Aum - The Aum is the sound produced when attending god, realization through deep meditation. The sound is naturally made therefore the most fitting symbol for representing god.
Lotus - The lotus is a symbol of purity. Though the lotus grows in muddy waters it still emerges pure and beautiful. The lotus flower is also symbolic of detachment-never holds water because of silk type surface.
Swastika - The swastika symbol denotes auspiciousness, in Sanskrit it means well being. The four arms of the swastika are there to draw luck from all four corners of the world. This symbol is frequently used during religious ceremonies.
Prayer - Prayer is defined as expression of the inner most desire of the heart. The prayer that asks for god’s vision is considered to be the most important symbol.
Section two- Matters of Life and Death.
- Hindu’s in their attitudes to life after death.
- Why some people do not believe in life after death
- Hindu teachings on sanctity of life
- Abortion
- Hindu’s in their attitudes to contraception
- Euthanasia
Hindus teaching on life after death
Hindus believe that life after death is quite different to Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Hindus believe in the immortality of the atma (soul), which can never be destroyed. The atma is born again, although into another body. This belief is called re-incarnation. The release from rebirth or moksha happens in different ways for different Hindus. Most Hindus believe that it happens over a long period of time by people fulfilling their dharma (duty). If this is done then eventually they will achieve moksha. This stage of life is called nirvana. Some Hindus think it is the merging of the soul with Brahma. Others think of it as heaven where the soul is like gods and lives with them. There are many ways to achieve moksha, something that can come in one’s life through Bhakti (meditation). Others think that knowledge of the nature of god will give moksha.
Christians teaching on life after death
Christians have two basic concepts about life after death.
Resurrection.
After death nothing happens but at a time in future on the “Day of Judgment” the dead will be given an immortal body.
Immortality of the soul
The belief that humans have a body and a soul that survived death, and after death goes to a spiritual place where god is.
Muslim teaching on life after death
Muslims do not believe in the immortality of the soul. They believe that when you die, their body stays in the grave until the last day. On the last day everything will be destroyed and everyone will die. Then god will raise everyone from the dead, everyone will be gathered before god, and judgment on the basis whether they have lived their lives as a good Muslim, will go to heaven and the rest will go to hell.
Sanctity of life
The beliefs of all religions on the sanctity of life apply in their attitudes to life after death. All religions believe that life is a gift from god, so essentially belongs to god. At the root of all religious teachings lays the belief that life, especially human life is sacred and holy. It follows that, if all life is a gift from god, then it must be cherished and valued.
Hinduism and sanctity of life
Hindus believe that after death, every soul is born into another body, this process is called re-incarnation. Most Hindus believe that people doing their dharma release the soul from re-birth. If this is done for every re-birth of the soul in the end they will reach moksha. Moksha means joining of the soul with brahma. The body does wrong karma’s and the soul has to pay.
Christianity and sanctity of life
- God is the creator of all life.
- Human life is sacred because life is a gift from god.
- God cares about everyone in the world.
Abortion
Abortion means the termination of life of a developing foetus.
Infanticide
Infanticide means killing a baby after birth.
Abortion on demand
Abortion on demand is where a woman is being allowed an abortion without a question asked.
Abortion in Britain was made legal in 1967 by the abortion act. Abortion cannot take place after pregnancy of 24 weeks unless the mother’s life is at risk.
When does life begin?
- Many religious and anti-abortion groups such as “Life” believe life begins as soon as the male sperm and the female ovum combine.
- Some people think that life does not begin, until the baby moves in the womb.
- Others believe that the foetus becomes a human being when go implants a soul, and the soul becomes a sacred life.
When is abortion allowed.
- When the mother’s life is at risk.
- When there is a risk of injury to the mother’s physical health or mental health.
- When there is a risk that another child would put at risk the physical or mental health of the existing child.
- When there is a substantial risk that the baby might be born seriously handicapped.
Hinduism and abortion
There are many different views on abortion among Hindus. Some are totally opposed to abortion in any form, others use the teaching of ahimsa to claim that abortion is only allowed if the mother’s life is threatened. Some people take a quote from the Gita and believe that the soul never dies, if an abortion is carried out then that soul is born in another body.
Christianity and abortion
- Life begins at conception so every unborn child is an image of god.
- Mother’s life is of a greater value than of the unborn child.
- Some churches agree with UK abortion laws.
Contraception.
Contraception is any natural or artificial means that people use to prevent conception after sexual intercourse.
Birth control
Birth control means any method used to limit the number of babies born either to a couple or within a population.
Family planning
Family planning is the deliberate limiting/spacing of birth allowing a couple to choose when to have babies.
The main methods of contraception now available are.
- The Condom - The condom is a highly effective contraceptive against Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) or HIV.
- The Pills – over 3 million women use the pill in the UK and 50 million people use the pills worldwide.
- Sterilization - In a woman the fallopian tubes are cut and in the men the sperm tubes are cut, which makes them both infertile.
Hinduism and contraception.
The vast majority of Hindus live in India and the attitude of this religion to contraception is negative, due to this there is a high level of poverty. Many Hindus families wish to have at least one son, since sons alone can perform the necessary funeral rituals on the death of a parent. Some Hindus still think that children look after them when they grow old. Quite a lot of attitude is changing now, most of the educated Hindus use contraception.
Euthanasia
Euthanasia means action of inducing a quiet and easy death. There are several ways in which this can be done:
Suicide
Where a person knows that they have a very painful, terminal disease and commit suicide to give themselves a quiet and easy death.
Assisted suicide
Where a person has such a painful terminal disease that they cannot obtain the means of suicide, so they ask someone to give something to commit suicide.
Voluntary euthanasia
Where a person has a painful, terminal disease and cannot do anything for him or herself, so they ask someone else to do it painlessly e.g. the doctor giving them a lethal dose of painkillers.
Non-voluntary euthanasia
Where a person is not kept alive because they are regarded as having a life worse than death but cannot make a decision themselves e.g. babies born with terminal disease or people on a life support machine or people who are in comas.
Not striving to keep alive
This is the idea used in medicine, that if someone is suffering from a terminal illness, everything possible should be done to cure them. After this, they should be given painkillers, but if, for e.g. they have heart attack, doctor should not revive them.
Double effect
If you give a patient drugs to relieve their pain, knowing that it will kill them over a period of time, that is okay because you are aiming to relieve their pain, not kill them. It is usually claimed that this is very different from giving them one dose of painkillers sufficient enough to kill them straight away.
Hinduism and euthanasia
Non-violence is the highest ethical code of behavior. It is induced as non-killing and non-harming. This simple summary of ahimsa is used by many Hindus to ban euthanasia in any forms. Many Hindus use the teaching of the Bhagwat Gita in support euthanasia. It is impossible to harm the soul, so easing the soul’s process into next life; you can switch off the machine.
Christians and euthanasia
Christians agree with all other religions that only god has the right to take human life. Christians believe it is wrong to leave a person alive on a life support machine. Like all other religions Christians believe that prayers relieve a human from suffering.
Euthanasia: The Law
Active euthanasia is illegal in the UK. However, in the Netherlands, it is now legal for the doctor to give injections to patients who have a terminal illness, as long as they have freely given their consent. Society has been dedicated to making voluntary euthanasia legal since 1935. Life support machines, new technology, and the better drugs to fight cancer mean people are being kept alive longer.
Arguments for euthanasia
- People should have the right to do as they wish with their own lives.
- Euthanasia removes the possibility of someone being a great burden to another, especially his or her own family.
- We cut short the lives of animals when they are terminally ill, so why not for humans.
Arguments against euthanasia
- It would undermine the confidence of the patient to have in doctors to save lives.
- The principle that human life is sacred must be maintained at all costs.
- God gives life, and god alone should decide when it should end.
Section three.
- Cohabitation and marriage.
- Hindu marriage ceremony
- Sex outside marriage (pre-marital sex, promiscuity and adultery).
- Divorce
- Homosexuality
- Nature of the family
- How the Mandir helps to bring up children
Definitions
Marriage
The condition of a man and woman legally united for the purpose of living together and usually creating lawful of spring.
Divorce
Legally dissolve the marriage so that the partners are free to marry someone else.
Cohabitation
The man and woman living together without being married.
Promiscuity
An act of sex with several partners, and often without commitment, it is more commonly known as casual sex.
Adultery
An act of sex between a married person, and someone other than their marriage partner.
Pre-marital sex
Sex before marriage.
Contraception
Contraception means any natural or artificial means of people use to prevent conception after intercourse.
Re-marriage
Marrying again after being divorced from a previous divorce.
Faithfulness
Staying with your partner and having sex only with them.
Nuclear family
Mother, Father and children living together as a unit.
Extended Family
Grandparents, Uncles and Aunts living as a unit or living very close or having a lot of contact.
One-parent family
Where only one of the parents is bringing up the children, this can be due to separation, divorce, death or unmarried parents.
Reconstituted family
Where two sets of children, stepbrothers and stepsisters become one family, when divorced parents marry each other.
Monogamy
Marriage to one partner only.
Serial monogamy
Being married to one person only but divorcing and marrying several times.
Birth control
Any method used to limit the number of babies born either to a couple or within a population.
Family planning
Spacing of births allowing a couple to choose when to have children.
Marriage and cohabitation
Marriage and its popularity are in its decline. On the other hand; cohabitation increased, this is due to various reasons:
- Many couples now see marriage as unnecessary to their happiness.
- Many couples see cohabitation leading to marriage, as a kind of preparation.
- Some men and women want to have children but not to make formal, legal and binding commitments to each other.
- Some couples do not want to spend money on a wedding and reception.
Marriage in Hinduism
Traditionally, man and woman in Hindu families have very different roles. Hinduism teaches that man and woman each have their own dharma (duty). A Hindu woman is expected to be supported financially by her father until she marries, and then her husband afterwards. For this reason, the birth of girls in the family was less welcome than of the birth of boys.
The female, as wife and as mother, is responsible for looking after religious responsibilities, of each members of the family. She looks family shrine, offers daily puja for the family. She also makes sure all the family members are treated properly, and she respects the guests.
Marriage in Hinduism (Grihasta Ashram)
This sanskar marks the start of the second and most important stage in life, called Grihasta ashram. In this ashram you achieve dharma (duty), artha (money), Kama (raising family), and moksha (salvation). Hindu marriage should be done by a priest. Most of the Hindu marriages arranged by British Hindus find their own marriage partners.
The main features of a Hindu Marriage Ceremony
- Bride stands on the stone to represent the stability of a married life.
- Throwing rice into the Havan (sacred fire) to encourage fertility in the bride and the groom.
- The couple taking the 7 steps around the Havan, this is an essential part of marriage laid down by the “Law of Mamu”.
Havan
Havan is the most important ancient form of Hindu prayer known as the Yagna. It is a religious ceremony in which a sacred fire is lit, and Sanskrit mantras are recited.
Satpadi-seven steps
This is the main part of the ceremony. The couple walks seven steps reciting the prayer at each step
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1st step for food.
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2nd step for strength.
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3rd step for wealth.
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4th step for happiness.
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5th step for children.
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6th step for health.
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7th step for unity\friendship.
Marriage is said to be complete after the seventh step and a symbolic matrimonial knot is tied.
Sex outside marriage
Marriage is very important for Hindus. Hindu marriages are traditionally arranged and so sex outside marriage is not allowed. Marriage is performed around fire and parents give away their daughter. In Hindu marriage the 7 steps taken make the couple man and wife.
Hindu teaching on divorce
Divorce and re-marriage are very rare in Hinduism. The main guard for divorce is cruelty, on not having children after a long time. The connection of marriage to the family and the extended family adds to the forces keeping the couples together. Divorce is occurring, both in India and in the Hindu community in the UK, as they become more westernized and as women receives rights they are less likely to accept bad behavior from their husband as well as wife.
Divorce and its aftermath (what happens after divorce?)
- Both families are ruined financially.
- Children suffer more than both parents.
- Stability in the family is ruined.
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is having sex with someone the same gender. Until 1967, it was illegal to be a homosexual or a lesbian, as such activities to place in private. Some people can be born homosexual while the majorities are born heterosexual. Some people say that family background turns to homosexuality. In the 19th and 20th century, homosexuality was viewed as a disease.
Homosexuality in Hinduism
There is nothing special in the Hindu scriptures about homosexuality. The religion teaches that the natural thing for everyone is to get married and have children. Anyone who does not do this is violating their dharma (duty). Homosexuality is unacceptable for most Hindu’s. When the aids epidemic first hit India in the late 1980’s, people did not understand the cause, and wrongly believed that it was a disease of homosexuality.
Some people believe that homosexuality goes back a long way in Indian culture and religion. There are some carvings in Hindu temples that show men and women indulging in homosexual sex. There is also a special Hindu cast of religious devotees in which men are dressed as women.
Hindu teachings on a family life.
Hinduism teaches that children should be brought up in a family with a mother and a father. Family life is a central part in a Hindu life. Bringing children up is a necessary part of fulfilling ones dharma, as dharma is essential for moksha.
Nature of a Hindu Family Life.
- Parents should provide the children with all the necessities of life.
- Parents should keep in their home a shrine (Ghar Mandir).
- Parents should teach their children how to pray, how to offer pooja, the belief of Hinduism, the nature of right and wrong and how to lead a good Hindu life.
- Parents should perform daily pooja of the Gods in the shrine with the family.
- Parents should encourage their children to go to the Mandir and attend religious ceremonies.
- Children should obey and respect their parents throughout their lives.
- Children should look after their parents, if they are no longer capable of looking after themselves.
How the Mandir helps to bring up children.
Hinduism teaches that the family life and a Mandir is part of every Hindus life. The belief in ashram’s means that every Hindu must go through the householder’s stage of life. The belief in dharma and to obey the dharma will give you moksha.
- Most Hindu temples run classes on Sundays or on evenings to teach young Hindus about their faith.
- Hindu parents must bring their children to the Mandir for Hindu workshops and festivals.
- Most Hindu Mandirs provide all sorts of social activities, where young Hindus can have a moral and social life.
- There are now some Hindu day schools, where Hindus follow the national curriculum.
- Mandir helps in the case of a family breakdown, and many Mandirs have a family advice centre to help family issues or even divorce.
- Mandir helps to provide funds for families who have financial difficulties.
Section 4
- Equal rights for women in the United Kingdom
- Differences among Hindus and their attitudes towards the role played by man and woman
- Multi-ethnic society, prejudice, racism and discrimination
- Multi-faith society, religious freedom and religious pluralism
Equal rights for women in the United Kingdom
- Women are likely to give up work to look after the work and bring up the children.
- Parents are likely to lay down different rules for girls and boys, and treat them differently.
- Women are more likely than men to be victims of domestic violence.
- After they divorce, women are more likely than men to gain custody of the children.
- Women are paid very low wages and are less likely to obtain promotion.
- Single mothers are poorer than anybody in the UK.
Hinduism and equal sexes
- In Hinduism women are considered very important, due to women can only guarantee pro-creation.
- Modern Hindus, see men and women as equal partners both in religion and in home life.
- Hindus often feel that they still need to protect the women in the family.
- Girls in the family are usually kept under very strict supervision
Females are supposed to be more caring, and demonstrate this by the way they behave. While males are expected to be forceful and successful at whatever career they chose to follow.
Multi-ethnic society in United Kingdom
Due to the mixture of different cultures, UK is often described as a multi-ethnic society, multi-racial or multi-faith society. UK has a long tradition of personal and religious freedom.
Race and politics
- The main immigration to the UK happened after the Second World War, due to shortage of labour in the key industries and occupations. As more people came to settle in the UK, especially in the inner city areas, so the problem of racism arose. As people were often prejudice from people coming abroad, in 1976 law against racism was passed.
- Not to discriminate against anyone because of his or her race colour, nationality, or ethnic background. This law covered housing, employment and education.
- Not to use threatening or abusive language that could stir up racial hatred.
- Not to publish anything that could create racial hatred.
- The law did not stop racial hatred, prejudice and discrimination. So in the end of 1976 the commission for racial equality was established and their functions were.
- To fight against all racial discrimination.
- To show people the importance of giving everyone a fair chance in life.
- To monitor in which way the law is working.
Hindus and racial harmony
Hindus are opposed to all racism and discrimination because of the way their grandparents suffered in the past in the hands of the mogul emperors, and of the British of the days of the empire. If every soul is part of the divine then everyone should be treated equally.
- Hindus see the world as one inter-connection, in which many different races and colours intermingle.
- Even thought the caste system has been abolished, marriage between different castes is not common.
- Hindus are opposed to all racists and discrimination.
- If every soul is part of the divine, then we should all be treated equally.
- Hindus do not like to be converted and do not convert anyone else.
The contribution of one Hindu person or organization to racial harmony
BAPS stands for “Bochasan wasi shree Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha” also known as the “Swaminarayan Hindu Mission” in the UK. It had grown into worldwide moment with over 650 Mandirs, 8,500 centres including 2,900 adult centres, 1,500 youth forums and 650 child forums. As a “socio” spiritual charitable organization, it is involved in 160 humanitarian services in local and international projects for social, moral, educational, ecological, health, cultural and spiritual care uplifting the society through dedicated volunteer’s force of 60,000 youths and 730 Sadhus.
Aims of BAPS
- Preserve culture and tradition, create community unity, promotes inter-religious understanding.
- Provides centres of enlightenment and mobilizes young people towards moralities.
Functions and activities of BAPS in the UK
- Swaminarayan Mandir has attracted more than 5 million visitors and over 5,000 schools.
- Annual national sponsored walk attracted 2000 participants to walk the 10km route and 41,000 people were contracted to help raise funds for a charitable purpose.
- The largest Gujarat Sunday school in Europe.
- Hold project leadership and management training classes for everyone.
- Host’s parental guidance seminars.
- Specialized weekly assemblies are regularly conducted for people of all ages.
- For multi-racial community, Mandir has started Akshar IT centres offering free computing facilities to the community.
- The metropolitan police service used the Mandir as a launch pad to recruit police into local community.
- Annual career open day held at Mandir provide career advice to over 12,000 students through a wide variety of professionals. Guidance is also provided for UCAS form filling, interview techniques and CV presentations are given.
The Inspirer
Param Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj is the 5th spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and present leader for BAPS. He leads an austere (ego free life) life of lifetime celibacy, without personal wealth and comfort.
Multi-faith society
A multi- faith Society is a Society in which many different religions faiths are represented and practiced. There is freedom for any religious faith to pray and worship together.
Multi-faith society
A multi- faith Society is a Society in which many different religions faiths are represented and practiced. There is freedom for any religious faith to pray and worship together.
UK as a multi-faith society
The UK has a very strong spiritual heritage related to the Christian religion and this remains the dominant religion in the UK. At the same time the UK is more of a multi-faith community than any other country in the European Union.
From single faith to multi-faith
Prior to the Second World War they were comparatively few people who followed a religion other than Christianity in the UK. The first wave of immigrants, after 1945, mainly from the West Indies, was largely Christian who soon formed their own churches. Then, in the 1960’s and 1970’s people followed, a large influx of people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Hong Kong later from Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. This led to the growth of significant growth of community in Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs.
Hinduism and multi-faith society
Hinduism does not have a problem in accepting that everyone has the right to worship freely. Hinduism itself does not have a strict definition of its own religious beliefs, and so it does not see other religions as offering a threat. God, they believe, are one and are found through the teachings of religious figures and gurus. This is why you will often find pictures of such religious leaders such as Jesus and Buddha in Hindu temples. All of them can inspire a person who is searching for god.
Followers of the other religions might do things that upset Hindus. For instance, a Hindu would find the eating of beef in their presence particularly upsetting. This means that non-Hindus must be careful in their social and religious contacts with Hindu believers if they do not want to give offence.