Download - Hindu Beliefs
Hindu Beliefs
Hindu Beliefs • Hinduism is often
described as a non-dogmatic religion.
• People are free to worship any set of doctrines or rules they like.
• It does not believe in conversion, and does not impose its beliefs on others.
Hindu Beliefs
• However, Hindus are expected to follow specific rules in their personal conduct and daily duties.
• There is a vast body of rules and rituals for almost every station and stage of a Hindu’s life.
Hindu Concept of God • Some describe Hinduism as
polytheistic, others as monotheistic.
• Most state it is monistic – which means that all reality is ultimately one.
• Hinduism reconciles these three different concepts of God, which makes it tolerant of various beliefs.
What Is Brahman?• Brahman is:
– The supreme being, an entity without form and quality.
– The soul of the universe, from which all existing things arise, and into which they all return.
– Everywhere and everything.
• The essence of Brahman is divine, invisible, unlimited, and indescribable.
Brahman• Hindus are free to
imagine Brahman in any way that is meaningful to them.
• They worship different deities that they consider manifestations, or expressions, of Brahman.
• Page 121 (text) has a description of Brahman from the Upanishads.
Atman
• The Atman is the human soul or spirit.
• It is the part of our innermost self that is identical to Brahman.
• A Hindu’s goal is to reunite the Atman with the Brahman.
• Atman = Brahman Brahman = Atman
“Tat Twan Asi”• The famous Sanskrit
saying means “you are that”, expresses the idea that the Atman and Brahman are inseparable.
Reincarnation
• The Atman is:– Eternal and immortal.
– Lives on, shedding the lifeless body for a new one.
• For Hindus, most aspects of the personality are generally not thought to be transmitted into the next life form.
• Individuals usually cannot remember past lives.
Samsara
• The endless cycle of rebirth or reincarnation is called samsara.
• The Hindu term for salvation, for liberation from samsara, is moksha.
Moksha• This is the
liberation from the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth into this world.
• With moksha, the atman is united with the Brahman.