...Running Head: Assignment: Hinduism Paper Hinduism Paper Kalip Frazier II University of Phoenix/Axia HUM 130 Please repeat title and center it on first page of the body of the paper. Hinduism is a difficult religion for many to understand. The difficulty stems from the fact that many different variations of the religion has developed over time. There are many sects and a variety of other religious groups that have spawned from the bases of Hinduism. Hinduism is a religious belief that was formed and cultivated in South Asia more precisely, India. Hinduism is widely known as the world’s oldest religion. Although America is becoming more and more diverse, most Americans do not know a great deal about Hinduism. The caste system is one of the most connecting links of Hinduism; it combines religion with societal classifications. Understanding this system of hierarchy and what it represents to the people that believes it, is very critical to understand before digging into the religious beliefs of Hinduism. There are four fundamental castes or social classifications of Hinduism. Each individual caste has its own guidelines and mandates for being part of that particular caste. The elite social class is know the Brahman, or priest caste. This class is the equivalent to the King and Queen classification of the monarch system. The next tier in the caste system is the Kshatriyas classification, which includes warriors and rulers. The third tier of the caste system is the Vaisyas...
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...Hinduism Death, Dying and Destiny Ideas about what happens after death, and its connection with how life is lived on earth, is a fundamental part of all religions. Many people accept death as the end of any form of existence. However others argue that death is not the end of life. The Australian Catholic University has held this conference about Death and Dying to address some of the ultimate questions that humans have always asked themselves. This particular seminar will deal with the aspects of death, dying and destiny. The religion that will be investigated around the issue of death, dying and destiny will be Hinduism. Based on the essence of Hinduisms framework and various interpretations of scriptures the basic fundamentals of what is expected of followers in life and death are dictated what expectations are up held and performed. What happens after death, and its connection with how life is lived on earth, is fundamental to every religion. These beliefs and ideas; help people make sense of life, give support and comfort at times of loss and bereavement, and provides purpose to life (BBC; 2014). In Hinduism it is believed that any attempt to permanent happiness in this world is an illusion (maya). Hindus believe that a person’s atman (spirit) is permanent and cannot change while the physical body is permanent (About Religion; 2014). This quote from Bhagavad Gita 2:22 (As a man casts off his worn-out clothes and takes on other new ones, so does the embodied soul cast off...
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...My Perspective about Hinduism The History and traditions of Hinduism are both Ancient and Timeless. Hinduism is like a big Ocean and I am really not sure whether anybody apart from the Supreme itself knows it in its completeness. Even though these are my introductory words, people who dived into this ocean will really acknowledge the fact of it very much. Hinduism is not a Book of texts. It is the book of Knowledge and Experience. These two are endless and hence is the Hinduism. One may spend whole life in exploring the Hinduism but at the end one may have not seen the other bank of it. “Hinduism can also be described as Vaidika Dharma (Religion rooted in Vedas), Arya Dharma (Dharma of Aryans) and Manava Dharma (Religion of Humanity)” (Robinson, 23). Hinduism is a Grand mosaic of various Sampradayas, philosophies, mandirs, shastras, sadhus, devotees, holy places, ritual and festivals. It is often referred to by some scholars as a Family of Religions. The most attractive thought of Hinduism to me is Habits of Giving from Taittiriya Upanishad. These habits help me to feel real happiness of Giving. “Taittiriya Upanishad says: “Give. Give with the faith. Give with sensitivity. Give with the feeling of abundance. Give with right understanding” (Robinson, 25). Hinduism is not only a Religion but it also a guideline to make one’s life meaning full. For all the Hindus there are four goals of their life. (Hinduism in our Life) 1) Dharma...
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...BUDDHISM AND HUNDUISM REL 212 WORLD RELIGIONS PROFESSOR EUGENE MUHAMMAD OCTOBER 4, 2013 In this paper I will attempt to shed a better understanding about the religious background surrounding Buddhism and Hinduism. This paper will briefly describe how the two religions got its start, how the two has spread itself throughout the world. Buddhism is a religion to about 300 million people around the world….. The word comes from “budhi”, to awaken. It’s has origins about 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gautama, who is known as the Buddha. At the age of 35 he himself was awakened (enlightened) at the age of 35. Buddhism is not just a religion it goes beyond that, to so many it is more of a philosophy in other words the “way of life”. To so many Buddhism explains a purpose to life, and it explains injustice and the inequality around the world. But it also provides a code of practice as well as a way of life that leads all too true happiness. Buddhism has become very important to the western countries because he has the answers to many of the problems that are a part of the modern materialistic societies. Buddha teaches many things in summing it up by the four Nobles truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. Siddhartha Gautama was born into a royal family in Lumbini in 583 BCE, what is known today as Nepal. His father was a king and a leader of a Shakya...
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...Hinduism May 13, 2012 Axia College HUM 130 Hinduism is an ancient and complex religion that is composed of a variety of myths, gods, and philosophic ideas. Much like Buddhism, Hinduism is a belief structure founded on fundamental concepts such as karma and reincarnation. Hinduism believes that humans are trapped in a cycle of rebirth which places one in a particular place within the caste system in accordance with their actions in the prior life. Ultimately, the object of Hinduism is to break the cycle of rebirth by realizing the ultimate reality (Brahman) with all their being; enlightenment. For the Hindu, the liberation from the earthly existence is to become one with the Brahman (Flesher, 1998). These beliefs have a variety of interpretations and this allows for people of many different beliefs to be considered Hindu. The uniting concepts of Hinduism include: * Dharma- virtue, specifically this concept refers to one’s duties within a particular caste. It is virtuous to perform one’s duties in a willing and correct manner. * Samsara- the cycle of rebirth or reincarnation. * Karma- the belief that one’s actions accumulate over one's life and at death this accumulation of actions determines one placement in the next rebirth, either higher or lower in status. * Moksha- the end of the cycle of rebirth or liberation from it. This is the ultimate goal and result for understanding Brahman (Flesher, 1998). Hinduism is very similar to Islam in that it...
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...Hinduism Jyliene Pozzuolo HUM/130 Robert Rowland November 9, 2014 Hinduism, often considered the third most popular religion in the world, is technically not a religion at all. The only two larger religions are Christianity and Islam. It is considered the world’s oldest religion, considering it precedes recorded history. It is more of a set of beliefs and traditions. Hinduism is also, actually, a broad spectrum of many different religion originations in the Indian subcontinent. It covers Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Hinduism is not just about seeking awareness of a God, but also seeking awareness of one’s inner self. There was no human founder of the Hinduism beliefs. A devout Hindu must personally experience one’s truth within in order to reach the pinnacle of consciousness. The four main denominations of Hinduism are Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism, and Smartism. There are many different ideas and teachings of Hinduism. Hindus believe in an all-encompassing Supreme Being who is an Un-manifest Reality, as well as a creator. There is a belief in the divinity of the four Vedas. The Vedas are considered to be the oldest written scripture in the world. Belief that the universe is constantly undergoing a cycle of creation is a firm belief of Hindus, as well as preservation and dissolution. There is a strong belief in Karma in Hinduism. They believe that every person creates their destiny through their thoughts and actions. In Hinduism, whenever any being dies...
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...Contemporary Issues in Eastern Religions Contemporary Issues in Eastern Religions Common Characteristics between Buddhism and Hinduism Buddhism is closely related to Hinduism, they both share some important beliefs. They both believe in reincarnation and the cycle of samsara - birth, life, death, and rebirth - and in the influence of karma on the circumstances into which you will be born in the next life. They both believe that the ultimate end is to escape from the cycle of rebirth. However, they are quite different in some very fundamental ways. For Hindus, there is an eternal soul that does not change, in essentials, from life to life. The material bodies it inhabits are like clothes. Buddhists believe that there is no core soul - that your experiences, actions, and intentions (your karma) constantly act upon you and you are constantly changing in response, so that the cycle of samsara is a long process of becoming. They also have different beliefs regarding the escape from the cycle of reincarnation. For Buddhists, achieving enlightenment, seeing the true nature of phenomenon and of oneself, eliminating all craving and desire releases you from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. For Hindus, realizing the oneness of existence, achieving mental peace or perfect unselfishness, perfect detachment from the world, or perfect knowledge of oneself, or the realization of unity with god releases you from the cycle of rebirth. As it relates to salvation...
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...Hinduism is the world’s oldest living major religion and is comprised of around one billion followers, making it the world’s third largest religion behind Christianity and Muslim. It is practiced predominantly in the Indian sub-continent where it originated. What makes Hinduism so different from other major religions is that it has no single founder and is a mixture of religious, philosophical, and cultural ideas. Hinduism can be considered more of a way of life than an actual religious belief system as we know it in the West. Hinduism is a complex and diverse religion. There is a huge variety of traditions ranging from small groups to large religious movements consisting of millions of followers. Hinduism allows for an unrestricted freedom to believe and worship whatever on desires and allows for separation of a distinct set of beliefs. Another factor that makes Hinduism different from other religions is its concept of god or gods. The concept of God completely depends on the individual, one may practice monotheism, polytheism, or even henotheistic. Some may believe that there are millions of gods while others are devoted to a single god but accept the fact that there are other gods. Although there may be many gods, most Hindus believe there is one supreme creator and that is Brahman. Brahman is an entity believed to inhabit every portion of reality, dimension, and existence throughout the entire world and universe. There are numerous different sects in Hinduism and they...
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...people. It is important to learn about different cultures so we have a better understanding of that culture. I chose to look at the religion of Hinduism because I have no first-hand knowledge of this religion and I wanted to learn something about the religion. Hinduism can be traced back as far as 1500 (bc). (The Columbia encyclopedia, 2013). Hinduism also has nine beliefs. Reverence for revealed scriptures, all pervasive divinity, three worlds and cycles of creation, the law of karma and dharma, reincarnation and liberation, temples and the inner worlds, yoga guide by a satguru, compassion and non-injury and genuine respect for other faiths. (Hinduism today, 2009). The one thing that differs from most religious groups is the belief in reincarnation, Christianity, for example believes that you only have one life and when that life is over, you go either to heaven or to hell. The one thing that Hinduism has brought to America is yoga, as it I has become very popular over the last few years. One example of where Hindus have been discriminated against is in Malaysia. According to the pioneer (2010), Hindus in this country have been denied human rights in order to attempt to persuade them to convert to Islam. I do have a better understanding of this religion because in doing the research I learned that Hindus are primarily a peaceful people, but face discrimination just like everyone else. Hinduism is also one the oldest religions, which to me is interesting because it one we...
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...Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism are five of the major religions in the world. As there are several types of religions that exist in the world today, these are the five religions that have a huge impact to the understanding about life on earth and after death. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam fall under the Abrahamic religion, the religion that firmly believes that human spiritual growth was born through Abraham and his descendents. Hinduism and Buddhism descend under the Dharmic religion, a religion that believes in an ultimate spiritual reality beyond the physical world. After compiling the matrix of information on all of the different religions, each differs in certain beliefs but is similar in several ways. One of the most major factors that unites or connects each of these religions is that all believe and worship in one higher Supreme Being or authority. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism whether monotheist or polytheist each pledges to the conviction of a superior domination. Each believes that there is a mystical world, beyond the human world, that is our eternal home after life on Earth determined by our actions in the current life. Also there is a common core of practices that all of these religions do to open themselves to spiritual dimensions through prayer, meditation, fasting, etc. Moreover, each religion delivers the same message. All stress and argue the importance of contribution and service to others. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism...
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...who had migrated there. They also called the land Hindustan and its inhabitants, Hindus. After that, the religion that followed was called Hinduism. Today, almost 800 million people practice the Hindu religion. The main deities of the Hindu religion are Brahma and his two deputies named Shiva and Vishnu. The god Vishnu is the creator, and Shiva is the destroyer. One is not looked upon as better than the other. These are not the only gods in Hindu culture. There are many others and all have special skills and talents. The gods themselves also give birth to the idea of avatars, or the form of god when he or she comes to earth. The idealism of the Hindu religion comes from the Vedas, which are the Hindu religion's oldest scriptures and are considered to be a direct revelation from God. The Upanishads are writings that take their themes from the Vedas. Lastly, the Bhagavad-Gita is a collection of teachings that are based on the conversation between Arjuna, a soldier, and Lord Krishna who is the mortal reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. He appears as Arjuna's charioteer. In these conversations the two discuss everything from the purpose of life to the basis of reality. Much like Christian proverbs, the teachings of Lord Krishna give advice, general good sense and insight on many subjects. Perhaps the most important part of the philosophy of Hinduism lay in its path to enlightenment. The main ideas of enlightenment come through the four goals of Life. The first of these ends is Moksa. Moksa...
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...Hinduism Hinduism is the dominant faith of India. It is practiced by more than half of the population. Hinduism is not easily defined. It can be described as a way of live based on the teachings of sages and scriptures like the Upanishads and Verdas. Hinduism is known to the practitioners as Sanatana Dharma, which means everlasting or eternal religion, rule or truth. Over the last three thousand years the most orthodox divisions of Hinduism has changed. The caste system is the oldest practice of Hinduism. An understanding to the caste system must be conceived before the Hindu religious beliefs. In the caste system there are five basic social classes. Each class has its own obligation for living and its own set of rules. The Brahman which consist of the priest is the elite caste. The Brahman acts as a counselor. The Kshatriyas caste which consist of the warriors and rulers. The Kshatriyas are protectors of the society. The Vaisyas caste which consist of the farmers and merchants. The Vaisyas own land and are money lenders. The Shudras caste which consist of the laborers. The Shudras does manual laborer. The Dalit caste which consist of the untouchables. The Dalit does the dirty jobs that no one wants to do. The perform job like cleaning toilets and sweeping. It is decided when born what caste system you will belong to and will not be determined by the individual. All Hindus believe in Brahman, the caste system, karma, reincarnation, nirvana. Brahman...
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...Hinduism Esteban Fuentes HUM/130 July 20, 2014 Eric Hammen Hinduism The Hindu religion has more than a billion followers and is the world’s oldest extant religion. It is the third most practiced religion in the world and is a mixture of philosophical, religious, and cultural ideas. The Hindu religion originated in India and is unlike any other religion. There is no one God that is worshipped so it lacks a unified system of beliefs (Shukla, 2014). Hindus believe that an individual’s action or intent creates their own destiny. This is called karma which is defined as the law of cause and effect. The Hindu religion is also one that believes in reincarnation after death which means a soul begins life in a new body. To understand Hinduism as a religion, here are a few basic facts to give you a better understanding of the Hindu way of life. Hindus believe that the world passes through many endless cycles of preservation, dissolution, and various forms of creation. Hindus believe that a higher power or divine beings exist and that personal devotionals form a communion. The purpose of life is to reach a level of liberation from the cycle of reincarnation. Hinduism practices the worship of nature. The Indus River was a significant source of life for the inhabitants that lived nearby in India. The practice of Hinduism had deep cultural ties to the river because the Hindus worshipped the river god in order to have fertile grounds for growing the necessary crops to feed their...
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...gods. Although Confucius never stated outright the gods didn’t exist, he never rejected spiritual mysterious. Both Confucianism and Buddhism believe wisdom to be a fundamental part of life. To the Buddhist wisdom is perfect enlightenment and understanding. Using meditation and reflection the Buddhist spend much of their lives finding understanding and enlightenment. Confucianism looks up to the elderly because they consider them to be the wisest. The elderly receives the most respect and have the most authority. Three practices of Buddhism are: Sila: which represents morality, good conduct and virtue. Samadhi: Mental development, such as meditation and concentration. The path to wisdom is to develop one’s mind to lead to personal freedom. Mental development can also control and strengthen the mind to help maintain good conduct and spirit. Prajna: The real heart of Buddhism is the practice of wisdom, discernment, enlightenment, and insight. If your mind is calm and pure, then wisdom will emerge. Around 1500 BC the roots of Hinduism can be traced. Back then Hinduism was very different than it is today. In the west Hinduism is viewed as a polytheistic religion as followers worships many gods and goddesses. There are also some who view Hinduism as Trinitarian, one God, being three persons. Earlier Hindu scriptures refer to Henotheistic, where male and female are deities, but only one is recognize as being supreme. Vaishnavism and Shivaism are practice by the urban Hindus. Vaishnavism:...
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...2011). Out of these densely populated countries three eastern schools of philosophy were born between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE, and it is these same ancient philosophies that flourish throughout Asia today. Confucianism, Buddhism, and Hinduism are three major schools of thought that significantly have impacted the political, social and religious views of Asian culture. Confucianism, which was inspired by Confucius, has been followed by the Chinese people for more than two thousand years (Confucianism, 2012, pp.1). Because Confucianism is described as a way of life, it is sometimes viewed as a philosophy and sometimes viewed as a religion, although it does not share the aspect of organization that most other religions share. The idea behind Confucianism is that wisdom and knowledge can be obtained through study, ritual practices, and learning from experiences. Humans are perfectible by wisdom and the ultimate goal is to reach a state of superior wisdom. The first principle Confucius taught is called the principle of mean, which is the importance of seeking balance and moderation in life. Any circumstance of extreme should be avoided. The second principle Confucius practiced is called sage, which is an intimate understanding of how humans and nature works. Confucius adamantly stressed the value of studying and imitating superior intellectuals from the past. Finally, he taught the principle of reciprocity, which is the practice of treating others the way you want...
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