Hinduism Concepts PDF

Some Core Concepts of Hinduism Texts: The major scriptures of Hinduism include the Vedas, especially the oldest, the Rig Veda; the Upanishads, which are discussions and comments on the Vedas; and the Bhagavad Gita, which examines the nature of God and how mortals can know Him. Phrases: One commonly...

Some Core Concepts of Hinduism Texts: The major scriptures of Hinduism include the Vedas, especially the oldest, the Rig Veda; the Upanishads, which are discussions and comments on the Vedas; and the Bhagavad Gita, which examines the nature of God and how mortals can know Him. Phrases: One commonly used word is namaste, a greeting offered with the palms of the hands placed together at chest level and accompanied by a slight bow. It literally means "I bow to you." Basic Beliefs: Gods While Hinduism recognizes a variety of gods and goddesses, all are seen as aspects, forms, or manifestations of a single supreme god, Brahma (in Sanskrit, Brahman). The supreme god is Brahma, the creator-god who continues to create new realities. In Hindu belief Brahma refers to a pantheistic principle that sees all of reality as a unity. ("Pantheism" is defined as any belief system that equates God with the forces of nature or with natural principles.) The universe, then, is not a collection of parts but a single thing that is divine throughout. Atman - real self Anatman - non self In addition to Brahma is Vishnu, or Krishna. Vishnu is the preservergod, who preserves the creations of Brahma. Whenever dharma (defined as law, order, righteousness, duty, and religion) comes under threat, Vishnu takes on one of ten incarnations, or physical forms, and travels from heaven to Earth to set matters right. Finally, Hinduism recognizes Shiva (often spelled Siva), the Destroyer. Shiva embodies the erotic, or sexual, and is alternately compassionate and destructive. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva can be thought of as the trinity of Hindu gods. Reincarnation and karma A core belief of Hinduism has to do with the transmigration of the soul, what in the West is often called reincarnation. Hindus believe that after death, one's soul is transferred into another body. Thus, life consists of an ongoing cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth, continuing through many lifetimes, a cycle called samsara. During one's lifetime, a person accumulates karma, which is the principle that determines how the person will live his or her next life. (The word karma has entered the Western vocabulary to refer to a similar notion, perhaps expressed best by the phrase "what goes around comes around," meaning that a person's good or bad deeds can be repaid in kind.)