A Hindu View of Life . . .

And Death

BRAHMAN
AHIMSA

universal spirit

SAMSARA

non-violence

cycle of life

SAMSKARA
rites of passage

HOUSEHOLDER

2nd Ashrama

REINCARNATION
born again

HINDU
CONCEPTS

ATMAN
soul

ASHRAMA
stage of life

KARMA
effects of action

MOKSHA
release

CASTE
class/status

DHARMA
duty

HINDUISM
a very Brief Summary
HINDUISM IS A WAY OF LIFE
To be a good Hindu,
Hindu you must perform
your Dharma
Your dharma is set out by who you are
and what you are born as.
Good Dharma = Good Karma

HINDUISM
PURPOSE IN LIFE
DHARMA
Perform Your Duty
Includes
Caste
Social Duty
Family Duty
Ashramas

Religious duty

CASTE
Social Class
4 Traditional Castes
Brahmin
Kings / Warriors
Merchants
Peasants

Outcasts
Be the best you can
in that role

HINDUISM
DEALING WITH SIN
KARMA
Law of consequences
Good deeds
Good Karma
Bad Deeds
Bad Karma
Karma is carried forward
through many lives.

HINDUISM
AT DEATH
Body Dies
Funeral rites
Body Cremated
ATMAN (soul) released
Immortal Souls

SAMSARA
Cycle of life
Life
Death
Rebirth

Atman reincarnated
Good Karma
Higher Caste

Bad Karma
Lower Caste
Outcast?
Animal??

HINDUISM
RELEASE
MOKSHA
After Many Lives:
Atman is cleaned
No Bad Karma
Released from Samsara
Atman becomes one
with Universal Spirit
BRAHMAN (GOD)

GOD - BRAHMAN
We are all God
We dont know it.
Purpose of life:
Recognise ALL life is
part of Brahman
including you.
You Are IT

HINDUISM
PURPOSE IN LIFE
Do your DHARMA
Duty
Social, family, religious
Be true to your CASTE
What social role are you
born into
Be the best you can in that
role

HINDUISM
DEALING WITH SIN

KARMA
All Actions have
consequences

Good deeds = Good KARMA

Bad Deeds = Bad KARMA
KARMA is carried forward
through many lives.

HINDUISM
AT DEATH
Body Dies
Funeral rites
Body Cremated
Soul ATMAN released
Immortal Souls

SAMSARA
ATMAN reborn into a new
body to begin the journey
again.
If GOOD KARMA last life,
then higher CASTE this life.
If BAD KARMA last life, lower
CASTE this life even down
to an animal!

HINDUISM
RELEASE
MOKSHA
After Many (thousands,
generations, millions) of lives, the
ATMAN is cleaned of any bad
KARMA.
KARMA
It is released from the Cycle of Life
and Death and Rebirths SAMSARA
ATMAN returns to become one with
the universal Spirit BRAHMAN
(GOD)
HINDU view we are all God, we
just dont know it. The quest in life is
to recognise that all life is part of
BRAHMAN including you.
You Are IT

Unit 3 Marriage & The Family

Unit 3 Marriage & The Family

ASHRAMAS 4 Stages of Life
Stage 1 Student Life

Stage 2 Householder Life

0 24

25 50

Studying & learning roles to serve:

Family

Perform the family duty - Dharma

Marriage

Society

Works to help raise a family

Religion

Stage 3 Retired Life

Stage 4 Renounced Life

50 75

75 100

Retires & oversees extended family

Gives up on family & material life

Begins study of spiritual matters

Wholly focused on spiritual matters

Yoga & Meditation

Following a Guru
Studying scriptures

Quest for Moksha (release)

Unit 3 Marriage & The Family

ASHRAMAS 4 Stages of Life
Stage 1 Student Life

Stage 2 Householder Life

0 24

25 50

Studying & learning roles to serve:

Family

Perform the family duty - Dharma

Marriage

Society

Works to help raise a family

Religion

Stage 3 Retired Life

Stage 4 Renounced Life

50 75

75 100

Retires & oversees extended family

Gives up on family & material life

Begins study of spiritual matters

Wholly focused on spiritual matters

Yoga & Meditation

Following a Guru
Studying scriptures

Quest for Moksha (release)

BRAHMAN
Universal Spirit

ATMAN
Individual Spirit
Soul

MOKSHA
Release from
cycle

CASTE
Class / status