This questions and answers document is prepared by a group of Hindu Speakers as a source of information for them or for any one seeking information on Hinduism. There are multiple ways of answering a single question and this group is not claiming to provide all potential answers here.
On Hinduism
The target audience is 9th grader Abrahamic students in American Schools but it will be useful to anyone interested in learning about Hinduism. All answers are designed to answer in about a 3 minute time frame. We have also provided links to other reading materials and video links relating to each question.
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19. Hindu Life
Hindu daily rituals include Pancha Karma (5 coveted aspects):
- Taking shower (ablution)
- Meditate (controlled breathing, mantra chanting)
- Tarpan (offering to God, guru, ancestors): Could include water, food, lamp-lighting, incense, creating a pious environment
- Yoga: Establishing connection between mind, body, and higher learning
- Contemplation (focused deliberation, self-reflection)
The 7 days of the week are dedicated to invoking various virtues via worshipping energy sources (manifestation of Shiva for cosmic & inner balance, manifestation of Lakshmi for expansive prosperity via pious means, manifestation of Sun for vital energy, etc).
Other reading material: Atharva Veda
Relevant videos:
Contributor: Soma Chatterjee
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19. Hindu Life
Kids mostly receive education on festivals like Diwali and Holi, chanting daily slokas, doing Arti and attending a local temple on special religious occasions.
Children receive education about Hinduism mainly through their parents (first guru) and temples. Nowadays, parents try to teach Hinduism in a practical way so that children understand the purpose and meaning behind it and then relate and apply it in their life (for example, character building). Temples offer educational programs such as balvihar classes (language and cultural).
Many parents have a prayer altar at home to pray or worship together daily. Other more committed parents teach them devotional song, chanting, reading from holy books, performing yoga and meditation.
Other reading material: https://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2007/1-3/pdf/section-2_2007-01-01_p17-45.pdf
Relevant videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt62SIjuv7Y&t=31s
Contributor: Monita Sharma
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19. Hindu Life
Desire is born out of attachment that human beings have with the material world. This material world is perceived by human senses. Therefore, desire is natural.
Eastern wisdom – especially in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism – has highlighted the absolute absence of all (personal) desires as the hallmark of the highest spiritual wisdom. Upanishads declare that desire is the sign of ignorance (avidyā), and arises from the false sense of incompleteness (apoornatā).
Swami Visharadananda writes, “Why do we have desires? Because we tend to identify ourselves with our body-mind ego or body-mind adjuncts/appearance (upādhi). We forget our divine nature, our atman-nature which is ever fulfilled and free from all worldly needs.”
The enlightened man, who has higher knowledge (vidyā), feels complete (poorna) and therefore has no need for seeking pleasure or for acquiring any object.
akāmo nishkāma āptakāma ātmakāmo
na tasya prānā utkrāmanti
brahma eva san, brahma āpnoti
Free of want, devoid of desire, having all his desires fulfilled,
delighting in the Self alone, this man is Brahman;
he attains Brahman. His energies do not lead to another birth.
Brihadāranyaka Upanishad, 4.4.6.
Other reading material:
Relevant videos:
Contributor: Jyoti Lulla
URL of this page: hinduspeakers.org/ufaqs/z-why-do-we-have-desires-and-how-to-control-them/
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19. Hindu Life