Hinduism

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Hinduism

• "When you hear about the Self,
• meditate upon the Self, and finally realize
  the Self...you come to understand everything in
  life."--Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.5

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Origins

• Hinduism is an ancient religion with no known
  founder or known date of origin.

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Origins

• The term "Hinduism" simply derives from the
  word "India" and refers to a wide variety of
  religious traditions and philosophies that have
  developed in India over thousands of years.

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Origins

• Therefore, Hinduism is really an indigenous
  religion of India that has developed over time to
  become what it is today.

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Adherents

• Hinduism is the third largest religion in the
  world.
• Approximately 900 million people follow Hinduism
  worldwide.

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Adherents

• The followers of Hinduism are called Hindus

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Views

• Hinduism embraces a great diversity of beliefs, a
  fact that can be initially confusing to
  westerners.
• One can believe a wide variety of things about
  God, the universe and the path to liberation and
  still be considered a Hindu.

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Views

• There is a common misconception that Hinduism is
  a polytheistic religion. While Hindus do
  worship many gods and goddesses, they are most
  often viewed as different manifestations of one
  supreme being, Brahman.

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Three Major Forms of Brahman

• Brahma the Creator

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Three Major Forms of Brahman

• Siva the Destroyer

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Three Major Forms of Brahman

• Vishnu the Preserver

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Common Hindu Beliefs

• Everyone has a soul or Atman

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Common Hindu Beliefs

• The Ultimate Goal To reunite ones soul with
  Brahman, the universal spirit

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Common Hindu Beliefs

• Reincarnation - Souls are born and reborn many
  times

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Common Hindu Beliefs

• Karma the effects that good or bad actions have
  on a persons soul.

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Common Hindu Beliefs

• Moksha Salvation from the cycle of rebirth.
  This happens after building enough good karma.

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Common Hindu Beliefs

• Dharma each person has a duty to accept his or
  her place in the world without complaint.

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Lifes Purpose

• Humans are in bondage to ignorance and illusion,
  but are able to escape.
• The purpose of life is to gain release (moksha)
  from the cycle of rebirth, or at least a better
  rebirth.

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Afterlife

• Uniting with God (Brahman) as a drop of rain
  merges with the sea.

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General Practices

• Yoga
• meditation
• worship (puja)
• devotion to a god or goddess
• pilgrimage to holy cities
• live according to one's dharma (purpose/ role)

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Holy Text(s)

• The Vedas (Book of Knowledge, most sacred)
• Upanishads (means Sitting near a teacher)
• Bhagavad Gita