Workshop 4: Hinduism: One God, a Thousand Faces

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Building Bridges, Grades 8-9: A World Religions Program

In This Section

Introduction
From Building Bridges

Everyone who wills can hear the inner voice. It is within everyone. — Mohandas Gandhi Introduction This workshop introduces Hinduism, an ancient faith birthed in India in a time beyond memory and still practiced by more than 900 million people around the globe. Hinduism is frequently associated…
Spiritual Preparation
From Building Bridges

Since open-mindedness is at the heart of this program, and because Hinduism is so frequently misunderstood, take some time to seek a serenely open-minded attitude before leading this workshop. Here is a two-part meditation to help you: First, envision a prism. See in your mind’s eye a clear light…
Welcoming and Entering
From Building Bridges

Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Leader Resource 1, Photographs of Thoreau, Gandhi, and King Optional: Computer with Internet access Preparation for Activity Post enough newsprint so several participants can write at once. Print Leader Resource 1 and cut apart the photographs.
Opening
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Pillows or cushions, meditation pillows, or seiza benches (a bench specially designed for kneeling during mediation) for sitting on the floor Newsprint, markers, and tape Leader Resource 2…
Activity 1: Story - The Birth of Krishna
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “The Birth of Krishna” Leader Resource 4, Image of Krishna Preparation for Activity Read the story so you will be comfortable presenting it. Copy the story for all participants….
Activity 2: The Thoreau-Gandhi-King Connection
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Photographs of Thoreau, Gandhi, and King Newsprint, markers, and tape Ball of attractive ribbon or yarn Optional: Newsprint from the Welcoming and Entering activity on which participants wrote their ideas about Rev. King’s…
Activity 3: Four Paths to the Ultimate
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Leader Resource 5, Children’s Chalice Lighting with Gestures Old, respectable-looking book, preferably with no title on the front cover Pair of work gloves Rose, red paper heart, or other symbol of love A polished stone Lined paper and pens or penc…
Activity 4: Fact Sheet
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 7 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Hinduism Fact Sheet Newsprint with youth’s questions about Hinduism (from Opening) Preparation for Activity Post the newsprint sheet of questions where all participants will be able to see it….
Activity 5: Time Line
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Religions Time Line (Workshop 1) Sticky notes and fine-point markers World map or globe Preparation for Activity Display the time line where all participants will be able to see it. Write a sticky note saying “Hinduism, Indigenous, 3000 BCE, if not…
Closing
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Taking It Home handout Optional: Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Download, adapt, and copy Taking It Home for all participants. Optional: Write the closing words on…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Building Bridges

This was the first workshop to explore a worldwide religion that is practiced by as many as one-seventh of the earth’s population. Review today’s workshop with your co-leader: Did participants engage the subject with respect? Did the examination of another religion spark their interest? Did they…
Faith In Action: Nonviolent Social Change
From Building Bridges

Materials for Activity Computer with Internet access Preparation for Activity Visit The King Center website and decide which sections would be useful to share with the youth. If you do not have access to a computer with Internet access, print pages from the website to share with the group.
Alternate Activity 1: Engagement
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 90 minutes Preparation for Activity See general suggestions on Engagement in the program Introduction, under Implementation. Contact a local temple and arrange a visit for a service. Hindu Mandir US is a good website for locating temples in the United States….
Alternate Activity 2: The Bhagavad Gita
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 2, Excerpts from The Bhagavad Gita — The Song of God Small selection of delicious and beautiful edibles that nobody’s allergic to, such as pretty fruit, little decorated chocolates, or a tray of brightly colored cut-up vegetables Preparatio…
Taking It Home: Hinduism: One God, a Thousand Faces
From Building Bridges

Everyone who wills can hear the inner voice. It is within everyone. — Mohandas Gandhi IN TODAY’S WORKSHOP… we examined some of the fundamental concepts of the ancient faith of Hinduism. We discussed the four yogas or paths to enlightenment, Hindus’ monotheism (belief in a single God), and some…
The Birth of Krishna
From Building Bridges

Mother Earth, unable to bear the burden of the sins committed by evil kings and rulers, appealed to Brahma, the Creator, for help. Brahma prayed to Supreme Lord Vishnu, who assured Brahma that Vishnu himself would soon be born on earth to annihilate tyrannical forces….
Handout 1: Hinduism Fact Sheet
From Building Bridges

Emerged: Indigenous faith of India. Adherents: 900 million. Ranking: Fourth, behind Christianity, Islam, and Atheism/Agnosticism. Prophets: None, although there are numerous lineages of revered gurus and saints. Famous Hindu religious leaders include Mohandas Gandhi and Paramahansa Yogananda,…
Handout 2: Excerpts from The Bhagavad Gita - The Song of God
From Building Bridges

A sacred text of Hinduism. Introduction Circa 3000 BCE, cousins went to war over who would inherit a kingdom. Because the dispute was within a large, ancient family, the opposing armies comprised relatives, teachers, leaders, and friends. Arjuna was a master archer and renowned warrior—he was the…
Leader Resource 1: Photographs of Thoreau, Gandhi, and King
From Building Bridges

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Leader Resource 2: Hinduism Background
From Building Bridges

In this workshop, we explore a faith so ancient it is considered indigenous, yet it has grown through the millennia to attain a high level of complexity and sophistication. Furthermore, it is followed by more than 900 million people—nearly a billion human beings—around the world. This religion…
Leader Resource 3: Images of Hindu Gods
From Building Bridges

Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesha, Lakshmi, Kali, Durga Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Leader Resource 4: Image of Krishna
From Building Bridges

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Leader Resource 5: Children's Chalice Lighting with Gestures
From Building Bridges

Speak the text while performing the gestures described in italics. We light this chalice to celebrate Unitarian Universalism. When saying “Unitarian,” cup your right hand in a U shape. When saying “Universalism,” cup your left hand in a U shape. This is the church of the open mind….
Find Out More
From Building Bridges

Some good websites on Hinduism include HinduwebsiteSanatan Society, The Heart of Hinduism, and Religion Facts. A basic book for reading is The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Hinduism, 2nd edition, by Linda Johnsen (NY: Penguin, 2009). This series also publishes guides on Buddhism, Early Christianity,…