Hinduism+Q1

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=//__HINDUISM Question 1__//: How do our actions on earth affect what happens to us after we die?=

**__WEBSITES/LINKS:__**
- Yama judging those who enter 'narakam' (Hell) - Cycle of reincarnation (samsara) in a person
 * http://www.hinduwebsite.com/heavenhell.asp - Good website that links Hinduism to life after death and planes of existence. Discusses 'heaven' and 'hell' in Hinduism, as well as gods, and the 'universe' from the Hindu POV.
 * http://www.hinduwebsite.com/reincarnation.asp - Talks about reincarnation and the 'jiva', a false personality that shields the individual soul that must go under numerous lives and deaths before allowing the indivudual soul to become one with the Divine, or Brahma.
 * http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/h_caste.asp - Info on the caste system and roles of different castes (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and Pariah "Untouchables")
 * http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/h_death.asp - Also talks about reincarnation, the jiva, fate after death (heaven/hell, multiple ones), and basic Hindu beliefs of afterlife.


 * http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/religionet/er/hinduism/index.htm - Different methods of Yoga, reaching towards the Divine, a release from life (moksha), four goals of life - Dharma, Karma, Artha, and Moksha.

__AFTERLIFE AFFECTED BY ACTIONS ON EARTH:__

 * //Previous deeds/actions//: If one performed good deeds, they would be rewarded by going to sunlight-filled worlds, "heaven" (or several). If one performed bad deeds, they would be cast to the darkness of the lower-worlds, "hell" (or several). In context of the cycle of samsara (reincarnation).
 * //State of mind:// The last thoughts of someone can also change where they end up in their afterlives. If they think of their family, they may be reincarnated later in that same family, or if they think of riches, they can be reincarnated as a wealthy merchant. However, if one thinks of good deeds or pure thoughts, they may have a higher chance of going to heaven. But if they think of impure thoughts, they may have slimmer chances of going to heaven and greater chances to go to hell.
 * //Time of death:// The when and where of someone's death can act the same as one's state of mind before death. It can either increase or decrease their chances to going to a certain world. If someone died on the battlefield, they would be rewarded by going to the heaven of the warriors, and if they were performing a puja or some other religious service, they would be automatically rewarded, regardless of their previous deeds.
 * //Activities of children:// If the children of one who died do not go through the proper funeral rites and satisfied the scriptual injunctions, then they would delay the soul's journey to the next worlds.
 * //Grace of God//: Also, sometimes, Brahma, God, may rescue certain devotees it deems worthy and saves them from the clutches of the messenger of death once or several times in their life. When they do die, however, they are put into the highest heaven of recognition.

__THE JIVA:__
In the painting that is going to be in the middle of our hinduism museum, i think that it would be really appropriate to include stuff like having brahma's hand coming out of a lotus flower and touching the surface of the earth. I will then draw vines, trees, and other signs of life growing from behind the lotus flower, and also around the finger that is touching the earth showing that brahma is the creator. This will all be on the left side of the painting. On the right, it will be very plain, dark, lifeless place that seems dead and dull. I will explain this in the descriptive paragraph, but the message I am trying to give with this is that brahma creative everything, and everyone, but that’s only half of the work to make our lives complete. The other half is up to us, and we can do whatever we want with it whether it is for filling our dharma, or maybe just throwing our life away. If you think this is not the right way to go with the painting, email me.
 * Souls are immortale and imperishable, the jiva is a part of the soul, a limited being, and is susceptible to the impurities of attachment, delusion, and other things tha thterefore cause suffering.
 * Death is a temporary halt of physical existence on Earth and allows time for the jiva to rest and then changes its course to return once more to the Earth to continue its journey (to moksha, the ultimate release from samsara).
 * Life or afterlife is never permanent until one's soul is liberated, meaning until they achieve moksha, they will forever be going through the cycle of samsara.
 * Death is time for the jiva to learn from its previous life and use this knowledge to adjust its course in its next life. 
 * The soul is reborn again and again to overcome its state of delusion and to learn that there should be no likes and dislikes, no preferences of one thing over another, and should instead learn and appreciate life's completeness and the completeness of all things in it.
 * __Bhrama, and the creation of life: __**

- DC