MUSIC & RELIGION

HINDUISM

MUSIC
• Sound is God (N ̄ada Brahma)
• Steps to the realization of the Self
• Spiritual discipline that raises one’s inner
being to divine peacefulness and bliss.
 HINDUISM

MUSIC
• The highest aim is to reflect the essence of the
universe
• Through it, one can reach God.

(Shankar, 1968)
 HINDUISM
Ancient Fire Sacrifices
• Recitation of OM
• Chanting of Mantras and hymns from the
Vedas
OM/AUM

• Sabda-Brahman (the Sound-Absolute)

- The Upanishads
• Origin of energy and matter in the universe
• Object of meditation in Yoga

Whoever chants Om, will attain Moksha and the

highest state of eternity (Bhagavad Gita)
OM/AUM
• Very first vibration assumed by Brahman(Supreme
Consciousness) during creation
• "Saguna Brahman" or manifestation of God in physical
form.
• Absolute reality, without beginning or end
• Three-syllables, "A-U-M" represents Creation,
Preservation and Destruction (Brahma, Vishnu and
Shiva)
SANGITA
The arts of singing, playing instruments, and dancing
• Divine origin associated with Hindu gods/goddesses
a) Saraswati (Sarasvati) is the goddess of wisdom,
music, and aesthetics.

With vina(veena) instrument

SANGITA
b) Brahma-playing the hand cymbals, fashioned Indian
music with verses from Sama Veda.
c) Vishnu (as Krishna) sounds the conch shell and plays
the flute
d) Siva (as Nataraja) plays the Damaru drum during the
dance of creation.
Elements of Sangita:

• Raga(Melody)
• Tala (Rhythm)
• Pada (Lyrics)
MUSIC IN THE VEDAS
• The Rig Veda: The Book of Mantra
– ‘Samhita’ or collection of mantras with 1,028
hymns (suktas)
• The Sama Veda: The Book of Song
– is purely a collection of melodies (‘saman’).
– Derived from the Rig Veda.

Rig Veda serves as the lyrics to the

melodies of the Sama Veda
Bhakti tradition
• means devotion to a god that leads to
salvation or nirvana.
• root word bhaj (Sanskrit)
– to adore or worship God
 BHAKTI: Devotional Music
Forms:

Bhajan
• means adoration
• devotional hymns of small groups or entire congregation

Kirtan
• means glorification
• repetition of mantras with accompaniment
Carnatic Music: South Indian Classical Music
(Karnataka Sangita)

• Originated from the Bhakti movement

• Devotional lyrics addressed to Hindu deities.
• Emphasis on vocal
• Close to Hindu culture
HINDUSTANI MUSIC: North Indian Classical
Music (Shāstriya Sangīt)

• Originated in Vedic ritual chants

• Highly influenced by Muslims
• Similar to Western classical music

https://youtu.be/kfBvz2rG-NI
 REFERENCES
• (PDF) Sacred Music and Hindu Religious Experience: From ...
https://www.researchgate.net › publication › 330723740_

• A Reflection on the Aesthetics of Indian Music, With ... - SAGE Journals

https://journals.sagepub.com › doi › pdf

• The Magic of Hindu Music - Magazine Web Edition October ...

https://www.hinduismtoday.com › smartsection › item

• The Vedas: An Introduction to India's Sacred Texts

https://www.learnreligions.com › what-are-vedas-17695...
 MODULE 8
PURPOSE OF LIFE
 INTRODUCTION

The greatest discovery a person will ever make is

to know that he/she is created by God and to be
able to know Him better. It is everyone’s duty to
know God’s specific plan or purpose in his/her
own life.
 HINDUISM
Meaningful pursuits for life (Purusharthas)
KAMA ( Pleasure, Psychological values)
- desires of the body, passion or emotion.
- The name Kama is Hindu’s god of love.
Kamasutra
- Guide to the physical expression of love
ARTHA (Wealth, Economic values)
- pursuit of material possessions to satisfy needs.
- Guided by Dharma to avoid ending in chaos and
sufferings.
DHARMA (Righteousness, Moral Values)
- actions must be proper, virtuous, righteous
- does not allow a carefree lifestyle,
life has its limitation.
- Responsibility to duties
MOKSHA (Liberation, Spiritual values)
Negatively- the destruction of bondage (liberation).
Positively, it is eternal bliss (happiness) or Satchitananda
It is the highest end of human life

Has nothing more to learn, do, or gain.

Meanings of Moksha:
1. Liberation from the cycle of birth and death(Samsara)
2. Liberation from pain and suffering
3. Liberation from karma
4. Liberation from attachment to desires
 BUDDHISM
Primary purpose- end suffering
Escape the cycle of rebirth and attain nirvana
(Theravada Buddhism).

Become a boddhisatva then help others attain

enlightenment
(Mahayana Buddhism).
BUDDHISM
• Freedom from attachment to impermanent things
• Way to a good life is following 4 Noble truths, 8-fold Path
 TAOISM

Purpose: Achieve inner harmony, peace, and longevity

by living in accordance with the Tao.

Understand the Tao

All opposites are relative and interdependent

Best way to live is in harmony with the natural course of

things (the Tao), not struggle, oppose, or strive.
 TAOISM
Ultimate goal: know, follow, respect nature
Nature promotes a long happy life.

Harmony & longevity

Promote good health, patriotism, kindness, serve the
community and work for the benefit of people.
 TAOISM

• Accept yourself-This leads to inner peace.

• Discover yourself. Your nature is ever changing and is

always the same.

• Don’t try to resolve the natural contradictions in

yourself and in life. Live with them.
 TAOISM

• Learning is also a process of healing. Take time to heal (don’t

rush and hurt yourself more in rushing).

• Embrace little faults and imperfections in life, it's part of your

individuality. Accept both the best and worse parts of our life.

• Don't create too much expectations that would block your full
development and potential.
 CHRISTIANITY
God is the only purpose
Augustine: My heart is restless until it rests in Thee

Aquinas: Only God can satisfy our longing for perfect

happiness
Knowing and loving God is the fulfilment of our
ultimate end.
God is the Summum Bonum, the Highest Good, our Final and
Perfect Happiness.
 CHRISTIANITY
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in
heaven is perfect. Mat 5:48

For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves

therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. (Leviticus 11:44)
 CHRISTIANITY
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind and with all your strength. ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than
these. (Mark 12:30-31)

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he
said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”(Mark
10:21)
 CHRISTIANITY
Forgiveness

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you,
your heavenly father will also forgive you (Matthew 6:14)

Action

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without

works is dead also" (James 2:26).
OBEDIENCE TO THE WILL OF ALLAH IN ISLAM

‘Will’ - revealed in His laws

Obedience to divine law is the foundation of

peace and harmony, hope for heaven

Ultimate value and purpose of life-Jannah (Paradise)

ISLAM
Purpose of life- to please Allah by worshipping Him
and doing good deeds

"None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he
wishes for himself"

To please Allah is to obey the Quran and His prophet

Mohammad
ISLAM
Difficulties Have a Purpose

Our hardships in life have a purpose: they are a

test of our faith, and they also purify our souls
ISLAM
Good Deeds
Charity, freeing slaves, praying, keeping promises,
and being patient during hardships

• Keeping peace and good relations are

better than charity, fasting and prayer.

Quarrels and bad feelings destroy mankind.

References:
•The Purpose of Life from an Islamic Perspective | Sheima ...
https://www.newageislam.com › sheima-sumer › the-pu...

• https://personaltao.com/taoism/taoism-101/

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljsG711OTiU&t=33s- Tao talk, Being

human

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CB7YFsMk3I- Taoism, A reading

lesson
MODULE 9
AFTERLIFE
 M9: TOPIC OVERVIEW
AFTERLIFE

Is death the end of everything or is there a spiritual or beyond

this world survival after death? If there is no Life after Death, what
then is the value of our faith? What is the reason for all our efforts to
be good. Anyway, whether good or bad, all of us will perish at the
end. For non-believers, life has a value only in this world and death is
the end of life. For most believers, belief in Life after Death gives a
strong sense of hope in everything, from acceptance of misfortunes,
sickness and suffering to the acceptance of death itself.
 M9: TOPICS

1. Olam ha-ba in Judaism

2. Jannah in Islam
3. Return to Brahman in Hinduism
4. Anatta in Buddhism
5. Resurrection of the body in Catholicism
 JUDAISM

• Not a central belief

• How to live their lives is more important

(Olam ha-ze- 'this world')
 JUDAISM

• Pain and suffering is merely an antechamber

(a waiting room) for Olam ha-ba

• The World to come will be free of misery.

• Good ones will be reunited with loved ones

and that their souls will live on.
JUDAISM
 JUDAISM
Heaven as Gan Eden (the Garden of Eden)

• A place of sunshine where people of all

nations will sit and eat together

• Not a physical place but a state of

consciousness, or a place where the soul feels
close to God.
 JUDAISM
• The sinless will be sent straight to Gan Eden.

Sheol - A place of waiting where souls are

cleansed and purified. (Later, the term referred
to Gehinnom)

Gehinnom (or Gehenna) A place to be punished

and a place of torment.
• After being purified in Gehenna, the soul goes
to Gan Eden
 JUDAISM
• Some believe that serious evil (murder) is
hopeless, the soul never goes to place of torment

• Some say that the wicked are utterly destroyed

and cease to exist

• Others believe in eternal damnation

 JUDAISM
Resurrection

• Most Orthodox Jews believe in the

resurrection of the body of good people

• Forbid procedures that cause damage or

destruction of the body after death, burial is
preferred than cremation
 ISLAM
• There is life after death (Akhirah).

• It is Allah who decides when a person

dies

• The dead will stay in their graves until the

Day of Judgement (Yawm al-din)
 ISLAM

• They will be raised from their graves and

brought before Allah

• They will be judged on how they lived their

earthly lives.
 ISLAM
Paradise(Jannah)
• 'Garden of everlasting bliss' for the good
• 'Home of peace' where there will be no
sickness, pain or sadness.

Hell (Jahannam)
• A place of physical and spiritual suffering
for the evil ones
 ISLAM
Allah's Forgiveness

• Allah will forgive the repentant sinner

• Sinners who have done some good things

and showed kindness to others.

• Unforgivable: the sin of shirk (worhip of

other gods)
 HINDUISM
• believe in reincarnation after death

• Soul (Atman) receives a new body and life

depending on good and bad actions (Karma)

Cycle of reincarnation takes place as

many times as possible until one reaches the
highest spiritual state.
 HINDUISM
• One can be reincarnated as human, animal,
insect, or plant.

• Next stage is release from reincarnation cycle

(Moksha)

• Final stage is return to be with Brahman

 BUDDHISM
• When someone dies, there is REBIRTH (their
energy passes into another form)

• They want to escape from the cycle of death

and rebirth (Samsara)
 BUDDHISM
• Human are REBORN an infinite number of times,
unless they achieve Nirvana

Long is the cycle of birth and death to the fool who does not
know the true path. (Dhammapada)

• Buddha taught not to fear death. If they live

well, their rebirth will be good.
 BUDDHISM
• Good actions will result in a better rebirth, while
bad actions will have the opposite effect.

• Rebirth could be as a human or animal or even

ghosts, demi-gods, or gods.

• Escape from samsara is called Nirvana or

enlightenment.
 BUDDHISM
• Once Nirvana is achieved, there is no rebirth
after death

• Enlightened individuals can choose to be

reborn to help others become enlightened.

• Anicca - Nothing is permanent. Eternal gods or

souls cannot exist.

• Anatta - No permanent self or soul.

 CATHOLICISM
• The body is mortal and the soul is immortal.

• At death, the body ceases to exist.

• Soul lives on after death

• Resurrection of Christ proves the resurrection of

our mortal bodies at the end of time.
 CATHOLICISM
Individual judgement

• After death, individuals will be judged on

how they have lived their life.

Final judgement

• At the end of time, Christ will return in all His

glory. All will be raised from the dead and will
be judged.
He will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the
left. (Mat 25:32)
 CATHOLICISM
Heaven
• Soul will be united with God
• Eternity in God's presence
• A state of being rather than a physical place.

Hell
• Eternity in the absence of God
• Eternal fire that symbolises pain and suffering.
 CATHOLICISM
Purgatory
• All who die in God's grace but still
imperfectly purified, are assured of salvation.

• After death they undergo purification, to

achieve the holiness necessary to enter the
joy of heaven.
 REFERENCES
• https://www.bbc.co.uk › bitesize › guides › revision

• Heaven and Hell in Jewish Tradition | My Jewish Learning

https://www.myjewishlearning.com › article › heaven-a...

• www. britannica.com
 M9. OBJECTIVES

At the end of the lessons, the students are expected to:

1. Understand the essential concepts of various religions on life

after death.
2. Compare and contrast the different beliefs and identify similar
themes.
3. Relate the importance of the belief in afterlife in one’s personal
life and experiences.
4. Reflect on the meaning and significant values of a belief in the
Afterlife.
 SACRED MUSIC

The Adhan in Islam

• In Islamic tradition, one of the uses of music is in the
recitation of prayers in the form of chants.

• Brief and simple chant is the adhan (azan or athan)

• Recited by the muezzin or mosque announcer as an invitation

to prayer and worship.
The Adhan in Islam
• Contains short and repetitive sentences.

• It talks about the greatness of Allah above everything else,

and Allah as the one true God; recognition of Mohammad as
the prophet of Allah, and about the people being called to
prayer and salvation.
 ADHAN
Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!
Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!
Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah.
Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah.
Ashadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah.
Ashadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah.
Hayya 'ala-s-Salah. Hayya 'ala-s-Salah.
Hayya 'ala-l-Falah. Hayya 'ala-l-Falah.
Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!
La ilaha illa Allah.
God is greatest! God is greatest!
God is greatest! God is greatest!
I bear witness that there is no god except the One God.
I bear witness that there is no god except the One God.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Hurry to the prayer. Hurry to the prayer.
Hurry to salvation. Hurry to salvation.
God is greatest! God is greatest!
There is no god except the One God.

M6. Video 8. “Most Beautiful Adhan,” in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYww573mn9U

 SACRED MUSIC
THROAT SINGING BY GYUTO BUDDHIST MONKS
• Gyuto Buddhist monk from Lhasa, Tibet; now in Northern India

• Tradition of throat or overtone singing, called “chordal chanting”

• Started by lama Je Tzong Cherab Senge; in a dream, he heard his

own voice multiplied in two, extremely low and deep, sounding
unhumanly and unearthly
THROAT SINGING BY GYUTO BUDDHIST MONKS
• Imitate this voice in chanting his daily prayers, instructed the other
monks to follow his singing technique.

• The monks established the Gyuto Tantric College which was

instrumental to the integration of this chanting style in the
traditional ceremonies of Tibetan Buddhism.

“Tibetan Monks Throat Singing,” in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvyhxY54M3I
Gyuto Monk’s Throat Singing as Form of Meditative Prayer
• Produces sound from the hollows of their throats;
they believed it represents nothingness (sunyata).

• Sunyata refers to the non-self or the five layers (skandhas)—body,

emotion, perception, mind and consciousness—which are mere
illusions, hence, empty.
Gyuto Monk’s Throat Singing as Form of Meditative Prayer

• five layers (skandhas)—body, emotion, perception, mind and

consciousness

• People suffer in their lives because they cling to these five

layers as if these are real.

• They have to get rid of these illusions to realize their true

personality.
 SACRED MUSIC
Gregorian Chant

• Sacred music of the Roman Catholic Church.

• Attributed to Pope Gregory I (late 500 CE)
• Monophonic or one-sounded music

PHOTO CREDIT: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_chant

 Gregorian Chant

• Lyrics in Latin, usually a prayer or biblical passages

• Sung a capella by a soloist or a choir in unison

• Flowing melody rendered in sonorous(deep) voices

PHOTO CREDIT: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_chant

 Gregorian Chant
• Connotes a feeling of serious calmness, and a sense of
silent and peaceful contemplation

• Leading towards the mystical union of the self with the

divine.

• Noted Gregorian Chants: Gloria (Glory), Kyrie Eleison

(Lord Have Mercy), Pater Noster (Our Father), Ave
Maria (Hail Mary).

PHOTO CREDIT: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_chant

Glory to God in the highest, and
peace to his people on earth. Lord
God, heavenly king, almighty God and
Father, we worship you, we give you
thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Papuri sa Diyos sa kaitaasan at sa

lupa’y kapayapaan, sa mga taong
kinalulugdan niya. Pinupuri ka
naming, dinarangal ka namin,
pinasasalamatan ka namin dahil sa
dakila mong kaluwalhatian.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1yd9JhLPyM
MOTET AND GREGORIAN CHANT IN CATHOLICISM
• Traditional sacred music of Catholic Church:
Motet and Gregorian Chant

• Motet: Style of solemn choral vocal composition, sometimes

accompanied by pipe organ.

• From the French mot meaning “word”

MOTET AND GREGORIAN CHANT IN CATHOLICISM
• Polyphonic or many sounded music.

• Conveys the mood of solemn grandeur that fills the cathedral

• Highly developed in the 1500’s, with Giovanni Palestrina as the

greatest Renaissance composer
 MOTET
Ave verum corpus (Hail, true body), (K. 618)

• A motet composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1791.

• Composed for the feast of Corpus Christi
• For (SATB) soprano, alto, tenor, and bass choir, string instruments and
organ.
 AVE VERUM CORPUS BY MOZART
Ave verum corpus, Hail, true Body,
natum de Maria Virgine, born of the Virgin Mary,
vere passum, immolatum having truly suffered, sacrificed
in cruce pro homine on the cross for mankind,
cuius latus perforatum from whose pierced side
fluxit aqua et sanguine: water and blood flowed:
esto nobis praegustatum Be for us a foretaste
in mortis examine. in the trial of death!
O Jesu dulcis, O Jesu pie, O sweet Jesus, O holy Jesus,
O Jesu, fili Mariae. O Jesus, son of Mary,
Miserere mei. Amen have mercy on me. Amen.

M6. Video 3. “Mozart, Ave Verum Corpus, por Leonard Bernstein”

(1990) in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uduY8lh6B_Q
PASYON MUSIC AND FILIPINO CULTURE

• Original Tagalog text (1704) by Gaspar Aquino de

Belen, entitled Mahal na Pasion ni Jesu Christong
Panginoon Natin na Tola

• As literary piece, based on Tagalog poetry: line in

8 syllables (octosyllabic), 5 lines per stanza, 980
stanzas in all
PASYON MUSIC AND FILIPINO CULTURE

• Passion, death and resurrection of Christ, with some doctrinal

instructions.
• During Holy Week, chanted or sung continuously.
Called pabasa, the performance last for about 30 hours; it
involves local cultural practices.
• Older generations use traditional melodies; young ones use rock
genres: ballad, pop and rap, accompanied by guitar or keyboard.
 Excerpt from ITINATWA NI PEDRO
PASYONG GENESIS ANG PANGINOON
1949 Edition
Iyang iyong pagtatatwa
Pedro’t pag-uupasala
8 syllables paglililo mong dakila,
per line huwag kang mag-alibugha
(octosyllabic) at sa iyo’y naaawa.

5 lines Ano nga’y sa mamasdan

per stanza nitong Diyos na maalam
ang kay Pedrong kabuhungan
pagtatatwa niyang tunay
ay lumingon kapagkuwan.
Tinitigan na si Pedro
M6. Video 5. “Traditional Tune” in
nitong maamong Maestro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ-
kahiya-hiyang totoo, hVsbye0w
sintang hindi mamagkano
at hinayang sa katoto.
M6. Video 6. “Rap Pabasa,” in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3d
Para nang winika niya 1yoZIni0
niyong pagtitig ng mata
ay aba Pedro ay aba,
M6. Video 7. “Pabasa: Pusong Bato
di mo ako nakikilala Tune” in
ay nakikilala kita. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZbf
qVZnj6U
Kung ano ma’y itinalo
ngayo’y itinatatwa mo
at natakot kang totoo,
huwag kang mahiya Pedro
at tumawag sa Maestro.
CHARISMATIC SONGS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

• Greek charismata meaning “grace” or “gift”.

• Charismatic Movement focuses on Holy Spirit’s gifts of healing

and speaking in tongue.

• Aims to heal the illnesses of body and soul through Words of God
CHARISMATIC SONGS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
• Theology: Old Testament was the time God the Father;
New Testament was the time of God the Son Jesus Christ;
and now is the time of Holy Spirit.

• “Spirit” means alive, active, intense, passionate.

• Charismatic Movement is a celebration of being alive and active.

It teaches that today is the time of festivities and merriment,
inspired by the works of the Holy Spirit.

• Music is emotionally intense which makes one scream or cry.

M6. Video 11. “Alive” in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSbvIAu1qJA

Alive, alive, alive forevermore, my Jesus is alive, alive forevermore.

Sing alleluia, sing alleluia, my Jesus is alive forevermore.
M6. Video 1. “Purihin ang Panginoon” (2016) in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JppX8gPvnfc

Purihin ang and Panginoon. Umawit ng kagalakan. At tugtugin

ang gitara at ang kaaya-ayang lira, hipan ninyo ang trumpeta….

M6. Video 2. “Blest are You Lord” (2012) in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX4V-LlpX_g

Blest are you, Lord, God of all creation. Thanks to your goodness
this bread we offer. Fruit of the earth, work of our hands, it will
become the bread of life. Blessed be God….
 Module 7
CONCEPTS OF
THE ABSOLUTE
 HINDUISM
Henotheism (“one God”) means the worship of one God without
denying the existence of other Gods.
 1. Brahman is Unknown (Asat)

Indeterminate without a beginning and end

A tiny aspect (Amsa) of Brahman in the universe,
the rest remains hidden, mysterious, and
unknown.
Non-being, nonexistence (Asat), unknown,
hidden (gudham), emptiness (Sunyam)

Nothing can be said with certainty about him.

 2. Brahman has a Known aspect (Sat)

 Awakened, dynamic being with names, qualities,

dualities

 Dynamically reflected in Nature.

 Existence (Sat), the manifested one (sambhuti)

 With form (murtham) and without form (amurtham)

3. Brahman is Lord of the Universe (Isvara)

 Highest, personal manifestation

 Creator and the source of all
 5 basic potencies: creation, preservation,
destruction, concealment, and revelation.
 Controls maya (Illusion), wakes up causes that are
asleep in nature
 4. Cosmic Soul/Egg (Hiranyagarbha)
Golden egg, emerges out of Isvara

 Isvara's creative potency and soul consciousness.

known in the Vedas as Brahma, the creator god.

World teacher who imparts the knowledge of

Brahman
 5. Cosmic Body (Viraj)

Emerges out of Hiranyagarbha

The body, being or material form of Isvara

Brahman

Hiranyagarbha mixes 5 elements: space, air, fire,

water, and earth to project Viraj (Upanishads)
6. Cosmic Being (Purusha)

 Alternative name of Isvara.

 Brahman personified (From Vedas)

 Creation emerges out of him as an act of self-

sacrifice, he uses parts of his own body (materiality)
as an offering to create beings and worlds.
7. Time (Kala)

Death is the lord of the mortal world (From

Vedas)

Death is another name of time, everything

perishes in due time.

Time or Death is a transformative process that

facilitates rebirth and renewal
8. The Trinity (Trimurthis)

Not subordinate to Isvara.

Each is the same as Brahman and perform all

the five function of Isvara

Appear differently in creation, but in essence

they are the same.
9. Brahman as Space (Akasa)

 Expands endlessly

 Carrier of sacred sounds of the Vedas to the gods

 Ensures the order and regularity of the worlds.

 Facilitates existence, life and journey from here to

the immortal world.
 10. Brahman as Sound (Aum/Pranava)

Vedas represent Brahman in sound form.

Vedas have the five powers of Isvara,

Aum is Brahman in word and sound-form that

sanctifies all words and sounds
 11. Brahman as Food (Annam)

 Source of nourishment, he creates food to sustain

 Described in the Upanishads as food itself.

 Vedas declare all is the food of Brahman for his enjoyment

 Those who eat food without offering it to God eat sin

because Brahman purifies the food offered to him.

(Bhagavadgita)
 12. The individual Self (Atman)

Brahman exists as the very self (Atman) of each

individual . Each individual soul is Brahman
The self is pure but surrounded by impurities,
caused by desires and attachments
In the body, he remains bound , and upon
liberation becomes a free soul (mukta).
 ANIMISM
Narrower sense
Belief in innumerable spiritual beings concerned with
human affairs and capable of helping or harming
human interests.
None of the major world religions are animistic (though
they may contain animistic elements),
Most tribal religions are animistic.
Wider sense
All beings possess a spirit that connects them to one
another.
 ANITISMO
Continual invocation and adoration of the anitos
(souls or spirits of ancestors)

 The ancestors went to the spirit-world with other spirits

 Spirits could help or harm the living.
 Spirits of the ancestors intercede in behalf of the living to
the spirits of nature.
 The spirits of the dead cause the death of the living
through sickness
 ANITISMO
OTHER SPIRITS
 No "inanimate'' object. Anitos were in existence since
the creation of the world,
 Animals, and all objects possessed spirits.
Ifugaos - all things have a "soul-stuff'
different from the soul itself
 Each anito has its own "speciaL office" -giving rain,
making the rice grow, increase harvest, etc.
 ANITISMO
Primitive Filipinos venerate and fear evil spirits
(mangalos)
Crocodiles are called Nono or
"grandparent". They sacrificed pigs,
throwing them into the river .
Nonos are spirits(anitos)
Ask permission of the anitos(nonos) before
planting in a field, before walking through
it(pasintabi sa nono/tabi po)
 Philippine Mythology
Diwata
deity or spirit
 A fairy or nymph (Tagalog)

 Anito or ancestor spirit (Visayas)

Beautiful and gentle but harm those who

intend to harm nature
 Famous Diwatas
 Maria Sinukuan – the diwata (or nature spirit)
associated with Mount Arayat in Pampanga
 Maria Cacao – the diwata or mountain goddess
of Mount Lantoy in Argao, Cebu
 Maria Makiling – a diwata or lambana (fairy or forest
nymph),guardian spirit of Mount Makiling in Laguna.
invoked to stop deluge, storms and earthquakes
 UNITARIAN GOD

God is one being

Rejects the Trinity

Jesus is not God

 UNITARIAN GOD
A great mystery

The Creator, the principle that unites all things

A loving power, the ultimate good and ideals of

humanity
 TRINITARIAN GOD
One God in three distinct Persons: Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit.

3 distinct personal attributes, one nature,

essence, or being.

Coeternal and coequal.

 TRINITARIAN GOD
Mystery of God- beyond human reason
Distinct roles: Father: Creator
Son: Savior
Holy Spirit: Comforter, sanctifier
 ALLAH: GOD OF ISLAM
First Pillar
Shahada (sha-HEH-da) or Profession of Faith

To testify that "There is no god but Allah and that

Muhammad is His messenger."

It affirms God's oneness and the central role of the Prophet.

 ALLAH: GOD OF ISLAM
Shahada
Appears in daily life – prayer, inscribed on flags
and coins.
Muslims constantly call on God
❖ bismillah ("in the name of God")- begin any
activity
❖ al-hamdu lillah ("praise be to God")- admiring
something
 ALLAH: GOD OF ISLAM
The Most Concise Definition of God:
4 verses of Surah Ikhlas (Chapter 112,Qur’an)
1. “
Say: He is Allah, The one and Only.
2. “
Allah, the Eternal, Absolute.
3. “
He begets not, nor is He begotten.
4. “
And there is none like unto Him.”
 ALLAH: GOD OF ISLAM
Assamad’
It means ‘absolute existence’
Attributed only to Allah
All beings are temporal or conditional.

Allah is not dependent on any person or thing but all

persons and things are dependent on Him.
 ALLAH: GOD OF ISLAM
Allah (Arabic)
Pure and unique name

Singular, no plural equivalent for Allah

No female equivalent for Allah. Allah has no
gender.
 ALLAH: GOD OF ISLAM
To Allah belongs the most beautiful names
99 different attributes (Qur’an)
Ar-Rahman(Most Gracious)
Ar-Raheem (Most Merciful)
Al-Hakeem (All Wise)

You can call Allah by any name but that name should be beautiful
 God In Judaism
God’s proper name (Scripture)
Yahweh, 4 consonants (Tetragrammaton)
Hebrew: YHVH
Not articulated, unspeakable word for Jews
Do not utter the name of God in vain
 God In Judaism

During prayer and religious activity

Adonai, from the word Adon or Lord.

Another common name is El or Elohim.

In casual conversation: Hashem (the Name)

to avoid using scriptural name outside religious activity
 God In Judaism
Names of God from the Talmud
HaKadosh Barukh Hu (The Holy One Blessed Be He)

 HaMakom (The Omnipresent)

 Mi-she-amar ve-Hayah ha-Olam (The One Who
Spoke And Thus Created The World).
 God In Judaism
Shema
One of the central prayers expresses monotheism.

"Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one"

(Deut.6:4).

God remains to be one and the same

 God In Judaism
God's Transcendence and Immanence
 Above, beyond, and greater than the universe,
beyond human understanding
Personal, concerned, and is near and listens
(Shekhinah-God's presence)
 God In Judaism
God's Eternity, Omnipotence, and Omniscience
Eternal, without beginning or end- lives forever,
timeless
Powerful- nothing is impossible

Source of wisdom-nothing is hidden

 God In Judaism
The God of Justice and Mercy

A just judge who punishes wrongdoers

 Forgiving, compassionate, loving God

 God In Judaism
The God of Israel (Elohay yisrael)

Special covenant with God and Israel

You will be my people and I will be your God

Israel's communal experience of power and
protection
 Messiah In Judaism
A future Jewish king (political leader) from the bloodline
of David.
Messiah ben David, which means "Messiah, son of
David".

Messiah is not considered to be God

Jesus is not the Messiah

 Buddhism
Ultimate Reality
Dharma- Buddha's teachings on the Ultimate
truth/reality
Seeing the truth about life (being enlightened)
Impossible to describe in words, it can only be
experienced
 Buddhism
No God
No personal God in Buddhism, transcendent and
separate from the world
Deities- other inhabitants of universe

Superior to humans, but not immortal nor ultimate.

 Buddhism
No God
One can be reborn as a god or goddess, as well as
in human, animal, ghost, or demon form
Deities can help us
 Buddhism
No God
 ‘Trikaya’ or ‘3 bodies’ of the Buddha (Mahayana Buddhists)
human Gautama, heavenly form (Amitabha), ultimate/true
form (Dharmakaya)

 Adi-Buddha, or ‘original Buddha’ (Nepali Buddhists)

Not a being separate from ourselves, not a creator, not

transcendent being
 TAOISM
TAO
 An impersonal ultimate reality, an eternal truth

 “Right way”, absolute principle behind the universe,

 An existing order that guides all things. rhythm of the
universe.
 TAOISM

Tao
No creator controls the universe.
The universe springs from the Tao
The Tao itself is not God
 TAOISM
 gods are part of the Tao

Lao-Tzu (Laozi) worshipped as the first god.

- a personification of the Tao.

3 Pure Ones
The Jade Pure One (Yuqing)
source of learning and author of the first Taoist
scriptures.
 TAOISM
The Supreme Pure One (Shangqing)
Attendant of the Jade Pure One with the task
to reveal Taoist scriptures to the lesser gods
and humans.

The Grand Pure One (Taiqing)

active participation in the human realm
REFERENCES

 https://www.hinduwebsite.com › brahmanmain
 www.eastern-spirituality.com › glossary › a-definitions
 A Survey of Religious Beliefs Native to the Philippines - Asian
...
https://www.asj.upd.edu.ph › ASJ-09-02-1971PDF
 https://www.bbc.co.uk › religions › unitarianism › beliefs
 https://www.namb.net › apologetics › resource ›
 https://d1.islamhouse.com/data/en/ih_books/single/en_Co
ncept_of_God_in_Major_Religions.pdf
 https://www.pbs.org/empires/islam/faithgod.html
 REFERENCES
 http://www.ajcarchives.org/ajc_data/files/913.pdf- Jewish beliefs
 https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/about-god-in-judaism/
 The DIWATA of Philippine Mythology | Forest Spirits
https://www.aswangproject.com › diwata
 Ultimate reality, God and gods in Buddhism – Denise Cush
.https://www.reonline.org.uk › teaching-resources › ulti
 The Three Purities of Taoism - An Introduction - Learn Religions
https://www.learnreligions.com › Taoism › Origins
 Religions - Taoism: Gods and spirits – BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk › religions › taoism › beliefs › gods