Doctrine of Devils Session 7

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Doctrine of DevilsSession 7
HINDUISM v.s. CHRISTIANITYPart 2
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HINDUISM v.s. CHRISTIANITY Part 2
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Hindu Teachings Moksha

• When one achieves liberation, he enters into a
  state of fullness (oneness with Brahma)
• Can be achieved through 3 paths
• Knowledge, or jnana
• Devotion, or bhakti
• Ritual works, or karma
• One who achieves moksha before death is known as
  jivanmukta

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Hindu Teachings Atman

• The soul, or true self, the part of each living
  thing that is eternal
• Sometimes used synonomously with Brahman, the
  universal soul, seeking mystical union together

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Hindu Teachings Maya

• Hindus say the world is maya.
• The world, in our minds, appears as we see it.
• But we have no right to infer from this that
  reality is in itself the way it appears to us.
• In this way, it is illusion or maya

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Hindu Teachings Karma

• Karma means action
• Ones present state of existence is determined by
  his performance in previous lifetimes.
• The law of moral consequence
• If one performs righteous acts, he moves towards
  moksha
• If ones deeds are evil, he moves further away
  from moksha

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Hindu Teachings The Caste System

• Brahma created Manu, the 1st man, from whom came
  4 different types of people, as Brahma determined
• Manus head Brahmins, the best most holy
• Manus hands Kshatriyas, rulers warriors
• Manus thighs Vaisyas, craftsmen
• Manus feet Sudras, remainder of the people
• Caste structure is divinely inspired

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Hindu Teachings The Caste System

• Brahmins
• Honored by all, including royal family
• Priests philosophers subsidized by the state
• Kshatriyas
• Upper middle class involved in govt.
  professional life, but lower than Brahmins

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Hindu Teachings The Caste System

• Vaisyas
• Merchants farmers
• Sudras
• Lowest caste
• Serve the upper castes as laborers servants
• Excluded from many of the religious rituals
  vedas

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Hindu Teachings The Caste System

• As time progressed, thousands of subcastes came
  into existence
• Integral part of Indian social order, though
  outlawed by the government

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Hindu Teachings Salvation

• Achieved in one of 3 ways
• The Way of Works (karma marga)
• salvation through religious duty
• Carrying out prescribed ceremonies, rituals adds
  favorable karma to his merit
• If done religiously, it is possible to be reborn
  as a Brahmin on his way toward moksha

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Hindu Teachings Salvation

• The Way of Knowledge (jnana marga)
• suffering is caused by human ignorance
• Our error we see ourselves as separate, real
  entities, whereas Brahman is the only real
  entity. Thus, we are a part of Brahman.
• Selfhood is an illusion need to understand this
• Salvation is not merely intellectual, but
  experiential, reaching a state of consciousness
  where karma is ineffective
• Need for much self-discipline meditation
• Only appeals to the intellectual few willing to
  go through the prescribed steps

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Hindu Teachings Salvation

• The Way of Devotion (bakti marga)
• Devotion to a deity, which may be reflected in
  acts of worship, both public private
• Based upon love for the deity, the bhakti will
  also be carried out in human relationships
• Bhakti can lead to ultimate salvation
• Exemplified in Bhagavad Gita
• Commitment action needed (two types of yoga
  bhakti devotion raja meditation)

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Lord Vishnu 10 incarnations

• Ten such avatars (descents or incarnations) are
  commonly recognized, of which Lord Rama and Lord
  Krishna are the most important.
• Nine descents are thought to have already
  occurred the tenth and last is yet to come.
• Scholars believe that Vishnu's role as preserver
  (or redeemer) arose from the characteristic
  practice of assimilating local legendary heroes
  and gods into the Hindu pantheon by attributing
  their deeds to one of the major Hindu deities.

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1st incarnation of Vishnu
Matsya

• In this form Vishnu saved Vaivaswata, the Hindu
  variety of the biblical Noah (or vice versa).
• Vaivaswata (Sanskrit). The forefather of the
  post-diluvian race, or our own fifth humankind.
• A reputed son of Surya (the Sun), he became,
  after having been saved in an ark (built by the
  order of Vishnu) from the Deluge, the father of
  Ikshwaku, the founder of the solar race of kings.
  
• Ikshwaku (Sanskrit) is the progenitor of the
  Solar tribe (the Suryavansas) in India, and the
  Son of Vaivaswata Manu, the progenitor of the
  present human Race.

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2nd incarnation of Vishnu
Kurma

• Second incarnation of Vishnu Kurma or the
  Turtle incarnation when the Devas lost their
  strength and prowess due to a curse and, after
  losing their immortality and kingdom, they
  approached Lord Vishnu for help.
• Vishnu suggested that they needed to drink the
  nectar of immortality to regain their lost glory.
  However, they needed to strive hard to acquire
  the nectar since it was hidden in the ocean of
  milk.
• When they began churning, the mountain began
  sinking into the ocean. Taking the form of a
  turtle (Kurma), Vishnu bears the entire weight of
  the mountain and the churning continues and
  various objects are thrown out including the
  deadly poison which the Lord Shiva then comes
  to drink.

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3rd incarnation of Vishnu
Varaha

• Third incarnation of Vishnu Varaha or the Boar
  incarnation of Vishnu he killed the demon
  Hiranyaksha, recovered the stolen Veda's and
  released the Earth from the bottom of the ocean.
• He was slain by Lord Vishnu after he
  (Hiranyaksha) took the Earth to the bottom of
  what has been described as the "Cosmic Ocean".
• Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a white boar (Sri
  Varaha) and dove into the ocean to lift the
  Earth, in the process slaying Hiranyaksha who was
  obstructing Him. The battle lasted one thousand
  years.

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4th incarnation of Vishnu
Narasimha

• Fourth incarnation of Vishnu Narasimha or the
  Lion incarnation as a creature who was
  half-lion and half-man, Vishnu killed the demon
  Hiranyashasipu, brother of Niranyaksha, who had
  gained the boon of immunity from attacks by man,
  beast or god.

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5th incarnation of Vishnu
Vamana

• Fifth incarnation of Vishnu Vamana or the Dwarf
  incarnation he killed the demon Bali, who had
  gained dominion over the Earth and had chased the
  gods from the heavens.
• The legend of Bhagavata has it that the Vamana
  avatar was taken by Vishnu to restore Indra's
  authority over the heavens, which was taken away
  by force by the demon king Bali in Dravida.

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6th incarnation of Vishnu
Parasurama

• Sixth incarnation of Vishnu Parasurama he
  killed the King Kartavirya, who had stolen the
  holy cow Kamadhenu, which could grant all desires.

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7th incarnation of Vishnu
Ram

• Seventh incarnation of Vishnu Ram took birth to
  free the earth from the cruelty and sins of the
  demon King Ravana (Ravan).
• Ravana had practiced austerities in order to
  propitiate Shiva and Brahma, who had granted him
  immunity from being killed by gods, gandharvas or
  demons.
• One of the gods had to take on a human form in
  order to be able to defeat Ravana.

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8th incarnation of Vishnu
Krishna

• Krishna is the supreme being.
• Krishna is often depicted as an infant, as a
  young boy playing a flute as in the Bhagavata
  Purana or as a youthful prince giving direction
  and guidance as in the Bhagavad Gita.
• They portray him in various roles a god-child, a
  prankster, a model lover, a divine hero and the
  Supreme Being.

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9th incarnation of Vishnu
Buddha

• Ninth incarnation of Vishnu Buddha was Vishnu
  incarnated to propogate false ideas, to lead the
  opponents of the gods into weakness and
  wickedness, thereby causing them ultimately to be
  destroyed or to turn back for their salvation to
  their old faith in the traditional gods.

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• Tenth Incarnation of Vishnu Kalki The popular
  image of the Kalkin Avatar is that of a rider
  upon a white horse, which some sources name as
  Devadatta (God-given).
• The horse itself is interpreted as symbolizing
  strength, while its color white represents the
  power of unity, as white unifies all colours in
  the spectrum.
• Commonly, the horse is described as having wings.
  
• Kalki himself will be one with the divine, and is
  also mysteriously described as being a
  "yantra-manava," or a machine-man.
• He brandishes a flaming comet-like sword, which
  is sometimes interpreted as a symbol for
  "discernment," or Wisdom, in that it slices away
  the bonds of lies and foulness, and liberates
  souls by sharpening their awareness of truth and
  beauty.

Kalki
FINAL or 10th incarnation of Vishnu
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Kalki

• Kalkin will arrive on earth intent on eradicating
  the reign of evil.
• His first action will be to vanquish the demon
  Kali (not to be confused with the Hindu Goddess
  Kali), who has taken the earth under his control,
  thereby freeing its citizens from moral and
  spiritual devolution.
• Kalkin will then reconcile all opposites, and
  renew the processes of the Dharma (Paths of
  Virtue) and Creation.
• Ultimately, he will establishing a reign of
  righteousness upon the earth, ushering in a
  golden age of peace and harmony, and thereby
  setting in motion the next cycle of the universe.

FINAL or 10th incarnation of Vishnu
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Hindu/Buddhist Salvation

• Salvation The ultimate goal of Hinduism and
  Buddhism is to liberate ourselves from this
  physical personal existence and become One with
  the Impersonal All. (Carlson and Decker, Fast
  Facts on False Teaching, 92).
• Suffering People suffer because they have not
  liberated themselves from their personal world.
  The physical world is just and illusion, called
  maya.
• This enlightenment is called
• Buddhism- Nirvana
• Hinduism- Moksha, Samadhi, or Kaivalya
• Zen- Satori
• Western World- Cosmic Consciousness, One with
  Self
• Sin There is no such thing. It too, is an
  illusion!

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Hindu Salvation

• Means of Enlightenment
• Path of knowledge makes one realize Brahman
  Atman
• Path of good works works off karma
• Path of Yoga allows one to transcend the world
  of illusion.
• Yoga 8 steps
• Hatha Yoga- The first five steps prepare body for
  transcendence into Moksha (Nirvana). Comprised of
  isometrics and breathing exercises.
• Raja Yoga- The last three steps where a person
  silences the mind by repeating mantras, achieves
  oneness with god (yet still with a sense of
  personal existence) and then diffusion into the
  impersonal universe (god).

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What is a Chakra?
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What is a Chakra?
Means wheel, energy wheel. Energy vortex exists
and one can learn to channel the divine energy of
the universe to heal the body and the mind. It is
a holistic method of cleansing. Location of the
Main energy points within the body. Kundalini
energy is partially supplying energy to these
chakras.
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What is this Energy?
Symbolically represented as 3 ½ coiled
serpent. Involuntary jerkiness or shaking in the
body Intense feelings of pleasure or bliss
Feelings of cold in the body Intense heat in
the spine, or a particular chakra, as if molten
metal were flowing in the spine Striking flows
of energy, like electricity or internal lightning
bolts Feelings like snakes or ants crawling on
the body, particularly along the spine, or
between the feet and head A sense of confusion
or uncertainty about what is happening in these
experiences Spontaneous emotional shifts or mood
swings Increase in the experience of inner
colors and lights Inner sounds, such as musical
instruments, buzzing, roaring, or thunder Waves
of creative, intellectual, or spiritual insights
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Is Kundalini yoga dangerous to practice?
The practice is dangerous because most are not
psychologically ready for the transformation of
the everyday ego-personality that will take place
during this practice. Disorientation often occurs
with the forgetting of everyday
responsibilities. Most are practicing to get
fast power. It is dangerous because people are
getting most, if not all, of their data from
books. Kundalini yoga, like all esoteric yogas,
should not be practiced from a book, but from a
living master, from a living sane master. After
almost six decades of teaching, I have come
across too many unbalanced "masters." Yoga is the
art and the science of balanced being. Thus, a
soul who has successfully practiced yoga always
has one foot in heaven and the other foot firmly
planted on the ground.
Goswami Kriyananda
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Is Kundalini yoga dangerous to practice?
It is common knowledge that many people have had
bad "acid trips." One of the key reasons for
these bad trips is that they pick the "wrong
time." Now, this phrase has two meanings a
time in which negative thought-forms will be
flowing from the subconscious, or a time when the
person is under strong stress and
strain. Kundalini yoga, like all esoteric yogas,
deals more with the energies from the unconscious
mind than with the subconscious energies, and
most people's subconscious mind has little or no
discipline at all. And they have absolutely no
self-discipline of their unconscious mind.
Thus, the practice of yama-niyama is essential
to the successful and harmonious practice of any
esoteric yoga.
Goswami Kriyananda
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Is Kundalini yoga dangerous to practice?
Now this is not just an intellectual
understanding. It is an ethical practice. This
practice must be exercised not for a few days or
a few weeks, but for years, if not decades,
during which both the subconscious and
unconscious have balanced out most of the angular
energies such as hatred, which irritates the
subconscious mind. Kundalini yoga improperly
performed produces what I call the "shakti
effect," and not the Kundalini effect.
Improperly performed, the method releases
symbols that affect the body and/or the mind. If
it moves from the center channel to the channel
on the right side, biological conditions such as
shaking and sickness will manifest. If it moves
to the left channel, it produces mental problems
such as "DTs" or hallucinations.
Goswami Kriyananda
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Is Kundalini yoga dangerous to practice?
In Hindu mythology and occult anatomy, the
goddess Kundalini is thought of as a female
serpent lying dormant at the base of the spine.
Kkundalini is the Divine Cosmic Energy in
bodies. She represents the female half of the
divine polarity in man. While lying at the base
of the spine, she is separated from Shiva, her
divine "lover" and masculine counterpart, who
resides in the brain. When aroused by yoga
practices, she uncoils, travels up the spine
toward her lover, opening the alleged psychic
centers called chakras in the process.
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Is Kundalini yoga dangerous to practice?
When the crown or top chakra is reached, the
union of Shiva/Shakti occurs, supposedly leading
the practitioner to divine enlightenment and
union with Brahman. Traditionally she is known
as Durga the creatrix, Chandi the fierce and
bloodthirsty, and Kali the destroyer. She is
also Bhajangi the serpent. As Chandi or Kali
she has a garland of skulls around her neck and
drinks human blood."
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Kundalini Awakening
Signs of Kundalini Awakening There are various
signs and symptoms of Kundalini Awakening, and
these may be of varying duration and intensity.
The specific experiences may also vary from
person to person, and the words used to describe
the experiences may be different. The nature of
the experience is also affected by the degree to
which the individual chakras are involved in the
energy increase. However, there are some general
signs and symptoms that are commonly reported
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Kundalini Awakening
Perhaps the dominant characteristic in kundalini
arousal and other yoga practice is an experience
of energy infusion, or possession. During the
ecstasy or trance, consciousness is transformed
and the yogi, sufi, or mystic finds himself in
direct rapport with an overwhelming Presence.
This warm, living, conscious Presence spreads
everywhere and occupies the whole mind and
thought of the devotee. Furthermore, this energy
is invariably experienced by all mediators and
yogis as some kind of supernatural or divine
energy.
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Kundalini Awakening
Not surprisingly, no kundalini or yoga theorist
defines this energy infusion, or possession, as
actual demon possession however, there is often
recognition of a possessing god or entity, and
sometimes references to the demonic.
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Core Beliefs

• Hindus Believe...

• Christians Believe...

• A vast plurality of gods and goddesses exist as
  part of the impersonal Brahman.

• In one God in 3 persons. He is distinct from his
  creation, yet intimately involved with it as its
  sustainer and redeemer.
• Hear, O Israel The Lord our God, the Lord is
  one. Deuteronomy 64

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Core Beliefs

• Hindus Believe...

• Christians Believe...

• Humans, as with all living things, are just
  manifestations of Brahman. 
• We have no individual self, or self-worth.

• So God created man in his own image, in the
  image of God he created him male and female he
  created them.  Genesis 127
• For God so loved the world that he gave his one
  and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall
  not perish but have eternal life.  John 316

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Core Beliefs

• Hindus Believe...

• Christians Believe...

• That the universe undergoes endless cycles of
  creation, preservation, and dissolution.
• The world and everything on it are manifestations
  of Brahman.

• That the world was created once by the divine
  will of God, was corrupted by sin and yet under
  God's providence, moves towards final perfection.
  
• God created the universe, the world, and
  everything on it.  (Genesis 1).  As God did not
  create Himself, the world exists separately from
  God.

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Core Beliefs

• Hindus Believe...

• Christians Believe...

• That in Adam's sin, the human race was
  spiritually alienated from God, and that those
  who are called by God and respond to his grace
  will have eternal life. Those who persist in
  rebellion will be lost eternally.
• God gave us rules because He cares about us.  He
  also gave us free will we can choose to
  disobey.  Disobedience (sin) is an offense
  against God.
• Against you, you only, have I sinned and done
  what is evil in your sight, so that you are
  proved right when you speak and justified when
  you judge.  Psalm 514
• For all have sinned and fall short of the glory
  of God.  Romans 323

• That all souls are evolving toward union with God
  and will ultimately find spiritual knowledge and
  liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Not a
  single soul will be eternally deprived of this
  destiny.
• Sin is committed against oneself, not against
  God. 

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Core Beliefs

• Hindus Believe...

• Christians Believe...

• In karma, the law of cause and effect by which
  each individual creates his own destiny by his
  thoughts, words, and deeds.
• Since sin is committed only against oneself,
  the penalties are accrued only against the self. 
  The penalty is the repeated cycle of rebirths,
  until you can escape to Nirvana. 

• That through God's grace and favor, lost sinners
  are rescued from the guilt, power, and eternal
  consequences of their evil thoughts, words, and
  deeds.
• Sin cannot exist in the presence of God. 
  Therefore, the penalty of sin is spiritual death,
  or separation from God.
• For the wages of sin is death  Romans 623a

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Core Beliefs

• Hindus Believe...

• Christians Believe...

• That the soul reincarnates, evolving through many
  births until all karmas have been resolved.

• That it is appointed for human beings to die
  once, and after that face judgement.
• Salvation is a free gift to us from God.  We must
  only accept it.  We cannot earn it.  Jesus bought
  our salvation by taking all our sin upon Himself
  on the cross, dying as a sacrifice for us, and
  then rising from the dead three days later. 

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Core Beliefs

• Hindus Believe...

• Christians Believe...

• Salvation means spending eternity in heaven with
  our Almighty God!
• but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ
  Jesus our Lord.  Romans 623b
• For God so loved the world that he gave his one
  and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall
  not perish but have eternal life.  John 316
• For it is by grace you have been saved, through
  faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the
  gift of God--not by works, so that no one can
  boast.  Ephesians 28,9

• Salvation is the release from the wheel of life,
  the cycle of rebirths,
• through which we must work to better ourselves,
  and realize our oneness with Brahman. 
• It must be worked out by each individual through
  successive lives.

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Core Beliefs

• Hindus Believe...

• Christians Believe...

• That divine beings exist in unseen inner worlds
• temple worship
• Rituals
• Sacraments
• personal devotionals
• all create a communion with the devas and gods.

• That spirit beings inhabit the universe, some
  good and some evil but that our worship is due
  to God alone.
• Jesus said, "...You shall worship the Lord your
  God, and serve Him only" (Matt. 410).

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Core Beliefs

• Hindus Believe...

• Christians Believe...

• That a spiritually awakened Master is essential
  to know the Transcendent Absolute, as are
  personal discipline, good conduct, purification,
  self-inquiry and meditation.

• That God has given us a clear revelation of
  himself in Jesus and the sacred Scriptures.
• He has empowered by his Spirit
• Prophets
• Apostles
• Evangelists
• Pastors
• Teachers
• charged to guide us into faith holiness in
  accordance with his Word. (Ephesians 411)

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Core Beliefs

• Hindus Believe...

• Christians Believe...

• That all life is sacred and to be loved and
  revered, through the practice of nonviolence.

• That life is to be highly esteemed but that it
  must be subordinated in the service of biblical
  love and justice.

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Core Beliefs

• Hindus Believe...

• Christians Believe...

• That no particular religion teaches the only way
  to salvation above all others, but that all
  genuine religious paths are facets of God's pure
  love and light, deserving tolerance and
  understanding.

• That Jesus is God incarnate , and therefore the
  only sure path to salvation. (John 114)
• Many religions may offer ethical and spiritual
  insights, but only Jesus is the Way, the Truth,
  and the Life. (John 146)