Hinduism

1. Hinduism The Circle of Life

2. Origins of Hinduism • Around 1750 BC the Indo-Aryans developed a new writing system in India and a new religion • Their new form or writing was called Sanskrit • Their new religion was based on sacred texts known as the Vedas • Their religious leaders were called Brahmins named after their one God Brahmin

3. New Scriptures • By 700 BC people began interpreting the Vedas on their own and called these new writings the Upanishads • Several Upanishads became significant and told stories that people could relate to such as the Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharata, and Ramayana • These stories discussed how Hinduism was a Monistic faith. • Monism means that they believe in one God (Brahmin) but believe that God takes many forms (such as Vishnu, Shiva, Kali etc)

4. Caste System in India • In India for much of its history you were born into a certain class and could not move out of that class. This is called a Caste System • The Caste System is like a pyramid like the one on the board • Each person had a role in society called their Dharma • If a person was true to their Dharma in life they would receive good Karma • Example: If they did not complain that they were poor and just worked hard as a peasant they would receive good karma when they died. If they tried to deviate from their role they would receive bad Karma

5. Circle of LIfe • If a person died and had good Karma Hindu’s believe they would be Reincarnated in a caste one higher than they had been previously. • Reincarnation means to be born again (different than the Christian concept of Resurrection) • Hindu’s believe that you continue to Reincarnate until you reincarnate to be a brahmin (priest) and if you die as a priest and have fulfilled your dharma and received good karma you finally obtain Moksha! • Moksha is their form of heaven. They believe that once you have fulfilled this final Dharma as a priest your spirit (Atman) is freed from the merry-go-round of reincarnation and becomes one with the chief god Brahmin

6. Hindu Reactions • When Christians invaded and took over India they thought this rigid caste system was unfair. It didn’t seem right that a poor person and their future posterity would be forever poor with no chance of moving up the social ladder • Hindu’s believe it is fair because if a person was born poor it must have meant that they “earned” that role. Either they had bad karma as a merchant or good karma as an untouchable and if they worked hard they would reincarnate into a better position in the next life. • For Hindu’s they saw Christianity as unfair because it seemed few would be saved and many would go to hell. In Hinduism there is no hell and, although it may take a long time, everyone will eventually obtain Moksha

7. Caste System Assignment • Individually you will be creating a Hindu caste system. • You should in your system explain the roles of Dharma, Atman, Reincarnation, Karma and Moksha through illustrations • The system should be illustrated and could be like the one on the board. Good luck