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Hinduism and Buddhism 10/29/08 -Hinduism as a term is relatively recent -nature of practice and culture changes dramatically from place to place -overarching themes of the major streams within Hinduism -originally a Persian term which indicated people who livedEast of Indus River -Al-Hind-blanket term to talk about people who lived in a particular geographic region (Arabic term for Hinduism) -development of tradition in 3 different eras -brahmana tradition (1500 BCE) -priestly class of Indian society -sramana traditions (500 BCE) -renouncer traditions -associated with practices of yoga and renunciation-leave society to follow a religion path -devotionalism (1CE) -mass scale devotionalism -dedication to gods and goddess Brahmana Tradition -vedas-collection of texts; related to Brahmana tradition -priests become the religious specialists within this ancient Hindu tradition that know and propagate the knowledge of the vedas -principle foundation for hindu scripture (basic revealed text in hindu tradition) -early Hinduism is sometimes referred to as the vedic tradition -2 key elements of vedic tradition 1.sacrifice (yagna)-process by which humans interact with primordial gods and goddesses -powers who rule the universe -performance of mantra-hymns or chants 2. society-broken down into 4 classes -varna (classes)-priestly, warrior, ruling, merchant, servant -jati (caste)-creates innumerable subdivisions within these 4 classes -human beings are born in such a way that they have a particular way to interact with the world -priest=head; merchants=torso, servants=feet of human body *your karma (or action) should ultimately should ultimately be in line with your duties or obligations -we all have actions to perform in this world in accordance with our place -you are born with a particular position (strata of society) and that determines how you should act and what you should do in this world -karma is to be in line with one?s dharma (duty/obligation) Sramana Traditions -sumsara-the cycle of birth and rebirth -life after life is not good(its bad -perpetually caught up and going through the same unhappiness and misery lifetime after lifetime after lifetime -restraining the mind and body-restraining one?s senses -come to the knowledge of the true nature of things(liberation -knowledge of atman being Brahman -one?s inner most self is none other than god -when one recognizes that one breaks free from the tyranny of this changing world that can never provide lasting satistfaction -goal: reject society-reject external trappings of the world to find an internal peace that separates one from the world Classical Hinduism -rise of gods and goddesses as objects of popular devotion and worshihp -Shiva, Vishnu, and Devi are 3 major gods -correspond to the 3 major sects of Hinduism -puja-formal rituals of worship often performed by Brahmans and within people?s homes -bhatti-devotion -deeply emotional relationship with god -Brahmans still play a role in worship but the relationship between human being and god is very important -god (ishbura) or Brahman can manifest in multiple ways -you can have multiple deities who represent different aspects of god that are worthy of worship independently but are also seen as reflections of a greater totality