinduism: 800 – 600 BCRise of the scholars and writing of UpanishadsThis period saw the development of the concept of Brahma-Atman, the idea of the “divine spark” within humans.

Emerson and Mary Baker Eddy, founder of Christian Science, were influenced by this teaching.

Two reform movements arose during this period:

Buddhism, an effort to return practical Hinduism to the problem of suffering; self-annihilation (“enlightenment”) occurs when the self is rid of desires and distractions through meditation

Jainism: extreme asceticism

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4. Religio-Legalistic period: ~250 BCWriting of the Book of Manu: This writing focuses on the law, obedience to caste and dharma (duties of the caste)It also expands on the concept of reincarnation and required codes of behavior

5. Period of personalized gods: ~1 AD to modern timesPrinciple writing: Bhagavad Gita (“The Song of God”)Individual gods are more highly developed:

Brahma: creator god (not same Brahman of Upanishads)Shiva: destroyer, death, and dance; destroys in order to give

lifeConsort: Kali

Vishnu: the hero god, embodiment of love (seen in the AvatarKrishna)

Animistic practices, shrines and temples, cleansing ceremonies are a continuing part of HinduismSikhism arose from Hinduism in the 1400s

II. OVERVIEW OF BASIC BELIEFS

A. Supreme Being/GodsImpersonal Ultimate Reality God is in and through everything that lives. Thus, there are potentially as many gods as there are people. Everyone is free to follow whatever path he decides is most effective.

The triad of major gods (see above) are ubiquitous

B. Key Figures in HistoryAvatars (10 of Vishnu; best known, Rama and Krishna; Jesus, Buddha, and Mohammad are avatars)Gurus (spiritual teachers: see below for gurus in America)

C. View of JesusFor some Hindus, Jesus was an avatar or incarnation of Vishnu. He is seen by some as a great guru, spiritual teacher

D. Sources of AuthorityVedasUpanishads PuranasBhagavad GitaEpics, many other sacred writings

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E. Doctrine of ManReal man” is a divine eternal soul, part of Brahman-AtmanPhysical body has little worth; the soul can exist without a bodyPhysical existence is all illusion (maya)

(people are unaware of their oneness with Ultimate Reality)

F. Basic Human ProblemThe human condition is samsara; i.e., a flow of reality in which individual souls are continually dying and being reborn.

The illusion of physical reality and its desires demands, and suffering enslaves one to Karma, the law of cause and effect. People keep on doing things to respond to their illusory existence and the effect is more death and reincarnation.

G. Solution to the Basic Human ProblemThe goal of life is to gain release from the cycle of reincarnation to become one with the divine.This is accomplished by following the proper yoga (“yoke”; path or discipline in order to gain liberation from maya (illusion and ignorance).

Salvation is up to the individual. One may choose, among many paths, devotion to God (bhakti), intellectual pursuit (jnana), works (karma), or mystical experience and meditation (raja).

H. Value System

Deeds are right if they produce good conditions.They are wrong if they produce harm to one’s self or to the world in general.Good works (dharma) result in good returns. This is the law of karma.

I. Life After DeathCycles of reincarnation continue until union with or reabsorption into Ultimate Reality. This final state of existence is moksha (“final release”).

A. Contrast to Christianity

1. GodH: Many gods: many manifestations of various gods

C: Monotheism: One personal, creator, holy, righteous God who is purposeful. The Trinity is not the same as the triad of Hindu gods.

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2. JesusH: Avatars show the way or rescue through valiant deeds

C: Jesus: paid the price for our failure to measure up to God

3. CreationH: The material world is only illusion; only spiritual is real.Thus human bodily existence is of little value.

C: The material world is created by God for His glory and the sustaining of mankind.Human bodily existence is of eternal value.

4. SalvationH: Cyclical view of history: rising and dying of the earth; countless cycles of reincarnation. Salvation is essentially escape from or liberation from this cycle.

C: Linear view of history: One earth, one life per person. Salvation is rescue from certain judgment based on what Christ did in a point in time in history.

5. After lifeH: Absorption into Brahma; “one drop in the Great Ocean of Soul”

C: Individuals are eternally in the company of the personal, lovingGod or eternally separated from Him.

J. CONVERSATIONS WITH FOLLOWERS OF HINDUISM

1. Build genuine friendshipsInvite conversation. Learn before trying to “teach” or “correct”

2. Avoid debates on the minutiae of the belief systemsHinduism is complex not only because of its plethora of gods and rituals but also because of its ancient history and large collection of writings which are esoteric and philosophical in nature.Stick to the basics.

3. Understand how Hinduism (and eastern mysticism) has influenced American culture.Englishman Sir William Jones was the first Westerner to introduce Hinduism to the West in writing. His writings first appeared in 1875. His writings influenced Emerson, Thoreau and other leaders of the 19th century Transcendentalists.

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Theosophy, founded in 1875, is likely the most influential Hindu-related group in America.

The first specifically Hindu movement in the United States, the Vedanta Society, began in 1895.

The Transcendental Meditation movement arrived in California in 1959 with Maharishi Mehesh Yogi. Thousands of Americans purchased a mantra and began meditation rituals.The New Age Movement of the late 20th century was shaped significantly by Eastern thought, specifically Hinduism.

Bhaktivedanta came to the US in 1965 to promote a devotional form of Hinduism. His International Society for Krishna Consciousness is the most visible Hindu movement in America. Hare Krishna temples may be found today in most major American cities.

20th century Beatles and Beach boys

4. Understand basic thought behind HinduismMan naturally follows the paths of desire for pleasure and worldly success. These do not lead to full satisfaction. When the center of value is in the self, earth bound and temporal, the life path is one of ignorance which leads to suffering and death, part of an endless cycle of returning to try again.

Is there more to this existence?Is there a larger, more significant whole of which one might become a part, thus relieving life’s trivialities?

For Hindus, this is the beginning of religion: the quest for meaning beyond privacy, renouncing ego’s claim to finality.

Man really wants to be, to know, and to experience joy, and all of these infinitely.At his center, man already possesses the divine spark (Brahman-Atman). But he is finite and cannot see the whole picture.

The path to release and final oneness with Brahman is achieved through a path of discipline that dispels this ignorance. The path of reincarnation is the disciplined moving from this “child” stage of self-seeking to the “adult” stage of deferred gratification, seeking life’s higher calling rather than momentary indulgence.

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Summed up, man wants mukti, liberation, release from countless limitations, distractions, the sufferings of the present life.

5. Strengths and weaknesses of Hinduism:Strengths:Addresses the fear of death, old age and attempts to deal with these issues.It recognizes the transiency of material things.It values meditation, the discipline of focus on something other than self.

Weaknesses:Personal nihilism: it denigrates the worth of the individual.It does not have an answer for man’s purpose for being and why the world is the way it is.Man’s only real sin is ignorance. Hinduism claims that knowledge of oneness with (absorption into) Brahman is the answer.

6. Share Your Personal Faith in a God of love who comes to usHe comes to us: Love vs. appeasement, placationHe provided the payment for our sins vs. works(Grace vs. works)Escape from condemnation vs. continuous reincarnation

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