Evolution of Hinduism:Evolution of Hinduism:

Evolving Belief SystemEvolving Belief System

• No single founder / No single founder / central holy figure central holy figure from whom beliefs stem

• AdaptedAdapted over millennia to fit the needs of various groups & circumstance

• LocalismLocalism::• Input to larger body• Tolerant co- existance with

offshoots / other religions

• Social & Political Social & Political Implications in changing times

Sacred LiteratureSacred Literature

No No oneone central central sacred textsacred text

1.1.VedasVedas2.2.UpanishadsUpanishads3.3.RamayanaRamayana4.4.Baghavad GitaBaghavad Gita

HinduismHinduism

• Constantly Evolving Religious Ideas & Constantly Evolving Religious Ideas & Social ExpressionSocial Expression• MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE SAME TRUTHSAME TRUTH

Sadhu – holy men, in Nepal

No DogmaNo Dogma

““There are an infinite There are an infinite number of paths to, and number of paths to, and manifestations of, the manifestations of, the

limitless One.”limitless One.” Upanishad

Vedic Hinduism Vedic Hinduism

BrahminismBrahminism

• Ideas about political & social Ideas about political & social leadershipleadership• ““Arthashastra”Arthashastra”

• ““DHARMA” DHARMA” (moral path)(moral path)• Original Aryan & local ideas of Original Aryan & local ideas of

divinity strongly associated with divinity strongly associated with nature changed nature changed personified more personified more abstract concepts abstract concepts

Vedic Hinduism Vedic Hinduism Axial Age = Ordering SocietyAxial Age = Ordering Society

• AryansAryans / DasasDasas

• 4 Varnas Socio-Religious Caste System:

• BrahminBrahmin• Kshatriya (RajanyasKshatriya (Rajanyas)• VaishyaVaishya• ShudraShudra

UpanishadsUpanishads• Anti- Ritualistic: Anti- Ritualistic:

Forget worldly Forget worldly concerns – riches concerns – riches & health& health

• Divine Force Divine Force of the of the Universe – and Universe – and each creature is a each creature is a partpart

From the Chandogya Upanishads:From the Chandogya Upanishads:

Fetch me a fruit of the banyan tree.

Here is one, sir.

Break it.

I have broken it, sir.

What do you see?

Very tiny seeds, sir.

Break one.

I have broken it, sir.

What do you see now?

Nothing, sir.

My son, … what you do not perceive is the essenceessence, and in that

essence the mighty banyon tree exists. Believe me, my son, in that essence is the Self of all that is. That is the “True,” that is the “Self.”

Upanishads• Changed conventional priest-led Changed conventional priest-led

view of religionview of religion::• Proper ritual observances

& fixed ceremonies

• Added holy men/ guidesAdded holy men/ guides• Seeking union with the Divine • Helping others achieve it

• Highlighted personal practiceHighlighted personal practice• Yoga, Meditation, Study…Yoga, Meditation, Study…

Polytheism? Monotheism?Polytheism? Monotheism?• Focus on Brahman, Focus on Brahman,

the True One - the True One - Limitless Divine Limitless Divine RealityReality

• “Thousands of voices all singing the same song…”

• ONE DEITY WITH ONE DEITY WITH “COUNTLESS “COUNTLESS MANIFESTATIONS”MANIFESTATIONS”

(huh?)

Countless ManifestationsCountless Manifestations

Which is the “Real,” the “True?”

Brahma, Vishnu (Krishna), Brahma, Vishnu (Krishna), Shiva, Shiva,

• MManifestationsanifestations of BrahmanBrahman, notably:

• Brahma – Creator

• Vishnu – Preserver• (As Lord Krishna – became

mortal and dwelled on earth)

• Shiva – Destroyer Everything in the Universe is in a state of creation, maintenance or destruction

Vocabulary Words for Hinduism

PrimaryPrimary Concern:Concern: MokshaMoksha

• Highest state of being - ultimate spiritual liberation, spiritual peace.

• ImpossibleImpossible to reach Brahman after only one lifetime.

SamsaraSamsara• Painful Cycle of Birth, Painful Cycle of Birth,

Death, Rebirth…Death, Rebirth…

• Journey of atman …

• Continues until LIBERATION: Return LIBERATION: Return to Brahmanto Brahman

How to reach How to reach MokshaMoksha::

--- --- DharmaDharma --- ---• Path of

Righteousness, Moral behavior, Duty

• The world has order at all levels:• Cosmic order• Social order flowing from it• Ritual practices which sustain both

through:

• Caste system – social hierarchy

• Patriarchal society• Divine forces – cosmic ordering

DharmaDharma

• Teachers must teach …

• Students must learn…

• Apple trees must produce apples …and not coconuts.

Intermediate Goal…

Build Good Build Good KarmaKarma• YOURYOUR RESPONSIBILITYRESPONSIBILITY

• All living creatures create their own karma - their actions and the effects of their actions.

• Cause & effect

• CumulativeCumulative• Extends from past lives to present to

future existences

Belief rests Belief rests on:on:

1. Dharma,

2. Karma… plus:

3. Release from Samsara (moksha),

4.4. Balance of Kama & Artha, Balance of Kama & Artha,

5.5. Proper & moral behavior, Proper & moral behavior, including for including for youryour stage of stage of life life

A closer look…

KamaKamaWarning! Too much pleasure is Addictive, Can lead to Superficiality, or Over Attachment to the Material World

ARTHAARTHA

“Getting ahead,”“making it,”“striking it rich,”“Being Number One,”“Getting straight A’s”

Material SuccessMaterial Success

- Leaves a void… - Leaves a void… --- Strive for Respect - Strive for Respect

through following through following individual Dharma…individual Dharma…

4 Stages of Life4 Stages of LifeAppropriate times to seek each goalAppropriate times to seek each goal

1. Student1. Student •Seriously work to earn a good education •Prepare for life as a householder.

Appropriate Appropriate stagesstages for seeking for seeking each goaleach goal

2. Householder 2. Householder

• Married person: Raising a Married person: Raising a family, building a career.family, building a career.• Take care of children and

their education, home, provide for their children’s future… …

• But one may also seek kama (pleasure) and artha (survival, success, and power).

Appropriate Appropriate stagesstages for seeking for seeking each goaleach goal

3. Ashram3. Ashram – Children grown; retreats for contemplation, teaching.

4. Renunciant4. Renunciant – seeks Moksha by renouncing society

• Leaves society so that younger ones may take over, and to concentrate on

personal reflection, etc.

If a person performs his If a person performs his dharmadharma, , he builds good he builds good karmakarma and, in the and, in the cycle of reincarnation, known as cycle of reincarnation, known as samsarasamsara, he will experience , he will experience better lives in the future...and better lives in the future...and eventually, will attain eventually, will attain mokshamoksha. .

Celebrations

• DiwaliDiwali• 4-Day New Year Festival• October / November (Hindu Calendar)

• ““Festival of Light” Festival of Light” • Buildings decorated with lights, flowers• fireworks

• Renewal:• New Clothes, Houses cleaned, Gifts

exchanged…

FIN