ENCOUNTERING GOD IN WORLD RELIGIONS

1. ENCOUNTERING GOD IN WORLD RELIGIONS

2. HINDUISM

3. Hindu prayer for peace Oh God, lead us from the unreal to the Real. Oh God, lead us from darkness to light. Oh God, lead us from death to immortality.Shanti, Shanti, Shanti unto all. Oh Lord God, may there be peace in heaven. May there be peace on Earth. May herbs be wholesome, and may trees and plants bring peace to all. May all beneficent beings bring peace to us. May all things be a source of peace to us. And may thy peace itself, bestow peace on all and may that peace come to me also.

4. Hinduism Facts • No single founder • No specific theological system • No single system of morality • No central religious organization It consists of thousands of different religious groups that have evolved in India since 1500 B.C. Considered the world’s oldest “organized” religion.

5. World’s 3rd largest religion (after Christianity and Islam) • 837 million followers - 13% of world’s population • Dominant religion in India, Nepal, and among some in Sri Lanka • 1.1 million Hindus in the U.S.

6. Hinduism: Among the world’s most religiously tolerant faiths • Most forms of Hinduism recognize a single deity. • They view other gods and goddesses as manifestations of that supreme God • The Incarnation (God in the flesh is Jesus) of Christianity makes sense to them

7. SALVATION = Moksha Moksha - Sanskrit word meaning “release” • Liberation from the constraints of the human condition into the infinite ocean of the divine (return to the sacred Source) • Takes many lifetimes to get there; no hurry (re-incarnation) • Described as infinite being, infinite awareness, and infinite bliss

8. The Divine: One Reality, Many “Masks” • All reality is essentially one thing (monism) • Western thought - God is the creator of all and yet is above and independent of it • Like all water sources share a common essence and return to it (ocean), so all of reality - goddesses, gods, humans, plants, animals - shares a common essence (Brahman) • Brahman is beyond the human mind; pure spirit • Can be understood through contemplation of the inner self where ultimate reality resides (the Eternal Self or Atman)

9. “That art thou” • Brahman is Atman • All reality - the universe, oneself, and everyone else - shares one essence (Brahman / Atman) • “Namaste” = I honor the place in you
in which the entire Universe dwells; I honor the place in you
which is of Love, of Truth, of Light and of Peace; When you are in that place in you,
and I am in that place in me,
we are One.

10. CASTE SYSTEM Society is ranked accd. to occupational class. *Brahmins - priests, philosophers, artists, religious teachers *Kshatriyas - soliders, warriors, administrators *Vaishyas - merchants, farmers, craftspeople *Shudra - servants, laborers *Harijahns (God’s children) - “untouchables” - extremely poor and discriminated against - descendants of Harappan aboriginal people (Aryan tribes from Asia attacked them in India in 2000 B.C.) This system was outlawed in 1948, but Hindus still find it to be the proper way to stratify society

11. Sanata Dharma • “Hinduism” is not the true name of the religion. • name given by Muslims, i.e., “the religion of the people of the Indus” • Adherents call it “Sanata Dharma” • Eternal Wisdom, Eternal Truth • many religious expressions from the same cultural source

12. Basic human desires • People can have want they want. • 1. Pleasure (kama): comforts, beauties of nature, food, sex (Kama Sutra) - gets “old” • 2. Success (artha): fame, power, wealth - empty, busy • 3. Duty (dharma): giving, service - can’t ever heal the pain in world) • 4. Meaning (moksha): being, awareness, joy, liberation.

13. Four paths to the goal Four basic personality types: intellectual, emotional, active, experimental 1.Jnana yoga, the path of knowledge (reflective). Hearing (learning), thinking (reflecting), self‑identifying. Goal: to realize oneness with God/universe. Jnana is the steepest path, only for a few. 2. Bhaktiyoga, the path of love (emotional). Goal: to adore the deity with fullness of love. 3.Karmayoga, the path of work, good deeds (active). Goal: to transcend selfishness, isolation. 4. Rajayoga, the path of exercises (empirical, experimental).

14. Steps of Jnana Yoga: Intuitive Discernment That Transforms the Knower into That Which She Knows 1. Learn by listening to sages, scriptures, writings 2. Intense reflection - Atman (divine within) goes from concept to realization; all masks are dropped 3. Identify with Spirit- witness life from third person; detachment; become who you always were at heart

15. Bhakti Yoga:Directing Toward God the Love That Lies at the Core of Every Heart • Most popular • Tulsidas story • Insistence on the “otherness” of God • Focus on adoring God with one’s whole being with no expectations • Rich in symbols, images of God, rituals

16. Bhakti Yoga Approaches • 1. Japam: Repeating God’s name throughout one’s entire day • 2. Ringing the changes on love: Experience the many kinds of loves toward God (Lover, Parent, Friend, Child, Sibling, Master, etc.) • 3. The worship of one’s chosen ideal: Form a lifelong attachment to one chosen representation of God (ishta) Whenever the stability of the world is seriously threatened, God descends to redress the imbalance (Christ, Krishna, the Buddha, etc.)

17. Karma Yoga: Steps in the Path to God Through Work • One can find God in the world of everyday affairs; throw yourself into your work with everything you have • Two ways: Jnana (knowledge; self-detached reflection) or Bhakti (devoted service) • Doing acts without thoughts of yourself lessens self-centeredness until finally no barrier remains separating you from the Divine

18. A Day in the Life of a Karma Yogi • Do each task of the day as if it were the only thing to be done • Concentrate fully and calmly on each duty as it comes, resisting impatience, excitement, and the vain attempt to do or think of a dozen things at once (multi-tasking) • Once the task is done, they will dissociate from it and let the chips fall where they may • View criticism, loss, pain, shame as teachers • They are so calm in the midst of all the activity (like the stillness of absolute motion)

19. 8 steps of Raja Yoga: Way to God Through Psychophysical Experiments 1. Abstain from injury, lying, stealing, sensuality, greed 2. Observe: cleanliness, contentment, self‑control, studiousness, contemplation on Divine 3. Bodily control (84 postures) 4. Control of breathing 5. Control of senses 6. Control of thoughts (concentration) 7. Unity of subject and object; no self-consciousness - eternity in us` 8. Samadhi: human mind completely absorbed in God; seeing the invisible.

20. Four stages of life 1. The student 2. The householder 3. Retirement (the forest experience) 4. Sannyasin: beyond desire, hate, love.

21. Morality? Depends on what kind of person you are & your stage of life *Stage 1 - Student (8-12 yr. olds; lasts 12 yrs.) *Stage 2 - House-holder (20-30 yrs) Attention divided between family, vocation, & community

22. *Stage 3 - Retirement (forest-dweller) Spiritual adventure: finding meaning in the mystery of existence; discovering who you are & what life is about *Stage 4 - Sannyasin (“one who neither hates nor loves anything”) No desire to “be somebody,” but to remain a complete nonentity on the surface in order to be joined to all at root (free, homeless, unattached

23. BASIC PRINCIPLESof HINDUISM • God (Brahman): • Creator (Brahma), • Preserver (Vishnu), + 330 million gods/goddesses • Destroyer (Shiva). • The law of karma: every decision has its consequences for which we are responsible • Dharma: ethical duty based on the divine order of reality; guided by scripture, tradition, others’ examples, & conscience; sum = caring for others • The cycle of existence (cosmology), rebirth (samsara). • Religion: many paths to the same goal.

24. Hindu Scriptures: the Vedas • Hindu tradition has two types of Scripture: • primary (Sruti): divine origin, revealed to rishis • 4 Vedas (3500 B.C.), Bhagavad Gita • Veda: hymn, ritual, theology, philosophy (upanishads). • secondary (Smriti): human origin, written to explain the Sruti writings. • Itihãsas (Epics): Mahabharata, Ramayana • Purãnas (Mythology) • Dharma Shãstras Law Codes • Ãgamas & Tantras Sectarian Scriptures. • Darshanas Manuals of Philosophy

25. Upanishads • “The last part of the Vedas” • Offer spiritual vision, philosophical reflection • Explain key doctrines: self-realization, yoga, meditation, karma, reincarnation • “You are that” (Tat tvam asi). • The Bhagavad Gita, is part of the Mahabharata. • Message: Everyone has to perform his or her duty to please God, to serve the world and to repay one's debt to the society.

26. The Epics:Mahabharata, Ramayana • The Ramayana tells the story of Rama and Sita. Sita is abducted by the evil Rahwana and Rama, with the help of friends and allies, wins her back. • The Mahabharata is mainly the story of Lord Krishna. • These are not ordinary legends but refer to the lives of avatars, incarnations of God

27. Puranas: Myths • 18 major Puranas(500 A.D.) • Long bookswith stories of gods and goddesses, hymns, history, cosmology, ethics, rituals, spiritual knowledge. • The Puranas are like popular encyclopedias of religion and culture • The most frequentlyread scriptures • important to the worshippers of Krishna

28. Agamas: sectarian scriptures • Also known as Tantras • The sectarian scriptures of the three major theological traditions • worship Ultimate Reality as Vishnu • revere Ultimate Reality as Shiva • venerate Ultimate Reality as Shakti, the Divine Mother • Each Agama consists of four parts: philosophical and spiritual knowledge, yoga and mental discipline, construction of temples, rituals and festivals.

29. a a Lord Krishna Shiva, the Lord of the Dance

30. Clockwise: Durga riding on a tiger. Wife of Shiva especially venerated in Bengal; Parvati, goddess of love and marriage; Ganesh, god of wisdom, students; Hanuman, the white monkey warrior from the Ramayana.

31. BUDDHISM BUDDHISM

32. Buddhist prayer • Let no one anywhere despise another, • Let no one out of anger or resentment • Wish suffering on anyone. • Just as a mother with her own life • Protects her only child from harm, • So within yourself let grow • A boundless love for all creatures.

33. BUDDHISM • The Buddha • Siddhartha Gautama, born 560 BC in northern India. • Wealthy, married, one child. • 4 passing sights: sickness, old age, death, monk. • Attains enlightenment under the Bo tree. • Reformer of Hindu tradition. • Buddhism • A religion without authority, ritual, speculation, tradition, grace, mystery (without God?).

34. THE FOUR BASIC TRUTHS • 1. Life is out‑of‑kilter, dislocated, out of joint (like a displaced bone) and causes pain. a. Trauma of birth b. sickness c. old age d. fear of death e. being bound to what we hate f. being separated from what we love. • 2. The source of pain is selfish desire. • 3. The cure for pain is ridding oneself of selfish craving. • 4. This can be done by following the Eightfold Path.

35. The four basic truths are like medical treatment • First truth: recognizing the symptoms (examination to discover what is wrong) • Second truth: diagnosis (naming the sickness) • Third truth: prognosis (hope; there is a cure) • Fourth truth: prescription (path; what you must do to be healed)

36. The Eight-fold path 1. Right knowledge: the Four Basic Truths 2. Right aspiration: focus one's attention 3. Right speech: speak the truth 4. Right behavior: do not kill, steal, lie, be unchaste etc. 5. Right livelihood: become monk. Lay people should avoid life‑destroying occupations: sell poisons, slaves, butcher, brewer, arms manufacturer etc 6. Right effort: develop virtues, curb passions, overcome negative states of mind. 7. Right mindfulness: analysis, self‑examination, trace actions, moods, emotions to their cause. Withdraw from life for periods of silence to see and analyze. 8. Right techniques: Raja yoga.

37. Nirvana Nirvana • Nirvana is the Goal of the Eight-fold path. • Enlightenment, • Fullness of life, • True happiness, • Escape from the • wheel of rebirth, • Heaven (?)

38. Theravada “the small raft” The individual on his own Salvation by solitary effort Buddha is model, teacher Main virtue: truth The path is full-time work The monk/nun Ideal: arhat (wise person) No ritual Meditation, no petition Mahayana “the big raft” Humanity one community Salvation by grace Buddha is savior Main virtue: compassion The path in daily life The lay person Ideal: bodhisattva Ritual Prayer to boddhisattva The Two Rafts

39. Buddhist Scriptures • The original collection of Buddhist sutras, in Pali, are gathered in the tripitaka (three baskets) collection. All Buddhists (Theravada, Mahayana) accept these. • In addition, Mahayana Buddhists follow other sutras written in Sanskrit or Chinese. • Lotus sutra - universal Buddha-nature • Heart sutra - recited in Chan/Zen monasteries • Amida sutra - Pure Land school

40. Theravada:The Teaching of the Elders • Relive Buddha’s experience under Bo tree • Earliest form of Buddhist teaching • Buddha is a teacher, • Teaches the path to overcome suffering • Does not speculate about God, afterlife • Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia

41. Ordination A newly-ordained monk is carried in procession. In Theravada Buddhism, becoming a monk is necessary for salvation. In popular belief, a mother is saved when her son becomes a monk.

42. Chanting the sutras

43. Mahayana • Based on belief that Buddha left the Bo tree and went to preach, out of compassion for others • Buddha is incarnation of eternal Buddha-nature (God) • Many saints, bodhisatthvas, help humans • China, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Taiwan, Vietnam

44. KWAN YIN

45. Confucian Heritage CONFUCIAN HERITAGE

46. Kung Fu-Tzu • Born about 551 BC • teacher, • advisor to rulers. • Confucius has been called “the world's greatest single intellectual force.”

47. Teaching of Confucius • What you do not wish done to you, do not do to others. • Do not look for quick results nor for small advantages. If you seek quick results, you will not reach the final goal. If you are led astray by small advantages, you will never accomplish great things.

48. Teaching of Confucius • The noble person first practices what he preaches, then preaches what he is practicing. • Feel kindly towards all, but be intimate only with the virtuous. • When you see a person of worth, think how you can imitate him. When you see an unworthy person, examine your own character.

49. How should we live in society? • Like other Chinese thinkers, Confucius tried to answer basic societal questions. • How to have good values in social life? • How to transmit positive values to the next generation? • How to build social cohesion, a civilized society?

50. The philosophers’ answers • Realists: People are selfish, greedy, lazy. Make them do what is right. Law. Authority. Police state. • Idealists: (Mo Tzu) Love and service. Imitate the good God who rules the universe. Goodness is its own reward. You can’t force people to do good. • Confucius: Tradition forms people into a community, teaches each their place, The proper relations with others, creates and continues solidarity.