Hinduism Notes.pdf

Hinduism Notes September 17, 2024 Basic Facts - One of the oldest religions known to humanity - Has no historical founder but emerged gradually over many centuries - As a result, there is a great deal of diversity within the Hindu tradition - No cen...

Hinduism Notes September 17, 2024 Basic Facts - One of the oldest religions known to humanity - Has no historical founder but emerged gradually over many centuries - As a result, there is a great deal of diversity within the Hindu tradition - No central authority, few centrally accepted dogmas, many strands - Closely associated with the history and culture of India - Little focus on proselytizing (making converts) - Can be seen as a polytheistic religion AND a monotheistic religion Early Peasant Cultures Adivasi - Adivasi is a tribal society in which India comes from - Adivasi lived in tribes, not big cities - Adivasi were not Hindu however, they had some aspects of Hindu in their religion - Adivasi were animism(polytheistic), people who worshiped nature - Hindu was borrowed and inherited from the adivasi religion - They believed specific caves and waters were spiritual - Brown skin Dravidians - Dominated Southern half of India (Don’t know where they came from) - They built small towns and villages with government systems - Hinduism emerged from the Dravidians religion as well - The Ganges river is a sacred river where Inians go to speak to the Gods(still believed today) - Darker skin Indus Valley Civilization 2300-1700 BCE - Old societies were built near and around rivers - This society was built on the Indus river - Full cities with hundred of thousands to millions of people - Very advanced - They seemed to have disappeared no one knows why or how - Big cities were called (Harappa and Mohenjo-daro - They learned language and reading however we cannot decipher  - We don’t know what they look like, we guess beige - Some historians think there was a pandemic, or they thought the end was near so they either killed themselves or went to a different society (Dravidians & Adivasi) - They worshiped the mother Goddess - They had animal like Gods and Goddesses - They had temples with priests and structured religion - They had large pools in their temples (Maybe for: purification, cleanliness) - They had fire pits (Maybe for: sacrifice, purification) - They worshiped the Lingam a statue build like a dick - They used to pour milk on the Lingam to symbolize… - They were not Hindu - Hindu draws Goddess worship and sexual worship from the Indus valley Aryans Vedic period 1400-500 BCE - They came from the mountains and invaded and took over a lot of India - Lighter skin but not white - Swastika is an Aryan symbol but in Hindu a swastika is a religious symbol - They spoke Sanskrit - They introduced their own Gods and Goddesses many being strength and violence based - They valued military, violence, and strength - They created the first scripture of Hindu, the Vedas - The Vedas consists of lots of rituals, superstitions, hymns, and spells - Their religion is based heavily on ritual and superstition - Created the caste system: every person was organized into a particular level, some were higher some were lower, not based on wealth, based on race, Dravidians and Adivasi were put into lower levels, high caste people were dark, light skin indians are usually in the higher caste, vise versa, it was mostly based on your job/place in society - They don’t follow it anymore however, some places still follow it for marriage and in some small villages - They wrote another scripture called the Upanishads - This scripture was made to answer fundamental questions - This scripture introduced: Brahman, Atman, Karma, and Samsara Reactions against Hinduism 600-200 BCE - People grew tired of Hinduism and therefore broke away from it - One was Buddhims and one was Jainism - Buddhism didn’t like the caste system and all the rituals - Jainism embraced the non violence values - Jainism kept some Gods and Holidays - The Jains introduced vegetarianism  - Jains have to be vegetarian - More extreme Jains wear a mask so they don’t accidentally eat a bug - Even more extreme Jains will walk everywhere with a broom so they sweep weer they walk so they don’t accidentally step on a bug - Even more extreme Jains won’t finish certain plants so they don’t kill it - When these two religions emerged, Hinduism needed to make a change - Hinduism introduced yoga which was to provide regular people to live out Hinduism - They introduced focus on morality - They introduced asceticism which is self-denial or self-harm - Asceticism was really trendy in India and it was to strengthen your soul by putting your body through pain - They introduced another scripture called the Bhagavad-Gita - This scripture explains everything and pulls the whole religion together to make it make sense Middle Period 200 BC -1800 CE - Hindus observed other religions and they wanted to add more relationships with God - They chose a few Gods to really connect to and live by and worship this is called Bhakti yoga - Many people have mini temples built inside their homes so they can worship their specific Gods - SInce people grew obsessed, they made new scriptures to explain the Gods - These are the scriptures: The Purana, The Mahabharata, The Ramayana - They were about big battles and lives of the Gods and Goddesses - The most popular Gods were Vishnu and Shiva - This allowed Hindus to travel to different temples and graves, etc - As Hindus interacted with other people, many people converted to Islam - Another religion broke off called Sikhism - There is tension between Hindus and Muslim in India - Bangladesh and others became their own country because the majority of their population was muslim and they don’t get along with Hindus, so they broke off - Many Indians converted to Christianity due to the Portuguese - The Indians are not tolerant of other religions anymore Modern Period 1800-Present - Gandhi tried to promote and modernize Hinduism - Fundamentalism has taken hold of india in the last 2-3 decades - This increases the tensions between the Hindu majority and the other religions - India got independence from UK with the involvement of Gandhi - For most of Hinduism history, Hinduism was only in India  - When Hindus immigrated they had to adapt bc no one else was Hindu around them - Hinduism is the most diverse of all the religions in terms of there are so many different paths for Hindu religions (different scriptures, holidays, Gods, values, etc.) September 18, 2024 Key Terms Brahman - The entire universe, everything and anything Atman - Concept of your soul Maya - An Illusion, Ignorance, and sin. Illusions that prevents us from thinking we are one with Brahman (Money, power, etc) Polytheistic Monism - It has a lot of Gods but there is just one reality/thing Brahman - Brahman is the One who is All - The Atman is our true self - Atman is but one aspect of the all-pervading reality of Brahman - Maya refers to the illusions that keep us from knowing our Atman and Brahman 1. List of names used for Brahman. - The First - The Great - The Full - The Supreme Self - The One - The Undifferentiated - It - The Primeval One 2. List of phrases used to describe Brahman. - He was one and infinite: infinite in the east, infinite in the south, west, north, above, below - He is not to be fixed - He is unlimited - He is unborn - He is not to be reason about - He is not to be unborn - He is the self-luminous - He is not to be conceived 3. Nature of Brahman?  - Brahman is extremely worshiped and is seen as the God of all Gods - Brahman seems controlling - Brahman seems very powerful - All powerful being and source - Supernatural - Eternal 4. The relationship between Brahman and the individual person - Brahman controls of everything you do and think - He inhabits everything and is everything - The individual is Brahman in some way 5. Hindu understanding of who we are as human beings? - Humans are not as great as the Gods (Not really) - Humans are miniscule and unimportant Brahman and Atman - In its earliest forms, Hinduism was definitely polytheistic - However, some Hindus thinkers later came to believe that the cosmos & everything in it, including God, is one - However, most Hindus still worship many gods as a part of their traditions but on a deeper level, these gods can be understood as part of a deeper reality called Brahman - The Upanishads explain the Hindu relationship between people & God - The individual self or atman, is attempting to reunite with Brahman - Brahman is God or the Ultimate Reality - Establishing this connection can take many lifetimes Metaphor of Brahman - Brahman = a vast ocean - Our existence is the spray the wind picks up - We are suspended above the water temporarily - But eventually, all drops/spray returns to the ocean - Because of this some people say Hinduism is a monistic religion - Monism is a belief that all reality is united (i.e. Brahman) yet some parts remain unknowable (God) Brahman and Nature - Nature to Hindus is not a creation of God - It is a manifestation or expression of Brahman - Since all of nature shares in Brahman’s divinity - Nature & the natural world is respected - Nature is sacred & so are creatures (especially cows) - Therefore, portraying God as an animal or part animal is a sign of reverence for the Divine  - To experience the divine, Hindus worship deities - Deities may be part or fully human or animal & sometimes even inanimate objects - Regardless of form deities are an embodiment of the god or goddess being worshiped - There are 330+ million deities in Hinduism - Each deity is an outward expression of the one Ultimate - Reality (Brahman) - Therefore, Hinduism really can be seen as both polytheistic and monotheistic Uniting with Brahman - The ultimate spiritual goal for Hindus is to reunite or become one with Brahman. - To do so we must see past and let go of the illusions of this world, including ourselves and the individual gods - However, this is something that may take lifetimes to achieve - Most Hindus are not ready to pursue Brahman directly - Most Hindus will focus on other aspects of Hinduism such as the worship of the gods and gaining good karma - They expect to be re-incarnated when they die and will wait to - pursue Brahman directly in a future life (some Hindus might not even know what Brahman is) September 19, 2024 Parallels in Christianity Water: It's sacred, used for purification, symbolizes life and cleanliness Aum: Something we use like amen? Swastika: We don’t use the swastika put we use the cross Fire: The holy spirit comes down on fire during confirmation, also candles Colour: different colours are shown for different months/holidays Plant: Churches often have plants in them, and Christmas tree 1. What separates humans from other animals and life forms? Our intellectual and moral understanding. 2. What does the term moksha mean? What does it describe and what does it offer? Moksha is a form of salvation, but it is liberation. When you achieve moksha you become one with Brahman. 3. What is the main ultimate spiritual goal for Hindus? The main goal of Hindus is to reach moksha eventually. They don’t focus on achieving moksha in one life, they think and focus long term. And they know most of them won’t get there. Therefore, they focus on the lesser goals in their current life. 4. According to this article, what is the aim or goal of all religions? That there is something eternal, permanent, and more important than all the day-to-day things. 5. What is a jivanmukta? A saint who has achieved liberation/moksha 6. In order to attain moksha, three lesser goals must be achieved. Describe each of these. Dharma - Moral obligations and duties (you have to complete Dharma in order to get good karma. When you get enough good kar5ma built up among many lives, you will reach moksha) Eternal Dharma - Applies to both Dharmas. It’s the absolute set of duties regardless of class, caste, job, etc. Specific Dharma - Based on age, sex, caste, job, etc. Artha - The pursuit of wealth but not personal greed, used to support family and society Kama - Pursuit of pleasure, especially sexual Moksha: Means to be focused on leaving the illusions, “life denying” Hinduism. Once you reach Moksha, the lesser goals don’t matter anymore since you don’t exist and you're one with Brahman Lesser Goals: Dharma, Artha, and Kama. Focused on maintaining the illusion, “life affirming” Hinduism. 3 Other key Beliefs Karma - The moral law of the universe - Every moral action creates either good or bad karma - This karmic energy will come back to you either in this life or the next life - Karma cannot be erased - It has a direct impact on how your reborn Samsara - The cycle of death and rebirth such as reincarnation - Applies to all living things, even the Gods - The universe itself - Karma directly reflects how you be reincarnated - Moksha is when you are set free Caste System (Old belief) - Everyone is casted into a level in society and they stay there for their whole life - It's impossible to change what caste your in, in one life - If your good in you life, you can move up, vise versa September 20, 2024 The Caste System Basic Facts - There are 4 main castes, though each caste is further subdivided. - One is born into a caste and cannot leave it - The only way to move up is to do your duty in this life and then if you did it well, you will be reborn into a higher caste Origins - Created by the Aryan invaders to keep the native Dravidians of India under their control - Was later incorporated into the Hindu religious beliefs - There is a religious myth about how the various classes of the caste system were born from different parts of a god (the top caste came from the god’s head, the lowest from his feet, etc.) - Traditionally, one must marry within one’s caste and one rarely associated with many people outside this caste, though today this is not as feasible - Each caste has its own dharma (duty) that one must follow - There is a racial aspect of the caste system, the higher castes tend to be lighter skinned (descended from the Aryans, and the lower castes tend to be darker skinned) - The original word for caste, varna, means colour Today - The caste system was abolished by the modern Indian constitution - Many efforts put in place to end discrimination based on caste - Many Hindus have rejected the caste system; however, in many ways it still plays an important role in Indian society - Most Hindus know what caste they belong to and what is their corresponding dharma - Many Hindus still marry within their own caste - There continues to be discrimination and sometimes even violence against the lower castes - Gandhi detested the caste system and tried to end it. He embraced people of all castes, even the “untouchables” 1) Brahmins (priestly caste) - Originally these individuals were the ones who dedicated their lives to studying the Vedas - They were the only ones who could perform certain rituals and sacrifices - Today, some still play this role - In the modern world, the Brahmins are the most educated and often wealthiest caste - A devout Brahmin may choose to pursue moksha by embracing the life of a wandering pilgrim and giving up all worldly affairs though only a few choose to do this 2) Kshatriya (warrior caste) - Originally these were the soldiers, princes, administrators, and government officials - Today, they are generally well educated, fairly wealthy - Often they take on government positions - Generally do not pursue moksha - Receive some education in the Vedas and other Scriptures but not as much as the Brahmins 3) Vaishya (merchant caste) - Businessmen, farmers, merchants, shopkeepers, etc. - Receive some education in the Vedas  These first 3 castes are referred to as the twice born (Implying its at least your second time being a Hindu) 4) S(h)udras (servant class) - Work in various service industries - Traditionally, were servants to the other castes Below the 4 official castes are 2 other levels: 1) The Dalits or Untouchables - These individuals worked in trades that were considered dirty, such as cleaning latrines, working with leather, disposal of corpses, etc. - The upper castes are forbidden from coming into contact with these individuals - Have been the subject of discriminatory practices for years - Often poor though today there are many affirmative action programs aimed at helping this group 2) Non-Hindus don’t fit into any of the castes - Their dharma is to follow our own tradition and if we do that well we may be fortunate enough to be born into the caste system Vocab Brahman - The entire universe, everything and anything Atman - Concept of your soul Maya - An Illusion, Ignorance, and sin. Illusions that prevents us from thinking we are one with Brahman (Money, power, etc) Polytheistic Monism - It has a lot of Gods but there is just one reality/thing Dharma - Moral obligations and duties (you have to complete Dharma in order to get good kama. When you get enough good kama built up among many lives, you will reach moksha) Eternal Dharma - Applies to both Dharmas. It’s the absolute set of duties regardless of class, caste, job, etc. Specific Dharma - Based on age, sex, caste, job, etc. Artha - The pursuit of wealth but not personal greed, used to support family and society Kama - Pursuit of pleasure, especially sexual Moksha: Means to be focused on leaving the illusions, “life denying” Hinduism. Once you reach Moksha, the lesser goals don’t matter anymore since you don’t exist and you're one with Brahman Lesser Goals: Dharma, Artha, and Kama. Focused on maintaining the illusion, “life affirming” Hinduism. Karma - The moral law of the universe - Every moral action creates either good or bad karma - This karmic energy will come back to you either in this life or the next life  - Karma cannot be erased - It has a direct impact on how your reborn Samsara - The cycle of death and rebirth such as reincarnation - Applies to all living things, even the Gods, and the universe itself - Karma directly reflects how you be reincarnated - Moksha is when you are set free Caste System (Old belief) - Everyone is casted into a level in society and they stay there for their whole life - It's impossible to change what caste your in, in one life - If your good in you life, you can move up, vise versa September 23, 2024 The Four Stages of Life in Hinduism 1. Student Stage - Boys live and study with a teacher (guru). - Initiates between ages 8-12 - For Brahmins, this involves memorizing the Vedas and performing rituals - All castes learn household worship, focused on the holy fire of Agni. - "Thread ceremony" symbolizes entrance into Hinduism and responsibility for cosmic balance. 2. Householder Stage (Grihasta) - Entered through marriage - Responsibilities: having children, establishing a career, contributing to the community, - and performing rituals - Supports individuals in other stages of life - The father manages household worship - In this stage, one pursues artha and kama 3. Retirement Stage - Begins around the time their first grandchild is born - Religious and secular responsibilities diminish - Move away from kama and artha - Freedom to contemplate death and rebirth - Option to become a hermit or engage in worship (bhakti) - Accompanied by a samskara ritual to mark transition. Samskaras - Rituals accompany life stages, marking significant transitions. - Performed throughout life, many before six months of age. - Aim to facilitate movement from one life stage to another. Role of Women - Women traditionally in a dependent role, needing male protection. - Actively involved in worship, often lead domestic rites. - Significant involvement in bhakti yoga (worship of gods/goddesses). - Modern changes have granted women more public roles (e.g., Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister). 4. Rejecting Life Stage (Sannyasin) - A radical lifestyle choice - Attempt to achieve moksha - Rejection of worldly life to seek moksha (liberation from samsara). - Complete rejection of household duties and religious beliefs. - Symbolic burning of the Vedas and the red thread. - Loss of caste identity, even shudras can become sannyasins. - Live as wandering hermits without shelter or possessions, relying on alms or found food. - Seek spiritual enlightenment and cosmic wisdom. Important Milestones Naming a Child - A priest names the child 10 days after birth A Child’s First Outlining - The purpose of the first formal excursion outside the home is to expose the child to the environment and the neighbors First Solid Food - 7-8 months after birth of child - Parents recite special prayer First Haircut - 6-8 months old - Cut by local barber Thread Initiation Ceremony (Upanayana) - Performed by boys in the first 3 castes between the age of 8-12 - Marks the transition into student life - Takes 2 days - Boy wears a thread on the his left shoulder and chants a matra Marriage - Marks the transition into Householder stage of life Death and Cremation - Ceremony of when the person dies and they are cremated Death Anniversary - Anniversary of one’s death - Friends and family come together and share a meal September 25, 2024 Yoga - 4 Main Groups - Many Hindus found thetraditional approach to achieving moksha far too difficult. - Also, entering the 4 th stage of life as asannyasin is also extremely difficult for most. - Yoga is a method of training designed to lead to union with Brahman. - There are 4 main types of yoga. - Each type is designed for a different personality type-reflective, emotional, active, experimental- and each type approach Brahman in a different way. Jnana Yoga – Path of Knowledge - Knowledge through study and meditation are the ways to gain moksha - Self-denial and asceticism are used to help the individual look past the self to realize that their atman is Brahman - One can withdraw from the world to find liberation from the illusions of this world - This often involves the guidance of a guru, a religious leader - Yoga is also used to gain control over the mind and body, external control leads to inner knowledge - Asanas (body postures) help to control external distractions - Breath control cleanses the body and mind and brings focus to the divine - Meditation focuses the mind on atman, often using mantras (chants) like AUM - Samadhi is the final stage where one’s inner consciousness is fused with the limitless reality of Brahman - Considered the most difficult path Karma Yoga – Path of Action - The pursuit of harmony with the laws of the universe (karma) and with one’s dharma - There are some duties that apply to all Hindus - The rest of one’s dharma depends on one’s caste, stage in life, gender, etc. - Tne is supposed to act without selfish motivation, in accordance with duty - In so doing, one lives not for the self but for Brahman - In the Laws of Manu, 10 moral virtues are identified that all Hindus should strive to achieve 1. Pleasantness 2 2. Patience 2 3. Control of the mind 3.5 4. Non-stealing 2.5 5. Purity 1.5 6. control of the senses 3.5 7. Intelligence 3 8. Knowledge 2.5 9. Truthfulness 2 10. Non-irritability 1 There are 5 abstentions [things one must avoid] 1. Causing Injury 2. Lying 3. Stealing 4. Sensuality (lust) 5. Greed There are 5 observances [things one must practice] 1. cleanliness 2. contentment 3. self-control 4. studiousness 5. contemplation of the divine Bhakti Yoga – Path of Devotion - This path is the most easily attainable and is followed by the vast majority of Hindus - It involves acts of devotion to the gods and goddesses - Through love and self surrender to the gods (which are all manifestations of Brahman), one frees oneself of selfish desires and approaches Brahman - Bhakti yoga originated in the epic poems of Hinduism - The Ramayana tells of the life of Rama (an avatar or incarnation of Vishnu) - The Mahabharata contains the very popular Bhagavad-Gita or Song of the Beloved One in which Krishna (an avatar of Vishnu) tells of how one can achieve moksha through bhakti - The most popular gods are Vishnu (and his avatars Rama and Krishna), Shiva, and the Great Goddess (as Devi, the loving mother, and Kali, the fearful demolisher) - Many Hindu families have a shrine at home - Acts of worship, puja, are performed on a daily basis - These include reading the Scriptures; offerings of flower, food, and incense; lighting candles; meditation; and washing the statues of the gods/goddesses RAJA YOGA: The Path of Mystics Meditation and experimental practices, under the guide of a guru, help one to see past the illusions of this world. Hindu Scriptures: The Vedas - The Vedas consists of lots of rituals, superstitions, hymns, and spells The Upanishads - After the Vedas for actions you can do, associated with Jnana yoga. Explains the Hindu relationship between people & God and answers fundamental questions The Bhagavad-Gita - Pulls the whole religion together to make it make sense The Brahmanas - Commentaries on the Vedas and the Upanishads The Puranas - Various stories of the gods, associated with Bhakti yoga The Epics (type of scripture) - long and detailed narratives - Ficus is on heroes, good vs evil - Supernatural beings - Usually have many jet characters - Spans over many centuries I want to focus on my actual focus in class to ensure I can hear and correct feedback given to me and the class. I would also like to focus on my bad/opposite side leg for fouettés. \ One of my strengths in jazz technique is my jumps. I have always enjoyed learning and executing various types of jumps. Another one of my strengths is turns. My turns on the right side are very strong however, my turns on the left side are something I want to work on in the future. I think I did well on the jazz technique evaluation. I have a strong foundation in jazz technique since I have completed countless hours of training and strengthening my jazz technique in the studio. I want to continue working hard and pushing myself to learn and improve in jazz technique and as a dancer in general.