Outline the principal beliefs of Hinduism and demonstrate how sacred texts and writings provide a record of the beliefs of Hinduism

What this dot point is asking

NESA wants you to outline the principal beliefs of Hinduism and show how its sacred texts and writings record and communicate those beliefs. Treat Hinduism accurately and respectfully, recognise its internal diversity, name the central teachings, and connect each to where it is recorded. This is the principal beliefs and sacred texts component of the Hinduism depth study, examined in both Studies of Religion I and II.

The answer

Brahman and atman

At the centre of much Hindu belief is Brahman, the ultimate, infinite reality that underlies and pervades all that exists. The atman is the true self or soul within each being. A central teaching of the Upanishads is the deep relationship, in many schools the identity, between atman and Brahman: the self is ultimately one with ultimate reality.

One reality, many forms

Hinduism affirms one ultimate reality expressed through many deities (such as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). These are understood by many Hindus as forms or aspects of the one Brahman, which is why the tradition can be described as embracing both unity and great diversity of expression.

Samsara, karma and dharma

• Samsara. The cycle of birth, death and rebirth in which beings are caught.
• Karma. The moral law of cause and effect: actions shape future experience and rebirth.
• Dharma. Righteous duty and the moral order; living according to one's dharma sustains cosmic and social harmony.

Moksha and the paths

The ultimate goal is moksha, liberation from samsara and the union or realisation of the self with Brahman. Hinduism teaches several paths (margas or yogas) to liberation: the path of knowledge (jnana), of devotion (bhakti) and of selfless action (karma).

How sacred texts record these beliefs

Hindu scripture is vast and is traditionally divided into two categories.

• Shruti (that which is heard). The most authoritative scripture, including the four Vedas and the Upanishads. The Vedas contain hymns and ritual; the Upanishads develop the philosophy of Brahman, atman and moksha.
• Smriti (that which is remembered). Texts including the great epics, the Mahabharata (which contains the Bhagavad Gita) and the Ramayana. The Bhagavad Gita records teaching on duty (dharma), selfless action and devotion.

These writings preserve and transmit Hindu belief and provide the basis for practice and ethics.

How the texts work together

The two categories of scripture do different jobs that together hold Hindu belief. The shruti, considered eternal and authorless (apaurusheya), carries the deepest philosophy: the Vedas in their ritual hymns and the Upanishads in their teaching on Brahman, atman and moksha. The smriti makes that philosophy livable. The Bhagavad Gita, set on the battlefield of Kurukshetra within the Mahabharata, has Krishna teach Arjuna that one should perform one's dharma without attachment to results (nishkama karma), reconciling the paths of knowledge, devotion and action. The Ramayana models dharma through the conduct of Rama and Sita. This division explains why Hinduism can be at once highly philosophical and intensely devotional: the shruti gives the metaphysics of one ultimate reality, while the smriti translates it into duty, story and worship that ordinary adherents live by. In the exam, naming a text from each category and linking it to a specific belief is what turns a list of doctrines into a demonstration that the texts record the beliefs.