Hinduism & Budhism Summaries

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nspired” and the sages that brought them forth are revered. The Vedas is the most commonly referred to sacred text within Hinduism. It is comprised of 4 collections of writings, written between 1500-500 B.C.E. (pearls.org). Later sections of the Vedas are called the Upanishads. Another important later writing is the Bhagavad Gita.

“For many Hindus, religion is a matter of practice rather than beliefs. It’s more what you do…” (pearls.org). The major basis of the practice of Hinduism relies on the belief in the cycle souls are trapped in (samsara), rebirth (reincarnation), karma, and eventually release from that cycle as being the goal (moksha). This cyclical pattern of thought also extends to the view of a universe that has neither a specific beginning nor end. The universe was created when the cosmic laws were set down by the sacrifice of a cosmic being (Purusha). Regenerating the Purusha (that continually projects the universe) requires sacrifice be offered by the laity. Hindu sacrifice can take many forms, for example: sacrifices performed by head of households (grihya) and women, offerings to ancestors, offerings of prayer, seasonal offerings, milk offerings to a fire at dawn and dusk, vows, fasting, and pilgrimages.

With these cyclical beliefs firm in hand, Hinduism is about living the life that will, hopefully, result in being born into a better life next time around and eventually overcoming ignorance to be released from the cycle onto the path of the Gods and subsequent immortality for the soul. The average Hindu is said to probably believe in the following concepts: samsara (the birth/rebirth cycle), karma (“cosmic impersonal accounting” of deeds/misdeeds is the bondage that leads to rebirth), reverence of certain sacred texts and deities (specific texts/deities may vary widely), an obligation to ancestors of offerings and a son to continue the lineage, recognition of their social status within the class a...