SHS

Introduction to World
Religions and Belief Systems
Quarter 1: Week 8 - Module 8

i
Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems
Grade 11 Quarter 1: Week 8 - Module 8
First Edition, 2020

Copyright © 2020
La Union Schools Division
Region I

All rights reserved. No part of this module may be reproduced in any form without written
permission from the copyright owners.

Development Team of the Module

Author: Jovencio R. Corrales, Jr., T- III

Editor: SDO La Union, Learning Resource Quality Assurance Team

Illustrator: Ernesto F. Ramos Jr., P II

Management Team:

Atty. Donato D. Balderas, Jr.

Schools Division Superintendent
Vivian Luz S. Pagatpatan, Ph.D.
Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
German E. Flora, Ph.D., CID Chief
Virgilio C. Boado, Ph.D., EPS in Charge of LRMS
Mario B. Paneda, Ed.D., EPS in Charge of Araling Panlipunan
Michael Jason D. Morales, PDO II
Claire P. Toluyen, Librarian II

ii
Introduction to World Religion
and Belief System
Quarter 1: Week 8 - Module 8
 Target

You have learned from the previous module the uniqueness and similarities of
Judaism, Christianity and Islam and how these monotheistic religions largely
influenced the world today.

The lessons and activities in this module will introduce to you the interesting
origin or history and helps you analyze the core teachings, fundamental beliefs,
practices, and related issues of Hinduism.

After going through this module, you should be able to attain the following
objectives:

Objectives:

1. Recite the creation story in Rig Veda

2. Identify basic beliefs contained in the Vedas.
3. Identify the names of the major Hindu deities as well as their corresponding
functions or powers.
4. Explain the core teaching of Hinduism in the attainment of liberation in the
identification of Atman and Brahman through the Four Yogas.
5. Simulate a particular yoga and write a reflection paper on your insights on
Hinduism.

1
 Jumpstart

Source: https://outoftownblog.com/2015-sillag-festival-of-lights-poro-points-uplifting-festival/

Summer brings surfers and beach bums to the cool waves in San Juan, La
Union but what not everyone knows is that there is a fiery festival over in the next
town.
The Sillag Festival is held annually at Poro Point, formerly Wallace Air
Station, in the city of San Fernando. It is organized by the Poro Point Management
Corporation, a subsidiary of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.
“Sillag” stemmed from the Ilocano word “sellag”, which translates to
moonbeam — the festival is a celebration of light.
The events, held mainly once the sun started to go down, drew in thousands
throughout the three days of celebration.
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/travel/649396/la-union-sillag-festival-a-fiery-
celebration-of-light/story/

Let’s try this out!

Discuss the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Have you ever participated/attended the La Union Sillag Festival? If Yes,
what do you think does it implies? If No, what does Sillag means to you?
2. Can you identify a Hindu festival celebrated by the Filipinos? If not, make
some research and collect clippings how it is being celebrated
3. What is the importance of celebrating festivals, among Hindus and us,
Filipinos?

RUBRIC FOR SHORT ANSWERS

Criteria No Answer Needs Adequate Quality Exemplary
Improvement
1 point 2 points 3 points 4 points 5 points
Content No Answer Key points are Answers are not Answers are Answers are
not clear. comprehensive or accurate and comprehensive,
Question not completely complete. Key accurate and
stated. Key points points are complete. Key
 adequately are addressed, stated and ideas are clearly
answered but not well supported stated, explained
supported and well
supported
Organization No Answer Organization Inadequate Organization is Well organized,
and structure organization or mostly clear coherently
detract from development. and easy to developed and
the answer Structure of the follow easy to follow
answer is not
easy to follow
Writing No Answer Displays over Displays three to Displays two Displays error in
Conventions five errors in five errors in errors in spelling,
spelling, spelling, spelling, punctuation,
punctuation, punctuation, punctuation, grammar and
grammar and grammar and grammar and sentence structure
sentence sentence sentence
structure structure structure

Your journey to learn about Hinduism -

it’s beginning, beliefs and core teachings starts
here. Do it with a smile.

Pre-Test

Direction. Choose and write the letter of the best answer. Use a separate sheet
of paper.

1. The cycles of birth, misery, and death caused by karma.

A. Moksha B. Puja C. Samsara D. Sanskrit
2. Collections of hymns and prayers that make up the earliest Hindu sacred
writings.
A. Bible B. Qu'ran C. Torah D. Vedas
3. "What comes around goes around" is a way to describe .
A. Caste B. Dharma C. Karma D. Shiva
4. Who was the founder of Hinduism?
A. Abraham B. Jesus C. Siddhartha D. No real founder
5. Who is the Creator god?
A. Brahma B. Ganesha C. Shiva D. Vishnu
6. The rebirth of a soul in a new body.
A. Ahimsa B. Dharma C. Reincarnation D. Shrine
7. Considered India's holiest river.
A. Euphrates River C. Nile River
B. Ganges River D. Mississippi River
8. A place of worship that is often dedicated to a sacred object or being.
A. Church B. Guru C. Moksha D. Shrine
9. What animal is considered sacred to the Hindus?
A. Cow B. Dog C. Pig D. Ox
10. In order to end the cycle of rebirth, one must reach .
A. Ahimsa B. Karma B. Moksha D. Samsara
 Discover

Introduction
Hinduism is one of the oldest religions
in the world, but it is relatively unknown in
the Philippines. It has a rich history and a
wide variety of practices, schools of thought
and styles of worship. (Jayeel Serrano
Cornelio, Mark Joseph Tumada Calano and
Manuel Victor Jamias Sapitula 2016)
Most people would be hard-pressed to
describe the basic beliefs of the Hindu
religion, but they could easily identify the
influence of Hinduism in our popular culture, Table 1. A Brief History of Hinduism

mainly because…
• Everybody knows what it means to have good karma, something that is
very much a part of Hindu culture.
• All kinds of people (including many movie stars and rock musicians)
practice yoga, a mainstay of Hinduism.
• The Hindu practice of meditation is a recurring theme on television and in
the movies.
So, is all of this dabbling in Hindu philosophy and practice pretty harmless,
or is there more to it? Are the tolerant and inclusive ideas of Hinduism a healthy
alternative to our materialistic and me-centered culture, or are they a doorway to
something else? Let’s find out in this module about one of the world’s oldest and
most influential religions. (Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz 2002)

Origins of Hinduism
Hinduism has no specific founder or historical event to mark its beginning,
so it’s nearly impossible to come up with a date for when Hinduism began. Scholars
know that about 4000 years ago a highly developed civilization known as the
Mohenjo-Daro was flourishing in the Indus River Valley in northwest India. The
people of this civilization were known as Dravidians. From archaeological digs we
know they were fairly- advanced and probably pacifists (there’s no evidence of
weaponry). This apparently made the Dravidians easy pickings for the invading
Aryans, who, it is thought, came down from Persia (present-day Iran) in 1500 B.C.
and basically assimilated the Dravidian culture into their own.
The Aryan religious practices were mixed with those of the Dravidians,
producing these fundamental principles:
 belief in reincarnation
 the worship of a diverse group of gods who took various forms
  belief in the essential spiritual unity of humankind

You can see elements of polytheism (literally, “many gods”) and monism (there
is only one ultimate reality, and we are all part of it) in these early beliefs that formed
the foundation for Hinduism. (Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz 2002)

Table 1 shows the timeline on the brief history of Hinduism in India.

Symbols of Hinduism
The Aum, the Swastika and the Tilak
The “AUM” symbol (or OM – the symbol in the center) symbolizes the Universe
and the ultimate reality. It is the most important Hindu symbols. At the dawn of
creation, from emptiness first emerged a syllable consisting of three letters – A-U-M
(often written as OM). https://www2.palomar.edu/pages/mcastillo/india-mystic-and-historic/aum-symbolic-
meaning/#:~:text=The%20%E2%80%9CAUM%E2%80%9D%20symbol%20(or,(often%20written%20as%20OM).

While westerners generally associate the swastika with the atrocities of Adolf
Hitler’s Nazi regime, this association is uniquely western and only goes back to the
early twentieth century. As a religious symbol in India, the swastika is at least as
old as the second millennium BCE—and has been used in Hinduism, Buddhism, and
Jainism for many, many centuries. The word swastika derives from an ancient
Sanskrit term for well-being. It later became associated with the pleasures of this
life, with spiritual truth, and with endless birth and rebirth in this world. In
Hinduism it often denotes the blessings that come from Ganesha, the god of good
beginnings. (Blackwell, 2015)
The Tika (Tilak or Tilakam or Pottu) is a symbol put on the forehead of between
the eyebrows. It basically gives the wearer the feeling of sacredness and reveals the
particular guide the wearer worships. It also has non-religious uses. Hindu female
uses the Bindu or Bindi (dot) as part of their makeup and red dot as a mark of being
married. (Mabaquiao, Jr.)

The Vedas
The Vedas are the religious texts which inform the religion of Hinduism (also
known as Sanatan Dharma meaning “Eternal Order” or “Eternal Path”). The term
veda means “knowledge” in that they are thought to contain the fundamental
knowledge relating to the underlying cause of, function of, and personal response
to existence. They are considered among the oldest, if not the oldest, religious
works in the world. They are commonly referred to as “scripture”, which is
accurate in that they can be defined as holy writ concerning the nature of the
Divine. Unlike the scriptures of other religions, however, the Vedas are not thought
to have been revealed to a certain person or persons at a specific historical
moment; they are believed to have always existed and were apprehended by sages
in deep meditative states at some point prior to c. 1500 BCE but precisely when is
unknown. (Source: https://www.ancient.eu/The_Vedas/)
 The primary sacred texts, known as the Vedas, were composed around 1500
B.C. This collection of verses and hymns was written in Sanskrit and contains
revelations received by ancient saints and sages. Hindus believe that the Vedas
transcend all time and don’t have a beginning or an end.

The Vedas are therefore regarded as Shruti in Hinduism meaning “what is

heard” as contrasted with other texts designated Smritis (“what is remembered”),
accounts of great heroes and their struggles in works such as the Mahabharata,
Ramayana, and Bhagavad Gita (although some sects of Hinduism regard the
Bhagavad Gita as Shruti).

The Shruti Scriptures (That which is Heard)

The sacred texts of Hinduism are divided into two main categories: Shruti, which
literally means “what is heard,” and Smriti, which literally means “what is
remembered” (Matthews 2010, 68-69; Urubshurow 2009, 384). Shruti refers to all
Hindu sacred texts containing revealed knowledge (or knowledge based on direct
experience), while Smriti refers to all Hindu sacred texts containing remembered
knowledge (or knowledge based on the recollection of the experience). The Shruti
texts (“revealed texts”) therefore are primary sources that contain truths that are
eternal and unchanging and of divine origin, while the Smriti texts (“remembered
texts”) are secondary sources that contain truths that may change over time and are
of human origin. Shruti texts are true by themselves while Smiriti texts are true only
in so far as they conform to the Shruti texts.
(Mabaquiao, Jr.)

1. Rig Veda: The Rig Veda is the oldest of the works comprised of 10 books
(known as mandalas) of 1,028 hymns of 10,600 verses. These verses concern
themselves with proper religious observance and practice, based on the
universal vibrations as understood by the sages who first heard them, but
also address fundamental questions regarding existence. Sama Veda
2. Sama Veda: The Sama Veda (“Melody Knowledge” or “Song Knowledge”) is a
work of liturgical songs, chants, and texts meant to be sung. The content is
almost wholly derived from the Rig Veda and, as some scholars have
observed, the Rig Veda serves as the lyrics to the melodies of the Sama Veda.
It is comprised of 1,549 verses and divided into two sections: the gana
(melodies) and the arcika (verses). The melodies are thought to encourage
dance which, combined with the words, elevates the soul.
3. Yajur Veda: The Yajur Veda (“Worship Knowledge” or “Ritual Knowledge”)
consists of recitations, ritual worship formulas, mantras, and chants directly
involved in worship services. Like the Sama Veda, its content derives from
the Rig Veda but the focus of its 1,875 verses is on the liturgy of religious
observances. It is generally regarded as having two “sections” which are not
distinct parts but characteristics of the whole. The “dark Yajur Veda” refers
to those parts which are unclear and poorly arranged while the “light Yajur
Veda” applies to the verses which are clearer and better arranged.
4. Atharva Veda: The Atharva Veda (“knowledge of Atharvan”) concerns itself
with magical spells to ward off evil spirits or danger, chants, hymns, prayers,
 initiation rituals, marriage and funeral ceremonies, and observations on daily
life. The name is thought to derive from the priest Atharvan who allegedly was
well-known as a healer and religious innovator. It is comprised of 20 books of
730 hymns some of which draw on the Rig Veda.

The Upanishads are considered the “end of the Vedas” as in the last word on
the texts. The term Upanishads means to “sit down closely” as a student would with
a master to receive some information not intended for the rest of the class
Each of these is further divided into types of text included within them:
 Aranyakas - rituals, observances
 Brahmanas - commentaries on said rituals
 Samhitas - benedictions, prayers, mantras
 Upanishads – philosophical narratives and dialogues

The Upanishads are the best known and most often read of the Vedas because
their discourse is presented in dialogue/narrative form and they were the first to
be translated into other languages. (Source: https://www.ancient.eu/The_Vedas/)

The Smriti Scriptures (That which is Remembered)

 Mahabharata. An epic poem that is 15 times longer than the Bible, narrates
the story of an ongoing war among family members. It highlights the
importance of virtues and devotion to the Gods, particularly to Krishna.
 Ramayana. A shorter epic poem about kingship and royal virtues. It one of
the epics that depict the battle between good and evil.
 Bhagavad Gita. Meaning Song of the Lord, which is actually one of the books
in Mahabharata. It is considered as an important religious text that extols
the power and benevolence of Krishna and his instructions to Arjuna.
 Paranas. These are the stories that depict the sectarian divisions within
Hinduism. These are the multiple creation stories, legends and war stories
by the different Hindu sects.

The Creation in Rig Veda 10:129

The Paradox of Origin
Rig Veda, Mandala 10, hymn 129
Creation. Nasadiya Sukta ("Not the non-
existent")

Nor aught nor naught existed; yon bright sky

Was not, nor heaven's broad woof outstretched
above.
What covered all? what sheltered? what concealed?
Was it the water's fathomless abyss?
There was not death - hence was there naught immortal,
There was no confine betwixt day and night;
The only One breathed breathless in itself,
Other than it there nothing since has been.
Darkness there was, and all at first was veiled
In gloom profound, - an ocean without light. -
The germ that still lay covered in the husk
Burst forth, one nature, from the fervent heat.
Then first came Love upon it, the new spring
Of mind - yea, poets in their hearts discerned,
Pondering, this bond between created things
And uncreated. Comes this spark from earth,
 Piercing and all-pervading, or from heaven?
Then seeds were sown, and mighty power arose -
Nature below, and Power and Will above.
Who knows the secret? who proclaimed it here,
Whence, whence this manifold creation sprang? -
The gods themselves came later into being. -
Who knows from whence this great creation sprang? -
He from whom all this great creation came.
Whether his will created or was mute,
The Most High seer that is in highest heaven,
He knows it, - or perchance e'en He knows not.

https://www.creationmyths.org/rigveda-10-129-indian-creation/rigveda-10-129-indian-creation-2-max-muller-translation.htm

VEDIC PRAYER
Translation by Dr. Sudhir Anand

Om Bhur bhuvah swah. Tatsavitur varaynyam

bhargo devasya dheemahi. Dhiyo yo nah prachodyät.
(Yajur Veda 36: 3; Rig Veda 3: 63: 20 and Säm Veda 6: 3:10:1).

Om Bhur Bhuvah Swah

Dear God, You are the the Remover of all sorrows, The Bestower of bliss
Giver and Sustainer of all life,
Tat savitur Varaynyam Bhargo
God, who always inspires us, You alone are worthy of worship You are the Supreme Radiance that
the Creator of the Universe. enlightens us and removes our evil
desires

Devasya dheemahi. Yo
You are the Divine Supreme Giver, We mediate on Thee. You who have all these qualities,

Prachodyät Nah Dhiyo

Please inspire us, move forward Our Intellect so that we may be able to tell
right from wrong and always follow the
right path.

http://www.aryasamaj.com/enews/2009/jan-sep/aug/prayer.htm

Hindu Gods and Deities

Hindus worship many gods and goddesses in addition to Brahman, who is
believed to be the supreme God force present in all things. Some of the most
prominent deities includes:

Brahma: the god responsible for the creation of the world and all living things
Vishnu: the god that preserves and protects the universe
Shiva: the god that destroys the universe in order to recreate it
Devi: the goddess that fights to restore dharma
Krishna: the god of compassion, tenderness and love
Lakshmi: the goddess of wealth and purity
Saraswati: the goddess of learning

The Big Three (Trimurti)

As Hinduism developed, most of the early Hindu deities disappeared (where
they went, nobody knows) and were replaced by three primary gods. The three most
important deities in the Hindu pantheon are Brahma (creator), Siva (destroyer), and
Visnu (preserver), known as the trimurti. (Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz 2002)
• Brahma—This is the main god, known as the “Impersonal Absolute” and the
“Ultimate Reality”. By 1000 B.C., Brahma had become so important that an entire
order of priests known as the Brahmins developed.

• Vishnu—Here is Apu’s god, the champion of all good causes. Vishnu rules in
heaven and rules over earth as the preserver. According toreligious expert George
Braswell, Vishnu has been compared to the Christian concept of God. Vishnu has
taken many human forms (also known as avatars), the most popular of which is
Krishna.
Visnu’s most important feature is as preserver and protector of the universe,
which he accomplishes through his many incarnations, known as avatars.
(Yamamoto 1998)

• Shiva—The third god of the Hindu Big Three takes on many roles, including
creator and destroyer. Shiva signifies the eternal life-death rhythm of the
universe. A popular Hindu idol or image of Shiva shows him with four arms.

Hindu Caste System

The caste system is a social hierarchy in India that divides Hindus based on
their karma and dharma. Many scholars believe the system dates back more than
3,000 years. The four main castes (in order of prominence) include:

 Brahmin: the intellectual and spiritual leaders

 Kshatriyas: the protectors and public servants of society
 Vaisyas: the skillful producers
 Shudras: the unskilled laborers

Many subcategories also exist within each caste. The “Untouchables” are a
class of citizens that are outside the caste system and considered to be in the lowest
level of the social hierarchy. For centuries, the caste system determined every
aspect of a person’s social, professional and religious status in India.
In the 1930s the Indian nationalist leader Mohandas Gandhi began referring
to Untouchables as Harijans, which means “children of God.” (Bruce Bickel and Stan
Jantz 2002)
When India became an independent nation, its constitution banned
discrimination based on caste. Today, the caste system still exists in India but is
loosely followed. Many of the old customs are overlooked, but some traditions, such
as only marrying within a specific caste, are still embraced

Questions to Ponder:

What are your thoughts about the Hindu caste system? What do you think are
its advantages (if any) and disadvantages both to society and individuals?
Reincarnation, Karma and Moksha

The Wheel of Misfortune

Even though the philosophies of Hinduism can vary widely, there are two
beliefs you can count on when talking to a practitioner of the Hindu religion:
reincarnation and karma. (Bickel and Jantz, 2002)

 Reincarnation—Hindus believe there are two types of souls. There is the

individual soul, known as atman, which is eternal and uncreated. And there
is the Universal Soul, known as Brahman. One of the major goals of Hinduism
is for the individual soul to unite with the Universal Soul, and therefore
become one with the ultimate reality. In order for this to happen, the atman
must die and be born again time after time into the world in different bodies
(some Hindus believe you can come back as an animal or a plant). This
death- birth cycle is called reincarnation, or the “transmigration of the soul.”
In Hindu terms it’s called samsara. The ultimate goal of Hinduism is to break
free from this wheel of misfortune by uniting with the Universal Soul. This is
called moksha. How does this happen? That’s where karma comes in.
 Karma—The law of karma has to do with good works and bad works (or if you
prefer, good karma and bad karma). The more good karma you can produce,
the better your chances of attaining freedom from the reincarnation
nightmare. However, if the individual soul produces more bad karma than
good karma, then you are destined to die and come back as a horsefly. The
bad news about bad karma is that it carries over into the next life. But then,
good karma also carries over, so there’s motivation to produce good works.
 Moksha, the ultimate goal of the Hindu is to attain moksha, which is freedom
from samsara when you finally unite with Brahman. This happens when
you’ve got way more good karma than bad karma. So far, so good. And how
do you pick up the good karma? Well, there are three classic ways (called
margas) in Hinduism to attain good works: the way of activity (karma marga),
the way of knowledge (jnana marga), and the way of devotion (bhatki marga).
Braswell writes, “One may choose one or several of these ways in hope of
breaking the birth cycle and experiencing ultimate freedom.” (Bruce Bickel
and Stan Jantz 2002)

Questions to Ponder:

Do you agree with the moral principle of karma? Can you identify events in your life
that seem to demonstrate this principle?

Karma and the Caste System

One of the unfortunate effects of the Hindu belief in reincarnation and karma
is that it has perpetuated the caste system in India. The only way to move up to a
higher caste is to be reincarnated into that caste. And the only way to do that is to
be obedient to the rules of the caste you are in. For example, if a Shudra wanted to
move up to the level of a Vaisyas, he would have to be a very good Shudra and hope
for a promotion in his next life. Winfried Corduan writes, “To shortcut the system
and attain a higher standard of living would violate the structures of the caste and
thereby only incur worse karma.” The reality of karma is that it prevents people from
attempting to rise to a higher caste or help members of other castes. (Bruce Bickel
and Stan Jantz 2002)

Yoga
When we hear the word “yoga,” we immediately associate it with bodily practices
that help achieve a healthy lifestyle. This is true, but yoga is much more than health.
Yoga is actually Hindu in origin, and its main purpose is to achieve a sattvic state,
which is characterized by spiritual calm, virtue, and joy. Yogas enable an individual
to activate his/her sattvic qualities and escape the influence of raja and tama,
which are lower qualities. There are four main yogas that suit temperaments and
consider of different people. (Jayeel Serrano Cornelio, Mark Joseph Tumada Calano
and Manuel Victor Jamias Sapitula 2016)

1. Raja Yoga. The path of physical and psychic practice. Raja Yoga consists of
doing bodily exercises, and the most well known outside India. A yogi
(practitioner of yoga) engaged in this type of resorts to asanas, postures that
are meant to purify the body and achieve physical balance. The purpose of the
exercises is to facilitate the flow of prana (invisible psychic energy) along the
different chakras (energy centers) of the body. The most important chakra is
the kundalini, which is located at the crown of the head. Advanced yogis who
have purified their bodies experience a sense of peace and oneness with the
Divine because prana easily flows into the kundalini chakra. This may also be
achieved by chanting mantras, which are syllables pronounced to achieve a
certain level of spiritual awareness. The most common mantra in Hindu
practice is the OM.
2. Jnana Yoga. The path of the rational mind and concentration, Jnana Yoga
consists of doing meditative practices that aim to clear the mind of
impurities and attain a rational and calm disposition. A yogi engaged in this
type sees ignorance as the most problematic of human problems, the cause
of which are blocks in the mind that hinder the individual from cultivating
insight. Although connected to acquiring knowledge, the Jnana Yoga is not
restricted to the intellectual sphere; the ultimate goal of the practice is
spiritual. The yogi engages in meditative exercises that overcome doubt and
confusion, until he/she experiences the Divine directly and gain spiritual
insight from the encounter.
3. Karma Yoga. The path of action in the world, Karma Yoga appeals to people
who have a strong desire to work for the betterment of society. A discussion
of Karma Yoga is found in the Bhagavad Gita, wherein Krishna explains that
action should be offered to the Divine for it led to liberation. Otherwise it
enslaves the person in greed. This means that yogis in this type seek to do
good deeds without expecting for anything in return.
4. Bhakti Yoga. The path of devotion, Bhakti Yoga is the most popular form of
yoga practiced among Hindus in India. It is the practice of deep devotion and
love toward the Divine, and is mainly expressed through ritual; acts such as
puja (offering). A yogi engaged in this type is called a bhakta, and the
ultimate wish of a bhakta is a manifestation, that is, the appearance of the
god/ goddess to him/her.
 Yoga provides the Hindu with the method to reach freedom. The Yoga posture
with head erect and spine straight and breath control enables the Hindu to attain
supreme concentration. Through gazing upon certain sacred symbols and reciting
certain sacred sounds, the Hindu approaches mystical union with the absolute, the
world soul. Another way to achieve supreme concentration is through self-torture.
You know those pictures you see of a Hindu lying on a bed of thorns or staring into
the sun until he goes blind? These are people in this stage trying to concentrate on
the ultimate reality by renouncing their bodies.

Source: https://www.pikist.com/free-photo-viovp

Explore

Activity 1. Analysis
1.1 Story of Creation
A. Recite the story of creation according to the Vedas of Hinduism.
B. Make a reflection on your reading by answering the following on a
separate sheet of paper or reflection notebook.
a. In what way the world was created according to the Vedas?
b. How do Christians and Hindus differ or similar in their belief with
God as the creator?

1.2 Prayer
A. Read the Vedic Prayer
B. Analyze and reflect on the prayer through answering the following
guide questions.
a. What did the prayer talk about?
b. What is its message to God?
 c. Being a member of other religious group- do you pray with the same
intent as to the prayer? Explain
d. Do you believe that you and our Hindu brothers are praying to the
same God? Explain your answer.

RUBRIC FOR SHORT ANSWERS

Criteria No Answer Needs Adequate Quality Exemplary
Improvement
1 point 2 points 3 points 4 points 5 points
Content No Answer Key points are Answers are not Answers are Answers are
not clear. comprehensive or accurate and comprehensive,
Question not completely complete. Key accurate and
adequately stated. Key points points are complete. Key
answered are addressed, stated and ideas are clearly
but not well supported stated, explained
supported and well
supported
Organization No Answer Organization Inadequate Organization is Well organized,
and structure organization or mostly clear coherently
detract from development. and easy to developed and
the answer Structure of the follow easy to follow
answer is not
easy to follow
Writing No Answer Displays over Displays three to Displays two Displays error in
Conventions five errors in five errors in errors in spelling,
spelling, spelling, spelling, punctuation,
punctuation, punctuation, punctuation, grammar and
grammar and grammar and grammar and sentence structure
sentence sentence sentence
structure structure structure

Deepen

Activity 1. Critical Thinking

Direction. Complete the sentence to test how much you’ve learned from the
concepts presented in the previous activities. Use a separate sheet for your answer.
 As a Christian, my understanding and belief about…
1. the Hindu gods and deities is .
2. the Hindu’s story of creation is .
3. Hindu’s belief about life, death and salvation is .
4. Yoga is .

Activity 2. Experience Yoga

One of the discussions in this module points out the importance of the
coordination of the body and the soul in Hindu thinking. In forms of physical
exercise, this is done through yoga. Try few positions of yoga for yourself.
 Find a quiet spacious place where you will be undisturbed. Make sure that
the floor is clean. It would be good if you have a yoga mat, but if you have none, it’s
just fine. Do the following exercises slowly and with awareness.
Position 1. Stand straight, with your feet flat on the ground and your
shoulder relaxed. Slowly, join your palms above your head and stretch it as
high as you can while keeping your feet on the ground. As you do this, be
aware of your breathing. Do this three times and 30 seconds each time.

Position 2. Stand straight, with your feet flat on the ground. Gently, lift your
arms above your head (do not join palms). Slowly, place your left foot at the
back of your leg and stand on one foot. While doing this, look straight and
concentrate on a single point (the point should be steady). Try to hold this
position for 30 seconds. The more concentrated you are, the easier it will be
stand on one leg. Try to hold out standing on one foot for 30 seconds for
three times.
Repeat these exercises as much as you like. Write down your thoughts about
yoga in your reflection notebook.

Gauge
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer and write it on a separate sheet of
paper.
1. The effect of a person's actions in this and in previous lives.
A. Ahimsa B. Dharma C. Karma D. Moksha
2. Teachers and thinkers who left their homes to think and talk about religious
ideas.
A. Brahmans B. gurus C. Kshatriyas D. priests
3. A religion based on priests and rituals, particularly sacrifices to the gods. Called
the religion of the Vedic age.
A. Brahminism C. Judaism
B. Islam D. Zoroastrianism
4. Which word refers to a person's duty based on their age, gender, and caste.
A. Ahimsa B. Dharma C. Kharma D. Moksha
5. A long story of heroes told in verse.
A. Epic poem B. Scriptures C. Tanukh D. Vedas
6. The final goal for Hindus, liberation from reincarnation.
A. Brahman B. Moksha C. Reincarnation D. Yoga
7. A person's duty or what is right for him or her.
A. Ahimsa B. Dharma C. Kharma D. Moksha
8. The last book to be written before the closing of the Vedic and Brahmanical
Period is the .
A. Atharva Veda C Upanishads
B. Rig Veda D. Yajur Veda
9. “Bhagavad Gita” means .
A. Song of Joy C. Song of the Enlightened One
B. Song of the Lord D. Song of Thanksgiving
10. The Untouchables or outcaste was renamed Harijans by Mahatma Gandhi in
protest of the injustice of the caste system. Harijans means .
A. Children of God C. Sons of God
B. The Awakened D. The Reincarnated
11. Why did ancient Hindus believe that the law of karma proved the universe was
fair?
A. Each person had an equal opportunity to rise to higher social classes.
B. Once a soul had be reborn as a person, it could never be reborn as an animal.
C. Even in ancient times, people in all social classes were treated equally.
D. Souls would be rewarded or punished for the good and evil they had done.
12. Which of the following is NOT an example of something that the Aryans brought
with them to India when they migrated there?
A. A Language C. Hinduism
B. Caste System D. Religious rituals

13. Which word describes the belief that all actions have a equal consequence?
A. Ahimsa B. Dharma C. Karma D. Moksha
14. The final goal for Hindus is the liberation from reincarnation. Which word
describes this?
A. Brahman B. Guru C. Moksha D. Epic poem
15. The three supreme gods of Hinduism—Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—are
collectively called in Hindu as the .
A. Triadic B. Trimurti C. Trinity D. Triumvirate
Answer Key
References
Books

Introduction to World Religions and Belief System. Manila. Rex Bookstore, Inc. 2016
Bickel, Bruce and Jantz, Stan. World Religions and Cults 101.Formerly titled Bruce
& Stan’s® Guide to Cults, Religions, and Spiritual Beliefs. Eugene, Oregon.
Harvest House Publishers, 2002

Internet

Yamamoto, J. Isamu. Zondervan, Guide to Cults and Religious Movements. Hinduism,

TM and Hare Krishna. Michigan. Zondervan Publishing House, 1998
Knott, Kim. Hinduism, A very Short Introduction. New York. Oxford University Press,
1998
Blackwell, Wiley, edited by Deming, Will. Understanding the Religion of the World: An
Introduction. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2015
Frawley, David (Pandit Vamadeva Shastri). What Is Hinduism? A Guide for the Global
Mind. New Delhi. Bloomsbury Publishing India Pvt. Ltd, 2018

Links

www.harvesthousepublishers.com
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