Philosophies: There are six schools of philosophy in Hinduism. They are all attempts to rationalise the findings of the Vedas.

Samkhya, Yoga and Vedanta are three schools that are considered to have stood the test of time.

Samkhya: Is perhaps the most ancient philosophy of the world.

Yoga: This is the name of the philosophy propounded by sage Patanjali in the post-Kapila era. The Yoga school has adopted most of the findings of Samkhya and added one further category - God. The practice of Raja Yoga or the path to God through meditation is based on the teachings of this school of philosophy. In fact it can be said that Raja Yoga is a practical experiment suggested by the Yoga school of philosophy.

Vedanta: This is reputed to be the most contemporary Hindu school of philosophy. Vedanta has been the theology that has represented Hinduism for the past two millennia. The term Vedanta literally means the conclusion of the Vedas. The teachings are supported by the Upanishads. The principal teachings of this school discuss the nature and relationship between God, the individual, and the universe. Vedantic teaching can be subdivided into two broad categories.

Dvaita-vedanta: - (Dualistic Vedanta) talks of God as the supreme personality. Soul(s) and Nature are considered to be eternal and distinct from this God-head. All three categories are considered eternal and essentially quite different from each other.

Advaita-vedanta: - (Non-dualism) says that there cannot be more than one eternal and infinite ultimate category, else these categories will limit each other. Hence it concludes that essentially the individual soul cannot be different from God or the essential nature of the universe. It claims that in the final analysis there cannot be 'more than one ultimate'. The ultimate: Brahman, appears as many due to ignorance.

Upanishads: - These are the sacred texts that form the basis of Vedantic teachings. The term Upanishad literally mean sitting near the teacher. There are 108 Upanishads. 11 of these are considered to be central. These upanishads normally occur at the end portion of the Vedas. They talk about the real nature of man as 'Atman'. They promote the idea about the real nature of the universe as 'Brahman'. They then proceed to discuss the possible relationships between them.

Ahimsa: - Concepts like non-violence and the sacredness of all living things come out very naturally from these philosophic teachings about Atman and Brahman and their possible identity. The reason why we should not hurt another living thing is because in reality we are harming ourselves say the teachings of Advaita. Such conclusions form the basis of the moral laws in Hinduism.

The Bhagavad Gita: - This is another text which is considered to be authoritative for the Hindus. It literally means 'song of the divine'. It is in the form of a spiritual dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjun. It has 700 verses and captures the essential teachings of the upanishads. The central themes of Gita are the concepts of 'renunciation' and 'devotion to God as Krishna'. It teaches us how to use religion in a daily context hence it is sometimes called 'practical vedanta'. There is great emphasis on Krishna as 'Godhead'. Chapter 11 is devoted to the idea of the universal personality (Vishvarupa) of Krishna. Love, adoration and submission to the will of Krishna is offered as a way to salvation (moksha).

The Theory of Creation from Rig Veda 10.129 - Nasadiya Sukta "There was neither non-existence nor existence then; there was neither the realm of space nor the sky which is beyond. What stirred? Where? In whose protection? Was there water, bottomless - deep? There was neither death nor immortality then. There was no distinguishing sign of night nor of day. That one breathed, windless, by its own impulse. Other than that there was nothing beyond. Darkness was hidden by darkness in the beginning; with no distinguishing sign, all this was water. The life force that was covered with emptiness, that one arose through the power of heat. Desire came upon that one in the beginning; that was the first seed of mind. Poets seeking in their heart with wisdom found the bond of existence in non-existence.

Their cord was extended across. Was there below? Was there above?
There were seed-placers; there were powers. There was impulse beneath; there was giving-forth above. Who really knows? Who will here proclaim it? Whence was it produced? Whence is this creation? The gods came afterwards, with the creation of this universe. Who then knows whence it has arisen? Whence this creation has arisen perhaps it formed itself, or perhaps it did not the one who looks down on it, in the highest heaven, only he knows or perhaps he does not know."

'Vedas' The findings of the Ancient Rishis

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Hinduism for Schools by Seeta Lakhani can be bought from us or requested through the local library.

The essentials of Hinduism by Swami Bhaskarananda available from Vedanta Society of Seattle. Email: society@vedanta-seattle.org

Hinduism an introduction by Shakuntala Jagannathan.

GCSE: We will be happy to help out with the GCSE or Advanced Level coursework on Hinduism. We will be happy to answer any questions from teachers or students.

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We can arrange for school children to visit a Hindu monastery in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire.  

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