Video summary
Simran, who is 14 and Vraj, who is 11, explain the complexities of Hindu belief in reincarnation.
They believe life is a cycle of birth, death and rebirth, with our actions in this life, our “karma”, effecting our future incarnations.
Kindness leads to good karma, whilst selfishness leads to bad karma.
The soul may be reincarnated thousands of times.
Vraj draws a picture to explain his understanding of the cycle of life.
The end of the cycle is called Moksha, which can be reached if you live the best life you possibly can.
It makes you at one with God and sets you free from having to be reborn on this Earth again.
Believing in reincarnation affects how Hindus think about death.
Bodies are burnt after death, to symbolise the quick release of the soul to begin its next life.
Simran meets Hemang, a Hindu priest, on a boat in the River Soar in Leicester.
He tells her that as our bodies are mostly water, Hindus scatter the ashes in a river after death.
He helps the families of those who die to understand that death is a new beginning for the soul of their loved one.
In India Hindus traditionally scattered ashes in the River Ganges.
Hemang says that all rivers are created equal in the eyes of god, and they all merge eventually into the oceans.
River Soar, or River Ganges, the symbol is for the way life flows on.
This is from the series: My Life, My Religion - Hinduism
Teacher Notes
Pupils could draw their own circle of life diagram, showing key moments such as birth, learning to walk, going to school, getting a job, getting married, becoming a parent, retiring, dying.
They could think about ways that people could gather good karma at each stage.
Then they could draw a second circle, considering how a person’s life could be better the second time around if they had good karma.
They could compare notes about what they think good karma means and what they like or dislike, agree with and disagree with, about Hindu ideas on life after this life.
Ask them to share all the other ideas they know of about life after this life.
Muslim Paradise, Christian Heaven, ideas about ghosts and the atheist view that this life is the only life can be explored in discussion.
These clips will be relevant for teaching Religious Education at KS2 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and First and Second Level in Scotland.
Diwali - the festival of light. video
Hindus Vraj and Simran explain how they celebrate the festival of Diwali.
Inside a Hindu Temple. video
This short film explores Hindu religion through worship described by 11 year old Vraj. Striking visuals show what happens at a Hindu temple.
A Hindu wedding ceremony. video
Nikki and Hemal celebrate their marriage in Hindu style.
Celebrating Raksha Bandan. video
Sisters tie a Rakhi to their brothers’ wrists to celebrate their love for their family.
Meeting two young British Hindus. video
Simran, aged 14, introduces herself and her Hindu religion. Her brother Vraj is 11.
Celebrating the festival of Holi. video
This short film explains why Hindu children throw paint and have bonfires at Holi, which is a spring festival, and explains what the celebrations are like in Leicester.
A Pilgrimage in Hinduism video
Hindu pilgrimages are many and varied. Simran and Vraj describe their experiences.
