Doctrine of Devils

Session 7
HINDUISM
v.s.
CHRISTIANITY
Part 2

HINDUISM v.s.
CHRISTIANITY
Part 2

Hindu Teachings: Moksha

When one achieves liberation, he enters

into a state of fullness (oneness with
Brahma)

Can be achieved through 3 paths:

Knowledge, or jnana
Devotion, or bhakti
Ritual works, or karma

One who achieves moksha before death is

known as jivanmukta

Hindu Teachings: Atman

The soul, or true self, the part of

each living thing that is eternal

Sometimes used synonomously with

Brahman, the universal soul, seeking
mystical union together

Hindu Teachings: Maya

Hindus say the world is maya.

The world, in our minds, appears as we

see it.
But we have no right to infer from this that
reality is in itself the way it appears to us.

In this way, it is illusion or maya

5

Hindu Teachings: Karma

Karma means action

Ones present state of existence is
determined by his performance in
previous lifetimes.
The law of moral consequence

If one performs righteous acts, he moves

towards moksha
If ones deeds are evil, he moves further away
from moksha
6

Hindu Teachings:
The Caste System

Brahma created Manu, the 1st man, from whom

came 4 different types of people, as Brahma
determined
Manus head = Brahmins, the best & most holy
Manus hands = Kshatriyas, rulers & warriors
Manus thighs = Vaisyas, craftsmen
Manus feet = Sudras, remainder of the people
Caste structure is divinely inspired

Hindu Teachings:
The Caste System

Brahmins

Honored by all, including royal family

Priests & philosophers subsidized by the
state

Kshatriyas

Upper middle class involved in govt. &

professional life, but lower than
Brahmins
8

Hindu Teachings:
The Caste System

Vaisyas

Merchants & farmers

Sudras

Lowest caste
Serve the upper castes as laborers &
servants
Excluded from many of the religious
rituals & vedas
9

Hindu Teachings:
The Caste System

As time progressed, thousands of

subcastes came into existence

Integral part of Indian social order,

though outlawed by the government

10

Hindu Teachings: Salvation

Achieved in one of 3 ways:

The Way of Works (karma marga):

salvation through religious duty

Carrying out prescribed ceremonies,
rituals adds favorable karma to his merit
If done religiously, it is possible to be
reborn as a Brahmin on his way toward
moksha
11

Hindu Teachings: Salvation

The Way of Knowledge (jnana marga):

suffering is caused by human ignorance

Our error: we see ourselves as separate, real
entities, whereas Brahman is the only real
entity. Thus, we are a part of Brahman.
Selfhood is an illusion; need to understand this
Salvation is not merely intellectual, but
experiential, reaching a state of consciousness
where karma is ineffective

Need for much self-discipline & meditation

Only appeals to the intellectual few willing to go
through the prescribed steps

12

Hindu Teachings: Salvation

The Way of Devotion (bakti marga):

Devotion to a deity, which may be reflected

in acts of worship, both public & private
Based upon love for the deity, the bhakti will
also be carried out in human relationships
Bhakti can lead to ultimate salvation
Exemplified in Bhagavad Gita
Commitment & action needed (two types of
yoga: bhakti [devotion] & raja [meditation])
13

Lord Vishnu
10 incarnations

Ten such avatars (descents or incarnations) are commonly

recognized, of which Lord Rama and Lord Krishna are the
most important.
Nine descents are thought to have already occurred; the
tenth and last is yet to come.
Scholars believe that Vishnu's role as preserver (or
redeemer) arose from the characteristic practice of
assimilating local legendary heroes and gods into the
Hindu pantheon by attributing their deeds to one of the
major Hindu deities.

Matsya

In this form Vishnu saved Vaivaswata, the Hindu

variety of the biblical Noah (or vice versa).
Vaivaswata (Sanskrit). The forefather of the postdiluvian race, or our own fifth humankind.

1st incarnation of
Vishnu

A reputed son of Surya (the Sun), he became, after

having been saved in an ark (built by the order of
Vishnu) from the Deluge, the father of Ikshwaku, the
founder of the solar race of kings.

Ikshwaku (Sanskrit) is the progenitor of the Solar

tribe (the Suryavansas) in India, and the Son of
Vaivaswata Manu, the progenitor of the present
human Race.

Kurma

2nd incarnation of
Vishnu

Second incarnation of Vishnu : Kurma or the Turtle incarnation :

when the Devas lost their strength and prowess due to a curse
and, after losing their immortality and kingdom, they approached
Lord Vishnu for help.
Vishnu suggested that they needed to drink the nectar of
immortality to regain their lost glory. However, they needed to
strive hard to acquire the nectar since it was hidden in the ocean
of milk.
When they began churning, the mountain began sinking into the
ocean. Taking the form of a turtle (Kurma), Vishnu bears the entire
weight of the mountain and the churning continues and various
objects are thrown out including the deadly poison which the

Varaha

3rd incarnation of
Vishnu

Third incarnation of Vishnu : Varaha or the Boar

incarnation of Vishnu : he killed the demon
Hiranyaksha, recovered the stolen Veda's and released
the Earth from the bottom of the ocean.
He was slain by Lord Vishnu after he (Hiranyaksha) took
the Earth to the bottom of what has been described as
the "Cosmic Ocean".
Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a white boar (Sri
Varaha) and dove into the ocean to lift the Earth, in the
process slaying Hiranyaksha who was obstructing Him.
The battle lasted one thousand years.

Narasimh
a

4th incarnation of
Vishnu

Fourth incarnation of Vishnu :

Narasimha or the Lion incarnation :
as a creature who was half-lion and
half-man, Vishnu killed the demon
Hiranyashasipu, brother of
Niranyaksha, who had gained the
boon of immunity from attacks by
man, beast or god.

Vamana

5th incarnation of
Vishnu

Fifth incarnation of Vishnu : Vamana or the Dwarf

incarnation : he killed the demon Bali, who had
gained dominion over the Earth and had chased the
gods from the heavens.
The legend of Bhagavata has it that the Vamana
avatar was taken by Vishnu to restore Indra's
authority over the heavens, which was taken away
by force by the demon king Bali in Dravida.

Parasurama

6th incarnation of
Vishnu

Sixth incarnation of Vishnu :

Parasurama : he killed the King
Kartavirya, who had stolen the holy
cow Kamadhenu, which could grant
all desires.

Ram

7th incarnation of
Vishnu

Seventh incarnation of Vishnu : Ram took

birth to free the earth from the cruelty and
sins of the demon King Ravana (Ravan).
Ravana had practiced austerities in order to
propitiate Shiva and Brahma, who had
granted him immunity from being killed by
gods, gandharvas or demons.
One of the gods had to take on a human
form in order to be able to defeat Ravana.

Krishna

8th incarnation of
Vishnu

Krishna is the supreme being.

Krishna is often depicted as an infant, as a young

boy playing a flute as in the Bhagavata Purana or as
a youthful prince giving direction and guidance as in
the Bhagavad Gita.
They portray him in various roles: a god-child, a
prankster, a model lover, a divine hero and the
Supreme Being.

Buddha

9th incarnation of
Vishnu

Ninth incarnation of Vishnu : Buddha was

Vishnu incarnated to propogate false ideas,
to lead the opponents of the gods into
weakness and wickedness, thereby causing
them ultimately to be destroyed or to turn
back for their salvation to their old faith in
the traditional gods.

Kalki

FINAL or 10th
incarnation of Vishnu

Tenth Incarnation of Vishnu : Kalki : The

popular image of the Kalkin Avatar is
that of a rider upon a white horse, which
some sources name as Devadatta (Godgiven).
The horse itself is interpreted as
symbolizing strength, while its color
white represents the power of unity, as
white unifies all colours in the spectrum.
Commonly, the horse is described as
having wings.
Kalki himself will be one with the divine,
and is also mysteriously described as
being a "yantra-manava," or a machineman.
He brandishes a flaming comet-like
sword, which is sometimes interpreted
as a symbol for "discernment," or
Wisdom, in that it slices away the bonds
of lies and foulness, and liberates souls
by sharpening their awareness of truth

Kalki

FINAL or 10th
incarnation of Vishnu

Kalkin will arrive on earth intent on

eradicating the reign of evil.
His first action will be to vanquish the
demon Kali (not to be confused with the
Hindu Goddess Kali), who has taken the
earth under his control, thereby freeing
its citizens from moral and spiritual
devolution.
Kalkin will then reconcile all opposites,
and renew the processes of the Dharma
(Paths of Virtue) and Creation.
Ultimately, he will establishing a reign of
righteousness upon the earth, ushering
in a golden age of peace and harmony,
and thereby setting in motion the next
cycle of the universe.

Hindu/Buddhist Salvation
Salvation: The ultimate goal of Hinduism and Buddhism
is to liberate ourselves from this physical personal
existence and become One with the Impersonal All.
(Carlson and Decker, Fast Facts on False Teaching, 92).
Suffering: People suffer because they have not liberated
themselves from their personal world. The physical
world is just and illusion, called maya.
This enlightenment is called:
Buddhism- Nirvana
Hinduism- Moksha, Samadhi, or Kaivalya
Zen- Satori
Western World- Cosmic Consciousness, One with
Self
Sin: There is no such thing. It too, is an illusion!

Hindu Salvation
Means of Enlightenment:
1.
Path of knowledge = makes one realize Brahman=
Atman
2.
Path of good works = works off karma
3.
Path of Yoga = allows one to transcend the world of
illusion.
Yoga: 8 steps

Hatha Yoga- The first five steps prepare body for

transcendence into Moksha (Nirvana). Comprised of
isometrics and breathing exercises.

Raja Yoga- The last three steps where a person

silences the mind by repeating mantras, achieves
oneness with god (yet still with a sense of personal
existence) and then diffusion into the impersonal
universe (god).

What is a Chakra?

What is a Chakra?
Means wheel, energy wheel.
Energy vortex exists and one can
learn to channel the divine energy
of the universe to heal the body
and the mind. It is a holistic method
of cleansing.
Location of the Main energy points
within the body.
Kundalini energy is partially
supplying energy to these chakras.

What is this Energy?

Symbolically represented as 3 coiled serpent.
Involuntary jerkiness or shaking in the body
Intense feelings of pleasure or bliss
Feelings of cold in the body
Intense heat in the spine, or a particular chakra, as if
molten metal were flowing in the spine
Striking flows of energy, like electricity or internal
lightning bolts
Feelings like snakes or ants crawling on the body,
particularly along the spine, or between the feet and head
A sense of confusion or uncertainty about what is
happening in these experiences
Spontaneous emotional shifts or mood swings
Increase in the experience of inner colors and lights
Inner sounds, such as musical instruments, buzzing,
roaring, or thunder
Waves of creative, intellectual, or spiritual insights

Is Kundalini yoga dangerous to practice?

The practice is dangerous because most are not
psychologically ready for the transformation of the
everyday ego-personality that will take place during
this practice. Disorientation often occurs with the
forgetting of everyday responsibilities.
Most are practicing to get fast power.

Goswami
Kriyananda

It is dangerous because people are getting most, if

not all, of their data from books. Kundalini yoga,
like all esoteric yogas, should not be practiced from
a book, but from a living master, from a living sane
master.
After almost six decades of teaching, I have come
across too many unbalanced "masters." Yoga is the
art and the science of balanced being. Thus, a soul
who has successfully practiced yoga always has
one foot in heaven and the other foot firmly planted
on the ground.

Is Kundalini yoga dangerous to practice?

It is common knowledge that many people have
had bad "acid trips." One of the key reasons for
these bad trips is that they pick the "wrong time."
Now, this phrase has two meanings: a time in which
negative thought-forms will be flowing from the
subconscious, or a time when the person is under
strong stress and strain.
Goswami
Kriyananda

Kundalini yoga, like all esoteric yogas, deals more

with the energies from the unconscious mind than
with the subconscious energies, and most people's
subconscious mind has little or no discipline at all.
And they have absolutely no self-discipline of their
unconscious mind.
Thus, the practice of yama-niyama is essential to
the successful and harmonious practice of any
esoteric yoga.

Is Kundalini yoga dangerous to practice?

Now this is not just an intellectual understanding. It
is an ethical practice.
This practice must be exercised not for a few days
or a few weeks, but for years, if not decades, during
which both the subconscious and unconscious have
balanced out most of the angular energies such as
hatred, which irritates the subconscious mind.
Goswami
Kriyananda

Kundalini yoga improperly performed produces

what I call the "shakti effect," and not the Kundalini
effect.
Improperly performed, the method releases
symbols that affect the body and/or the mind. If it
moves from the center channel to the channel on
the right side, biological conditions such as shaking
and sickness will manifest. If it moves to the left
channel, it produces mental problems such as "DTs"
or hallucinations.

Is Kundalini yoga dangerous to practice?

In Hindu mythology and occult
anatomy, the goddess Kundalini is
thought of as a female serpent lying
dormant at the base of the spine.
Kkundalini is the Divine Cosmic
Energy in bodies.
She represents the female half of the
divine polarity in man. While lying at
the base of the spine, she is
separated from Shiva, her divine
"lover" and masculine counterpart,
who resides in the brain.
When aroused by yoga practices, she
uncoils, travels up the spine toward
her lover, opening the alleged psychic
centers called chakras in the process.

Is Kundalini yoga dangerous to practice?

When the crown or top chakra is
reached, the union of Shiva/Shakti
occurs, supposedly leading the
practitioner to divine enlightenment
and union with Brahman.
Traditionally she is known as Durga
the creatrix, Chandi the fierce and
bloodthirsty, and Kali the destroyer.
She is also Bhajangi the serpent.
As Chandi or Kali she has a garland of
skulls around her neck and drinks
human blood."

Kundalini Awakening
Signs of Kundalini Awakening:
There are various signs and
symptoms of Kundalini Awakening,
and these may be of varying
duration and intensity.
The specific experiences may also
vary from person to person, and the
words used to describe the
experiences may be different.
The nature of the experience is also
affected by the degree to which the
individual chakras are involved in
the energy increase.
However, there are some general
signs and symptoms that are
commonly reported:

Kundalini Awakening
Perhaps the dominant characteristic
in kundalini arousal and other yoga
practice is an experience of energy
infusion, or possession.
During the ecstasy or trance,
consciousness is transformed and
the yogi, sufi, or mystic finds
himself in direct rapport with an
overwhelming Presence.
This warm, living, conscious
Presence spreads everywhere and
occupies the whole mind and
thought of the devotee.
Furthermore, this energy is
invariably experienced by all
mediators and yogis as some kind
of supernatural or divine energy.

Kundalini Awakening
Not surprisingly, no
kundalini or yoga theorist
defines this energy
infusion, or possession, as
actual demon possession;
however, there is often
recognition of a possessing
god or entity, and
sometimes references to
the demonic.

Core Beliefs

Hindus Believe...
A vast plurality of
gods and
goddesses exist as
part of the
impersonal
Brahman.

Christians
Believe...
In one God in 3 persons.

He is distinct from his

creation, yet intimately
involved with it as its
sustainer and redeemer.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord

our God, the Lord is one.
Deuteronomy 6:4

Core Beliefs

Hindus Believe...

Humans, as with all

living things, are
just manifestations
of Brahman.

We have no
individual self, or
self-worth.

Christians
Believe...
So God created man in his

own image, in the image of

God he created him; male
and female he created
them. Genesis 1:27

For God so loved the

world that he gave his one
and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal
life. John 3:16

Core Beliefs

Hindus Believe...

That the universe

undergoes endless
cycles of creation,
preservation, and
dissolution.

The world and

everything on it are
manifestations of
Brahman.

Christians
Believe...

That the world was

created once by the
divine will of God, was
corrupted by sin and
yet under God's
providence, moves
towards final
perfection.

God created the

universe, the world,
and everything on it.
(Genesis 1). As God
did not create Himself,
the world exists
separately from God.

Core Beliefs

Hindus Believe...
That all souls are
evolving toward
union with God and
will ultimately find
spiritual knowledge
and liberation from
the cycle of rebirth.
Not a single soul
will be eternally
deprived of this
destiny.
Sin is committed
against oneself,

Christians
Believe...
That in Adam's sin, the human

race was spiritually alienated

from God, and that those who
are called by God and respond
to his grace will have eternal
life. Those who persist in
rebellion will be lost eternally.
God gave us rules because He
cares about us. He also gave
us free will we can choose to
disobey. Disobedience (sin) is
an offense against God.
Against you, you only, have I
sinned and done what is evil
in your sight, so that you are
proved right when you speak
and justified when you
judge. Psalm 51:4
For all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God.

Core Beliefs

Hindus Believe...

In karma, the law of

cause and effect by
which each individual
creates his own
destiny by his
thoughts, words, and
deeds.

Since sin is
committed only
against oneself, the
penalties are accrued
only against the self.
The penalty is the
repeated cycle of
rebirths, until you can
escape to Nirvana.

Christians
Believe...

That through God's

grace and favor, lost
sinners are rescued
from the guilt, power,
and eternal
consequences of their
evil thoughts, words,
and deeds.
Sin cannot exist in the
presence of God.
Therefore, the penalty
of sin is spiritual
death, or separation
from God.
For the wages of sin

Core Beliefs

Hindus Believe...
That the soul
reincarnates, evolving
through many births
until all karmas have
been resolved.

Christians
Believe...
That it is appointed for

human beings to die once,

and after that face
judgement.

Salvation is a free gift to us

from God. We must only
accept it. We cannot earn
it. Jesus bought our
salvation by taking all our
sin upon Himself on the
cross, dying as a sacrifice
for us, and then rising from
the dead three days later.

Core Beliefs

Hindus Believe...
Salvation is the
release from the wheel
of life, the cycle of
rebirths,
through which we
must work to better
ourselves, and realize
our oneness with
Brahman.
It must be worked out
by each individual
through successive
lives.

Christians
Believe...
Salvation means spending

eternity in heaven with our

Almighty God!
but the gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord. Romans 6:23b
For God so loved the world
that he gave his one and only
Son, that whoever believes in
him shall not perish but have
eternal life. John 3:16
For it is by grace you have
been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God--not by
works, so that no one can
boast. Ephesians 2:8,9

Core Beliefs

Hindus Believe...
That divine beings
exist in unseen
inner worlds

temple worship
Rituals
Sacraments
personal
devotionals

all create a
communion with
the devas and
gods.

Christians
Believe...
That spirit beings
inhabit the
universe, some
good and some
evil; but that our
worship is due to
God alone.
Jesus said,
"...You shall
worship the Lord
your God, and
serve Him only"
(Matt. 4:10).

Core Beliefs

Hindus Believe...
That a spiritually
awakened Master
is essential to know
the Transcendent
Absolute, as are
personal discipline,
good conduct,
purification, selfinquiry and
meditation.

Christians
Believe...

That God has given us

a clear revelation of
himself in Jesus and
the sacred Scriptures.
He has empowered by
his Spirit
Prophets
Apostles
Evangelists
Pastors
Teachers
charged to guide us
into faith holiness in
accordance with his
Word. (Ephesians

Core Beliefs

Hindus Believe...
That all life is
sacred and to be
loved and revered,
through the
practice of
nonviolence.

Christians
Believe...
That life is to be
highly esteemed
but that it must be
subordinated in the
service of biblical
love and justice.

Core Beliefs

Hindus Believe...
That no particular
religion teaches
the only way to
salvation above all
others, but that all
genuine religious
paths are facets of
God's pure love
and light,
deserving
tolerance and
understanding.

Christians
Believe...
That Jesus is God
incarnate , and
therefore the only
sure path to
salvation. (John
1:14)

Many religions may

offer ethical and
spiritual insights,
but only Jesus is
the Way, the Truth,
and the Life. (John