HUMANITIES AND

SOCIAL SCIENCES
Introduction to World Religion and Belief Systems
Week 9
HINDUISM-B
Routes to Moksha
Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems, text-
book, Department of Education (Jerome Ong, Mary Dorothy In doing this module, please
dL. Jose, 2016) follow these reminders…
1. Take the pretest before
working or answering the
module.
2. Perform the activities as
suggested.
3. Answer all the exercises.
4. Check your answers against
the Key to Correction.
5. Take the Post Test.

The learner demonstrates understanding of the elements of

HINDUISM:
Performance Standard:
 The learner simulates a particular yoga and writes a reflection on
her insights on Hinduism.

Learning Competency:
 8.3 Explain: The core teaching of Hinduism is the attainment of
liberation in the identification of Atman and Brahman through the
PREPARED BY: Four Yogas
 8.4 Simulate a particular yoga and write a reflection paper on your
PNEUMA C. ELCANO
insights on Hinduism
Teacher II
Dagupan City National School
Senior High School Code: HUMSS_WRB12- I/IIIj-II/Iva-8.3 up to
HUMSS_WRB12- I/IIIj-II/Iva-8.4

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Write TRUE if the statement is correct, FALSE if it is incorrect.
PRETEST:
ACTIVITY #1:
1. T 6. F 11. F
THE WAY OF THE WAY OF

__________1. Hinduism revolves in Karma 2. T 7. F 12. F KNOWLEDGE MEDITATION

-the path of medita-
__________2. The goal of life is to quit reincarnation. 3. F 8. T 13. T -the path of
knowledge, wisdom, tion that directly deals
4. T 9. F 14. F with the encountering
__________3. Sri Aurobindo described the Upanishads as the introspection, and
contemplation. and transcending
“supreme work of the Indian mind” 5. T 10. F 15. T
thoughts of the mind.
__________4. The word “yoga” means “to yoke” or “to join”.
THE WAY OF
__________5. Samsara means every soul dies and is reborn ACTIVITY #2: Answers are not THE WAY OF
WORK
anew in a new form. limited toACTIVITY #2: these. LOVE
-the path of action, ser-
-the path of
__________6. Patanjali is the “father of modern yoga”. CASTE SYSTEM - social class, vice to others, mindful-
knowledge, wisdom,
ness, and remembering
__________7. There are four levels in India’s caste system. discrimination, division
the levels of our being
introspection, and
contemplation.
while fulfilling our actions
__________8. Liberation can be achieved through the yogas. SAMSARA– reincarnation, soul
or actions or karma in the
__________9. Dalits can never be leaders in the modern times. -reborn world.

__________10. moksha = Absolute Mighty MANUSMRITI– honor of

__________11. Karma Yoga is The Way of Work women
ACTIVITY #3:
__________12. Moksha is the release from rebirth. YOGA– to yoke, to join, Rubrics is provided in the activity.
practice for enlightenment
__________13. Bhakti is the path of knowledge, wisdom,
introspection, and contemplation.
__________14. Jnana Yoga is the path of meditation.
POST TEST:
1. Purushartha 6. Samsara 11. Karma
__________15. the four desirable goals of life is Purushartha.
2. Dalit/Untouchables 7.Patanjali 12. Manusmriti

Now look at the KEY

3. Moksha 8. Work 13. Jivan-Mukta
TO CORRECTIONS
4. Kocherii N. Narayanan 9. Four Yogas 14. Raja Yoga
page to check your
answer. 5. Yuj 10. Moksha 15. Aranyakas

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IDENTIFICATION: Fill in the blanks with the correct answer.
1. For all Hindus, there are four desirable goals of life which is HINDU GODS AND GODESSES
called _______________________.
2. The lowest level of the caste in India is _________________.
3. _____________ is the release from rebirth.
4. A dalit who became the 10th president of India from 1997-
2002 _________________________.
5. _________means “to yoke” or “to join”
? ? ? ? ?
6. __________ means every soul dies and it is reborn.
7. ____________ is the “father of modern yoga”.
8. Karma is “the Way of _____________’
9. Liberation can be achieved through the ___________.
10. __________ is the release from rebirth. _________ ___________ _________ _________ _________
11. Hinduism revolves in _______________.
12. _______________ states that women should always be
He is called The 8th God of The The
honored in Hindu society.
the avatar Intellect Preserver goddess of
13. achieves moksha while in life is a free soul or ___________. “creator” in reincarnation and the time and
14. ___________meditation that directly deals with the Hinduism of Vishnu Remover of death
encountering and transcending thoughts of the mind. Obstacles

15. ___________ are meditations that explicate ceremonies.

You can check your

answers on Self-
Check on page 23

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 ROUTES TO MOKSHA Activity #3: REFLECTION:

• Using a separate sheet of paper, simulate a particular

yoga and write an individual reflection paper on your
insight on Hinduism.
Each Vedas consists of four main parts,
the Mantras, Brahamanas, Aranyakas, and
Upanishads. Mantras are hymns and chants for
• RUBRIC:
praising god. Brahmanas are explanations of the
Mantras with detailed descriptions of sacrificial A. Understanding the topic. Information presented is
accurate and is clear. (8 points)
ceremonies related to them. Aranyakas are meditations that
explicate their meaning. Upanishads or secret teachings transcend B. Interesting and Comprehensive. (8 points)
rituals to elucidate the nature of the universe and human’s C. Openness to welcome other ideas. (4 points)
connectedness to it. The many teachings embedded in the
Upanishads are called Vedanta, and these are teeming with
spiritual truths (Brown 1987).

Forming the fourth part of the Vedas, the term Upanishad

literally translates as “sitting down near” or “sitting close to” as it
implies listening intently to the mystic teachings of a spiritual
teacher who has fully understood the universal truths. It could also
mean “Brahma-knowledge” whereby ignorance is totally
eliminated.

Within these amazing collections of writings that were

transmitted orally through generations, one can find early
philosophical statements that form the basis for all later Hindu

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 philosophy. The great Indian nationalist and philosopher Sri
Aurobindo described the Upanishads as the “supreme work of the
Indian mind”. Varying in length from one page to over fifty pages, all
fundamental teachings and concepts about Hinduism are found in
Activity # 2: Write at least two words related to the word
given below. these profound treatises — such as karma (action), samsara
(recincarnation), moksha (nirvana), atman (soul), and Brahmann
(Absoulte Almighty).
CASTE
SYSTEM
THE FOUR YOGAS:

From the Upanishads, one may find the three principal and
inter-related doctrines within the India Religion. Firstly, every soul
SAMSARA dies and is reborn anew in new form( this cycle is called samsara).
Second, one’s deeds have an effect in this or future life. Lastly, one
may escape the weary round of death and birth (Parrinder 1971).

With every human is an eternal soul or atman that is being

MANUSMRITI reborn many times and in various forms in accordance to the moral
law or karma. (Bowker 1997). A soul may escape the cycle of rebirth
and attain moksha. This particular liberation can be achieved through
the four yogas that involve a system of practices aimed at producing
spiritual enlightenment. The word yoga is derived from the root word
YOGA
yuj which translates as “to yoke” or “to join”. The philosophy of
yoga was developed by the sage Patanjali who was considered as
the “father of modern yoga” as he codified the teachings of yoga in
his Yoga Sutra (Hopfe 1983).

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 Activity #1: Complete the graphic organizer below.

FOUR YOGAS

https://medium.com/

THE WAY OF KNOWLEDGE

-the path of knowledge, wisdom,
introspection, and contemplation.

THE WAY OF MEDITATION

-the path of meditation that directly deals with the
encountering and transcending thoughts of the
mind.

THE WAY OF WORK

-the path of action, service to others, mindfulness,
and remembering the levels of our being while
fulfilling our actions or actions or karma in the
world.

THE WAY OF LOVE

-the path of knowledge, wisdom,
introspection, and contemplation.

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 For all Hindus, there are four desirable goals of life or purushartha.
These are dharma (appropriate behaviour), artha ( the pursuit of
• The concept of dharma is closely legitimate worldly success), kama (the pursuit of legitimate
linked to the Hindu religion. It is the pleasure), and moksha ( release from rebirth). The terminal stage
power that preserves the society. involves the liberation from the bonds of flesh and limitations of
death-bound life (Brown 1975). By faithfully performing duties in
• Fundamental to Hindu teachings are
social and family life, this involves one person pursuing artha or
the doctrines of samsara ( the cycle
appropriate worldly prosperity and maternal well-being. A person
of rebirth) and karma (the universal
must also rightfully satisfy the demand for enjoyment and pleasure
law of causality).
or kama. In all goals, one must be guided righteousness or dharma
toward achieving moksha. A person who achieves moksha while in
• In order to achieve Moksha, one must
life is a free soul or jivan-mukta.
perform all four yogas.

• A person’s greatest goal while living

You can watch this
on earth is to achieve moksha and he link to further
will be called Jivan-Mukta. understand the
FOUR YOGAS.
• Kocherii R. Narayanan, a dalit who
became the tenth president of India
from 1997 to 2002. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYqKjsrFmJA

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 The teachings of Hinduism may have justified the status of
CASTE SYSTEM
the outcasts. Their present condition may have been caused by their
The Caste system is one major distinguishing feature of accumulated karma from the past. By fulfilling their duties and
Indian culture that still affects modern-day society. A system of accepting their dharma, they may be born to a better caste in their
social class composed of the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, next lives.
Sudras opportunities are based upon family origin. One person
Despite the negative backlash on the caste system, India
belongs to a caste by being born to parents of that particular caste
has been receptive in enacting legislation aimed at eradicating
(Hopfe 1983).
inherent social evils. For example, untouchability has been banned
However, the most deplorable group are those persons that and the caste system is no longer rigid. The Indian constitution has
do not belong to any group—those that are disparagingly called as provided that it is unlawful to discriminate against lower castes.
“outcasts” or “untouchables”. Also known as dalits, they are highly Lower caste members are now being elected to key government
ostracized in society. They perform the most menial jobs, such as positions, including Kocherii R. Narayanan, a dalit who became the
street sweepers, latrine cleaners, and handlers of the dead. These tenth president of India from 1997 to 2002.
jobs receive the lowest wages and have the most appalling living
conditions (Hopfe 1983). HINDUISM and WOMEN:

Even though the Manusmriti or the “Laws of Manu” states

women should be honoured in Hindu society, women have always
been considered inferior to men in almost all aspects of life. A
woman’s life revolves around the men in her life, to be taken care of
by her father in childhood, by her husband in married life, and by her
sons upon old age. Thus, women are relegated to performing
household chores and are expected to become loyal to their
husbands, even after their husbands die. In traditional society,
women are expected to perform sati or suttee wherein widowed
women are expected jump on the funeral of pyre of their husbands
to prove their loyalty and help save the soul of their husbands in the
afterlife.
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