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Common Essence-Brahman Atman Brahman
Atman
Student
Householder \ During this stage worldly tasks of pursuing a career and raising a family are central.
Forest dweller \ The birth of the first grandchild, gray hair, wrinkled skin, and retirement mark the beginning of the third stage.\ Husband and wife retire to the forest to lead a simple life studying Hindu scripture in quiet.
Wandering Ascetic (Sannyasin) \ The Sannyasin transcends the ordinary ways of the world.\ This stage is rare among Hindus.\ Husband and wife live detached from each other.\ Their old personality is dead.\ 
They own nothing live off food given to them and eat only once a day.
Glossary of Important Terms: Hinduism
Moksha – Is the Hindu term for salvation and is characterized by infinite being, awareness, and bliss. Monism – The doctrine that all reality is ultimately one and the worship of one God. Brahman – The source of the universe. Atman – The ultimate reality within each human person. Polytheism – The belief and worship of many deities, which act as points of contact with the divine. Bhagavad Gita – Most popular sacred text for Hindus. In it the God Krishna teaches Arjuna, a great warrior, about many important religious issues. Caste System – Refers to the various sections of Hindu society. Karma – Literally means "action" or "deed". Dharma – Ethical duty based on the divine order of reality. For every activity there is a way of acting that conforms to Dharma. Brahmin – The highest of the four castes, made up of priests. Kshatriya – The second of the four castes made up of warriors and administrators. Vaishya – The Third of the four castes, made up of producers, such as farmers, merchants, and artisans. Shudra – The lowest of the four castes, made up of servants and laborers. Sannyasin – A wandering ascetic who has advanced to the fourth and highest stage of life. Kama – Pleasure, especially of sensual love; one of the four goals of life. Artha – Material success and social prestige, one of the four goals of life. Maya – Cosmic illusion brought about by divine creative power. Yoga – A system of Hindu philosophy, which seeks to free the eternal self from the bondage of personhood. Samadhi – A trance-like state in which self-consciousness is lost, and the mind is absorbed into the ultimate reality. Avatar – Is an incarnation, or living embodiment of a deity, who is sent to earth to accomplish a divine purpose.
Murti – Is the name given to any statue, picture, or other image of a godor goddess. Puja is the act of showing respect to a god or goddess. - Home puja is usually performed by the women in the house. Puja involves the following things:
There is no single text, single deity, or single teacher that all Hindus believe in Salvation The Hindu term for salvation is "Moksha" which means liberation or release from the cycle of birth and death. Salvation or "Moksha" is the ultimate goal for Hindus Hindus believe that salvation takes many lives to achieve. (Reincarnation) 
Deities
Hindu society is divided into four classes or castes. A persons Caste Identity is determined by the Karma of past lives. The Caste a person belongs to determine the Dharma that governs a person’s actions. 4 Castes
People who are considered to be outside of society and therefore are not included in the caste system. These people work in unclean and degrading occupations (waste, cremation). Untouchables had no legal rights until 1948 when the government ruled that discrimination against outcastes was forbidden. Gandhi worked to uplift the untouchables from their degrading status in society. Even though discrimination against the lowest classes is illegal in India today, the caste system still has a strong hold on Hindu society. Reflection Question:
The Untouchables: - Were forbidden to enter temples, schools and wells were higher classes drew water. - The sight of an untouchable was thought to be polluting. - The untouchables were forced to sleep during the day and work at night so that they would not pollute the people of the higher castes. - Many untouchables left their rigid social structure by converting to Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity. - Although it is illegal to discriminate based on caste these ancient social structures still influence people in India. - There homes were at a distance from the settlements of the upper caste communities. - They were not allowed to enter the house the higher caste members. - Even contact with their shadow was seen as polluting. - If there was contact between an untouchable and an untouchable the upper caste member became defiled and had to immerse or wash himself with water to be purified. - In some incidences the untouchables who associated with the higher caste members would be beaten and even murdered. - Some caste members had servants who would walk ahead of them and make sure that they cleared the way of untouchable people.
The Chandogya Upanishad Explains: Accordingly, those who are of pleasant conduct here; the prospect is, indeed, that they will enter a pleasant womb, either the womb of a Brahmin, or the womb of a Kshatriya, or the womb of a Vaishya. But those who are of stinking conduct here, the prospect is, indeed, that they will enter a stinking womb, either the womb of a dog, or the womb of a swine, or the womb of an outcaste. Page 45 in the Text. Class Discussion Questions
Shinto
Kami
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