1. HINDUISM

2. Hinduism Generally considered to be the oldest major world religion still actively practiced today. Originated from the ancient Indian culture as long ago as 2000 BCE 1 Billion followers today – most live in India Very tolerant religion There are many truths!

3. Fundamental teachings shared by nearly all Hindus. Eternal being that created and preserves world Human mind can not understand Brahman Basic Teachings of Hinduism Universal oversoul Believe each person has atman (part of the bigger oversoul) Shapes personality & cannot be destroyed, even by death Atman

4. Incarnations of Brahman are active in the world and maintain order in nature Polytheistic = Multiple Gods - > Devas Brahma - creator Shiva – destroyer Vishnu – preserver/protector Three Main Incarnations

5. Pattern of Life Everyone in the universe is part of a continual pattern of birth, death, and rebirth After death, the atman is reborn in a process called reincarnation Dharma Spiritual duties and obligations To escape the cycle of reincarnation, you must do your dharma New Life Person’s new life shaped by karma (how you behaved in life) Good karma=reincarnated to better station in life Bad karma=lower station in life Ultimate goal of human existence is escaping from cycle of rebirth to return to Brahmain Afterlife - Rebirth and Salvation

6. Hindu beliefs vary Worship can take place anywhere At temples, priests might read portions of the Vedas Sometimes people carry images of a deva At home, food, drink, gifts offered for a deva on an altar Worship Hindu Religious Practices Meditation and silent reflection is encouraged

7. To help meditate, Hindus practice exercises called yoga Yoga teaches people how to focus bodies and minds Hindus also make pilgrimages to the Ganges River to remove bad karma Meditation, Pilgrimages Hindu Religious Practices

8. Name means “knowledge” in Sanskrit Hindus consider Vedas to contain eternal knowledge not written by humans, revealed to them by Brahman Parts date back more than 3,000 years 1. The Vedas Sacred Texts

9. SACRED TEXTS 2. Upanishads Philosophy about the nature of world and the meaning of life

10. Many ancient religious texts use paradoxes to create a sense of deeper understanding. Definition: A statement that is itself contradictory because it often contains two statements that are both true. Purpose: To make the reader dig deep to find meaning. Paradoxes Examples: You can save money by spending it. I'm nobody. Wise fool Bittersweet A rich man is no richer than a poor man. Nobody goes to that restaurant because it is too crowded. You shouldn't go in the water until you know how to swim. If you didn't get this message, call me. Be cruel to be kind The beginning of the end Drowning in the fountain of eternal life Deep down, you're really shallow.

11. VEDAS Creation Hymn pg. 115 1.Find at least 3 different paradoxes within the Rig Veda text. 2.Make a list of unanswered question within the Rig Veda text. 3.Make a list of 10 things that are different about this story of creation compared with the story in Genesis. (pg. 65)

12. An ancient collection of stories in verse and prose, arranged within a frame story. Written in Sanskrit in the 3rd century BCE, it is based on oral tradition. Vishnu Shaman is educating 3 young princes of a noble king. The princes are not very bright, so Vishnu Shaman makes up these stories. 1.What types of religious literature are these stories? 2.What lessons do each of these teach? 3.Do the tales seem familiar to you? (Think about sayings and other similar stories….Google the theme….) 4.What do these stories suggest about the way women were viewed in ancient India? 3. Tales of Panchatantra

13. More Sacred Texts –4. Mahabharata and 5. Ramayana Two epic poems Each tells a story & reflects on living according to Hindu teachings Types of Writing: Philosophy Poetry/Short Stories Rituals Worship liturgy Personal actions Medical Treatment History

14. Part of Mahabhrata Bhagavad Gita “Song of the Lord” pg. 128-129 Critical Ideas Eliminate focus on yourself. Decrease reliance on the outside world to reduce sorrow and increase joy Next life is more important than now. Truth is found in Atman, the universal oversoul

15. Bhagavad Gita “Song of the Lord” pg. 128-129 “Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.” Arjuna (Gita) As they approach me, so I receive them. All paths, Arjuna, lead to me. I am the beginning, middle, and end of creation. I am death, which overcomes all, and the source of all beings still to be born. Just remember that I am, and that I support the entire cosmos with only a fragment of my being. Behold, Arjuna, a million divine forms, with an infinite variety of color and shape. Behold the gods of the natural world, and many more wonders never revealed before. Behold the entire cosmos turning within my body, and the other things you desire to see. I am time, the destroyer of all; I have come to consume the world. That one is dear to me who runs not after the pleasant or away from the painful, grieves not, lusts not, but lets things come and go as they happen.

16. Second of epic poems. The Ramayana is one of the central Hindu _______, written close to 250 BCE. Author - Valmiki About a prince named Rama trying to get back his wife, who has been kidnapped by the demon Ravanna. Rama is the ideal hero of Hindu culture. Ramayana (Journey of Rama)

17. Rama Rama and Ravana Pg. 132 - 139 Ravana An avatar of Vishnu (The Preserver) An avatar is a god in a human body. Purpose of the story is to demonstrate correct living on Earth. Rama always does his dharma by always fulfilling his duties and acting in accordance with Hindu principles. A priest on Earth, he becomes a demon possessed of enormous power. He is defeated by Rama. His death helps restore order on the earth. The story is about his redemption. In, death he is forgiven by Rama.

18. SECTIONS OF THE STORY 1.Pg.132-134. Beginning to the Golden “T” 2.Pg. 134-135. Start at the Golden “T” and stop at the Golden “R” 3.Pg. 135-136. Start at the Golden “R” and stop at the Golden “R” 4.Pg. 136 – 138. Start at the Golden “R” and stop at the Golden “W” 5.Pg. 138. Section “W” Only. 6.Pg. 138- 139 Start at the Golden “R and stop at the Golden “N” 7.Pg. 139. Start at the Golden “N” and go to the end.

19. THE STORY OF RAMA AND RAVANNA AT BATTLE