Unit 3 Hinduism I

The oldest living religious tradition is Hinduism, which is over 4000 years old. Hindus accept the premises or parts of several religions. Yet Hindus hold that no one religion can possibly claim knowledge of the absolute truth. For Hindus, the ultimate reality that other religions may name as God is unknowable. In fact, Hinduism encourages its believers to imagine a god that is best for them, even if that god comes from another religion. While Hinduism initially appears to by polytheistic, they believe that everything is a manifestation of the Ultimate Reality, Brahman. This unit will attempt to examine the origins, beliefs, and major practices of Hinduism to give students a rudimentary understanding of how Hinduism works and relates to other world religions.

PF1.04 - Examine the human search for meaning and purpose as found in the belief systems of Hindu traditions.

HE2.01 - Identify religious leaders who used religion to oppose prejudice and discrimination (e.g., Mohandas K. Gandhi), and describe the ways in which they did so;

PF2.03 - Show reverence for the various dimensions of the sacred as found in Hinduism.

PF2.05 - Recognize the centrality of human dignity and personhood to the world's religious traditions.

PF3.01 - Articulate ways in which people search for the sacred in life.

PF3.05 - Name traditional and contemporary examples of people of faith and integrity;

CM1.07 - Demonstrate an understanding of the moral precepts found in the religions of Hinduism.

CM2.07 - Appreciate traditional and contemporary examples of moral living as found in the various religions of the world;

CM3.06 - Examine the importance of moral precepts for daily living in the religions of Hinduism.

FL1.05 - State the stages of human faith development (i.e. from ego‑centric to group‑centred orientation, and eventually towards acceptance of universal principles and values).

Be sure to watch the pre-recorded seminar on Hinduism. You can follow along with the slide show presentation. Please attach the completed exit card below for assessment purposes and attach it to your unit guide.

Click here to watch a recorded seminar on Hinduism

You are required to answer all questions found throughout this unit using the Answer Recording Sheet found below. Download and save it to your Google Docs and work on your answers as you go through this page. You will need to print the questions and your answers as part of your unit submission. If you prefer to work on a hard copy, printed versions of this recording sheet are available at the religion counter.

Origins

Most scholars believe Hinduism formally started somewhere between 2300 B.C. and 1500 B.C. in the Indus Valley, near modern-day Pakistan. But many Hindus argue that their faith is timeless and has always existed.

Unlike other religions, Hinduism has no one founder but is instead a fusion of various beliefs.

Around 1500 B.C., the Indo-Aryan people migrated to the Indus Valley, and their language and culture blended with that of the indigenous people living in the region. There’s some debate over who influenced who more during this time.

The period when the Vedas were composed became known as the “Vedic Period” and lasted from about 1500 B.C. to 500 B.C. Rituals, such as sacrifices and chanting, were common in the Vedic Period.

Between 500 B.C.E. and 500 C.E., Hindus began to emphasize the worship of deities, especially Vishnu, Shiva and Devi.

The concept of Dharma was introduced in new texts, and other faiths, such as Buddhism and Jainism, spread rapidly. (History.com)

Observe the caste system diagram below, then read up on some information on the Caste System by clicking on the link below, and complete the Caste System Comparative Chart as a Google Doc. If you prefer to work on a hard copy, a printed version of the Caste System chart is available at the religion counter.

Discussion question: what did you learn about the Caste System and what are your thoughts about it?

Hindu beliefs are based on some of the following concepts:

Atman - The human soul

Brahman - The universal soul; the eternal spirit from which all things originate and to which they all return

Dharma - Religious or moral duty

Karma - The totality of one's actions - the accumulation of good or bad karma determines one's birth in his or her next life

Samsara - The endless cycle of rebirths.

Moksha - Freedom from the endless cycle of rebirths

Discussion Question: What did you find interesting about this creation myth? What symbols or ideas are common in other belief systems?

Question:

1. How does the idea of Karma teach people to conduct themselves with kindness?

2. Look at the idea of Atman and Brahman, and discus the relationship between the two concepts.

3. Of the Hindu beliefs presented in this section, which belief seems to be the most similar to your own personal beliefs, and which seems to be the most different? Explain your thoughts in a half page response.

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To work their way towards a state of enlightenment, Hindus practice yoga: A practice or discipline combining philosophy with physical exercises and meditation - union with Brahman.

Look up the four different types of yoga by clicking on the link below:

Hinduism - Origins and Beliefs (including the Yogas)

Question:

4. What type of yoga appears to be most similar to some of your personal practices? Why? Express your answer in a short answer response.

5. How is Karma Yoga practiced in your school? Provide at least two examples.

Symbols have always been a powerful way of communicating concepts without the use of text. Here are some common symbols found in Hinduism, and they will be discussed at greater length in seminar.

Question:

6. Puja is an act of worship that honours the sacred in everyday life. What is a ritual that you have created for yourself (i.e. things you do before bed so you can rest better, morning routines so that you have a good start, etc . . .)? Discuss how your ritual reveals something sacred about your life.

7. Choose one of the above symbols, and discuss the positive impact this symbol has.

8. What are some symbols, both secular or spiritual, do you use, enjoy, or celebrate that have similar purposes as one of the above symbols?

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Be sure to complete the UNIT COMPLETION ASSESSMENT and consult with your teacher BEFORE you continue on to the Unit Task.

Choose one of the following task ideas below to demonstrate your learning and complete this unit. It is always advisable to consult with your teacher while you work on this task to ensure you are meeting the expectations and getting the best possible mark. Be sure that all of your work is properly cited with appropriate analysis. As Mary Ward is a Self-Directed Learning system, you may also create and develop your own task in consultation with your teacher.

1. SELF DIRECT! Always recommended! Choose one topic in this unit that you were particularly interested in (i.e. Symbols, Rituals, History, Beliefs, etc . . . or a topic related to this unit that was not covered but worthy of exploring), then choose one style of presentation that you are confident with or would like to develop (i.e. written paragraph, website, documentary, video, slide presentation, art installation, podcast, etc . . . ) and consult/discuss with your teacher what the product will look like. You also have the option to make the task interdisciplinary with another course(s), and/or do a group project.

OR

2. Karma is a major concept in Hinduism that suggests you are a result of your past actions, an examination of the law of cause and effect. Create a mini-documentary interviewing friends, family, or someone who is Hindu, and find out what they know about Karma and how it may affect their behaviour. Is the belief in Karma, then, a good one to carry?

OR

3. After looking at Hindu beliefs and symbols, create a new symbol for Hinduism that reflects its teachings. Your symbol should be accompanied by a one-page write up explaining your choices and what values your symbol represents. You may want to look at the major beliefs in Hinduism like Karma, Dharma, Samsara, etc . . . to help influence the creation of your new symbol.

NOTE: All of your work must be properly cited. Work that is not cited properly will be returned to you to be redone with a stronger sense of academic integrity.

Please attach evaluation rubrics below for your task. Consult with your teacher for any clarification regarding your evaluation. Paper copies of these rubrics are available at the religion counter.

Be sure you have answered the following questions and completed the following tasks before submitting your unit to your teacher. This checklist needs to be signed by the religion counter for your unit submission to be accepted.

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