(UNDERSTANDING HINDUISM), my Talk at Brookdale Community College December 3, 1990

[Thirumala Raya Halemane]

(UNDERSTANDING HINDUISM), my Talk at Brookdale Community College December 3, 1990

In the 33 images here, we see, "UNDERSTANDING HINDUISM", my talk at Brookdale Community College on December 3, 1990, and here below is an attempt to type out their contents

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UNDERSTANDING 

HINDUISM

Talk at Brookdale Community College December 3, 1990

T Raya Halemane

Hindu American Temple and Cultural Center, Inc.

AT&T Bell Laboratories

480 Red Hill Road, Middletown, NJ 07748, 

62 Yellowstone Lane East, Howell NJ 07731

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WORLDLY KNOWLEDGE - to overcome poverty, sorrow, illness etc

SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE - to purify mind, intellect and soul

HINDUISM OR HINDU DHARMA OR VEDIC DHARMA OR SANATAN DHARMA

What is Dharma ?

Drona to Yudhishtira: "Dharma means speaking the truth, living by loving others and being kind and merciful"

What is Adharma ?

"Speaking lies, showing anger and to hate others is adharma"

--

SATYAM VADA DHARMAM CHARA

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Aatmoupamyan Sarvatra Samam Pashyathi = Gita

(Find out what is right and what is wrong by putting yourself in the position of the other person)

Sita to Rama 

Aatmanamupama Krthvaa thEshu daarEshu ramyathaam

Consideration for the feelings of others, for the rights of others, for the faults of others, 

these are the highest marks of culture, without which a man would definitely be uncultured

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SATYAM VADA  (Speak the Truth)

Dharmam Chara  (Follow your Dharma)

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Five Principles

1. Parameshwar (God)

2. Prarthana (Prayer)

3. Punarjanma (Rebirth)

4. Purushartha ( Law  of Action)

5. Prani Daya (Compassion / Nonviolence)

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GOD

"iSHA VASYA MIDAM SARVAM"

the entire universe is pervaded by God

all-powerful, all-knowing, all-pervading

God is unborn and immortal (never dying)

no beginning, no end

God is without a form (all-pervading)

He is everywhere and in everybody

"Ishwara sarva bhutanam

hrd dEsha Arjuna tishtathi"

"O Arjuna, God resides in the hearts of all beings"

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God is the creator, preservor, and dextroyer

God is one, but wise men call him by many names

"Ekam sat viprah bahudha vadanti"

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OM BHUR BHUVAH SWAH 

TATSAVITUR VARENYAM

BHARGO DEVASYA DHIMAHI

DHIYO YO NAH PRACHODAYAT

O God, the giver of life, remover of pains and sorrows, 

bestower of happiness, creator of the universe,

Thou art most luminous, pore and adorable. We meditate on Thee. 

May thou inspire and guide our intellect in the right direction.

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"OM ASATO MA SAD GAMAYA

TAMASO MA JYOTIR GAMAYA

MRITYORMA AMRITAM GAMAYA

O Supreme Spirit ! Lead us from untruth to truth,

Lead us from darkness to light,

Lead us from death to immortality

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REBIRTH

"Jatasya Hi Dhruvo Mrityuh

Dhruvam Janma Mritasya Cha" - Gita

(He who takes birth must certainly die. He who dies must be born again)

Body

Soul (JIva or Atma) - immortal (no beginning, no end)

"Weapons cannot cut the soul, fire cannot burn it, water cannot wet it, wind cannot dry it"

soul enters a new body - burth

soul leaves the body - death

story of Shanti Devi

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Law of Action (Karma)

Vasishta to Rama - "O rama, the result of good actions is good, while that of evil actions is evil. With this knowledge, do as you please"

The law has both a short-term and a long-term character.with the long-term even crossing from one life to the next.

Explains why sometimes sinful person enjoys happiness in this life while a righteous man undergoes much suffering.

Destiny : Accumulated result of our actions.

The destiny of this life has been fashioned by the actions in the previous life. 

Destiny is the long-term effect of the actions of today (from one life to the next),

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LOVE AND NON-VIOLENCE / COMPASSION

soul exists in all living beings

Gita:

"He who sees the pain and suffering in the creature just as he sees in himself, is a yogi or a man of virtue,"

Yajurveda:

"Mitrasya chakshusha samikshamahe"

(May we look at all with a friendly eye)

Mahabharatha:

"Ahimsa paramo dharmah"

Nonviolence is the foremost virtue

Holy Cow

(Cow is like a mother)

Dukhite kuru dayam - Bhartrhari

Be kind to those who are helpless and suffering

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YOGA (MEDITATION)
1. Meditation and Concentration 

"Get your senses under control. Have one thought - only one thought in your mind. On that thought let your attention dwell unflinchingly. This is the way to concentrate."

2. Asanas (physical exercises), over 60 asanas

3. Pranayama (Breath Control)

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SAMSKARA (Sacrament)

= to make pure

we keep our mind and intellect free from evil influence by performing 16 samskaras at appropriate times

E.g.

a) Namakarana 

      (Naming Ceremony)

   11th day

b) Anna prashana 

      (Food Taking)

c) Vivaha

      (Wedding Ceremony)

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SCRIPTURES

1. VEDAS

a) Rigveda

b) Yajurveda

c) Samaveda

d) Atharvaveda

  revealed by God to the rishis

2. RAMAYANA

 story of Rama

   first written in Sanskrit by Valmiki

    teaches ideals in life, relationships, duties and responsibilities

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3. Bhagavad Gita and Mahabharatha

    lessons preached by Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the battlefield

4. Upanishad

5. Tirukkural

     in Tamil by Saint Tiruvalluvar

      religion & morals

      man's duties

      Divine Love

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RAMAYANA

Dasharatha, King of Koshal / Ayodhya

 3 wives

 Koushalya        Kaikeyi                  Sunitra

  Rama             Bharata      Lakshmana  Shatrughna

   educated by sages  Vasishta, Vishwamitra

   Rama married Sita, Janaka's daughter

    (the prince to lift the bow of Shiva would wed Sita)

    

    preparations to Rama's coronation 

     Manthara, maid of Kaikeyi advised her to get Bharatha to be king

     Kaikeyi asked for the two promises Dasharath had made him in the past

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"Ask and you shall have them"

1. Bharat be made the king

2. Rama be sent to forest for 14 years

Rama felt it to be his duty to fulfil his father's promise

and set out to forest

Sita and Lakshman accompanied

Bharat returned with Shatrughna to Ayodhya - refused to accept throne

He visited Rama in the forest and pleaded him to return

Finally Bharat brought Rama's sandals, 

placed them on the throne and began ruling on behalf of  Rama

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Rama killed many demons who troubled rishis

Lived at Panchvati in a hut on the banks of Godavari

Shurpanakha, sister of Ravana (demon king of Lanka),

asked lakshman to marry her - refused

Rama also refused. Threatened to devour Sita

Lakshmana cuts her nose and ears off.

She goes weeping to Ravana

Ravana comes with Marich (disguised as a golden deer).and abducts Sita.

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Rama and Lakshmana go searching for Sita.

They meet the apemen Hanuman, Sugreeva etc who help them find Sita.

Hanuman flies over the sea to Lanka, meets Sita (who stays pure), 

kills some demons, sets fire to Lanka, comes back to Rama

Rama, with the apemen for army, goes to Lanka (they build a bridge)

Ravana's brother Vibhishan joins Rama after Ravana throws him out.

Fierce battle ensues.

Kumbhakarna, Inderjit, Meghnad, Ravana all die.

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Vibishan made king of Lanka

Rama, Sita, Lakshman return to Ayodhya (14 years pass)

and rules the kingdom in an ideal fashion.

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TEN COMMANDMENTS OF HINDUISM 

       (Patanjali in Yoga Sutra)

1. AHIMSA: non-violence

2. SATYA: truthfulness

3. ASTEYA: not stealing

4. BRAHMACHARYA: celibacy

5. APARIGRAHA: non-acceptance of gifts

6. SHOUCH: cleanliness (of body, mind & speech)

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7. SANTOSHA: contentment

8. TAPAS: austerities

9. SWADHYAYA: study of scriptures

10. ISHWARA PRANIDHANA: worship of God

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FESTIVALS

1. Deepavali

    falls on New Moon night of Kartik (October - November)

     festival of lights

     signifies return of Rama to Ayodhya after killing Ravana

2. Ram Navami 

     9th day of Chaitra - April

3. Krishna Ashtami

     8th day of Bhadrapad  -mAugust

4. Pongal or Sankranti

       - harvest festival 

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SAINTS AND SAGES

GAUTAMA BUDDHA

SAINT THIRUVALLUVAR

SWAMI SHANKARACHARYA

SWAMI DAYANANDA

MAHATMA GANDHI

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my article "HINDUISM IN AMERICA" from HATCC Magazine 1990 Ekta

(see, read, in the three images - not typed out here)

"N.J. Hindu-Americans strive to maintain identity", article in Asbury Park Press, August 3, 1990

(see, read, in the image)

100 Rupees India currency note

Lord Ganapathi picture

"HONORED GUEST", article in News Transcript, 1990 July 4

(see, read,  in the image)

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[Thirumala Raya Halemane]