HINDU DHARMA I Hinduism
- “Hindu” is the Sanskrit word for “Sindhu”
- It was first used by the Muslim conquerors to refer to its inhabitants
- Hindu ay bigay ng Arab.
“ The world should be balance” -- magpapakalma sa tao *polytheistic
- “Dharma” signifies behaviors in accordance w/ principles of natural
order, which regulates the operation of universe and everything within it.
- Dharma = balance *India -> 50% Hindui
Caste System - social stratification; determine the reincarnation
SACRED TEXTS
1. Shruti [Sanskrit “heard”] - for males only
2. Smriti [Sanskrit “remembered”] - orally transmitted
Vedas is the sacred and main text
- 4 section; with 4 sections each collection
- ascetic - practice ng Hindu (abstinence) asceticism
- upanishads - laging na-uupdate (pwede magcomment
philospher)
1. Rig-Veda - collection of over a thousand mantra/hymns to Aryan gods
2. Yajur-Veda - prayers to ensure successful offering
3. Sama-Veda - chants and holy songs derived from Rig-Veda
4. Atharva-Veda - rituals and prayers to ward off evil
• Mantras - hymns of religious poetry addressed to deities
• Brahmanas - ceremonial guidelines
• Aranyakas - material for ascetic hermits
• Upanishads - philosophical commentaries on Vedic teaching
What does Vedas say about “Dharma”?
“The world is upheld by Dharma.” - Atharva Veda
“Nothing is higher than Dharma. Truly, that Dharma is the Truth. For
both are one and the same.” - Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.14
CONCEPTIONS OF ULTIMATE REALITY
- Hindus do not believe in langit, they believe in dimensions
- Brahman: everything that is seen and unseen
- Ahtman: every reality that people see (part of brahman)
Nirvana - perfect happiness - attain brahman
- let go of all material things to achieve nirvana.
- Moksha - you have to let go/ freedom of all material things
- Samsara - cycle of death and rebirth
Brahman
- The reality that makes everything that can be experienced
possible but which cannot be perceived by senses
- The ultimate consciousness, ultimate reality, ultimate bliss
1. Nirguna Brahman (unseen)
- The impersonal and without attributes understanding of Brahman
2. Saguna Brahman
- with person-like attributes - It has 3 forms called “Trimutri”
•Brahma – the creator
•Vishnu – the preserver
•Shiva – the destroyer
LORD BRHAMA
- money (prosperity)
- 4 elements of nature
- creator of the universe and of all beings
- creator of the four Vedas, one from each of his
mouths
LORD VISHNU
- snake (temptation)
- preserve human life despite temptations
- he protects the universe from being destroyed and
keeps it going
LORD SHIVA
- the destroyer
- destroy the universe in order to re-create it.
- judger sa tao
BASIC DOCTRINES
The goal is to be one with the Brahman thru attaining Nirvana
Samsara
- The succession of states of existence - The doctrine of reincarnation
Moksha
- The liberation from earthly life that will lead to Nirvana
Karma
- doctrine of consequence
- Every thought and deed has its consequences
10 Virtues of Dharma
1. Ahimsa - Avoidance of violent thought and action
2. Satya - Avoidance of dishonesty and betrayal
3. Asteya - Avoidance of theft and covetousness
4. Brahmacariya - Avoidance of lust, drunkenness, and bad company
5. Aparigraha- Avoidance of greed and desire
6. Saucha - Purity in body, mind, and speech
7. Santosha - Contentment with one’s possessions
8. Tapaha - Endurance and perseverance
9. Svadhyaya - Scriptural study and the quest for wisdom
10. Ishvarapranidhana - Devotion, worship, and meditation
4 Yogas
1. Karma Yoga - gagawa ng mabuti sa iba - path of action
2. Jnana Yoga - scriptual studies - philosophical path
3. Raja Yoga - meditate - Royal Path of Yoga” or the “Eight Step
Path
4. Bhakti Yoga - devoted ang Hindu sa Diyos
BUDDHISM
- Another interpretation of Hindu Dharma
- Indian emperor Ashoka Maurya used his imperial power to empower
the once religious sect - Siddhartha Gautama as the founder
SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA
- Son of emperor. Prophesied as a great king or;
- If awakened by the harshness of the world, he would be a great
teacher
- Was insulated from the distress of humanity by being given 3 palaces
- he is looking for enlightenment
*ascetic hermit (mountains) *nagpakalbo (monks)
* shared enlightenment to everyone; then gained followers
DIVISIONS OF BUDDHISM
1. Theravada Buddhism
- Believes its doctrine to be more faithful to Buddha
- Enlightenment must be achieved thru own efforts
2. Mahayana Buddhism
- Believes that beyond Buddha’s teachings, there was much more
to be known from Buddha
- It gives greater value to compassion than enlightenment
- Buddha is a divine reincarnated being
FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
1. Suffering is part of human life [Dukkha]
- Physical/mental illness associated at birth
- Anxiety/stress of trying to hold on to things that are constantly changing
- Chronic dissatisfaction due to impermanence
2. Dukkha is caused by craving [Tanha]
- Craving for sensory pleasure [kama-tanha]
- Craving to be something [bhava-tanha]
- Craving to be separated from all the pain [vibhava-tanha]
3. There is end/extinction to dukkha by eliminating tanha [nirvana/
nibbana]
- Nirvana is the extinction of a permanent and undying self
- Accepting the reality that nothing is permanent
4. The way to extinguish dukkha is thru the Eightfold Path
•Samma-dhitti – appropriate outlook
•Samma-sankappa – appropriate determination
•Samma-vaca – appropriate communication
•Samma-kammanta – appropriate conduct
•Samma-ajiva – appropriate occupation
•Samma-vayama – appropriate effort
•Samma-sati – appropriate mindfulness
•Samma-samadhi – appropriate samadhi