WORLD RELIGION

HINDUISM
Hindu Jain Temple

PĀŚA (NOOSE)
A place for Hindus and Jains to - The 3 bonds that bind us to
worship. the cycle of rebirth;

1. Avidya (Ignorance)
Vinayagar Hindu Temple 2. Karma (Action)
3. Vasana (Habital
Patterns)

- Has three other meanings:

1. Attracting oneself to
the Dharma
2. Trying oneself by the
constraints of Dharma
3. Destroying all
obstacles to one’s
spiritual evolution

- Pāśa represents the three

fetters:

1. Maya
2. Karma
3. Mala

SYMBOLS
 K.A.R.M.A.
- Actions performed as an
offering lead to liberation.

- Obligatory actions
produce good karma but
may lead to rebirth or
liberation.

AṄKUŚHA (ELEPHANT GOD)

- Incentive to continue in
spiritual practice and the
application of the
teachings.

- Control of anger.

- Urging of the guru which

drives us to practice and
apply - Reincarnation based on
behavior

- Good karma – go UP
caste system in next life;
Brahmin, Kshatriya,
Vaishya.

- Bad karma – go DOWN

caste system in next life:
Sudra, Untouchable.

CHURI (DAGGER)
- The spiritual path

- The razor’s edge which

needs to be treaded with
great care and vigilance.
WHAT IS HINDUISM
THE BELIEFS OF HINDUISM:
- One of the oldest religions. MAIN HINDU GODS AND
GODDESSES
- Religion of Indian people.
The Trimurti (Hindu Trinity)
- Gave birth to Buddhism,
Jainism, and Sikhism.

- Tolerance and diversity:

“Truth is one, paths are
many.”

- Many deities but a single,

impersonal ultimate
reality.

- A philosophy and a way of

life – focused both on this
world and beyond.
BRAHMA
- Hinduism is an integrated
- The creator.
system of beliefs and
- Vehicle: swan.
practices that pertains to
- Has 4 heads, 4 arms, and a
the:
radish complexion.
- Not commonly
1. Nature and Essence of
worshipped, not to be
Life
confused with Brahman
2. Nature of the divine
(the ground of all being) or
3. How to establish a
the Brahmin (priestly caste)
lasting connection
with the divine in the
perspective of
ordinary life.

- Supernatural meaning –
human action = divine
 - Worshipped in the
featureless lingam form.
- Main god of Salvism.

Shaktis (Female Aspects)

VISHNU
- The Preserver
- Vehicle: Garuda (bird)
- Has 4 arms, blueish
complexion, and rests on a
snake.
- Was incarnated (born as an
animal or human) nine
times.
- The main god of SARASWATI
Vaishnavism.
- Goddess of knowledge,
music, and the arts.
- Vehicle: Swan.
- Wife of Brahma.
- Sits on a white lotus
playing a veena.

SHIVA
- The Destroyer/Transformer
- Vehicle: Bull
- Has matted hair, a third
eye, a blue throat and a
trident in his hand.

SANATANA DHARMA
LAKSHMI
- Goddess of wealth and
prosperity.
- Vehicle: Owl.
- Wife of Vishnu
- Usually shown bestowing
coins and flanked by
elephants.
FESTIVALS IN HINDUISM
PARVATI
- The divine mother.
- Vehicle: lion.
- The reincarnation of
Shiva’s first wife.
- Has many forms; Popular
Durga and Kali.
- Often shown together with
Saraswati and Lakshmi as
the tridevi (triple
goddesses)
- Believers refers to the
Santana Dharma or the
Eternal Religion which
they refer to Hinduism.
- Complete with: theology,
philosophical schools,
devotional practices.
- Hinduism worship one
deity known as BHARMA.
- Believe that there are many
or multiple paths to
reaching their god.
- The believers are known as
HINDUS.
1. Divali
- Festival of lights
- The beginning of new year.
- Celebrates the return of
Rama and Sita to their
home kingdom.
- Honors the victory of light
from darkness.
2. Holi
- Festival of spring and
colors
- Celebrates the slaying of
DEITY – god/goddesses/divine
the demoness, Holika.
status/ruler.
3. Dussehra
- Celebrates the victory of
Rama over demon Ravana.
- Festival of dance in honor
of the goddess Durga.
4. Makara Sankrati
- Festival of harvest.
- Jan 14 is the only festival
with a fix date.
- Offering of thanksgiving to
Sun-god.
5. Lohari
- Celebrates the symbolic
shunning of evil.
- Devotees’ light bonfire,
throw nuts and popcorn,
sesame sweets on them to
symbolize rejection of evil.
6. Krishna Janmashtami
- Celebration of the birth of
Krishna, a popular deity
among Hindus.
- Krishna: one of the Indian
popular divinities, known
as the eight, and a supreme
god.
7. Maha Shivaratri
- Great night of Shiva
- Devotees’ fast overnight in
order to earn a deity’s
favor.
8. Ganesh Chaturthi
- Celebration of the birth of
Ganesh, a deity who is
represented as an Elephant.
9. Guru Purnima
- The festival of one’s
teacher where devotees
honor their guru (teacher)
by offering PUJA (an
offering of fruits or
flowers).
10. Kumbha Mela
- Largest Hindi festival in
the world.
- Celebrates Saraswati River
of Enlightenment.
- Ritual Bathing.
- Purification,
FOUR MAIN YOGAS –
TEMPERAMENT AND
CONDITIONS OF PEOPLE
1. Raja Yoga

- Physical and psych practice

physical exercises.

2. Jhana Yoga

- Mind and concentration.

3. Karma Yoga

- Path of action in the world.

- Seek good deeds without
expecting something in
return.

4. Bhakti Yoga

- Path of devotion
- Ultimate wish is the
personal appearance of a
deity.
BUDDHISM

THE BUDDHA OR
SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA
- Founder of Buddhism.
MEDIATING BUDDHA

THE LAUGHING BUDDHA

SEATED BRONZE
OR BUDAI LOUHAN
AMITABHA BUDDHA

PHA THAT LUANG STUPA

OR GREAT STUPA in WAT BENCHAMABOPHIT
Vientiane. - Most important OR THE MARBLE TEMPLE in
Buddhist monument in Laos. Bangkok, Thailand.
SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA
The central figure in Buddhism
is Siddhartha Gautama known as
Buddha.
Siddhartha Gautama or Buddha is
the Enlightened one, the
Awakened one, and the One who
Knows.
Also called “Buddha Sakyamuni”
because comes from the Shakyan
people.
Shakyan people – A group of
people resided in Northern India
and Nepal.
Buddhism teachings are
Siddhartha Gautama’s life and
experiences.
PALI CANON
- The oldest canon
- Written in Pali language
which is close to the
language used by the
Buddha.
- Also called the TIPITAKA
(3 baskets)
Contains:
1. SUTTA PITAKA –
sayings of the Buddha.
2. VINAYA PITAKA –
monastic rules of conduct.
3. ABHIDHAMMA
PITAKA – various
philosophical writings.

Islam – Qur’an
Christianity – Holy Bible
Judaism – Hebrew Bible/Torah
Hinduism – SUTTAS (Sutras in
Sanskrit) Scriptural canons. BUDDHAS OF BAMIYAN in
Afghanistan
Canons – Teachings
The Canon contains the SUTTAS
which are words spoken by the
Buddha when he taught his
disciples.
The Canon also contains the
disciples’ code of conduct and
various stories about the Buddha’s
life.
 A religion because of its ritual
practices honoring the Buddha

MAJOR SCHOOL OF
THOUGHTS
1. MAHAYANA

- Similar to Pali Canon.

- Greater vehicle.
BUDDHA INSIDE OF THE Nagarjuna provided a
MAHABODHI TEMPLE systematic philosophical
articulation of Buddhist
doctrine, it became the basis of
GOD – 1 Mahayana teaching.
gods – many - Rooted in China, Taiwan,
Japan, and Korea.

BUDDHISM is divided into 3

major schools of thoughts. 2. THERAVADA
1. Theravada
2. Mahayana - Teachings of the elders.
3. Vajrayana - Claims to be the oldest
living tradition because it
Buddhism believes in the follows closely the
existences of gods (devas) but they teachings of monastic
are not to be worshipped. conduct.
Buddhist doctrines about the - Southeast Asia––
nature of suffering. Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia
(Burma), Thailand.
Buddhism is a philosophical
system because it offers coherent
explanation about: 3. VAJRAYANA
1. The world
2. The human mind - Indestructible Diamond
3. The condition of life Vehicle which is practice in
Tibet
It doesn’t ask its followers to place - Provide a means to speed
their faith in any divine being- up the journey to
including Buddha himself. enlightenment within one
life time.
LAMAS – the highest teachers
which are recognized for their
holiness and wisdom.
DALAI LAMA; TENZIN
GYATSO
- Famous among the lamas.
- Won the Noble Peace prize
in 1989 for his efforts to
spread good will and peace
in the modern world.
- A political leader in Tibet.
THE THREE JEWELS
1. Buddha
- Refers to Siddhartha
Gautama, the teacher who
led his disciples to
enlightenment.
- Enlightened one.
2. Dhamma
- Teachings of the Buddha
- Truth
- Duty of the believer is to
put teachings into practice
in order to attain
enlightenment
3. Sangha
- Refers to the monastic
order founded by Buddha
- Preserves the teachings and
passes them on to future
generation
- Includes all believers like
monks, nuns, and lay
people.
THE NOBLE EIGHTFOLD
PATH
Right View – know the truth
Right Intention – free your mind
of evil
Right Speech – Say nothing that
hurts others
Right Action – Work for the good
of others.
Right Livelihood – Respect life
Right Effort – Resist evil
Right Concentration – Practice
meditation
Right Mindfulness – Control your
thoughts.
FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
- Summary of Buddha’s
teaching.
1. Life is suffering
(Dukkha)
2. There is suffering
because there is
desire.
3. In order to get rid of
suffering, one has to
get rid of desire.
4. There is a path that
leads to the cessation
of suffering (eightfold
path)
THE FIVE PRECEPTS
Precepts
- General rule. Regulates
behavior or thoughts.

- Contains the believers’

basic moral guidelines.

- Similar to 10
commandments

- Demonstrates Buddhism,
emphasis on personal
responsibility for one’s
moral decision.

1. I take precept to abstain from

destroying lining things (killing).
2. I take precepts to abstain from
taking things not given (stealing)
3. I take precepts to abstain from
sexual misconduct (sexual
relationship outside marriage)
4. I take precepts to abstain from
false speech (lying)
5. I take precepts to abstain from
anything that causes intoxication
or heedlessness (Getting drunk
or using illegal drugs )