Sanatan Dharma

Hinduism is closely bound up with the customs and culture of the Indian subcontinent. To think of it in rigid terms is to mask its richness and diversity simply to define or describe it. In some ways, it is easier to say what Hinduism is not. It is not a fixed system of beliefs. It is not a religion based on one God or one founder, and there is no unique set of statements which completely expresses what Hindus believe. There are, however, some principles, customs and religious practices that are shared by all who follow the ‘eternal way’. This unit is designed to help your students develop knowledge and understanding about them.

top tip

By the end of this unit:

• most of your students will know that Hinduism is the general name for religious customs and practices that have their origins in the Indian subcontinent
• some students will be able to explain that the ‘eternal way’ of Hinduism is about the pursuit of moksha (liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth)
• a few students will be able to demonstrate that the Hindu way of life has evolved to meet the challenges of new and emerging situations in the context of India, and that this behaviour continues for Hindus now in dispersed communities.

Prepare by reading the support materials below. (You may also wish to provide this material for your more able learners.)

The eternal way of conduct

Basic beliefs

Starter

Show the beginning of The Lion King (the Disney film) if possible, which talks about the ‘circle of life’ and summarises beautifully the concept of birth and rebirth. Talk through the issue of rebirth, picking up on the idea of the passing of the ‘soul’ or spirit from one generation to another. Alternatively, show an old-fashioned pair of scales and demonstrate how they can be kept in balance by keeping the weights the same on either side of the fulcrum. Make the point that, for a Hindu, life is a constant opportunity to keep the balance of good things in your life in order to build up good karma before coming to the end of an earthly life.

Activity

Read the support material provided above with the students and then encourage them to work through the first activity sheet below. This should take about 20 minutes. Give early finishers the second activity sheet to carry forward their learning.

The eternal way of conduct activity sheet

Basic beliefs activity sheet

Plenary

Ask students to demonstrate what they have learned about the origins of Hinduism in India, and what they can learn from this about keeping their own life in balance.

Homework activity

Give the students a research project on life in India. Invite them to use whatever resources they can find to produce 250 words (remind them that they do not need to produce a whole book!) on an aspect of Indian life. The project could be delivered digitally or on paper. Encourage students to find images and facts about India using their geographical skills.