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Shasta Payne REL 207 Portfolio Essay # 1 Hinduism Is a Large Shasta Payne REL 207 Portfolio Essay # 1 Hinduism is a large religion based out of India. It is seen as the ultimate truth, in that there is no founder. It is said to be eternal and timeless, and what people of this faith seek is an enlightenment of knowing this ultimate truth. It is associated with both transcendence and immanence Ȃ it is a divine reality that is present everywhere throughout the universe. The ultimate divine reality is called Brahman, which comes in Nirguna and Saguna forms. It can be beyond forms and transcendent, or it can also appear in the form of gods and goddesses. Though there are many gods and goddesses, they are all directly linked to Brahman and are said to be one with the divine. They are manifestations of various qualities of the divine reality. It is vastly different from many Western culture ideals or Judeo-Christian- Islam teachings and views. Hinduism has its own trinity, called the Trimurti. It consists of the Brahma, or creator, Vishnu, the preserver and human form, and Shiva, the destroyer of ignorance. They are 3, however, they are also all part of the one divine, ultimate reality. These parts of the divine also have female consorts. Saraswati is Brahmaǯs counterpart, who is the representation of learning and the arts. Lakshmi is the consort of Vishnu, and she is the ideal of wealth and beauty. Parvati is the female counterpart for Shiva, and she is seen as the ideal wife. All of the three together are considered the Divine Mother. Time is not seen as having a beginning or an end within Hinduism. Rather, it revolves in cycles of four major eras, during which the universe is destroyed and awaits rebirth. These eras are called Yugas, and each is different in its characteristics and length. The Sat Yuga, which is considered the best yuga, lasts 1,728,000 years. It is said to bring happiness and harmony to the universe. The Kali Yuga, which is the worst era, lasts 432,000 years. This time brings widespread suffering and uncertainty, and we are believed to be in the Kali yuga currently as of 5000 years ago. Hinduism contains the concept of reincarnation. Each personǯs soul, or atman, is immortal, though the body may die. A sacred Hindu text, the Bhagavad Gita, states that one can be reincarnated as a plant, animal, or human, but that the human reincarnation is best. What decides which one will reincarnate as is called karma. This cycle of birth and death over and over is called Samsara, which is riddles with suffering and limitations. It is almost like enslavement in the wrong mindset. Ignorance of the ultimate, divine reality is what keeps one in this space. However, one may become liberated through moksha, or enlightenment. The ignorance of the truth and instead the illusion of the material word is called Maya. When one sees only this lifetime, and doesnǯt realize they are transcendent and the soul is actually one with Brahman, this ignorance keeps one in Samsara. Karma is not a reward or punishment system. It is rather a simple, universal system of actions and reactions. One may do good deeds and live a good life to build karma, which may come within the same lifetime, or during a later reincarnation. When life is lived badly and ignorantly, bad karma is built and will affect oneǯs being in the same way that good karma does. It is for this reason that it appears that bad things happen to good people Ȃ it is a result of karma they had built up in an earlier reincarnation. Karma also controls how one reincarnates and whether they come back as a plant, animal, or human form. Karma can be compared to the law of gravity Ȃ if you throw something in the air, it will come back down. If you stand still, the object will hit you, but if you move, it will not. Karma is a universal system of actions and reactions. Moksha is what every Hindu strives for. It is the enlightenment, the realization of the ultimate reality of Brahman. One is enlightened when they have the full realization that the soul and Brahman are one, in a neverending cycle across the universe. Karma plays an important role in the quest for moksha. One must both do good things and be generous, and avoid the focus of karma and gain liberation. Yogic practice helps Hindus attempt to achieve this balance. When someone is liberated from reincarnation, it is called Jiranmukti. When enlightened, a peson has a choice to continue the cycle of karma and reincarnation in order to assist others in obtaining the ultimate reality, moksha. It is also known as having limitless freedom and bliss, forever. Obtaining this enlightenment is the primary focus of a practicing Hindu. The Bhagavad Gita helps guide Hindus to the different possible pathways toward liberation. One way Hindus may live to reach moksha is through the role of the householder. This is sort of the Dztraditionaldz, comfortable human life. One marries, has children, and lives in society normally. It is also characterized by practicing meditation, yoga, and devotional practices in order to search for enlightenment. Another path toward liberation is called the renunciate, or Sannyasi path. It requires denial of the world and its troubles, and that one gives up all possessions and lifestyles to pursue enlightenment full-time. This may manifest itself in either a forest-dweller way, a traveling way, or a monastery way. The stages of a life include all these types of practice. It is hard for many in Western or Judeo-Christian-Islam cultures to understand the concepts and ideologies within Hinduism because the vernacular and mythoscope differs so greatly. The Brahman is not a creator, but an ultimate, transcendental reality, but the Judeo-Christian-Islam belief system comes from a creator. This creator is sort of a ruler, who has laws and mandates that must be followed. This creator is the ultimate judge of whether someone is fulfilling what is necessary in life, and it is a one-time process for each person. Conversely, in Hinduism, the Brahman is the ultimate truth that everyone stives toward over the course of many lifetimes. Every personǯs path is unique, but has the same goal. No oneǯs path is Dzjudgeddz, as in the Judeo-Christian-Islam perspective; rather, they just bring back certain reactions based on the karma they build. There isnǯt Dzsindz in the same context of Judeo-Christian-Islam principles within the Hindu culture. Rather, karma, much like a law of science, creates certain states of being across different lifetimes. Judeo-Christian-Islam theory also relies on many dualities. Good v. evil is a common theme across the sacred practices, texts, and standard beliefs. In Hinduism, transcending duality, not giving in to it, is the ultimate goal. One naturally views the entire universe as having opposites Ȃ good and evil, right and wrong, dead or alive, etc. To Hindus, this is a result of Maya. However, to break free from this train of thought to realize that nothing is set in stone is what liberates one to become enlightened. One isnǯt trying to escape the dualities altogether Ȃ one just needs to realize the necessity of all of it together to create balance in the universe. The awareness of this enriches life and leads to moksha. Brahman is consciousness. Moksha also a physical process, involving the entire body. This is called Kundalini. It is an energy current, which begins at the base of the spine and travels upward toward the crown of the head. Each chakra, of which there are 7, is reached by this energy and connected together. The symbolism used to describe this uses the lotus blooming as an example of the chakras being reached by this energy. Water is highly important within the mythoscope of Hinduism. The River Ganges in India is a sacred place, which is where the origin of Ganga, the goddess is said to be. Ganga rides a water dwelling animal called Makara, who represents desire. Desire is not always seen as a problem to overcome and avoid. It is considered to be a creative manifestation of the soul crying out for liberation. As one gets closer to enlightenment, their desires sway more toward compassion. Riding Makara symbolizes Gangaǯs control over desire. When one bathes in the Ganges, it is considered to help bring purification and more control over desires. Another part of the Ganges Riverǯs importance to Hindus is connected to the Churning of the Ocean myth. This myth has a strong, direct relationship with moksha. It is all about how the gods and goddesses had lost their immortality and strength because the king of the gods, Indra, had offended a sage named Durvasa. Durvasa cursed him and thus took away the control of the universe from the gods. The demons took control. In order to gain their strength back, they got help from Vishnu. He said if they churned the ocean of milk they would get the nectar of immortality. The demons also wanted this, so the gods tricked the demons into thinking they would team up and then share the nectar. They used a mountain and the kind of the serpents, Vasuki. They churned together, but the mountain started to sink, so Vishnu appeared in the form of a turtle to hold the mountain up. In the process 14 precious spiritual powers also came out of the milk, along with the nectar of immortality, Amrit. The demons got it first, so Vishnu appeared as a beautiful woman, Mohini, to lure the demons into giving her the nectar.
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