College of Arts & Sciences: The Home of God-Loving and Globally Competent Individuals"

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“The Home of God-Loving and Globally Competent Individuals”

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College of Arts & Sciences

THEO 102 Christianity and Other Religions
MODULE: 2
CHAPTER/LESSON HINDUISM
OVERVIEW  In this chapter/lesson, the students will be able to learn what Hinduism is all about, how
this world’s oldest religion is considered a diverse and complex religion, and how Hindus
manifest their spirituality amidst the variety of their traditions and freedom of beliefs. This
module is concern on the main features of Hinduism in terms of doctrines, practices and
denominations.
LEARNING  Students be able to explain the core teachings of Hinduism.
COMPETENCIES:  Students be able to explain the nature and relationship of Brahman and Atman.
 Students be able to explain the many Hindu deities as manifestations of Brahman.
 Students be able to discuss the concepts of moksha, maya, karma, samsara, varna, ashram,
purushartha.
 Students be able to distinguish the kinds of yoga.
 Students be able to distinguish the different religious forms of Hinduism.
 Students be able to identify the Hindu major festival celebrations.
Learning TOPIC Summary/Discussion Reference/s

Outcomes
1. Know the key Key Beliefs of  A major question to ask about Hinduism is Theo 102:
beliefs shared Hindus whether it is a polytheistic or a monotheistic Christianity and
religion. The short answer is "yes"—it is both. Other Religions
among Hindus (c. Jose de Vera)
Many Hindus recognize a vast diversity of gods Pages 172
and goddesses; others believe in a Hindu onwards
"trinity" (trimurti): Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva; yet
others claim an essential monotheism, https://www.
believing that all the gods are manifestations patheos.
com/library/
of one. hinduism/
beliefs/
 Key Beliefs of Hindus scriptures
1. Truth is eternal.
https://www.
2. Brahman is Truth and Reality. patheos.
3. The Vedas are the ultimate authority com/library/
4. Everyone should strive to achieve dharma. hinduism/
5. Individual souls are immortal. beliefs/
6. The goal of the individual soul is moksha. ritual-worship-
devotion-
symbolism
2. Know the nature Brahman and  Brahman refers to the essence or true nature
and relationship Atman of all reality or of everything that exists https://uri.org/
of Brahman and (Ultimate Reality). Brahman is one and kids/
world-religions/
Atman undivided, unchanging and eternal, spiritual hindu-beliefs
and necessary.
1

 Atman is the essence of a human individual. https://www.
Atman is thus Brahman conceived in the dummies.
com/religion/
context of human individuals. hinduism/core-
 Atman is Brahman. The concept of Atman beliefs-of-
arises only when we are talking about hindus/
Brahman in the context of human individuals.
 Hindus believe that all creatures have a soul, a
true self, known as âtman. There is also a
supreme, universal soul, known as Brahman,
which is considered distinct and different than
the individual soul. The goal of life is
to recognize that one’s soul is identical to the
supreme soul, and that the supreme soul is
present everywhere and that all life is
connected in oneness.
3. Understand that Brahman and the  Hindus believe in Brahman as the one true
the many Hindu Deities God who is formless, limitless, all-inclusive,
deities are and eternal. Brahman is not an abstract
manifestations concept; it is a real entity that encompasses
of Brahman. everything (seen and unseen) in the universe.
 Hindus also worship many deities (gods &
goddesses) which are just the different
manifestations of Brahman that human are
capable of conceiving. God is one but he
manifests as many.
 Being the essence of everything, Brahman is
thought of as impersonal and highly abstract
(detached from mundane or human affairs).
The many Hindu deities can be seen therefore
as concrete forms of Brahman to which
humans can personally and meaningfully
relate.
 The Trimurti are believed to have human
incarnations, that is, they assume human
forms called avatars. The avatars mingle and
interact with humans.
4. Know the Moksha and Maya  The spiritual goal of a Hindu is to become one
concepts of with Brahman. This freedom is referred to
moksha, maya, , as moksha. Until moksha is achieved, a Hindu
samsara, karma believes that he/she will be
varna, ashram,
2

purushartha. repeatedly reincarnated in order that he/she
may work towards self-realization of the truth
(the truth being that only Brahman exists,
nothing else).
 Moksha is liberation: the soul’s release from
the cycle of death and rebirth. It occurs when
the soul unites with Brahman by realizing its
true nature. Several paths can lead to this
realization and unity: the path of duty, the
path of knowledge, the path of devotion
(unconditional surrender to God), and the
path of meditation.
 Moksha, or nirvana—the realization of one’s
relationship with God, the achievement of
mental peace and detachment from worldly
concerns. This realization frees one from
samsara and ends the cycle of rebirth and
suffering.
 In this life we do not see things very clearly.
We are constantly faced with contradictions.
Though we know what is right, we have
trouble doing it. Our thoughts soar high, but
our actions cannot rise to the level of our
thoughts. The world is full of misery and
injustice; as quickly as we remove some, more
seems to rush in to take its place. We are told
by the saints, and we also feel, that a loving
God is at work in this creation, but we cannot
reconcile this with what we see around us.
This complex situation in which we find
ourselves is called Maya.
 Maya is translated as illusion. Experiencing
and knowing the world as physical, changing,
and divided into many separate things is maya
or being under the influence of maya. As the
real nature of the world is Brahman, which is
the opposite of how we experience and know
the world, how the world presents itself to us
is an illusion.
Samsara and Karma
 Hindus believe in the doctrines of samsara
(the continuous cycle of life, death, and
3

reincarnation) and karma (the universal law of
cause and effect).
 Samsara means going through the cycle of
repeated births and deaths
(reincarnation). Hindus believe that existence
of this cycle is governed by Karma.
 Hindus believe that the soul passes through a
cycle of successive lives and its next
incarnation is always dependent on how the
previous life was lived. Karma is the cause of
our particular destiny. Misfortunes in our
present life are the result of acts that we have
committed in the past. In the same way, our
actions in our present lives will determine our
fate in the lives that follow. Hindus therefore
aim to live in a way that will cause each of
their lives to be better than the life before.
Hinduism is not a religion that leans on the
idea of divine grace, but on the merits of the
free-will action. In Hinduism, what you have
done determines what you are, and what you
do now determines what you will be. How a
person is reincarnated is determined
by karma.
 Hindus believe in reincarnation - a belief that
the soul is eternal and lives many lifetimes, in
one body after another. The soul is sometimes
born in a human body, sometimes in an
animal body and sometimes in a plant body
etc.. Hindus believe that all forms of life
contain a soul, and all souls have the chance
Varna, Ashram, to experience life in different forms.
Purushartha.
 One’s dharma (moral duties) is defined by
one’s social class (varna) and stage of life
(ashram) and in consideration of the basic
aims of life (purushartha).
 The Hindu system of social classes, called the
caste system has four main divisions or
varnas. The caste system is a social hierarchy in
India that divides Hindus based on their karma and
dharma. The four main castes (in order of
prominence) include:
4

1. Brahmin: the intellectual and spiritual
leaders
2. Kshatriyas: the protectors and public
servants of society
3. Vaisyas: the skillful producers
4. Shudras: the unskilled laborers
 In Hinduism, human life is believed to
comprise four stages. These are called
“ashramas” and every person should ideally
go through each of these stages:
The First Ashrama—”Brahmacharya” or the
Student Stage
The Second Ashrama—Grihastha” or the
Householder Stage
The Third Ashrama—”Vanaprastha” or the
Hermit Stage
The Fourth Ashrama—”Sannyasa” or the
Wandering Ascetic Stage
A crucial piece of the ashrama lifecycle is its
focus on dharma, the Hindu concept of moral
rightness. Dharma underlies many themes in
Hindu life, and in the four ashramas, dharma
is learned, practiced, taught and realized.
 Hinduism identifies four basic human aims or
purposes of life, which are collectively called
Purushartha. What is the Hindu way of life?
For many Hindus there are four goals in
human life (purusharthas);
1. Dharma - the code for leading one's life.
Respect for elders is considered important
and many consider marriage as a son's
religious duty. Dharma: the ethical, duty-
driven manner of living in cooperation
with one’s fellow human beings. This path
includes a comprehensive set of rules for
the “right way of living
2. Artha - the pursuit of material gain by
lawful means. Artha: the pursuit of
material prosperity through constructive
work. For Hindus, Artha includes not only
traditional work for daily sustenance but
also the work of government and civic
service.
5

3. Karma- through pure acts, knowledge and
devotion, you can reincarnate to a higher
level. The opposite achieves the contrary
result. Karma: the pursuit of pleasure and
happiness through the exercise of desire
and passion. This does not have the
connotation of hedonistic pleasure, as it
does in some other traditions, but is
regarded as one facet of a well-rounded
spiritual life.
4. Moksha - the release of the soul (Atman)
from the cycle of rebirth.
The individual soul (Atman) unites with
Brahman the universal soul. Mosha: the
pursuit of spiritual liberation and salvation.
5. Know the kinds Yoga
of yoga.  The Sanskrit word yoga literally means
“union”. It is union with the divine or union
with Brahman. The term yoga has come to be
understood also as path. Thus the various
types of yoga speak of different paths to
achieve union with Brahman (moksha).
 There are four different paths to achieve
Moksha which a Hindu can take. The Hindu
can choose one or all four of the paths they
are:
1. The path of knowledge - Jnana-Yoga.
Spiritual knowledge -leading to the knowledge
of the relationship between the soul (atman)
and God (Brahman). Jnana Yoga, preferred by
those of analytical bent of mind, is the
discipline of trying to see the divine reality
within all things directly, by mentally brushing
aside all the obstructing physical and mental
coverings that hide it.
2. The path of meditation - Dhyana(Raja)
-yoga. The idea is to concentrate so you can
reach the real self within you and become one
with Brahman. Raja Yoga is the process of
mental control, purity, and meditation to
make the mind very calm and quiet. In that
profound quiet, the inner divine light reveals
itself.
6

3. The Path of Devotion - Bhakti-yoga.
Choosing a particular god or goddess and
worshipping them throughout your life in
actions, words and deeds. Bhakti Yoga is the
path of devotion to God whose presence can
be felt in all things. God can be worshipped as
present in an image in a Temple. God can be
worshipped also as present in suffering
humanity by service.
4. The path of good works - Karma-yoga, also
called Dharma Yoga. This involves doing all
your duties correctly throughout your life.
Karma Yoga or the discipline of right actions is
for those of active temperament, striving to
eliminate selfishness, and to cultivate
universal sympathy by seeing the divine reality
in all.
6. Know the Sects of Hinduism
different  Hinduism has many sects, and is sometimes
religious forms divided into the following:
of Hinduism. Shaivism (followers of Shiva)
Vaishnavism (followers of Vishnu)
Shaktism (followers of Devi)
Smartism (followers of Brahman and all major
deities)
 There are two main considerations that
differentiate the four from one another: (a)
the kind of god they consider supreme, and
(b) the kind of path or yoga they prefer to
Hindu Holidays practice.
7. Know the Hindu
major festival  Hindus observe numerous sacred days,
celebrations. holidays and festivals. There are three main
yearly festivals:
Diwali is the festival of lights. Light represents
knowledge. It is celebrated in late October or
early November. This is the Hindu New Year.
Holi is the festival which marks the coming of
spring. It is held in March or April. There are
processions and people light bonfires and
cover each other with colored water and
powders.
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Dussehra is the festival which marks Rama’s
triumph over the evil Ravana. It is held in
September. There are dances and plays with
events in the life of the god Rama depicted.
Kumbha Mela: This celebration is a huge
bathing affair. Millions of Hindu pilgrims go to
the River Ganges at Allahbad for this festival.
 All major festival celebrations include visiting
a temple, eating special foods and exchanging
gifts.
 Some most well-known include:
Navaratri: a celebration of fertility and harvest
Krishna Janmashtami: a tribute to Krishna’s
birthday
Raksha Bandhan: a celebration of the bond
between brother and sister
Maha Shivaratri: the great festival of Shiva
ACTIVITY/OUTPUT: I. What do Hindus believe?

II. What is the Hindu way of life?
III. How do Hindus achieve Moksha?
IV. How would you differentiate the four denominations of Hinduism. What are your
thoughts about the Hindu caste system? What do you think are its advantages (if
any) and disadvantages both to society and individuals?
V. Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.
1. Hinduism identifies four basic human aims or purposes of life, which are
collectively called _____.
2. The _____ celebration is a huge bathing affair. Millions of Hindu pilgrims go to
the River Ganges at Allahbad for this festival.
3. The path of good works - Karma-yoga, also called _____ Yoga.
4. The _____ is the festival which marks the coming of spring.
5. The _____ is the ethical, duty-driven manner of living in cooperation with one’s
fellow human beings. This path includes a comprehensive set of rules for the
“right way of living.
6. The ___ is the pursuit of material gain by lawful means.
7. The ___ Yoga is the discipline of trying to see the divine reality within all things
directly, by mentally brushing aside all the obstructing physical and mental
coverings that hide it.
8. The _____ yoga is the process of mental control, purity, and meditation to make the
mind very calm and quiet. In that profound quiet, the inner divine light reveals itself.
9. The _____ is the festival of lights. Light represents knowledge. It is celebrated
in late October or early November. This is the Hindu New Year.
10. The _____ is a celebration of fertility and harvest.
8

11. The ___ is the pursuit of pleasure and happiness through the exercise of desire
and passion.
12. Hindus believe in _____ as the one true God who is formless, limitless, all-
inclusive, and eternal.
13. The _____ are believed to have human incarnations, that is, they assume
human forms called _____. They mingle and interact with humans.
14. The spiritual goal of a Hindu is to become one with Brahman. This freedom is
referred to as _____.
15. The _____ is the pursuit of spiritual liberation and salvation.
16. The Sanskrit word yoga literally means “union”.
17. A crucial piece of the ashrama lifecycle is its focus on _____, the Hindu concept
of moral rightness.
18. One’s _____ (moral duties) is defined by one’s social class (varna) and stage of
life (ashram) and in consideration of the basic aims of life (purushartha).
19. The Hindu system of social classes, called the _____ has four main divisions or
varnas.
20. The ____ refers to the essence or true nature of all reality or of everything that
exists (Ultimate Reality).
21. The ____ is the essence of a human individual.
22. The complex situation in which we find ourselves is called _____.
23. Hindus believe in the doctrines of _____ (the continuous cycle of life, death,
and reincarnation) and karma (the universal law of cause and effect).
24. How a person is reincarnated is determined by _____.
25. Hindus believe that all creatures have a soul, a true self, known as _____.
26. The _____ is liberation: the soul’s release from the cycle of death and rebirth. It
occurs when the soul unites with Brahman by realizing its true nature.
ACTIVITY/OUTPUT 1. Read carefully the summarized discussion from above (refer to page 172 onwards from
GUIDE the handbook)
2. Answer Activities I-V preferably using a paper with white background. Copy and answer.
DATE OF Marc 24, 2020
SUBMISSION
Prepared by: Reviewed by: Approved:
JOSE C. DE VERA, M.A.ED. ARIEL C. BACANI, MPA, MBGPH MERLY D. QUIAO, Ph.D
Professor Chair, Social Sciences Dean, College of Arts and Sciences

College of Arts & Sciences: The Home of God-Loving and Globally Competent Individuals"

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“The Home of God-Loving and Globally Competent Individuals”

College of Arts & Sciences

Learning TOPIC Summary/Discussion Reference/s

College of Arts & Sciences

College of Arts & Sciences

College of Arts & Sciences

College of Arts & Sciences

College of Arts & Sciences

College of Arts & Sciences

College of Arts & Sciences

ACTIVITY/OUTPUT: I. What do Hindus believe?

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Prepared by: Reviewed by: Approved:

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