Theme Topic Two Assignment: The Hindu Religion

Theme Topic Two Assignment: The Hindu Religion

Part 1: What is Brahman? How is this concept related to the ideas of “gods” in Hinduism?

Will Deming, editor of Understanding the Religions of the World: An Introduction (2015) defines ultimate reality as, “… something that is more real and true and meaningful than anything else… The goal of orienting oneself to this ultimate reality is to share in its reality, thereby making one’s own life more real, more true, and more meaningful,” (p. 4). As this relates to Hinduism, Brahman is the sacred and holy:

… basis for our universe… if the existence of everything, including humans, was rooted in the universe, then everything, including humans, would have Brahman as its foundation. Brahman, in other words,

In practical terms this required circumventing the law of karma by somehow living in a way that prevented the accumulation of any karma, whether bad or good,” (Deming, 2015, p. 19). Plainly, the atman, or soul, stands successful in avoiding samsara, reincarnation, when it reaches moksha, complete release. Both a positive and a holy endeavor, the items are deeply connected in Hindu metaphysics, as they are the formula for salvation, or freedom from the unending. Further, the goal is to shed one’s atman from the impurity of their being, until all that remains is the holy Brahman, the

Each personal is ultimately responsible for the outcome of their choices, but they are equally able to reach Moksha through the self-less commitment to that which is divine. “Hindus believe that everyone has his or her own karma to work through in this life, and so no single path to Brahmin can accommodate everyone,” (Deming, 2015, p. 57). Therefore Hinduism is not such an idyllic recipe spelling out how one may find salvation, but rather it remains a pathway of connected journeys which guide followers to a solution best fit for their spiritual