Hinduism Four Vedas

- world oldest known religion that can be traced back to 5000- a. Rig-Veda Samhita is the grandest book of the Hindus, the oldest and
10000 BC the best. It is the Great Indian Bible, which no Hindu would forget
- third largest religion of the world with more than 1 billion to adore from the core of his heart. Its style, the language and the
followers tone are most beautiful and mysterious. Its immortal Mantras
- the followers are called Hindu, historically a name given by the embody the greatest truths of existence, and it is perhaps the
outside people like Arabs to those who are living in the greatest treasure in all the scriptural literature of the world.
vicinity of Sindhu River
-also called Sanatama Dharma,"eternal religion" or b. Yajur-Veda Samhita is mostly in prose and is meant to be used by the
"eternal truth." Adhvaryu, the Yajur-Vedic priest, for superfluous explanations of
- most Hindus live in India the rites in sacrifices, supplementing the Rig-Vedic Mantras.
- has no single founder
- Hindus believe that every living thing has a soul c. Sama-Veda Samhita is mostly borrowed from the Rig-Vedic Samhita
and is meant to be sung by the Udgatri, the Sama-Vedic priest, in
Uniqueness of Hinduism sacrifices.
- Caters to the needs of all people.
- Accepts all religions and all paths. d. The Atharva-Veda Samhita is meant to be used by the Brahma, the
- Considers scriptures to be a road map to facilitate spiritual Atharva-Vedic priest, to correct the mispronunciations and wrong
journey performances that may accidentally be committed by the other
- Believes all creations and all creatures are forms of God. three priests of the sacrifice.
- Does not believe in conversion of people of one religion to
another 2. The Upanishads
- the concluding portions of the Vedas or the end of the Vedas.
Objectives of a Hindu’s life The teaching based on them is called Vedanta. The
Upanishads are the gist and the goal of the Vedas.
1. Dharma They form the very foundation of Hinduism.
- right conduct or righteousness 3. Bhagavad-Gita
2. Artha - most important part of the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad-Gita. It
- objective and virtuous pursuit of wealth for livelihood, obligations is a marvelous dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna
and economic prosperity. It is inclusive of political life, on the battle-field, before the commencement of the
diplomacy and material well-being. The Artha concept great war. Sri Krishna explained the essentials of Hindu
includes all "means of life", activities and resources that religion to Arjuna
enables one to be in a state one wants to be in, wealth,
career and financial security Hindu God/gods-godesses
3.Kama
- means desire, wish, passion, longing, pleasure of the senses, the Brahman - ( not to be confused with brahma, the creator deity)
aesthetic enjoyment of life, affection, or love, with or - the one Divine and Absolute Principle
without sexual connotations - the eternal, uncreated and all pervasive Reality that has no form,
and keeps the universe inexistence
4. Moksha - all deities or gods are manifestations of Brahman, but not seen
- liberation achieved through God realization. by Hindus as a direct object of worship, although it is seen
as the most supreme of all beings
Sacred writings
Trimurti (Trinity of gods)
1. Vedas 1. Brahma – the creator
- the word Veda means knowledge 2. Vishnu – the preserver
- the foundational scriptures of the Hindus 3. Shiva - the destroyer
- the eternal truths revealed by God to the great ancient Rishis of Murti
India, Rishi means a seer - an image of a Hindu deity
- the oldest books in the library of man
Mandir
 - a Hindu temple
In traditional Hindu society,
Pandit/Sage/Purohit/Guru • each person had a certain social position in life
- Hindu priest • all life was arranged as a hierarchy, from highest to lowest
• performing good deeds and following their assigned code of
Mantra behavior determined whether people had earned
- sacred sounds or words the right to be born at a higher level

Ten Commandments 1. Brahmans

1. Ahimsa - do no harm - the priestly caste
2. Satya - do not lie - their role is to study and teach in matters of faith, especially the
3. Asteya - do not steal Vedas, they lead most key rituals
4. Brahmacharya - do not overindulge
5. Aparigraha - do not be greedy 2. Kshatriyas
6. Saucha - be clean - this has been called the warrior caste
7. Santosha - be content - their role is to protect the people and run a fair government
8. Tapas - be self-disciplined
9. Svadhyaya - study 3. Vaishyas
10. Ishvara Pranidhana - surrender to God - consists of producers—traders, merchants, farmers, artists, and
business people
Tenets of Hinduism - this group has traditionally taken care of the economic needs of
the community
Atman
- the doctrine of Atman claims that there is a soul in every living 4. Sudras
creature - the lowest caste
- the innermost self that make one’s body alive - their main purpose is to serve the three higher castes
- this group includes unskilled workers, servants, and anyone
Dharma doing menial work.
- is generally defined as ‘righteousness’ or ‘duty’ Dharma
- puts an end to conflict and brings about unity and harmony Untouchables
- helps to unite all and develop pure divine love and universal - also called “outcastes,” people in this group are considered
brotherhood outsiders
- the cementer and sustainer of social life. - they may not interact in any way with members of the four
- prescribes different duties for different people castes
- leads to the perfect realization of essential unity or the final end, - traditionally, they do the dirtiest work in society and live apart, in
the highest good, namely, Moksha small communities

Levels of Dharma Karma

1. Individual Dharma - Every action has a reaction. Every act has an effect either in this
2. Family Dharma life or in future lives. Good actions will have good effects,
3. Societal Dharma and bad actions will have bad effects.
4. National Dharma
5. Dharma of Mankind The Law of Karma

According to traditional Hindu belief, following one’s dharma means
strictly following the rules of caste. The best way for a person to move to a
higher caste in the next life is to act according to one’s caste in this life.
Acting above one’s caste in this life is seen as ignoring dharma and generates
bad karma
The Caste System (The Jatis – social classification)
- As a man sows, so he shall reap. This is the Law of Karma. If you
do an evil action, you must suffer for it. If you do a good
action, you must get happiness. There is no power on this
earth which can stop the actions from yielding their fruits.
Every thought, every word, every deed is, as it were,
weighed in the scales of eternal, divine Justice.
 - You are the master of your own fate. You are the architect of - in celebration, the houses are usually lit with lamps to honor the
your own fortune. You are responsible for what you suffer. victory of lights over darkness
You are responsible for your present state. If you are - Hindus clean their house and prepare new clothes
happy, it has been your own making. If you are miserable,
it has also been your own making. 2. Holi
- festival of spring and colors
Reincarnation (or transmigration) - time to forgive past faults and start a new relationships with
- literally means embodiment again, coming again into a physical family and friends
body. The individual soul takes again a fleshy covering.
The word transmigration means passing from one place to 3. Makara Sankranti
another—passing into a new body. - festival of harvest
Samsara
The law of birth, death, and rebirth, or the process of reincarnation
4. Guru Purnima
- festival of one’s teacher
Moksha
- end of the wheel of samsara, the release or liberation from
5. Kumbha Mela
seemingly never-ending cycle of birth, death and rebirth
- largest Hindu festival
- celebrates the Saraswati River of enlightenment, an invisible
Hindu Yoga (Four Paths)
river that joins Ganges and Jumna Rivers
Yoga
6. Ghudipadawa
-means union with God. The practice of Yoga leads to communion
- Hindu New Year
with the Lord.
- characterized by spiritual calmness, virtue and joy
7. Raksha Bandhan
- a festival celebrated mainly in northern Indian states. Rakhi is a
1. Bhakti Yoga (Path of Devotion)
special occasion to celebrate the chaste bond of love
- the practice of deep devotion and love toward the Divine, and is
between a brother and a sister.
mainly expressed through ritual acts such as puja
(offering)
8. Navarathri
- the Hindu festival of worship and dance
2. Karma Yoga (Path of Action)
- appeals to people who have a strong desire to work for the
9. Yatra
betterment of the society, to do good deeds without
- the pilgrimage festivals celebrated at Hindu temples
expecting for anything in return
- Murtis are taken out on special procession in a chariot called the
rath. Every temple observes this festival once a year on
3. Jnana Yoga (Path of Knowledge)
the traditional day.
- consists of doing meditative practices that aim to clear the mind
of impurities and attain rational and calm disposition
Buddhism
- sees ignorance as the most problematic of human problems
- a non-theistic religion commonly regarded as a form of
4. Raja Yoga (Path of Contemplation)
philosophical doctrine
- consists of bodily exercises meant to purify the body and achieve
- began in India 2,500 years ago and remains the dominant world
physical balance
religion in the East
- the purpose of exercise is to facilitate the flow of different
- over 360 million followers
chakras (energy centers) of the body
- based on the teachings of an Indian prince named Siddharta
Gautama consider as the central figure known as the
Hindu Festivals
Buddha – Enlightened One
- a pathway to understand the nature of suffering and how it can
1. Divali/Diwali
be overcome
- festival of lights
Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 B.C.E.) b. Abidamma
- philosophical writings
- a Hindu
- a social reformer 3. Tibetan Canon
- under strict instruction of his father, he was never exposed to - the authoritative books by Vajrayana School
suffering or pain
- he saw many of his fellow Hindus suffer and decided to do a. Kanjur
something about it - the words of Buddha Himself
- he decided to abandon his worldly life, leaving behind his
privileges, rank, caste, and his wife and child b. Tanjur
-at the age of 29, he came across what has become known as the - elaborations of Buddha’s teachings
Four Passing Sights: first sight is an old man who was
scantily dressed, wrinkled and nearly blinded; second
sight is a sick man moaning in pain; third sight is a
Meaning of Life
funeral people grieving; fourth sight is a wandering
In Buddhism, the purpose of life is to end suffering. The Buddha
ascetic
taught that humans suffer because we continually strive after things that do
- after six years, Siddhartha (now 35), sitting under a Bodhi tree,
not give lasting happiness.
attained enlightenment (understood the key to life) and
became a Buddha
- For the remaining 45 years of his life, Buddha traveled
The Three Refuges (The Jewels/Gems)
northeastern India
- profession of one’s faith and an intention to put oneself under
another’s protection
Buddhists belief about gods/God (Deva)
One general doctrine agreed upon by Buddhists is: They do not
1. The Buddha
believe that this world is created and ruled by a God/gods.
- the teacher
Gods exist but they are not to be worshipped, in fact, human beings
are more privileged because one can be in the best conditions for achieving
2. The Dharma/Dhamma
enlightenment.
- the teachings
Sources of Knowledge in Buddhism
3. The Sangha
- the monastic order
1. Tripitaka (Three baskets)
- also known as Pali Canon
- the authoritative books by Theravada School
The 5 Precepts (Panca Sila)
a. Vinaya Pitaka
-monastic rules of conduct
1. Do not take the life of anything living
b. Sutta Pitaka
2. Do not take anything not freely given
-teachings of the Buddha
3. Abstain from sensual overindulgence
- versions of the Law
4. Refrain from untrue speech
5. Avoid intoxication
c. Abhidhamma Pitaka
- supplement to the doctrines
The Four Noble Truths
2. Mahayana Canon/Sutra
- the authoritative books by Mahayana School
1) Suffering (Dukkha)
- Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death is
a. Vinayas suffering; union with what is displeasing is suffering; separation
- rules for monastic conduct from what is pleasing is suffering; not getting what one wants is
suffering.
 - Sri Lanka & Southeast Asia
2) The origin of suffering (Tanha) - The oldest school of Buddhism.
- We always want something. Sex, materialism, food, good times, - The monastic life is the best way
health, immortality, youth to achieve Nirvana.
- Focus on wisdom and meditation.
3) The end of suffering - Goal is to become a “Buddha,” or “Enlightened One.”
- Transcend your cravings. Stop wanting. This will lead you to
Nirvana 3. Mahayana (“The Greater Vehicle”)
- Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).
Nirvana - Buddhism “for the masses.”
- The union with the ultimate spiritual reality - Seek guidance from Bodhisattvas, wise beings.
- Escape from the cycle of rebirth - Goal: Not just individual escape from the wheel, but the
salvation of all humanity through self-sacrifice of those
4) The way leading to the cessation of suffering enlightened few.
- The Noble Eightfold Path
3. Vajrayana (“The Way of the Diamond Thunderbolt”)
- Tibet & Mongolia
- The “Diamond Vehicle.” [Vajrayana]
The Noble Eightfold Path - A mix of Theravada and Mahayana.

1. Right View 4. Zen Buddhism

- Realizing the Four Noble Truths - The “Meditation School.”
- Seeks sudden enlightenment [satori] through meditation,
2. Right Intention arriving at emptiness [sunyata].
- Commitment to mental and ethical growth - Beauty, art, and aesthetics: Gardens, Archery, Tea ceremony
Calligraphy.
3. Right Speech
- One speaks in a non-hurtful, not exaggerated, truthful way
Buddhism's Holidays and Festivals
4. Right Action
- Wholesome action. Avoiding action that would hurt others 1. Buddhist New Year

5. Right Livelihood
- One's job should not harm oneself or others--directly or indirectly
(weapon maker, drug dealer, etc.)
6. Right Effort
- Makes an effort to improve (strive every day to be better)
7. Right Mindfulness
- Once you've beaten your physical self into submission, you have
to start working on your mental state, seeking the ability to think
clearly and see things as they really are.
8. Right Concentration
- Focus, focus, focus! (and meditate)! The path is only complete
when you have refined your mind into a state of total focus on reality
The Buddhist New Year is celebrated on different days throughout the
world. In Theravadin countries (Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and
Laos), the new year is celebrated for three days from the first full moon day
in April. In Mahayana countries, the new year usually starts on the first full
moon day in January, and Tibetan Buddhists generally celebrate it in March.
2. Vesak (Buddha Day)
Vesak is the birthday of the Buddha and the most important festival in
Buddhism. On the first full moon day in May, Buddhists all over the world
celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha in a single day.
The name "Vesak" comes from the Indian month of that name in which it is
held.
3. Sangha Day (Magha Puja Day or Fourfold Assembly Day)

The Major Buddhist Traditions Sangha Day commemorates the Buddha's visit to Veruvana Monastery
in the city of Rajagaha, when 1,250 arhats are said to have spontaneously
1. Theravada (“The Way of the Elders”)
returned from their wanderings to pay their respects to the Buddha. Sangha
Day is celebrated on the full moon day of the third lunar month (March).

4. Dhamma Day (Asalha Puja Day)

Dhamma Day is observed on the full moon day of the eighth lunar
month (July). It commemorates the "turning of the wheel of the Dharma" -
the Buddha's first sermon - at the Sarnath Deer Park.
Confucianism
5. Observance Day (Uposatha)
- viewed as a philosophy, as a religion, Confucianism is perhaps
Observance Day refers to each of the four traditional monthly holy best understood as a way of living one’s life and properly
days that continue to be observed in Theravada countries - the new moon, interacting with others.
full moon, and quarter moon days. It is known in Sri Lanka as Poya Day. - approximately 5 to 6 million people followers
- people who follow Confucianism are called Confucians or
6. Kathina Ceremony (Robe Offering Ceremony) Confucianists
- concerns primarily with ethical principles and does not
The Kathina Ceremony is held on any convenient date within one address many traditional religious beliefs
month of the conclusion of the three month rains retreat season (Vassa). On
this day, the laity (non-monastics) offer new robes and other necessities to Symbols
the monks and nuns.
7. Elephant Festival

The Buddha used the example of a wild elephant that is harnessed to

a tame one to train to teach that a person new to Buddhism should be helped
by an older Buddhist. To mark this saying, Thai Buddhists hold an Elephant
Festival on the third Saturday in November.

8. The Festival of the Tooth This is an ideogram The yin-yang It is also

for water that is symbol of sometimes used
On a small hill in Sri Lanka is a great temple that was built to house a often used to Taoism is also to represent
relic of the Buddha - his tooth. The tooth can never be seen, as it is kept deep represent sometimes used Confucianism. It
inside many caskets. But once a year in August, on the night of the full moon, Confucianism. It as a symbol for means total
there is a special procession for it. represents the Confucianism. It harmony,
source of life in symbolizes righteousness, in
9. Ancestor Day (Ulambana) Chinese philosophy balance in your own life and
nature between in your
In Mahayana countries, it is believed that the gates of hell are opened opposing forces. relationships
on the first day of the eighth lunar month and ghosts may visit the world for Unbalance can with others.
15 days. Food offerings are made during this time to relieve the sufferings of lead to
the ghosts. On the fifteenth day, Ulambana or Ancestor Day, people visit confusion.
cemeteries to make offerings to the departed ancestors. Many Theravadins
from Cambodia, Laos and Thailand also observe this festival.

Confucius

- Confucius (Latinized version of Kung Fuzi/Kung Fu-tzu “Master

Kung”) lived from around 551 BCE to 479 BCE
- began his working life as a lowly administrator in the Court of
Lu
 - at the age of 22 he opened up his own school - discussion of the character and influence of a noble
- When the nobles of the Court of Lu sent their own sons to person
study with him he gained a measure of fame
- became known as the "First Teacher" and “Great Master Kung” d. The Mencius
- collection of the teachings of Mencius
Life’s Purpose
- To fulfill one's role in society with propriety, honor, and loyalty
Confucian Ethics (Main Principle of Confucianism)

1. Ren ("humaneness" or "benevolence")

Belief in Heaven or “Tian”
2. Li (ritual norms)
Tian
- “ When you offended against Heaven, there nowhere you can 3. Zhong (loyalty to one's true nature)
turn to in your prayers.” (from Analects)
- refers to which is beyond human control 4. Shu (reciprocity)
- For Confucius, the Li is the way through which family, the state
and the world may become parallel with Tian’s moral order 5. Xiao (filial piety)
6. De (virtue).
The primary sources of Confucian philosophy
Confucius taught that people should know their place in life and society. They
1. The Five Classics should respect people above and below them.
These five relationships should all be governed by appropriate dispositions
a. Classic of History
- collection of documents and speeches dating from the 1. Father – son
Later Han Dynasty (23-220 CE) Father should show kindness
b. Classic of Odes Son should show filial piety
- collection of 300 poems and songs from the early Chou
Dynasty (1027-402 BC) 2. Husband – wife
c. Classic of Changes Husband should show love
- collection of texts on divination based on a set of 64 Wife should show obedience
hexagrams that reflect the relationship between
Yin and Yang in nature and society 3. Elder brother – younger brother
d. Spring and Autumn Annals Elder brother should show nobility
- extracts from the history of the state of Lu 722-484, said Younger brother should show respect
to be compiled by Confucius
e. Classic of Rites 4. Elder friend – younger friend
- consists of three books on the Li (Rites of Propriety) Elder friend should show humaneness
Younger friend should show deference

2. The Four Books 5. Ruler – subjects

Ruler should show benevolence
a. The Analects Subject should show loyalty
- the sayings of Confucius and his conversations with
followers
Popular Sayings or Statements of Confucius
b. The Doctrine of the Mean
- speaks in praise of the mean  Do not do unto others what you do not want others do unto you.

c. The Great Learning

  Knowing what he knows and knowing what he doesn’t know, is
characteristics of the person who knows.
 Making a mistake and not correcting it, is making another mistake.
 The superior man blames himself; the inferior man blames others.
 Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
 It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.
 Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
 The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small
stones.
 Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.
 When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him.
When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.
 Give a bowl of rice to a man and you will feed him for a day.
Teach him how to grow his own rice and you will save his life.
 When anger rises, think of the consequences.
 To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put
the nation in order, we must put the family in order; to put the family
in order, we must cultivate our personal life; and to cultivate our
personal life, we must first set our hearts right.
 He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.
 If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years,
plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.
 The gem cannot be polished without friction or man without trials.
 To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of
wickedness.
 Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.
 To see the right and not to do it is cowardice.
 Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.
Shintoism (The Way of the gods)
- is a Japanese ethnic religion. It focuses on ritual practices to be carried
out diligently, to establish a connection between present- day Japan and
its ancient past
- religion of public shrines devoted to the worship of a multitude of gods
- largest religion in Japan, practiced by nearly 80% of the population, yet
only a small percentage of these identify themselves as
"Shintoists" in surveys
- most of the Japanese attend Shinto shrines and beseech Kami without
belonging to an institutional religion
- animism in which animate and inanimate things have spirits or souls that
are worshipped
- It was originally a mixture of ancient practices:
Nature Worship
Fertility Cults (groups that pray for more crops)
Fortune Telling
Hero Worship
Shamanism (magic)
- may be practiced with other religions
Torii
- symbol for Shintoism
- represents the portal bet the world of humans and world of gods and
goddesses
- prepare visitors for their interaction with the spirits
Kami
- does not distinguish between singular and plural
- refers to the divinity, or sacred essence, that manifests in multiple forms:
rocks, trees, rivers, animals, places, and even people can be said to
possess the nature of kami
Kami and people are not separate; they exist within the same world and
share its interrelated complexity
Kannagara
- meaning "way [path] of [expression] of the kami
- refers to the law of the natural order
- Those who understand kannagara know the divine, the human, and how
people should live. From this knowledge stems the ethical
dimension of Shinto, focusing on sincerity, honesty and purity
There is no core sacred text in Shinto, as the Bible is in Christianity or Qur'an
is in Islam. Instead there are books of lore and history which provide stories
and background to many Shinto beliefs.
1. Kojiki
- (Record of Ancient Matters) The oldest book of Japanese history, it
describes the origin myths of Japan and the Imperial Family
beginning from 628
2. Nihon Shoki
-(Chronicles of Japan) describes events up to 697. Some of the stories in the
Nihongi are more detailed, but contradictory, to the stories of the Kojiki.

Shinto Shrines

 Followers build shrines to specific kami.

 When entering a shrine, you pass through a tori gate.
This gate is the gateway to the gods
 Inside the shrine, believers wash hands and rinse out mouths to
purify themselves.
 They pray, make requests, make offerings, and perform sacred
dances.

The Four Affirmations

 Tradition and Family

 Love of Nature
 Physical cleanliness
 Matsuri: festivals that worship and honor the Kami

Origami = paper of the spirits

- This is a Japanese folk art in which paper is folded into beautiful shapes.
They are often seen around Shinto shrines as offerings