Baha'i Final

Part I

The human condition in Baha’i is that humans are born without sin, but occur it over time, which distances the soul from God. Humans have the power of free will and can use it to become closer to God through forms of worship. The soul is the animator of the physical body, which dies at death while the soul continues on into the afterlife with God.

The goal of Baha’i is to unite the world with peace. Another goal is to achieve peace and happiness in heaven with God in the afterlife. The goal of global oneness is the most important, and Baha’i is one of the only faiths where contributing toward unity and oneness in the community or globe is a religious obligation.

The way to get to these places is through worship. The forms of worship that are influential to the Baha’i people are prayer, meditation, and service. The prayer is directed toward God, the meditation is to reflect on daily deeds and actions, to try to improve one’s actions for the next day, and the service is directed toward those less fortunate than another. The service is the most important because of the faith’s desire for global unity, which starts in communal unity.

Part II

1.) Key Concepts

· Worship – Baha’is worship in the form of Prayer, Meditation, and volunteered service to those less fortunate. This is important to Baha’i’s because it is one of the only religions that has service toward others as a form of worship.

· Prayer – Baha’is pray to God. This is the same God Muslims, Christians, and Jews pray to, the one and only, all powerful God

· Meditation – Each individual is free to choose their own form of meditation, but the main message Bahá'u'lláh wanted to relay was to reflect on daily life and the deeds from each day.

· Service – Giving one’s self and one’s time to others is the most important form of worship other than prayer and meditation. Volunteering one’s time and self is giving those who have less than the volunteer, and creating a stronger community.

· Bahá'u'lláh – Bahá'u'lláh is the founder of the Baha’i faith and is supposed to be another of the prophets from the same god as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, Zoroaster, etc…

· Unity and Community – The community is a very important part of the faith, because Bahá'u'lláh’s vision is to unify the world.

· God – God is the omnipotent creator of the world, and everything we know. He is the Baha’i’s only deity, and all prayers, meditation, and services are for a person’s proximity to God.

· Heaven and Hell – Heaven and Hell are nearly the same as they are in the other monotheistic religions, in that Hell is complete suffering and Heaven is complete joy and happiness.

2.) Rituals:

Because one of the main ideas in Baha’i is to spiritually progress toward god, prayer and meditation are very important rituals in the religion. Bahá'u'lláh wrote many prayers for general use of the people of Baha’i for healing, spiritual growth, forgiveness, upcoming difficulties, and so on. Bahá'u'lláh also encouraged meditation to try to understand life’s mysteries and to reflect upon each day.

Another Ritual associated with becoming closer to god is volunteering within the community and having unifying social interactions. Bahá'u'lláh stated that it is time for the unification of the world and when one practices unifying communities it is a sign of devotion and helps in gaining proximity of the soul toward god.

3.) Sacred Text

- The most important text in the Baha’i faith is the Kitab-i-Aqbas. It is the most important because it is said to be the “Charter of the future world and civilization” and because it outlines religious practices, laws, personal status, social principles, and prophecies. The link between Bahá'u'lláh and the text is that Bahá'u'lláh wrote all of the Kitab-i-Aqubas, and while it may say something in a different way in another language, the meaning of the text is the same everywhere.

“THE time fore-ordained unto the peoples and kindreds of the earth is now come. The promises of God, as recorded in the holy Scriptures, have all been fulfilled. Out of Zion hath gone forth the Law of God, and Jerusalem, and the hills and land thereof, are filled with the glory of His Revelation.”(unsure of text taken from) This quote illustrates that Bahá'u'lláh is another prophet from the one God of the monotheistic religions, and that this new revelation is God’s newest order for human salvation.

“God grant that the light of unity may envelop the whole earth, and that the seal, "the Kingdom is God's", may be stamped upon the brow of all its peoples.” (From the Promise of All Ages) This quote is hugely important in Baha’i because a major part of the religion is unity of the community and the world. This quote shows the hope for unity and oneness.

“Through each and every one of the verses which the Pen of the Most High hath revealed, the doors of love and unity have been unlocked and flung open to the face of men.” (From the Promise of All Ages) This quote also illustrates the importance of unity within the Baha’i faith and that it is the next step for humanity to take according to Bahá'u'lláh’s word.

4.) Doctrine and Beliefs

There are a few key doctrines, but the one that sets Baha’i different from other religions is their importance on service toward others. A form of worship for Baha’is is volunteer work and service to those less fortunate. This service forms strong communities and social bonds within communities, which is the first step toward global unification. It also strengthens a person’s soul’s proximity to God. This can also be taught as a ritual of worship to God in that it is almost a requirement of the faith.

The cosmogony and cosmology in Baha’i are the same as the other major monotheistic religions, in that they believe in the earlier prophets and earlier teachings to an extent. They believe that all of the prophets before Bahá'u'lláh were from the same God and signaled a changing time in the world’s development, so the story of creation still remains in tact.

The eschatology in Baha’i is near the same as it is in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, in that a person’s soul joins with God in heaven upon their death. People can and usually do end up in the middle of Heaven and Hell because their life on earth wasn’t completely perfect and their effort in gaining proximity with God could’ve always been more. Baha’is don’t believe that a person’s afterlife is either filled with suffering and pain or happiness and joy, but rather can contain any amount of the combination because of their deeds in the mortal life.

5.) Religious Experience

Meditation and Prayer are means to becoming closer with God. The human life is considered to be a preparation for the coming life with god, almost like a baby growing in the womb. A person’s actions impact their proximity to god, and their relative joy in the afterlife. This is why being close to god is important to Baha’is, and ensuring their afterlife is filled with happiness.

The individual experience in the Baha’i faith is one of social improvement, which also leads to a betterment of the society and closeness to God. People are encouraged to do community service and volunteer work as another way to gain proximity to God along with meditation and prayer. This translates directly into the community because the community experience is much the same as the individual’s. Communities are united in that everyone is working toward a global unity, and that begins with creating a strong knit community within their own area.

6.) Ethics and Moral Conduct

The core ethical teachings of the Baha’i faith are almost the same as the second half of the Ten Commandments. This is because most of the moral conduct is on the guidelines of achieving social unity, and the only way to accomplish this is through respect toward one another. This is also significant to the people of the Baha’i faith because creating social unity is another way to get closer to god, and improve your spiritual status. Another part of the religious experience is that the believers don’t use any foreign intoxicants like alcohol or drugs. This is because the people are not supposed to be self indulgent, and intoxicants pollute the soul, which in turn distances one’s soul from god.

Buddhism Vocab

Camille & Patrick

Dukkha/ dukha (suffering)

Birth, aging, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief & despair are all dukkha. Not getting what one wants, and leaving loved ones are both dukkha.

Tanha/ Trishna (craving)

Suffering is a result of craving, Tanha/ Trishna. There are three basic forms of Tanha; these include lusty craving, craving to live, and the death wish.

Anicca/ Anitya (change)

Is the concept of impermanence; the non-lasting nature of the world.

Anatta/Anatman (lack of permanent self)

Anatta is the absence of a soul. The Anatta doctrine encourages for Buddhists to detach themselves from “his or her self”.

Nirvana/ Nibbana (enlightenment)

Is a state attained from the complete liberation from dukkha, suffering.

Arhat/ Arahant (enlightened person)

Signifies a spiritual practitioner who has who has realized certain high stages of attainment.

Samsara (cycle of life)

Is the cycle of birth, life and death that continues until enlightenment is achieved.

Kamma/ Karma (action leading to a state of rebirth)

Are the actions that and individual does, which determines their state of rebirth. If the individual’s karma/ kamma is good then they can escape samsara or are reborn into a higher state of life.

Buddha (enlightened or awakened one)

This means “one who is awake” in the sense of having “woken up to reality.” This title was first given to a man named Siddartha Gautama, who lived 2,500 years ago in northern India.

Bodhissata/ Bodhisattva (an enlightened one who strives for the enlightenment of others)

It is anyone who, motivated by great compassion, attains enlightenment, and strives to help others attain enlightenment as well.

Sangha (community)

A community with similar goals, which often times are monks.

Dhamma/ Dharma (teachings of Buddha)

These are teachings and doctrines of Buddha that describe why the world is the way it with life lessons.

Bhavana (mental discipline or meditation/formal training)

“spiritual cultivation” / “development of body and mind”

Karuna (compassion)

Active sympathy, gentle affection and a willingness to bear the pain of others.

Maya

Maya, in Sanskrit, means illusion or enchantment, but the mother of Siddhartha Gautama was also named Maya.

Upaya

Upaya refers to something, which brings one up. It is often used with cleverness to infer skill in means and to encourage practicing Buddhists to find their own way to reach enlightenment.

Lama

This is the title of a teacher of the dharma. It is similar in meaning to guru. It can also be used as monk, nun, a symbol of high achievement, or in titles to show lineages.

Mudras

Mudras are symbolic gestures used in practice to evoke particular ideas or buddhas in the mind during meditation.

The Three Jewls

The three jewels are taking refuge in the Buddha, Refuge in the Dharma, and refuge in the Sangha

Theravada

Theravada is translated as the “way of the elders”, or “doctrine of the elders” and is considered to be the oldest surviving method of the Buddha’s teachings.

Mahayana

This can be translated to “the Great Vehicle” because it is more easily accessible for the general public rather than to just monks and ascetics.

Mandala

In Sanskrit, Mandala means circle and in Buddhism and Hinduism the sacred art usually takes the form of a circle. They are used to represent the universe and can be made with colored rice, colored sand, stone, metal, or painted.

Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path is the path or the steps one must participate in to reach enlightenment and end suffering. It is the practical guideline to ethical and moral development with the goal of freeing oneself from the attachments of the physical world.

- Prajna is wisdom in Buddhism and is a step toward achieving enlightenment

- Sila is the moral and ethical conduct in buddhism and is heavily influenced in the five precepts and in the step of Right Action.

- Samadhi is concentration or composing of the mind and refers mostly to meditation and.

Four Noble Truths

These are the fundamental teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. They taught that life is suffering, suffering is caused by “desire”, there is a way to end the suffering, and to follow the eightfold path.

- Dukkha is suffering in sanskrit and life is suffering to Buddhists

- Tanha is what causes Dukkha and is desire or craving

Five Precepts

The Five Precepts make up the general code of ethics in Buddhism that are undertaken by everyday followers. They are much like the Ten Commandments but these encourage in abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxication. They are not imperative but more guidelines.

Skandhas

The Skandhas are the five elements that summarize and individual’s existence. These are matter or body, sensations or feelings, senses or perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness or awareness.

Trikaya

The Trikaya is a dctrine teaching of the three bodies of the Buddha. These bodies are the created body, the body of mutual enjoyment, and the body of truth.

Tripitaka

The Tripitaka is also known as the Pali Canon and is a collection of texts from the doctrinal foundation of Theravada Buddhism. It is divided into three parts – the Vinaya Pitaka which concerns governing of daily affairs – the Sutta Pitaka which is the set of discourses attributed to the Buddha and his followers and containing the central most teachings of Buddhism – The Abhidhamma Pitaka which highlights the underlying principles presented in the Sutta Pitaka.

Part I Buddhism Packet

Buddhism General Overview

Buddhists follow the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama – the enlightened one. When he became enlightened he was saved from Samsara. Buddhists follow the four main truths – life is suffering, suffering is caused by desire for personal gain, the suffering can be ended, follow the eightfold path. The Eightfold Path mentioned is right understanding, speech, thought, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and right concentration. Buddhists samsara is reliant on karma for guidance in reincarnation, but there is no ataman or soul. Buddhists are encouraged to work out their own salvation without relying on gods.

The Three main parts of Buddhism are the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the Three Jewels

The Life of Buddha

The most important elements in the Buddha’s life were

- His seeing of the old man, the sick man, the dead man, and the holy man.

- His decision to become an ascetic

- His attaining of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree

- Teaching his ideas on reaching enlightenment and the possibility of it for everyone.

The Buddha Image

Early Buddhist art Buddha was not depicted, but represented with symbols, like the dharma wheel or his footprints. Buddha is depicted today in many different styles from all over the world. He can be represented sitting in meditation or standing, with a halo showing his enlightenment, or with Greek Influences in his Meditation throne, and many other ways.

The picture gives Buddha the hair of an ascetic showing his journey as a holy man. He is sitting on a meditation throne which was used in early Buddhist art to show his presence. He Is sitting in the meditation posture to encourage the meditation in his teachings. The Buddha’s hands are in a posture near to the wheel turning posture because they are often represented with a hand posture.

Stupas, Temples and Relics

Buddhist Stupas are ancient burial mounds containing relics of kings and heros or even of the Buddha. They are often adorned with stone carvings and scenes depicting the life of Buddha. They are used as a showing of devotion.

The main features of a Stupa are the depictions of Buddha’s life, showing his achievement enlightenment, the celestial spirits bearing offerings to the Buddha, the wheel of Law which represents the wheel of life, samsara, and Karma, the Stupa Gates, The Buddha to be represented as a fear-banishing gesture, and stone lions guarding the entrance to the stupa.

Devotion

Buddhists are not just personally focused; there is a greater sense of a religious collective. People make pilgrimages to places made holy in the Buddha’s life to gain merit and insight. Many people give offerings of food, clothing, or lodging. There are also many services and rites performed.

One Act preformed is that of the pure land sect in Japan. Young Priests attend a mandatory head shaving ceremony, which is a symbol of giving up everything within personal desire. They even must give up the desire to become enlightened to achieve enlightenment.

Cosmology

Buddhists share the same general understanding of the cosmos as the other Indian religions. There are many different realms things are born and reborn into in as a place to seek enlightenment.

Mandalas are the sacred representation of the cosmos and representations of certain worlds usually associated with a God. These can be made with colored sand, carved in stone or painted. They are supposed to represent the macroism of the cosmos and the practitioner’s psychic energy.

The four most important parts of the wheel of life are the four traumas of life; Birth, Sickness, Aging, and Death. These are the most important because they happen to everyone without exception and are inescapable.

Summary Paragraphs

Achieving Salvation:

The goal in Hinduism is to achieve moksh. Moksha is liberation from the cycle of reincarnation and rebirth, called samsara. This is achieved by developing the ability to see past maya, which is the illusion of the physical world. Upon achieving moksha, and dying, the ataman of a person is reunited with the Supreme Being and is no longer subject to samsara.

Important figures / deities and/or Concept of God(s):

The Hindus have many concepts of God, and each sect of Hinduism concentrates on a different representation of the Supreme Being in the form of the main gods like Krishna, Vishnu, and Shiva. The Goal of Hinduism is to have each ataman reconnect with the Supreme Being. This is done with the help of the sacred texts and the Gurus. Gurus are people who have achieved a close proximity to the Supreme Being through an entire lifetime of focused worship. Other tools to aide in the search for moksha, are the yogas. There are four yogas which each focus on an aspect of life and possible ways to achieve moksha.

Goal for Humans:

The goal for Humans in Hinduism is to be released from Samsara, which is the eternal cycle of reincarnation and rebirth. The release or liberation from this cycle is called moksha. Moksha is achieved by overcoming the desires of the physical world and seeing through the illusion of the physical world, which is called maya. Hindus believe to do this a person must respect and abide by the law of Karma.

Sacred Texts / Doctrines

Possible Vocab to use: Shruti, Smirti, Upanishads, Varna

The Hindus have the one of the largest collections of holy texts of any religions. One of their most important texts is the Vedas. The Vedas are the basics of Hinduism and are the foundations for the rest of the religion. The Hindus have two types of religious text. One that has been remembered, which is a Smriti, and that which has been heard, which is Shruti. These tell different things about the religion and both are essential to the worship and following of the religion.

Final Addition to Hinduism

The Four Vedas

- The four Vedas are a shruti text, which means that which has been heard meaning that they consist of absolute truth and were created upon revelation. They were written around 2500 years ago although according to Hindu tradition they were written in 3000 BCE. The Vedas consist of the Rig-Veda, which is considered to be the most important, is broken into 10 books with hymns and praises to various deities; the Yajur-Veda, which is broken into two sections which guide priests in sacrifice ceremonies; the Sama-Veda which consists of chants and songs that are sung during the sacrifice ceremonies; and Atharva-Veda which contains prayers, mantras, and incantations which lie outside the sacrifice ceremonies.

The Mahabharata

- The Mahabharata is the longest poem in the world and is mostly a story of the history of greater India. It contains information on the intricacies of dharma of the warrior and priestly classes. The text is a smriti text meaning it is one that is remembered from history and provides insight from history. The Mahabharata is supposed to be entertaining and capture the attention of the people looking more for entertainment, but the underlying theme is ultimately spiritual.

Bhagavad-Gita

- The Bhagavad-Gita is section of text taken from the Mahabharata when Krishna and Arjuna are preparing for battle on the battlefield, and Krishna begins to tell him about the concepts of ataman and reincarnation. The Bhagavad-Gita also contains text about the Supreme Being and the elevation of the ataman to become liberated from worldly boundaries.

Shaivism

- Shaivism is the second largest branch in modern India, and is associated mainly with asceticism, and the followers often consider Shiva to be the Supreme Deity. The group is focused mainly on meditation because Shiva was often depicted meditation in the Himalayas.

Vaishnavism

- Vaishnavaism is the largest of the sects of Hinduism and they consider Vishnu to be the principle deity over the other sects. This sect of Hinduism is also broken down into subsects focusing on differing incarnations of Vishnu like Rama and Krishna.

Part II and III Hinduism

Karma-yoga

- The yoga of selfless action

- In the Karma-yoga, one must understand selfless action binds the soul. In the performance of selfless action one is relieved from the reactions to self-centered activities. The Karma-yoga suggests that all activities relate to a greater cause. On the highest level, the yoga refers to unreserved dedication to serve the ultimate lord.

Jnana-yoga

- Philosophical research and wisdom

- Jnana-yoga promotes the acquisition of knowledge through seclusion, study, and sense abnegation. Activities and the necessities of life are minimized and the pursuit of wisdom is not only acedemic but also about becoming free from the sensual desire of the soul.

Ashtanga/Raja Yoga

- Physical exercises and meditation

- Asta, meaning eight, refers to the eight essential stages based on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. These are explored mostly in the Bhagavad-gita and many types of modern yoga are related. The eight stages are discussed in the sutras and talk about the superstates of consciousness.

Bhakti-yoga

- The path of devotional service

- This is the path most recommended in the Gita. It combines all the yogas and is the predominant path toward spiritual fulfillment. Includes the external symbolic worship and other practices such as the pilrimage and inner development. Has been presented to those with emotional dispositions rather than intellectual ones more often than not. Also stress the importance of developing bhakti based on knowledge and the importance of grace in achieving spiritual knowledge. The goals of Bhakti transcend past enjoyment and liberation and aim at selfless sercive to God.

Murti

- Worship of the murti or sacred image is essential and central to Hinduism. Although it was rejected in the nineteenth century as outdated and superstitious sacred-image worship is still a major concept in the faith for helping many followers to develop and maintain their relationship with God

Trimurti

- The three main deities of the material world are called the trimurti or three deities. These deities are Braham, Vishnu, and Shiva. They fulfill the creation, sustenance, and destruction roles set by God. God also exists beyond the material world as an impersonal force and as the Supreme Being.

Puja: Ritual Worship

- Puja refers to worship of the sacred image usually. Each separate denomination has different rules for worship and the details vary considerably. Puja usually involves bathing the deity and offerings of various items such as water, food, perfume, and flowers. The ceremony generally includes a minimum of 16 devotional acts.

Janmashtame Celebration

- This festival celebrates the birth of Krishna. The people sing to him, dancing for him, and honoring him with a special puja. People also prepare special food for the two-day festival. Krishna is celebrated because he faced many moral dangers in his lifetime, all of which he prevailed above. He was also considered to be the eighth incarnation of Vishnu.

Dussehra

- This day is celebrated for Rama killing the Deamon-King, while also rescuing his wife Sita. In other words it shows the triumph of good over evil. Although the festival is celebrated differently in different parts of the country, everyone celebrates with enthusiasm. Ramilila is the main focus in the northern part of the country and the triumph over the Goddess Durga is the focus.

Varanasi

- One of the most famous places, Varanasi is on right next to the Ganges about 450 miles south of Delhi. May be one of the oldest cities left on earth and is mentioned as the foremost city of Shiva. Hindus travel to Varanasi in hope of achieving liberation. Many people are also transported there after their death to be cremated.

Puri

- Mathura is an ancient city about 95 miles south of Delhi, and is famous because it is the place of Krishna’s birth. Radha and Krishna are worshipped in it’s main temple and around has 12 sacred forests. People retire here in hope of ending the reincarnation cycle at death.

Jatakarma

- The Jatakarma is the birth ceremony for infants. The father of the baby puts ghee and honey on the infant’s tongue and whispers the name of God in the their ear.

Upanayana – Initiation or sacred thread ceremony

- This ceremony marks a boy’s official acceptance into his varna, and it is essential for the 3 higher classes. This is also the beginning of the spiritual journey where a young man seeks his spiritual identity. This is also when a child takes accepts a spiritual teacher and sometimes a new spiritual name. Once the child accepts their teacher they are given their sacred thread which they usually wear the rest of their life.

Dharma, Varna, Ashrams

- Dharma is a religious obligation to God. The use of dharma in life refers to leading a religious life in harmony with nature defined in scripture. Even though every Hindu has to follow the general moral codes of conduct they each have their own duties that are in accordance with their nature. These codes are regulated by the four Varnas which are the four social classes in Hinduism, and the ashrams which are the stages of life

- The four Varnas are the shudras which are the workers and artisans, the Vaishyas which are the farmers, merchants, and business people, the Kshatriyas which are the police, warriors, and administrators, and the Brahmans which are the priests, Teachers, and intellectuals.

- The Four Ashrams are the Brahmachari which is the student life, the Grihasta which is the household life, the Vanaprashta which is the retired life, and the Sannyasa which is the renounced life.

Music

- Indian music is called sangeet and is considered to have mythological roots associated with the Gandharvas or heavenly singers. The oldest musical texts are the Sama Veda consisting of hymns and ritual songs. From early days music was considered spiritual rather than for entertainment. There are three parts to music in Hinduism, the Guru, Vinaya, and the sadhana.

Other social Issues

- Other than the caste issue many other social groupings and divisions have arisen. These divisions include poverty, the differing views on the role of women, differing opinion on child marriage, sati, which is a devotion to another even into the next life, polygamy, and the dowry system.

12 parts of Hinduism

Ataman

- The ataman is the non-material self that is always constant. The ataman transcends everything like race, origin, species, and nationality; it is constant throughout everything. Metaphor used for the ataman is that it is the driver and the body is a car. The car must have the driver to function. We sometimes discriminate against others because of their type or color of car, but we are all drivers, meaning that all of our atamans are the same.

Reincarnation and Samsara

- The ataman, being unchanged in life, is continued after death and carried into another body. When it is in the next body it is reincarnated. An incarnation is the embodiment of the ataman so being reincarnated is to leave a body and be put back into another. Samsara is the perpetual cycle of this reincarnation of the Ataman.

The Law of Karma

- Karma, meaning action, is only generated in the Human form because humans are the only species with free will. Human life is to be responsible for one’s actions. Karma has three states according to the bhagavad-gita, those being karma for elevation, vikarma for those who degrade, and akarma for those who cause neither good or bad.

Prakriti and Guna – how does the world work

- ataman are trapped within mortal bodies made up of matter or prakriti. All matter goes through 3 stages of existence; it is created, remains for some time, and is inevitably destroyed. These three phases correspond with the three gunas or qualities/modes of material nature. The gunas are that passion creates, goodness sustains, and ignorance destroys.

Maya (illusion) – why do we get into difficulty in this world?

- under the gunas the soul is misled by matter and entangled and trapped. Because of Maya the ataman mistakenly identifies with the body and takes on trivial bias, racism… this causes to serve the soul with greed lust and desire and fall deeper into illusion.

Moksha and liberation

- Moksha is the ultimate goal in the eyes of most Hindus. Moksha is a state of unity with God. This happens when the souls sense of individual is removed and the soul realizes it is among others exactly alike with it. They then share similarities with God therefore becoming Godlike obtaining Moksha.

Is there a God? If so, what is he/she like?

- There is a God in Hinduism, and he is perceived in three ways. Brahman residing everywhere, Antaryami residing within, and Bhagavan residing outside. Brahman is also known as the all pervading soul, Antaryami means the controller within, and Bhagavan means one endowed with ultimate opulence and refers to the beyond material God.

- God, in Hinduism, could very well encompass all other forms of god from primitive religions to modern ones. Even so, hindus view two different theories with god, monism (advaita) and monotheism (dvaita). Monism views God to be impersonal and without form or qualities. Monotheism views God as personal, with qualities, with a form, and performing activities.

Sanatana-dharma

- A dharma is much the same as a Mitzvah it is a religious obligation. But a dharma is something more necessary to the object, like sugar to be sweet. Sanatana-dharma is dealing with the soul and the spiritual part of a person. Sanatana-dharma rules and obligations are like the Ataman, they transcend prescribed reality and are universal.

Varnashrama-dharma

- Varnashrama-dharma has to do with duties performed within the four varnas or social divisions and four ashrams. These have to do with completing a task or way of living in one area that another would be repulsed by from its utter …wrongness (?).

One Goal, Different Paths

- Moksha is the ultimate goal, while some traditions accommodate material accomplishment even though it is temporary. Usually one must go through the first three goals before reaching moksha. These four are dharma or righteousness, artha or economic development, kama or sensual enjoyment, and finally moksha or liberation/ultimate goal.

Sources of Authority – Scripture and Guru

- Scripture is called shastra sometimes from the original translation shabda­brahman or spiritual sound. They were written some 5000 years ago and are considered to be the most reliable form of authority in the religion. The guru is plays the role of intermediary between the soul and the supreme. Many schools one must have a spiritual guide to bypass maya.

Kala – time

- the concept of time, like the concept of the ataman, is eternal. They have a notion of two-way eternity, the past doesn’t exist to us and neither does the future, it is all eternal.

Creation

- With the notion of cyclical time, the world is continually destroyed and recreated. Also, the world is one part of three in this universe, and this universe is one part of many. Hinduism is also not earth centered, but puts emphasis on many other planes of existence too, like the heavens.

Vocab

Hinduism Vocab

Sanata Dharma – Eternal/Universal righteousness – the origional name for Hinduism

The Vedas – the oldest scriptures of Hinduism and the first large body of texts

Upanishads – philosophical texts in Hinduism the oldest are the most important

Bhagavad Gita – “Song of God” a sacred text of Hinduism also considered among the most important texts in the history of literature and philosophy. Lord Krishna is the teacher of the text and is refered within as Bhagavan – the Divine One

Ramayana – an ancient Sanskrit epic – in the part of the Vedas. Tells the story of Rama’s journey

Atman – the soul or a person. Continuing cycle of rebirths until enlightenment is achieved

Avatar – Sanskrit for descendant, meaning direct descendant to a deity, an incarnation of a god

Bhajans – any type of Indian devotional song. Mostly expresses love for a deity.

Brahman – the eternal, the ultimate truth, unchanging, all matter, energy, time and space are him

Trimurti – a concept where the creation sustentation and destruction of the earth are personified in the forms of the creator, the preserver, and the destroyer

Brahma – the hindu god of creation and one of the trimurti

Vishnu – the hindu god of maintenance - part of trimurti

Shiva – the god of destruction – part of trimurti

Darshan – sanskrid word meaning sight – a vision, apparition or glimpse

Gunas – Sanskrit meaning strand or single thread, may mean subdivision of species, kind….

Tamas – Sanskrit for darkness – also translated in to indifference to action

Rajas- responsible for motion and energy preservation

Sattva – Sanskrit for purity – literally existence and reality

Guru - a respectable person with saintly qualities and great knowledge, ,he is a teacher who aims to enlighten his student

Ishta-Devata – literally means cherished divinity and is referring to a worshippers favorite deity

Krishna – means the dark one in sanskrit, in some traditions Krishna is an avatar of Vishnu and in others the supreme being

Rita – truth or order in sanskrit it is the cosmic order. This concept led to the doctrines of dharma and karma

Akriti - meaning comming beyond space and time

Law of Karma – the concept of action or deed, and it is understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect

Maya – multiple meanings centered around the concept of illusion. Maya is principal deity that governs dreams and illusion and illusion in the phenomenal universe

Moksha – means release or to let loose. The liberation from samsara and eternal suffering involved in the cycle of reincarnation

Puja – Sanskrit for reverence or honor. A ritual done by hindus as an offering to various deities, distinguished persons, or special guests.

Samsara – meaning continuous flow it is the cycle of reincarnation and death

Shruti – term for the sacred texts of Hinduism, they have influence on the dharma of Hinduism and the Hindu law.

Smriti – literally means that which is remembered and refers to a specific group of scriptures. Is also a part of the Hindu customary law. It portrays the rules of on dharma

Varna – this refers to the main division in Hindu society, being shown in the maurya period which was about 321 BCE to 185 BCE

Jati – term meaning thus born, used to announce the appearance of communities and sub communities.

Yoga – traditional physical and mental disciplines, one of the orthodox schools of Hinduism, and in Jainism it is the sum of all activities – mental, verbal, and physical

Bhankti – descrives the spiritual paractice of giving love and devotion to a god

Jnana – also known as the path of knowledge

Karma – the discipline of action yoga and is one of the four paths to realization

Raja – also knows as classical yoga and is concerned with the development of the mind and the finding of reality and achievement of enlightenment

Huston Smith Hinduism part I

What do people want?

In Hinduism you can have what you want. People want pleasure, and Hinduism says to go after it yet, seek it intelligently. Another thing people want is worldly success. People also want to go down the paths of desire and renunciation.

What do people really want?

Firstly, everyone wants to be nobody normally wants to die and people would normally want to be rather than not to be. Secondly we want to know. We are curious and have the desire to understand everything. The third thing people really want is joy, happiness and freedom from frustration and boredom.

3 paragraphs for Islam

What is the human Condition?

The human condition in Islam is that people start out without any sin, yet as their number of opportunities increases so does their chance to become sinful. When someone doesn’t perform a righteous deed when they have the choice to they become more sinful. But, when Yawm al-Din comes in the afterlife, Allah goes down the list of everything someone has done that is sinful, and they get the chance to explain to him why they preformed the sinful act. It is sometimes decided that the act is understandable but mostly it is still a sin. In all, the human condition is that people are completely righteous until they have the choice to sin, and then they become sinful if they choose to be so.

Where are we going?

Everyone in the world is trying to get to Jannah. Jannah is the Heaven of Islam and Jahannam is the Hell of the religion. Everyone is trying to be the best person they can be so when they die and the Yawm an-Din comes they will be judged well and they will earn the privilege of spending eternity in paradise with everyone they lived with on earth.

How do we get there?

People get to Jannah by following Shari’a law, which is the Islamic law that is said in the Qur’an. This includes the Five Pillars which are Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj. Other things to follow to get to Jannah are to follow the Sunnas. These are the things that Mohammed would do during his lifetime as normal actions.

Huston Smith Part IV

Part III

Pg. 258 – 266

What are Sufis?

o Sufis are the extreme in Islam, and are much more devoted to the faith for the opportunity to see Allah in this life rather than at the Judgment day.

- The root word of Sufism means wool

- The Sufis are the mystics of Islam

- They are the ones who bear the inner message of Islam

- The Sufis try to encounter God Now rather than wait till the judgment day

- The Sufis have 3 routes of reaching Allah, these being love, ecstasy, and intuition

Connecting Vocabulary

Ka’bah, Muezzin, Mihrab

The Ka’bah is considered to be the most sacred place in Islam. It is in the Great Mosque in Mecca. The Mihrab in every Mosque and in most homes shows the direction toward the Ka’bah. The Muezzin is the one selected to call prayer five times a day and lead Friday services. When he calls everyone to prayer they all face a the Ka’bah in Mecca usually with the aide of the Mihrab.

Imam, Medina, Mohammed

Mohammed was the solidifying prophet of Allah’s will and the creator of Islam. Being the final prophet of Allah he quickly became an Imam, which is a person in a seat of power within the Islamic Faith. In Medina, because it was where Islam became more popular and really got of its start, Mohammed was not only an Imam in the faith, but also an Icon and an important figure in the community.

Jannah, Jahannam, Jinns, Qur’an

The Qur’an is the holy book in Islam and contains Allah’s teachings about how to live one’s life. If the laws and guidelines in the Qur’an are followed then the one following them will go to Jannah, or the Islamic concept of paradise. If they are not followed then the person will go to Jahannam or the Islamic concept of Hell. Jinns are unseen beings created by Allah who also live human-like lives and who are also judged on Yawmuddin to either go to Jannah or Jahannam.

Jinns, Mohammed, Qur’an

Mohammed was the portal for Allah’s message to be recorded as the Qur’an. Jinns are also a beings made by Allah who live like humans to be rewarded in an afterlife by Allah as well.

Shi’a, Ummah, Sunni

Shi’a are the second largest sect of Islam. They believe that the religion should be led by Ali when Mohammed. This group forms an Ummah or a religious community. The Sunni’s are the largest sect of Islam and believe that Mohammed’s grandson should lead the religion. This group also forms an Ummah. Also, the two and all other sects of the religion together form an Islamic Ummah.

Tawhid, Yawmuddin, Shari’a, Sunna

Shari’a is the way or path Muslims should follow to have a better life and improve the lives around them. Sunna is a normal routine or practice in Islam and usually refers to the usual practices Mohammed had throughout his life. Following the Shari’a includes following the Five Pillars, which is a Sunna because it is a daily practice. If one does this then they will be judged on the Yawmuddin or judgement day justly and go to Jannah. But only Allah who is Tawhid or the one god will be able to decide whether they go to Jannah or Jahannam on the Yawmuddin.

Sadaqa, Rasul

A Rasul is a messenger of Allah in the form of a prophet. These people follow the Five Pillars very strictly. One of the five pillars is Sadaqa, which is to volunteer for charity. This is preormed by a Rasul on a regular basis.

Huston Smith Part III

What are the Five Pillars?

- The Five Pillars teach the people of Islam to walk down the straight path

o Meaning that it teaches them how to live with faith and good judgment

o They claim this to be one of the religion’s strengths

- Muslims believe that Allah’s revelations to humanity happened in 4 stages

o The truth of monotheism – through Abraham

o The ten commandments – through Moses

o The golden rule – through Jesus

o The way to love one’s neighbor – answered in the Koran and through Mohammed

- There are the Five Pillars but they only tell of things one should do guidelines are present on what one should not do

- The are in place to help guide one’s life to do what is right and to praise Allah

What are the Social Teachings?

- The social teachings of Islam cover the life of the individual and the interaction of the society completely.

- Teach to treat each other with brotherly and sisterly love

- Mohammed made rules of polygamy to reinforce the distribution of love within the marriages.

- Polygamy is still allowed though

- The Qur’an stresses the belief that everyone is equal no matter race

- The Koran never says to fight but it doesn’t say not to