Religious Traditions of the World PDF

Religious Traditions of the World HINDUISM Ohm - The sacred sound of the universe - Symbolizes the three states of consciousness: the waking (bottom curve), the dream (middle curve) and the deep (upper curve) - 4,500 BCE, Indus Valley (Now Northwes...

Religious Traditions of the World HINDUISM Ohm - The sacred sound of the universe - Symbolizes the three states of consciousness: the waking (bottom curve), the dream (middle curve) and the deep (upper curve) - 4,500 BCE, Indus Valley (Now Northwest India and Pakistan) - Polytheistic Religion: Supreme Beings: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva - Sacred Writings: Vedas and Upanishads BRAHMAN - Ultimate reality, the source and the goal of all existence. - A general term for the Supreme Reality or 'God'  - The idea of the "Divine" is richly manifested in the multiplicity of Hindu gods and goddesses BRAHMA - The creator of the universe and of all beings. - Not as popular as Vishnu and Shiva. It is hard to find a temple dedicated to Brahma. SHIVA – (DESTROYER?) - Ascetic god in yogic meditation in the Himalayas, storing up his energy to refresh the world periodically. - DISSOLVES, THEN RECREATES A DYSFUNCTIONAL UNIVERSE VISHNU (Protector/Preserver) - The great heavenly king who descends to the world from time to time in various forms (avatars) to maintain cosmic stability. ASCETICISM - In the midst of a busy city which caters to the worldly desires with markets, cinemas, shops, and so on, the ascetics look like a traveller from another world. - Holy men or women sitting in meditation around the steps of Ganges river - Wearing a minimum of clothes or naked. - Their bodies are dirty with ashes, sometimes from the cremation grounds. - Hair is long and untidy, or their heads may be shaven indicating utter neglect of bodily appearance. - Their only possessions are a water pot and a staff (REMINDER) IMPORTANCE OF WORLD RENUNCIATION IN HINDU TRADITION Basic Beliefs: Karma (law of cause and effect) Samsara (cycle of birth, death and rebirth—reincarnation) Dharma (ethics/duties) Artha (prosperity/work) Kama (desires/passion) Moksha (spiritual release) BASIC CONCEPTS IN HINDU LIFE AND RELIGION TWO LAWS OF LIFE KARMA - The moral law of cause and effect according to which a person reaps what he or she sows SAMSARA (Law of reincarnation) - Rebirth according to the nature of a person’s karma. - What you are now is the result of all that you have done in the past, and what you will become in the future is being determined by all your actions in the present. MOKSHA The final liberation from the endless cycles of birth, death and rebirth Ultimate spiritual goal of most Hindus Approaches in spiritual journey: Student - Study traditions, scriptures Householder - Support the world through rituals, work, and family life Hermit - Meditation away from society, leave his home, retire to the forest with his wife, continue rituals, and meditate on liberation from the world and rebirth. Wandering beggar - Renunciation of the world through extreme asceticism. - Abandon even his wife and rituals, wander continually, begging his food, and strive for the knowledge that emancipates him from the cycles of rebirth. BUDDHISM Dharma Wheel - Symbolizes the cycle of reincarnation, and the eight-fold path Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (about 600 BCE) - A prince of Shakya clan, who abandoned his royal lineage, lived as a monk, and finally became the Buddha (the enlightened one) Sacred Writings: - Texts containing Buddhavacana (The word of the Buddha) Basic doctrines: Dukkha (suffering) Samsara (cycle of reincarnation) Nirvana (spiritual release) Basic beliefs: The Four Noble Truths: 1. Life is permeated by suffering (Dukkha). 2. The cause (origin) of suffering is desire/craving (Tanha). 3. To end suffering is not to desire at all (elimination of craving). 4. The elimination of suffering requires following the Eight-Fold Path. Background of Buddhism - A religion to about 300 million people around the world. - 'budhi', “to awaken”. Origin: 2,500 years ago - Siddharta Gautama, known as the Buddha, was himself awakened (enlightened) at the age of 35. SIDDHARTA GAUTAMA - born into a royal family in Lumbini, now in Nepal, in 563 BC. - At 29, he realized that wealth and luxury did not guarantee happiness - Explored the different teachings, religions and philosophies to find the key to human happiness. - After six years of study and meditation he finally found 'the middle path and was enlightened. - Spent the rest of his life teaching the principles of Buddhism — called the Dhamma, or Truth — until his death at the age of 80. Is Buddha a God? He is not, nor did he claim to be. He was a man who taught a path to enlightenment from his own experience. 3 Marks of Existence Suffering (dukkha)\  - Every experience is marked by some quality of suffering, whether it’s extreme pain or a background sense of unease. - As long as we struggle to maintain a sense of solid self, our lives will be marked by struggles, stress and fear Impersonality (annata) - No solid, separate, single, fixed self. We have no core. We are product of multiple causes and conditions. - Describes what things are not. Non-self is emptiness in terms of space. - We cannot just cling to mere concepts/ideas of a self. Impermanence (anicca) - The Buddha said that all compounded phenomena disintegrate. - All things are made of parts, and all things fall apart. Everything dies. - Impermanence describes how things are. The Eight-Fold Path 1. Right Understanding Requires us to see life as such –that there is impermanence, suffering, and non self. To have proper understanding of human existence, the reality of human life. 2. Right Thought Mind must be free from impurities like cruelty, lust, and will. 3. Right Speech. Demands to refrain from gossip or idle talk, telling lies, harsh talk and backbiting. 4. Right Action. Avoidance of killing, stealing, lies, sexual misconduct, intoxication in drugs and alcoholic drinks. 5. Right Livelihood. Practice of correct and proper occupation If it’s not harmful and it gives justice to others. 6. Right Effort. Self-perfection Elude from any incoming evil, dispels an existing evil, bring about good which is yet to come and nourishes the existing good 7. Right Mindfulness Observance of four fundamental elements: body, feelings, mind and ideas. 8. Right Concentration Pertains to mind single objectiveness Practice meditation Nirvana - Terminal point of moral life in Buddhism means the “blowing out” (flame of a candle) - Liberation from resentment, lust, hatred, delusion, false view, grief and indecision.