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.