Hinduism

• Eastern Philosophy is a diverse body of approaches to life and philosophizing, particularly centered on understanding the process of the universe and the endless “Becoming”
• Hinduism is one of the oldest religions of the world
• In hinduism, there is no dichotomy between philosophy and religion
• Caste system - a kind of social class or strata that determines the rank of a hindu
• This social rank is called Jati that a Hindu receives upon birth
• Brahmins : Religious & intellectual sectors of the society. They are considered as the highest in the hierarchy and are perceived as the purest among all castes.
• Kshatriyas : Political sector consists of political rulers and warrioers.
• Vaishyas : The business sector of the hindu society
• Shudras : The lowest rank in caste system. The labor sector of the society
• The untouchables are considered the “Casteless” people in India.
• The untouchables are called “Dalit

  and considered as the impure and rightless
• Mahatma Gandhi elevated the status of the Dalit by calling them as the “Harijans or the Children of God”
• Hindus are also believers of the four ends of life called

  Purusharthas
• Purusharthas refers to the purpose of life and the way of life of a Hindu during his lifetime
• Kama : This Sanskirt word means love, desire and pleasure
• Artha : Prosperity or material possession
• Dharma : Concerned with persons duty and obligation and the action the person takes
• Moksha : refers to spiritual release
• Moksha - the ultimate aim in life for Hindus. It means to be saved or salvation.
• Karma is action-related
• If you do not fulfill your Dharma, you are subject to negative karma. This Negative karma will be manifested in your samsara.
• Samsara - the cycle of birth and rebirth
• Four Stages of Life

  Ashramas : Stages of Life
• Brahmacharya : Student stage of life of a male Hindu at the age of 12
• Grihastha : The ”Householder” or family man stage
• Vanaprashta : Detaching themselves from the family life and the world by moving to the forest alone to have time to devote to spiritual practice. “Aranyakas” or a hermit
• Sannyasa or Renunciation : After the discovering of the Brahman or reality, a Hindu will be considered as a Sannyasa, a wandering monk or beggar