9781422279717

The cycle of rebirth is called samsara . It gives rise to the basic problems of material life, which are birth, disease, old age, and death. Karma in Action Karma is the Sanskrit word for “action.” Actions are important because they produce reactions. Hindus believe that everything that we experience, pleasant or unpleasant, is linked to our past actions in this lifetime or in some pre- vious lifetime, whether or not we see the connections. This does not mean there is no free choice, because we can choose to change our actions, and so change our future. Belief in karma teaches us to accept responsibility for our behavior, and learn from our mistakes. Under the influence of karma, the soul moves upward and downward on the wheel of rebirth. Hinduism teaches that the ultimate solution to life’s basic problems is to be released from your karma, and gain freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth. One Truth, Many Deities Hindus believe in one “supreme truth,” which manifests itself in many forms. God exists as the original creator of the universe, as its maintainer, and as its ultimate destroy- er. These three functions are personified in the deities of Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer. Another important aspect of the supreme truth is the goddess Devi, who appears in different forms to accompany the different aspects of God.

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Hinduism