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One impersonal Ultimate Reality – Brahmas Manifest as many personal deities True essence of life – Atman, the soul, is Brahmas trapped in matter (“That art thou”) Reincarnation – atman is continually born into this world lifetime after lifetime (Samara) Karma – spiritual impurity due to actions keeps us bound to this world (good and bad) Ultimate goal of life – to release Atman and reunite with the divine, becoming as one with Brahmas (Mimosa) How does Hinduism direct life in this world?
Respect for all life – vegetarian Human life as supreme: Four “stations” of life (Caste) – priests & teachers, nobles & warriors, merchant class, servant class Four stages of life – student, householder, retired, renunciation Four duties of life – pleasure, success, social responsibilities, religious responsibilities (mimosa) What are the spiritual practices of Hinduism?
The Four Yoga – seeking union with the divine: Karma Yoga – the path of action through selfless service (releases built up karma without building up new karma) Joana Yoga – the path of knowledge (understanding the true nature of reality and the self) Raja Yoga – the path of meditation Backbit Yoga – the path of devotion Guru – a spiritual teacher, especially helpful for Joana and Raja yoga Hinduism Notes By shavers
Backbit Yoga is seeking union with the divine through loving devotion to manifest deities In the home (household shrines) In the Temples (priests officiate) Pupas – making offerings to and decorating the deity images Darns – “seeing” the deity (not idol worship) Parkas – taking the divine within your own being through eating of food shared with the deity Who do Hindus worship? Brahmas, the creator god the major gods of the Hindu Pantheon Vishnu, the preserver god Ram (featured in the Ramadan) Krishna (featured in the Inhabitant) (Each hon. with his consort, Sits and Radar, respectively) Incarnates as ten avatars (descents) including: (the transformer) Appears as Shiva Natural, lord of the dance of creation… Shiva, god of constructive destruction and with his wife, Private, and son Changes (the elephant headed remover of obstacles) What about the goddesses?
Devil – the feminine divine Brahmas Shirtwaist, goddess of wisdom, consort of Alkalis, goddess of good fortune, consort of Vishnu Private, divine mother, wife of Shiva Durra, protects Kali, destroyer of demons Plus about 330 million other deities All these deities are but Manifest forms (attributes and functions) of the impersonal Brahmas And we too are manifest forms of God! “We are not human beings having spiritual experiences; We are spiritual beings having a human experience! “That art Thou” Hinduism is about recognizing the all pervasiveness of the divine Explore Hinduism on the Web