Hinduism
Hinduism Darshanas Gods & Goddesses Buddhism Jainism
Hinduism, also called Sanatana Dharma (”Eternal Law”), may be the oldest of spiritual traditions. It is rooted in a culture that is over 6,000 years old and is based upon a multitude of ancient texts, primarily the Vedas and the Upanishads. Hinduism teaches that all paths lead to the Divine and accepts all faiths, giving it a tendency towards being inclusive rather than exclusive (in theory at least). It is more an openness to a spiritual way of life than a specific religion. It has no one savior, founder or great teacher nor one solitary sacred text, such as the Bible or Koran. It teaches that the Divine is beyond form, indeed, that it is our very own inner Self. Hindus believe that religion is a personal and private path. Therefore, it is the least organized of all religions as it encourages freedom and individuality in one’s exploration of the Truth. Under the umbrella of Hinduism, there are many different sects and schools of thought. Their common belief is that there is an Absolute Reality (Brahman) and that an inner Spirit dwells within each one of us (Atman).
Hindus believe that many gods are an expression of Brahman. The three primary deities being: Vishnu, the preserver, representing universal consciousness; Shiva, the destroyer of ignorance, representing masculine energy; and Shakti, the creative force, representing feminine energy. There are others gods as well, such as Ganesha, the elephant headed son of Shiva and Shakti. He represents wisdom and strength and is the remover of obstacles. Sarasvati is the goddess of learning, music and the arts. Hanuman is the extraordinarily strong monkey-god associated with the story of Rama. Hanuman personifies the power of God on earth.
Study Guide Questions and Personal Reflections
- What is the common belief shared by all schools of thought that fall under the umbrella of “Hinduism?”
- Why are the six darshanas called “Classical” Hinduism?
- What darshana did Yoga arise from and what philosophy are the two darshanas based upon?
- What is the key philosophical difference between Yoga and Vedanta?
- The Buddha experienced 3 distinctly different paths in his life- a life of luxury, a life of an ascetic, and what he referred to as “the Middle Path.” How can you relate your life experience to the Buddha’s? What paths have you experienced? What type of life were you born into? What type of life have you pursued? Where is your path headed now?
Vocabulary
- Sanatana Dharma
- Ishvara
- darshana
- Samkhya
- purusha
- prakriti
- Yoga
- Vedanta
- Buddha