CH.2 SECTION 2 DHARMA, KARMA, SAMSARA, AND MOKSHA

FOUR TERMS OF HINDUISM

• Their are four terms of understanding Hinduism.
• These four terms are called dharma, karma, samsara and moksha.

DHARMA

• In Sanskrit language means "to sustain".
• It is truth, righteousness, law, justice and duty. Duty was the most important
• because all Hindus believe that life is consists of many duties.
• Duties call Hindus to be honest/good, to be a good worker, and not allowed to hurt people/animals.
• Dharma is different for every person because it depends on one's family background, livelihood/ other factors.

FOUR STAGES

• Hindus believe life is composed of four stages called "ashramas".
• They are "The student stage, Householder stage, Retirement stage, and The
• Renunciation stage.
• It is not possible for every Hindu to succeed in these stages, but they are guidelines
• toward Hindu life.

THE STUDENT/HOUSEHOLDER STAGE

• In this stage, Hindus seek to learn scriptures and try to obtain as much knowledge
• as they can.
• In the second stage, Hindus are expected to take the roles of married couples/parents,
• and become a part of community life in the "Householder Stage".

THE RETIREMENT STAGE

• Once Hindu scriptures get more difficult recommendations get more harder.
• In the third stage, a person is expected to spend time in a temple and attend satsungs
• or meetings.
• They are usually held in Hindu homes, where scriptures, songs, and stories are recited.

RENUNCIATION STAGE

• Not many people achieve the last and final stage in life.
• This stage calls for people to give up material things of the world, and
• become monks.
• Holy scriptures represent that this gives a person more time to achieve moksha/mediate.
• People who give up possessions/homes become holy men called "sadhus." They are supported with money/food.

KARAMA AND SAMSARA

• If a Hindu succeeds to abilities, they will receive good karma.
• Karma deals with actions and behavior.
• Hindus believe a person's actions in one life, will show how that person will be reborn in the new life.
• Hindus also believe life is a continuous cycle of death/rebirth. This is called samsara, reincarnation, or transmigration.
• They believe that the soul, after that death, will move to one person or thing to another.

KARMA

• A person who has a good life and didn't bother anyone or anything. His/her soul will be born in a higher caste.
• It's necessary to move to "Brahmin", or a priestly caste.
• If a person is evil/thoughtless toward others, then he/she will be born into a lower caste.
• If a person was really bad, the soul would be born into a animal or worm.
• The soul also has advantages of getting back through many cycles of rebirth.

MOKSHA

• Moksha is every Hindu's goal of life, which is related to enlightenment.
• It's not a place where souls go when they experience desire or evil, or like heaven, it's when "Atman", a soul
• or spirit reunites with Brahman.
• When this process occurs, the cycles of birth, death and rebirth all end. Which is similar to a river flowing in an ocean.
• This process can only occur when the soul completely becomes pure and detaches itself from all things on earth.

FOUR PATHS OF MOKSHA

• Hindu scriptures say that there are four paths leading to moksha.
• These paths are good works, knowledge, devotion, and meditation.
• Hindus prefer to follow all the paths of uniting themselves with Brahman.

KARMA YOGA

• The way to good works is called karma yoga.
• It focuses on people following their dharma, or duty, as their particular social group depends on it.
• The path of knowledge is called Jana Yoga, which relates to people obtaining as much spiritual knowledge as possible.
• The path of devotion is called Bhaki Yoga, which requires Hindus to choose a specific deity/worship during his/her lifetime.
• The path of meditation is known as Raja Yoga. People outside of Hinduism see it as yoga.

SIMPLE YOGA

• Yoga focuses on positions of breathing exercises.
• These positions are designed to clear the mind of all thoughts.
• Although yoga rids the mind of all thoughts, it doesn't rid the mind of attaining moksha.