Hinduism & Jainism

1. Hinduism & Jainism

2. Percentage of Hindus in World Today

3. The Evolutionof Hinduism The roots of Hinduism are diverse, and yet have given life to two other religions: Jainism and Buddhism.

4. Indus Valley Roots of Hinduism: Reconstruction of Mohenjo-Daro concern for social order: -where lived based on occupation

5. Indus Valley Roots of Hinduism Great Bath, Mohenjodaro Bathing in the Ganges ritual bathing -center of city was open-air “pool temple” run by priests

6. Between 2500 and 2000 BC:Indo-Europeans migrated all over Eurasia

7. Aryan Roots of Hinduism: Jaisalmer: Desert Temple in the heart of Thar Desert cattle worship -herdsmen :. valued cattle -socio-economic status based on cattle -sacrifices to gods (cattle, horses, goats, sheep, grain)

8. Aryan Roots of Hinduism: Brahma, Siva, Vishnu (Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebid) Vedic gods (devas) -worshiped through rituals and sacrifices

9. Aryan Roots of Hinduism: The Vedas The Vedas (“knowledge”) -instructions on how to support, enliven, and nourish the Vedic gods

10. Aryan Roots of Hinduism: “Om” The sound of the universe Mantras -sacred utterances of utmost importance to ritual

11. Aryan Roots of Hinduism: Sanskrit alphabet Sanskrit -ancient language of India “Aryan” -> “Erin” -> “Iran” “naus” -> “nautical” -> “navigation” “deva” -> “divine”

12. Aryan Roots of Hinduism: There is a cosmic order to the universe. (rita) -maintained through ritual

13. Where did I come from? Aryan Roots of Hinduism: Brahma “God” “creator god” (Brahma) -spiritual core of: temple town country universe all devas

14. If Brahma is not a “god”, what exactly is Brahma?! Aryan Roots of Hinduism: What is the nature of the universe? Brahma = Atman Atman (the transcendental essence of human life)– “the soul”

15. What is the nature of “god” and my existence? moksha the release from the human condition that prevents the union between Brahma and Atman maya the illusionary condition of everyday existence samsara the cycle of birth and death that makes up our physical existence (Hindu idea of reincarnation as it is written in the Upanishads)

16. What am I supposed to do here? dharma But what IS the “right thing?! one's righteous duty or virtuous path To answer the question: Live a life that promises worldly joys and heavenly happiness. a.k.a… Do the right thing! Doing the right thing is a combination of social obligations and ethics… so just follow your dharma and obey the Vedas.

17. How and why should I obey the Vedas?! Aryan Roots of Hinduism: Brahmin priests (today) practicing ancient Vedic rituals Brahmins – priests -the gatekeepers to Vedic rituals -knew mantras and ceremonies -were the spiritual philosophers and guides

18. Aryan Roots of Hinduism: Upanishads -priests started to ponder the purpose and meaning of the Vedas -through spiritual philosophy, they introduced new concepts

19. Vedic priests explained the reason for following one’s obligations to his or her dharma and the sacred texts as “karma”. karma Oh wait, I get it! It’s like good vs. evil! the ongoing influence of past actions on the future NO! Karma is not about what is “good” vs “bad”. It is about what is “right” vs “wrong” according to your position in society and the Vedic teachings.

20. Wait… why should I bother following my dharma and the sacred texts?! According to the Vedic priests, it is the only way to break the cycle of samara (reincarnation). It is the only way to have one’s atman reunite with Brahma.

21. How do I know what my dharma is? Aryan Roots of Hinduism: Lakshmi: (caste goddess) Goddess of wealth and success Caste – socio-economic class system -adhere to the social expectations, and cultural and religious obligations of your role in society

23. Caste provides: -identity for individual within social group and in society at large -regulations on ritual, food, occupation, marriage, responsibilities to other castes This is explained in the Bhagavad Gita: “Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge, wisdom and religiousness—these are the natural qualities by which the brahmin’s work. Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity and leadership are the natural qualities of work for the kshatriya. Farming, cow protection and business are the natural work for the vaishya, and for the sudra there is labor and service to others. By following his qualities of work, every man can become perfect… By worship of the Lord, who is the source of all beings and who is all-pervading, a man can attain perfection through performing his own work.” (BG 18:41-44)

24. Untouchables?! These are people who live outside of the caste system and are to avoid contact with other Hindus inside the caste system. To Hindus, people who are born into this class have failed to live up to their dharma or violated marriage rules in a previous life. They are believed to be "untouchable" because they are so spiritually impure that they could contaminate a caste member’s karma. Traditionally, they are responsible for “dirty” jobs: street cleaners, latrine cleaners, scavengers, leather tanners, cremators, butchers, etc. Because they are not admitted into Hindu temples, they have formed religious sects of their own. After India became an independent nation in 1947, its new constitution in 1950 outlawed the practice of "untouchability." The constitution also established affirmative action programs to ensure that the scheduled castes would have access to higher education and better jobs. These clauses guarantee that a certain percentage of university and job openings will be assigned to disadvantaged groups. Because of these programs, there has been some improvement in the socio-economic mobility of untouchables, or as they are now commonly referred to as “scheduled castes” or “scheduled tribes.” Sometimes they are even referred to as “dahlit” or “suppressed.”

25. So then if untouchability is illegal and there are laws in place to help and protect suppressed groups, then it doesn’t really exist anymore, right? Unfortunately, no. There are 2800 castes in India today: 1677 castes are considered suppressed groups, with varying degrees of spiritual impurity. They make up about 60% of India’s population Dalits, at the very bottom, make up 16-25% of the population (125-300 million men, women, and children). 90% of the poor and 95% of the illiterates are Dalits.  They suffer trafficking and human slavery, are shunned charity, are discriminated against in the education system, and are constantly under threat of physical violence, especially in rural villages where the caste system is the main form of government.

26. How is this system held in place? What is used to justify this system? religion spiritual philosophy -brahma -atman -karma -samsara -caste dharma -authority of the Brahmins -varnashrama-dharma Challenging caste dharma impacts your karma which can lengthen your samsara and prevent your atman from becoming reunited with brahma.

27. Personal Reflection Varnashrama can be seen as a basis for categorizing diversity in human society. It can also be seen as the basis for inequality, since each group has its own rights and responsibilities. • Do natural classifications exist and can they be useful? Or are they all merely man-made and exploitative? • Is it advantageous to divide society according to each person's natural tendency for a particular type of work? • Is it advantageous to form educational, political, trade, or labor associations or guilds for co-operative and mutual support? • How does SHS apply varnashrama-dharma principles? In other words, are there any categorizing of individuals and are there specific rules and responsibilities for each of these groups?

28. The Ascetic Roots of Hinduism Yoga poses Yoga “union” goal of yoga: • To become one with one’s Atman

29. Yoga • Restraint: nonviolence, speaking truth, no stealing, celibacy, lack of greed • Discipline: cleanliness, serenity, devotion to god • Posture: controlled, comfortable firm yoga poses • Breath Control: mind can be controlled by breath • Withdrawal of the Five Senses: as yogini enters into deeper awareness, witness loss of five senses as mind retreats into the body

30. Yoga • Concentration: as yogini enters deeper awareness, mind becomes increasingly focused and concentrated • Meditation: uninterrupted flow of awareness • Absorption/Union: • awareness of self and surroundings has vanished • then attain perfect consciousness—there is nothing left to reflect in the mind. The mind has been released!