About The Beliefs of Hinduism

ABOUT THE BELIEFS OF HINDUISM
How did Hinduism begin?
Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma ("eternal spiritual path") began about 4000 years ago in India. It was
the religion of an ancient people known as the Aryans ("noble people") whose philosophy, religion, and
customs are recorded in their sacred texts known as the Vedas. These texts were initially handed down
by word of mouth from teacher to student. It was not until much later that they were actually written
down. Archeological evidence from the Indus Valley civilization of northwestern India helps to establish
Hinduism as the world's oldest living religion. Today, worldwide, there are almost one billion people
professing some aspect of Hinduism. The fundamental teachings of Hinduism, which form the
foundation of all its different sects, are contained in the concluding portion of the Vedas, and are
therefore known as the Vedanta (the "end or concluding portion of the Vedas"). This part of the Vedas is
also known as the Upanishads.
What do Hindus believe and practice?
The fundamental teaching of Hinduism, or Vedanta, is that a human being's basic nature is not confined
to the body or the mind. Beyond both of these is the spirit or the spark of God within the soul. This
spirit is within us and also within everything we see. All beings and all things are really, in their deepest
essence, this pure or divine spirit, full of peace, full of joy and wisdom, ever united with God. This is not
just theory, but it can actually be experienced. Anyone who takes the trouble to undergo the necessary
training to purify and refine the mind and senses can begin to feel the truth of this. This training can take
various forms and is known as yoga ("union"- union of the individual self with this inner spirit).
There are four main types of yoga, meant for the four main types of human temperaments:
 Karma Yoga or the discipline of right actions - is for those of active temperament, striving to
eliminate selfishness, and to cultivate universal sympathy by seeing the divine reality in all.
 Bhakti Yoga - is the path of devotion to God whose presence can be felt in all things. God can be
worshipped as present in an image in a Temple. God can be worshipped also as present in
suffering humanity by service.
 Jnana Yoga - preferred by those of analytical bent of mind, is the discipline of trying to see the
divine reality within all things directly, by mentally brushing aside all the obstructing physical
and mental coverings that hide it.
 Raja Yoga - is the process of mental control, purity, and meditation to make the mind very calm
and quiet. In that profound quiet, the inner divine light reveals itself.
What code of behavior do Hindus follow?
The code of behavior is one's dharma. This is determined by the place in society and the duties
associated with it. There are four main social positions or varna; Brahmins (priests and teachers)
Kshatriyas (rulers and soldiers), Vaishyas (merchants) and Shudras (workers).
There are four ideal stages of life described in Hindu scriptures: the student, the family man, the
recluse, and the wandering holy man. For most Hindu people these represent a metaphorical path, not
an actual path.
Beliefs of Hinduism
 It believes in the doctrines of samsara (the continuous cycle of life, death, and reincarnation)
and karma (the universal law of cause and effect).
 embraces many religious ideas. For this reason, it’s sometimes referred to as a “way of life” or a
“family of religions,” as opposed to a single, organized religion.
 Hinduism is closely related to other Indian religions, including Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.
 Food is an important part of life for Hindus. Most don’t eat beef or pork, and many are
vegetarians
 Hindus strive to achieve dharma, which is a code of living that emphasizes good conduct and
morality.
 Respect all living creatures and consider the cow a sacred animal.
 One fundamental principle of the religion is the idea that people’s actions and thoughts directly
determine their current life and future lives.
 Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic - which means they worship a single deity, known as
“Brahman,” but still recognize other gods and goddesses. Followers believe there are multiple
paths to reaching their god.
 One of the key thoughts of Hinduism is “atman,” or the belief in soul. This philosophy holds
that living creatures have a soul, and they’re all part of the supreme soul. The goal is to achieve
“moksha,” or salvation, which ends the cycle of rebirths to become part of the absolute soul.
What are the Hindu sacred texts?
Hindu ancient, sacred texts were written in Sanskrit, the language of ancient India. The Vedas are
the oldest - about 3000 years old. They are a collection of hymns, prayers, and magic spells. The
Upanishads are stories and parables told by gurus (teachers) to their students The Mahabharata is
a story of a war between two royal families. The Bhagavad Gita is a very popular part of this text.
The Ramayana is a story of the god Rama and the rescue of his wife Sita from Ravana, the evil
demon king.

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ABOUT THE BELIEFS OF HINDUISM

How did Hinduism begin?

What do Hindus believe and practice?

What code of behavior do Hindus follow?

What are the Hindu sacred texts?

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