1964

America's Gandhi: Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

1930

Questions:

What do we know about other religions?

Why are religions important?

How is Hinduism different?

No single founder No commonly agreed set of

teachings Practices vary - it means different

things to different people “Way of life” v. religion More about what you DO than what

you believe

Hinduism: Beginnings

Originated in India, near the Indus River Valley

Traditions began about 4000 years ago

The world’s oldest religions Very connected with social,

political, and cultural developments in India

Today, there are 900 million followers worldwide– population of U.S. - 300 million people– population of India - over 1 billion

people; 80% of them identify as Hindu

Hinduism

Hindu Texts: the Vedas Most ancient

religious text in Hinduism

For thousands of years, passed on orally

Written down 1200 - 200 BCE

In Sanskrit, veda means “knowledge” or “wisdom”

Sanskrit Ancient language of India Language of Hinduism

Hindu Texts: The Upanishads Composed between 800 - 200 BCE Philosophical texts Introduce concept of BRAHMAN:

supreme power that informs reality

Brahman: Supreme Power Brahman takes on many forms

(similar to water), yet is not worshiped as a god

Sometimes represented as a human; sometimes as a deity (god or goddess)

Kali

Shiva

Vishnu

Hindu Deities

Atman Hindus also believe that there is a

piece of God in all of us Atman is a person’s eternal soul,

the piece of Brahman that exists within them

Question:– If there is a piece of God in everyone,

how should we treat people?

Ahimsa:“nonviolence

”

Not injuring others in thought, words, or actions

Mohandas Gandhi

Other Hindu Texts The Mahabharata

– One of most popular Hindu texts– Longest poem in the world!

Ramayana– Tells story of Prince Rama who was

sent into exile in the forest with his wife, Sita, and his brother, Lakshamana.

– Story of good overcoming evil

Ramayana: Battle Scene

Question:

What motivates people to be good?

Dharma:“duty”

“virtue” “morality”

Universal: “the power that upholds the universe and society”

Personal: each person has their own “right path”, known as sva-dharma

Karma

Literal meaning in Sanskrit: “action” Law of cause and effect: good

actions will have good responses; bad actions will have the opposite effect

“What goes around comes around”

Samsara:continuous life

cycle; reincarnation

When people die, their soul is reborn in a new body; based on KARMA

The most important aspects of a person’s character stays with them from one life to the next.

Take 5 minutes to think and write about: What are the most important

aspects of your character? (or, what makes you unique?)

Imagine what you might have been in a previous life, or what you might be reincarnated as in a future life.

Moksha

Moksha is liberation of a person’s soul (atman) from the cycle of rebirth (samsara)

The individual soul (atman) is reunited with the universal soul (Brahman)

Moksha - how do we get there?

Four ways to achieve moksha:– Path of knowledge– Path of meditation– Path of devotion– Path of good works (karma)

The Caste System Division of society based on occupation

and family; it is hereditary In Hinduism, there are four main castes:

– Brahmins - intellectuals and the priests – Kshatriya - nobles or warriors– Vaishyas - commoners or merchants;

ordinary people who produce, farm, trade and earn a living

– Shudras - workers, usually served the higher classes, including laborers, artists, musicians, and clerks

…and below all of these:

The “untouchables” Caste system reinforced by

religious beliefs - role of Karma No “social mobility”; reborn into

same caste, no inter-marriage Gandhi

Quotes:

Interpret the four quotes into your own words.

Discuss with the people at your table which principles in Hinduism are being referred to in these quotes

Ben Harper & the Innocent

Criminals• Album Title:

Fight for your Mind

• Songs: “Oppression”, “One road to freedom”, “People lead”, “Fight for your home”

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Activity: Hinduism Album Cover / Magazine Cover Choose a principle: moksha,

karma, samsara, dharma, atman, ahimsa

Brainstorm related words/ideas Think of: Band name, album name,

song titles; OR magazine title, headlines

Draw a cover

Example:

Principle: Karma Band name: The Karma Kids Album: “What goes around comes

around” Hit song: “Getting good by giving good”

Karma Kids