HINDUISM

the path to moksha

Entry Instructions• Bell-ringer: Bell-ringer: Begin when the bell rings.Begin when the bell rings.

– Get theGet theConduct Self-Assessment Conduct Self-Assessment page page (podium). (podium).

– Read the instructions.Read the instructions.– Check all the professional behaviors that Check all the professional behaviors that

you exhibited last Friday during class.you exhibited last Friday during class.– Use the rubric to assign yourself a grade.Use the rubric to assign yourself a grade.– Finally, write your goals for today.Finally, write your goals for today.– Turn the paper over when you are finished.Turn the paper over when you are finished.

Critical Thinking• Answer EITHER Answer EITHER AA or or BB on the back on the back

of your self-assessment sheet. Write of your self-assessment sheet. Write in complete sentences.in complete sentences.A.A. Why do you think people suffer? What Why do you think people suffer? What

is the cause of suffering and hurt in is the cause of suffering and hurt in the world?the world?

B.B. What/Who are you so attached to that What/Who are you so attached to that you could not live without? How does you could not live without? How does this this attachmentattachment affect your life? affect your life?

Hindu terminology– BrahmanBrahman… one God, many forms… one God, many forms– AtmanAtman… the “true self” or soul… the “true self” or soul– Karma… energy surrounding the soulKarma… energy surrounding the soul– Reincarnation… rebirth of the soul Reincarnation… rebirth of the soul

(punishment)(punishment)– Castes… social groupsCastes… social groups– Dharma… spiritual duties of each casteDharma… spiritual duties of each caste– Enlightenment… “Seeing God in others”Enlightenment… “Seeing God in others”– Moksha… freedom from reincarnationMoksha… freedom from reincarnation

monotheism

mono: onethe/theo: godism: doctrine, belief in, practice

Most Hindus are monotheistic.

Ultimate goal: Enlightenment

The “Enlightened” Hindu The “Enlightened” Hindu is truly wise and truly is truly wise and truly happy. happy. He sees God in He sees God in

himself and in others.himself and in others. He He believes all life is sacred, believes all life is sacred, and he shows respect and and he shows respect and

kindness to all living kindness to all living beings. beings.

The flaw: Ignorance

If we saw God’s If we saw God’s presence in others, presence in others, then we would treat all then we would treat all living beings with living beings with kindness and respect. kindness and respect. Instead, Instead, we treat each we treat each other with prejudice other with prejudice and harm, which and harm, which separates us from Godseparates us from God..

Our problem? Our problem? We live We live in ignorance.in ignorance. We think We think we understand life, but we understand life, but

we don’t.we don’t. We do not We do not see the truth. We do see the truth. We do

not see that God is not see that God is present in all living present in all living

things. things.

What does it mean What does it mean to live in between to live in between ignoranceignorance and and enlightenmentenlightenment??

(How must a Hindu live in order to (How must a Hindu live in order to gain gain

perfect happiness and peace?)perfect happiness and peace?)

The Path to Enlightenment

• Step 1: Eliminate bad karma from the soul– Pray to the deities of Brahman– Practice nonviolence– Perform your spiritual caste duties

(dharma)•Brahmins (priests)•Kshatryas (warriors)•Vaisyas (farmers, merchants, craftsmen)•Sudras (poor laborers)•untouchables (dung-scrapers)

If this Untouchable 1) successfully fulfills the duties of his caste, 2) prays to the gods that represent Brahman, and 3) behaves nonviolently toward all living things, then he builds up good karma. When he dies his soul is reincarnated (reborn) into a higher caste…

Soul of an Untouchable

THE

IMPURE

SOUL

BAD

KARMA

IN PAST

*

Caste Duties

Prayer

Nonviolence

Good KarmaSoul

Reincarnated into higher caste

Soul of a Sudra*

Caste Duties

Prayer

Nonviolence

Good KarmaSoul

Reincarnated into higher caste

Soul of a Vaisya*

Caste Duties

Prayer

Nonviolence

Good KarmaSoul

Reincarnated into higher caste

Soul of a Kshatriya*

Soul of a Brahmin

The soul of the brahmin is pure because of good karma earned over many lifetimes. The brahmin must concentrate on attaching his mind to his purified soul (his true self, called atman).To focus on atman he voluntarily becomes a holy man…

*

The Path to MOKSHA• Step 2: The holy one gives up all

desires.– It is harder for brahmins (atop the

caste system) to give up their desires and possessions than it is for sudras or untouchables to give up theirs.

The Hindu Holy Man

The Hindu Holy Man (sadhu) tries to eliminate desire from his life. He leaves behind all the possessions and people in his life and wanders alone into the forest to meditate and pray. His simple life is hard because he is so used to the complex distractions of the world.

Seeing God in Others

When the Holy Man eliminates desire and attaches his mind to the peace of his divine soul, then he returns from the forest as an enlightened (truly wise) man. Because he only sees the divine soul in himself, he begins to see only the divine soul in others. He does not see outer images (wealth, poverty); he sees only the the soul. He is able to see God in others. He is enlightenedenlightened.

MOKSHAMOKSHA Union withUnion with Brahman BrahmanWhen a Hindu no longer desires, When a Hindu no longer desires,

when he discovers the pure soul within him, when he discovers the pure soul within him,

when he sees the pure soul in others… when he sees the pure soul in others…

then he has reached enlightenment. then he has reached enlightenment.

He is truly wise. He is truly wise.

He is truly happy.He is truly happy.

When the “enlightened one” dies, his soul will be free.When the “enlightened one” dies, his soul will be free.

His soul will not be reborn. It will connect with God:His soul will not be reborn. It will connect with God:

AtmanAtman unified with unified with Brahman.Brahman.

A permanent state of perfect peace…A permanent state of perfect peace…

This is MOKSHA.This is MOKSHA.

Path to Path to MokshaMoksha

1.1.Purify the Purify the soul.soul.

2.2.Reject Reject desires.desires.

3.3.Embrace Embrace atman.atman.