Krishna/Hinduism Worldview

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Purpose

The Hindis believe that the purpose of their life is to gain good karma, follow the laws, and be a good person as they feel they will be rewarded in their next life. They want to act dharma, which is to act rightly or appropriately, by doing this they will gain positive karma as acting according with their dharma has them gain positive karma. Their next life will result of the moral worth of their deeds and the person they were in their previous life.

There are four main castes and one in which they consider to be the outcastes. The four main castes are the Brahmin, the next is the Kshatriya, the third is the Vaishya, and the fourth is the Shudra. The outcastes are in the group called Dalits. Each caste has a purpose in life, the Brahmin are considered to be the priestly caste in which they are teach the Veda, and are to “sacrifice for others and receive alms” (Institutes of Vishnu 5-10, pg. 44). The Kshatriya is considered the warriors or the ruler caste, they have constant practice in battles, and they are to protect the world from harm. The Vaishya are to be the merchants and the farmers, they tend to the cattle, they, “engage in farming, keeps cows, trades, lends money at interest, and grows seeds” (Institutes of Vishnu 5-10, pg. 44). The Shudra are the manual laborers who according to the Institutes of Vishnu under the Four Castes, are to serve the twice born men who are to sacrifice and to study the Veda, the Shudra also engage in all the different duties of craftsmanship (5-10, pg.44). In case of a crisis, each caste is allowed to follow the occupation of the caste that is below them in rank. The duties in which all four of these castes, whatever gender or stage of life, are to follow and hav...

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...res: Eastern

Religions. Wadsworth Publishing, 2006. 43-44.

Van Voorst, Robert E. "Rudra and Shiva." Anthology of World Scriptures: Eastern Religions.

Wadsworth Publishing, 2007. 33-34.

Van Voorst, Robert E. "Stages of Life for a Twice-Born Man." Anthology of World Scriptures:

Eastern Religions. Wadsworth Publishing, 2007. 38-41.

Van Voorst, Robert E. "The Four Castes." Anthology of World Scriptures:Eastern Religions.

Wadswoth Publishing, 2007. 44.

Van Voorst, Robert E. "The Outcastes." Anthology of World Scriptures:Eastern Religions.

Wadsworth Publishing, 2007. 45.

Van Voorst, Robert E. "Two Philosophical Views of Creation." Anthology of World Scriptures:

Eastern Religions. Wadsworth Publishing, 2007. 30-31.

Van Voorst, Robert E. "Aditi and the Birth of the Gods." Anthology of World Scriptures:

Eastern Religions. Wadsworth Publishing, 2007. 30.

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