HINDUISMHINDUISM: HINDUISM Many Rivers to One Ocean

Assignments: (due Weds., 2/11) Read 41-45; do 45 A (due Weds., 2/11) Read 41-45; do 45 A (due Fri., 2/13) Read 45-48; do 48 C (due Fri., 2/13) Read 45-48; do 48 C (due Tues., 2/17) Read 48-53; Write 2 pghs: “What are the differences between Indian and Western ideas regarding occupation, activities & goals proper to one’s social status, age and place in life? What are the positive & negative aspects of each? (due Tues., 2/17) Read 48-53; Write 2 pghs: “What are the differences between Indian and Western ideas regarding occupation, activities & goals proper to one’s social status, age and place in life? What are the positive & negative aspects of each?

Assignments (due Thurs., 2/19) Read pp a; Written reflection (1-2 pghs): “Of the 3 paths to liberation, with which do you most connect? Why? Compare to your own faith? (due Thurs., 2/19) Read pp a; Written reflection (1-2 pghs): “Of the 3 paths to liberation, with which do you most connect? Why? Compare to your own faith? (Fri., 2/27) Read “Mind, Body And Soul: 10 Athletes Who Do Yoga To Take Their Game To The Next Level” soul-10-athletes-took-game-next-level- yoga/ Write a brief written response/thoughts. (Fri., 2/27) Read “Mind, Body And Soul: 10 Athletes Who Do Yoga To Take Their Game To The Next Level” soul-10-athletes-took-game-next-level- yoga/ Write a brief written response/thoughts. soul-10-athletes-took-game-next-level- yoga/ soul-10-athletes-took-game-next-level- yoga/

Assignments (due Tues., 3/3) Go to and click around on whatever you want and learn a bit about your “type”; write 1 pgrph on what interested you most. (due Tues., 3/3) Go to and click around on whatever you want and learn a bit about your “type”; write 1 pgrph on what interested you most. (Weds., 3/4) TEST on Ch. 3: Hinduism (Weds., 3/4) TEST on Ch. 3: Hinduism

Reality and Human Destiny BrahmanAtmanMayaMoksha

“There is only one God, but endless are his aspects and endless are his names. Call him by any name and worship him in any aspect that pleases you, you are sure to see him.” -Shri Ramakrishna

“Like drops of water in the ocean, we are all one. We may appear to be different & distinct, but during moments of deeper awareness we realize that all is one. Our true glory lies in recognizing the truth of our inseparable identity with all that is.”

Brahman “All is One”/ Reality as unity vs. duality (monism) “All is One”/ Reality as unity vs. duality (monism) Indefinable, unknowable & limitless Indefinable, unknowable & limitless “Neti, neti” (“Not this, not that”) “Neti, neti” (“Not this, not that”) It is the very essence of everything and IS everything It is the very essence of everything and IS everything

Maya = illusion, blindness = illusion, blindness Seeing Seeing – Parts vs. whole – Many vs. the One – Separateness vs. connectedness

Maya

Maya

Atman The eternal Self… that is, Who you really, really are The eternal Self… that is, Who you really, really are And, since ALL is One Reality (Brahman), so are you! And, since ALL is One Reality (Brahman), so are you! Atman IS Brahman and Brahman is Atman Atman IS Brahman and Brahman is Atman

Moksha Liberation, release, salvation Liberation, release, salvation From what? From what? – Maya… blindness to reality, to the way things really and simply are How? How? – Ah… later! – Ah… later!

Reality & Human Destiny: SamsaraKarmaDharma

Samsara  “wheel” of rebirth  Reincarnation (“taking on flesh again”) of individual soul  Sometimes called transmigration, or the passing of a soul from one life-form to another  Samsara ends when moksha is achieved

KARMA  Literally, “action” or “deeds”  Moral law of cause & effect  Every action produces its justified effect  Permanently recorded energy  Only humans can affect their own karma

Dharma  Ethical duty or “right action”, according to divine order of reality  A total way of life vs. “code” of actions  Right action produces “good” karma

Hindu Castes  Brahmin – priests  Kshatriya – warriors & administrators  Vaishya – producers (farmers, merchants, artisans, etc.)  Shudra – servants & laborers  Untouchables – outcastes (Gandhi: “Harijan”: “God’s children”

Four Stages of Life  Student  Householder  Forest Dweller  Wandering Ascetic (Sannyasin)

Student  Characterized by study of the Vedas and other sacred literature

Householder  Marked by pursuing a career and raising a family

Forest Dweller  Requiring retreat from worldly bonds to engage fully in the spiritual quest

Wandering Ascetic (Sannyasin)  Involving returning to society while remaining detached from social life

Four Goals of Life  Kama – pleasure is sought, but within the limits of dharma

Four Goals of Life  Artha – material success is sought, along with social power and prestige

Four Goals of Life  Dharma – harmony with dharma is the primary concern

Four Goals of Life  Moksha – the goal is to achieve the infinite being, awareness and bliss of liberation

Debate: “East” v. West Debate: “East” v. West 1. Class divided randomly, “E” & W 2. Points gained/lost by 1. Meaningful, active participation 2. Distracting or inactive participation 3. Timeframes: 1.Team prep: 5 minutes 2.Statements: 2 minutes max. 3.Rebuttals: 1 minute max 4.Closers: 2 minutes max.

Three Paths of Liberation Karma Marga Jnana Marga Bhakti Marga

Karma Marga  The “path of works” or “action”  For those who prefer active life  Also called “karma yoga” (yoga= “discipline” or “path”)  Focused on dharma

Jnana Marga  The “path of knowledge”  For those who enjoy philosophy, learning & meditation  Also called jnana yoga  3 philosophical schools: Vedanta Vedanta Sankhya Sankhya Yoga Yoga

Jnana Marga: Yoga  Sometimes in a separate category (a 4 th path)  “Hatha yoga”  Aimed at experience of samadhi (see pp )

Bhakti Marga  The “Path of Devotion”  Also called bhakti yoga  For those who are more naturally emotional  Focus: Personal devotion to gods/goddesses

Bhakti Marga  Major gods/goddesses: Brahma: Creator Brahma: Creator Vishnu: Preserver Vishnu: Preserver Shiva: Destroyer Shiva: Destroyer  Gods: not supreme “beings”, but “aspects” of Being Itself (Brahman)

Within You, Without You By George Harrison We were talking About the space between us all And the people Who hide themselves behind a wall of illusion Never glimpse the truth Then it’s far too late When they pass away…

We were talking About the love we all could share When we find it To try our best to hold it there With our love We could save the world If they only knew…

Try to realize it’s all within yourself no one else can make you change And to see you’re really only very small and Life flows on within you and without you

we were talking about the love that’s gone so cold and the people who gain the world and lose their soul they don’t know, they can’t see are you one of them?

When you’ve seen beyond yourself then You may find Peace of mind Is waiting there And the time will come When you see We’re all One, And Life flows on Within you and without you…