1. Hinduism

2. How It Began -Hinduism began about 4000 years ago -Hinduism did not grow out of one person’s beliefs but rather out of mixing of Aryan (ancient Indo- Europeans) traditions and beliefs -There is no one founder of Hinduism -Developed primarily in modern-day India

3. What is Hinduism? -The four aims of Hinduism are: 1.Pleasure 2.Prosperity 3.Moral Duty 4.Enlightenment -Hindus believe in reincarnation, or the passing of a soul onto a different being -A person’s reincarnation depends on their karma, or the sum total of one’s actions, good or bad

4. Who/What do Hindus Look To? -Hindus are polytheistic, worshipping many gods -Hindus worship three primary gods are Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver) and Shiva (the destroyer) -Hindus look to Brahma as the supreme god -On Earth, Hindus look to Gurus, or religious teachers to give advice -Hindus can worship in temples but they are also allowed to exclusively worship in their homes

5. What is “Om” and its importance? "Om" is a holy word often spoken during the practice of any Hindu rites. Represents the trinity of three supreme Gods –Brahma – the creator –Vishnu – the preserver –Shiva – the destroyer Reincarnations of Lord Vishnu –Lord Rama (Ramayana) –Lord Krishna (Mahabharata and the Gita) Gita narrates the meaning of life, karma, moksha, atma, and parmatma Man is mortal…the soul is immortal!

6. Hindu Life -820 million Hindus worldwide -Practice the Caste System, individuals are born into a social class -Though these “classes” are breaking down today -Hindus take pilgrimages, or holy journeys, to bathe in sacred rivers but most of all to bring them closer to the gods -Yoga is often practiced to better self-discipline, posture, breathing and concentration -Mohandas Gandhi is the most notable Hindu

7. 10 Common Hinduism Questions 1.Why does Hinduism have so many Gods? –Hindus all believe in one Supreme God who created many Gods, highly advanced spiritual beings, to be His helpers 2.Do Hindus believe in reincarnation? –Yes, we believe the soul (without body) is immortal and takes birth again and again. 3.What is Karma? –Karma is the universal principal of cause and effect. Both good and bad karma not only decide our fate (sorrow and happiness) in the present life, but also in future life.

8. 10 Common Hinduism Questions 4.Why do Hindus worship the cow? –By honoring this gentle animal, who gives more than she takes, we honor the creatures as well. 5.Are Hindus idol worshipers? –We worship God through the image so that we can commune with Him and receive His blessings. 6.Are Hindus forbidden to eat meat? –Hindus teach vegetarianism as a way of life to not hurt living creatures. 7.Do Hindus have a Bible? –Our “Bible” is called the Veda which means “wisdom” and which reveals the word of God.

9. 10 Common Hinduism Questions 8.Why do many Hindus wear a dot near the middle of their forehead? It represents a divine sight and shows that one is a Hindu. 9.Are the Gods of Hinduism really married? It is true that God is often depicted with a spouse in traditional stories, a symbol of love between husband and wife. 10.What about caste and untouchability? Caste is the hereditary division of Indian society based on occupation (priests, warriors, business people, and workers). The lowest caste, untouchables, suffer from discrimination. It is now illegal in India.

10. What is meditation, bhakti, sadhana or devotion? It is essentially a language of love This alone can give us the bliss of God- realization Sadhana serves to attract the devotee’s attention to the Lord This makes the devotee free from sorrow and suffering, and reveals Himself (God) before the devotee

11. What is yoga? Method of keeping us in control of our body, mind and actions One must master these four types of yoga –Jnana yoga – the path of knowledge –Bhakti yoga – the path of devotion –Karma yoga – the path of action –Raja yoga – the path based on control of one’s actions and thoughts Having learnt these, the body can be detached from the soul. Achieve union with the supreme self or God.

12. Code of Conduct –Nonviolence (ahimsa) –Truthfulness –Patience –Compassion –Honesty –Purity –Giving –Faith in God Hinduism and Humanity

13. According to Mahatma Gandhi, love, sacrifice and truthfulness leads to comfort and pleasure in everyday life. Gandhi’s use of nonviolence was a strong weapon in achieving India’s independence Pluralism –Hinduism promotes not only tolerance and respect for differences in belief and religion, but also acceptance of those paths as legitimate

14. Respect for Earth Hinduism teaches us the need to care for the Earth and all its beings by not killing animals and plants Hindus worship mountains, oceans and the planets as God, to give respect for both earthly and heavenly things Vegetarianism has been advocated for many centuries. According to reincarnation all souls upon death are reborn in another body. Hence there is no difference between an animal soul and a human soul. We should respect every soul.