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Hinduism: KU: Blue A&E: Purple Sources: Orange (Nature of God…

- - - - Nirguna Brahman - no characteristics
      - Seguna Brahman - With characteristics
  - - - Ishvara what is it like? Imagine you have several pots of water, they are full to the brim and in them you can see the sun’s light reflected. You do not believe that the sun is actually in the pot, but by this image you can see what the sun “is like”. You can see the sun in the sky but can't really look at it or you can feel the heat of the sun on your skin but not really feel what it's like. We can only see attributes of Brahman's nature but not really fully understand it.
    - - What does this story show?
  - - - Vishnu: The Preserver God
        Vishnu is the god who preserves universes: he maintains their harmony and protects things from decay. He is usually shown standing on a lotus flower, a symbol of purity because the lotus is so beautiful and yet it grows in mud.
        Vishnu’s body is blue to show that he is infinite like the sky. On his forehead are three vertical lines, symbolising the Trimurti.
        He has four hands, each holding something different. One holds a mace, which acts as both a weapon and a symbol of royalty; Vishnu uses the mace to protect the world from evil.
        Another hand holds a discus or ‘chakra’ (wheel/circle). While this can act as another weapon for fighting evil, the fact that the chakra is spinning on Vishnu’s finger shows how he maintains balance in the universe.
        
        There are two very important avatars of Vishnu who are worshipped and celebrated in the Hindu calendar and in regular worship. One is Krishna and the other is Rama. They are both thought to be heroic, brave and romantic figures but they are very different in other ways.
        
        Krishna is thought to represent wisdom and beauty, even though he is mischievous and has lots of wives and lovers. Many Hindus see this as the love between God and devotees to Hinduism. He also demonstrates a love for life.
        
        Rama on the other hand represents the perfect moral man. He is brave and attractive and good at many sports and disciplines. He is a just ruler and a devoted husband who takes only one wife. He makes sacrifices and often doesn’t do what he wants to because it’s not the best thing for everyone else.
        
        Krishna as an avatar
        
        Krishna: The god Vishnu is believed to have many avatars. Krishna is believed to be incarnated when humanity is in danger or needs guidance. An Avatar is a human embodiment of a god/goddess.
        
        "To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of righteousness, I manifest myself, millennium after millennium" Chapter 4, Shloka
        
        Importance of Krishna
        Krishna represents Vishnu on earth and the side of Brahman which wants to lead and help human beings
        Krishna represents wisdom. He gives advice to Arjuna on the natural order of life.
        His teachings in the Bhagavad Gita form the basis for the practice of varnashramadharma. This is how most Hindus live their lives in order to gain good karma and hope to achieve Moksha.
        Krishna is followed by some Hindus as a god in his own right.
        
        What does Krishna teach Hindus about the nature of God?
        If we remember that all of the pantheon of gods/goddesses are all aspects of the one true Brahman then we can understand that Krishna is popular because he teaches Hindus some of this nature.
        
        Stories about Krishna
        
        Krishna and Arjuna
      - Shiva: The Destroyer God
        While Shiva is responsible for destroying universes, it is important that he is also deeply involved in the process of creation. This is so because, for example, it is necessary to clear a space before you can build something in it.
        One hand holds flames showing his destructive power. Another hand holds a damaru, a hand drum shaped like an hour glass.
        One hand points down towards the dwarf, showing how he has overcome ignorance. The other is held palm outwards in the mudra (position of body) of giving protection.
      - Brahma: The Creator God
        Brahma is the god who is responsible for creating universes. He is usually shown as a royal figure with four faces and four arms: the four faces which look out in the four directions show that he sees or ‘knows’ all things (or is omniscient) and the four arms show that he has power over all things, (or is omnipotent). Each of his four hands holds a different object.
        
        Kamandalu - A water pot as water is important in the process of creation.
        
        Spoon/Ladle - Brahman's royal sceptre and again is an important ritual tool.
        
        Rosary/mala - prayer beads used by Hindus to help guide the recital of god's names.
        
        Holy Writings/Vedas - Brahma holds these so that when he is recreating universes he can use them like an instruction manual.
- - - - "To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of righteousness, I manifest myself, millennium after millennium" Chapter 4, Shloka 8
- - - - Think with a calm mind: The first step to gaining clarity on any situation is developing a clear, calm and collected mind. This takes a lot of effort. One way is meditation, another is by distancing yourself from the situation - not physically but mentally - where you look at it as an outsider and have a bird's eye view of it.
        
        Lord Krishna says: Undoubtedly, O Arjuna, the mind is restless and difficult to restrain, but it is subdued by any constant vigorous spiritual practice -- such as meditation -- with perseverance, and by detachment, O Arjuna. (6.35 Bhagavad Gita)
      - Give up on results: Most of our decisions get affected because we wonder about their outcomes and consequences. But when you realize that you have little control over the final outcome and when you don't focus on the gains, your efforts will be filled with more meaning. What's more you will also look at every gain as a bonus and appreciate the rewards more.
        
        You have control over doing your respective duty only, but no control or claim over the results. The fruits of work should not be your motive, and you should never be inactive. (2.47 Bhagavad Gita)
      - Lord Krishna's teachings to Arjuna highlighted that all wars first exist in the mind. And thus winning in the mind is the first step to winning on the battlefield and in real life.
      - Act with conviction: Before you undertake any action, think about how strongly you believe in it. If you don't need to justify it in anyway or draw on any extra reserves for it, then it's an act of conviction and the right decision for you.
        
        Whatever is done without faith - whether it is sacrifice, charity, austerity, or any other act -- is useless. It has no value here or hereafter, O Arjuna. (17.28 Bhagavad Gita)
      - Set high standards: Once you've decided on your course of action, set your own standards of excellence, benchmark your own success, and then create newer highs. The greatest achievers have kept pushing themselves for gaining greater levels of mastery. They compete with themselves and continue learning in all areas of their lives. They meet with success and failure but still keep growing.
        
        Because whatever noble persons do, others follow. Whatever standard they set up, the world follows. (3.21 Bhagavad Gita)
      - Don't give in to stress: don't take on more than you can cope with and add enough me-time in your day to help you de-stress.
        
        The one by whom others are not agitated and who is not agitated by others, who is free from joy, envy, fear, and anxiety, is also dear to Me. (12.15 Bhagavad Gita)