Hinduism Research Paper

Submitted By Samantha-Posey
Words: 800
Pages: 4

Hinduism Paper
Samantha Posey
Hum/130
2/4/15
William Lehman

Hinduism

Hinduism is the term that is derived from a name applied by foreigners to the people living in the region of the Indus River. They were introduced in the 19th century for colonial British rule for census-taking because of this type of labeling and interpretations of these Indian religious traditions by those who were outsiders, this has turned into a debated issue. (Fisher, 2014).
Even the Hindu word “dharma”, often translated into English simply as “religion”, refers to a broad complex of meanings, encompassing duty, natural law, social welfare, ethics, health, wealth, power, fulfillment of desires, and transcendental realization. Fisher, states in our readings that Hinduism is not easily separated fully from other dharmic traditions that have arisen in India, like Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, for there has been extensive cross-pollination among them. (Fisher, 2014).
Reincarnation is where we are born again, our soul leaves our body and enters a new one. It is stated that one will take birth again and again into countless body’s maybe even as an animal or some other form of life, but the self remains the same. Birth is a precious thing, and to be born as a human being is a rare opportunity for the soul to advance to its ultimate goal of liberating from rebirth and merging with the Absolute Reality. (Fisher, 2015, pg.77).
Karma is an action, and also the consequences of action. This is an important related concept. Each act and decision we make as well as the desire we have, builds our future experiences. Fisher, states a very important line in the texts, “our life is what we have made of it”. Fisher talks about how a good man who makes good decisions will be rewarded in this life or even the next. As well as those who make evil decisions will reflect in their next incarnation. Every move that we make as human beings as consequences, and it is up to those if they are good or bad.
Ultimate goal is not just creation of how we live a good life by our good deeds, but living a clean escape from the karma-run wheel of birth, than death, and the rebirth or samsara. The only way to escape from that samsara is to achieve moksha, which is the liberation from the limitations of space, time, and matter through realizations of the immortal Absolute. (Fisher, 2014. Pg. 77). Both the teachings of karma and reincarnation are important to the Hindu’s because it will determine their future and the present lives they will have.
Yoga “union” one’s true self- is one of the ways people of the Indian subcontinent practice their spiritual disciplines which are to clear their mind and support a state of serene, detached awareness. (Fisher, 2014. Pg. 79). This is for a state of balance, wisdom, and purity as well as peacefulness of the mind.
Their Gods Of all the deities worshiped by Hindus, there are three major groupings. Shaktas, who worship a Mother Goddess, Shaivites who worship the God Shiva, and Vaishnavites who worship