Download LC Coursework 2017 G1

Leaving Certificate
Religious Education
Coursework Day
RTAI / ICRE
28 January 2017
G.1 Worship Prayer and Ritual
A profile of the origins of using mantra and
sacred text in meditation techniques and the
significance of these forms of prayer for
members of one major world religion today.
•
Two of the key words in this topic (mantra, and
meditation) alert us to the fact that we are in the
presence of religions of South Asian origin.
•
It would be inaccurate to refer to them as Indian
Religions, as they are all found outside of India as
well as the fact that their origins lie in the period
before the modern state of India became
independent (1947).
•
The area where these religions had their origins and
to which they spread is far wider than the
contemporary Republic of India.
INDIC CULTURAL ZONES
INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan,
Bangladesh
CULTURALLY LINKED:
Malaysia, Indonesia
Burma,
Thailand,
Cambodia,
Laos,
Vietnam,
NOT IN INDIC CULTURAL ZONE (but historically linked): Afghanistan, Tibet,
Yunnan (China) and Philippines
•
As well as the designation Religions of South
Asian Origin (which is geographical), we also see
these religions referred to as Dharmic Religions.
•
The word Dharmic is an adjective formed from
the Sanskrit noun Dharma which can be
translated in a wide range of ways, depending on
the context (to say nothing of the particular
religion).
•
Sanskrit – an ancient Indo-European language
plays a key role, as we shall see, in the Dharmic
Religions – especially in terms of our topics today.
धर्म
DHARMA
The word Dharma comes from the Sanskrit root dhṛ
which means hold, support, keep or maintain.
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So what are these Dharmic Religions or Religions
of South Asian Origin?
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HINDUISM
BUDDHISM
JAINISM
SIKHISM
Our focus today will be on Hinduism sometimes
seen as the oldest of these religions, but much of
what we say today can be adapted to one of the
others.
•
A note of caution: The Guidelines speak of major world
religion – and we basically know what this means, however,
we should be aware that there is no agreement among
scholars and adherents of these phenomena as to what a
religion actually is, to say nothing of the concept of world
religion.
•
Part of the problem and source of the lack of agreement is
the use of what are essentially western Christian-derived
terms that may not make sense to adherents of other
religions, such as Hinduism.
•
For example the Prescribed Titles document speaks of
mantra and meditation techniques as ‘forms of prayer’.
Many Hindus, Buddhists, Jains or Sikhs may not find these
terms adequate or suitable.
•
However, we have to work with what we are given, so even
though these concepts are somewhat contested, we need to
make a treaty with reality.
•
Any kind of education or explanation involves making
something complex easier to understand. To do this we use
maps and models. But it is vital to remember that these
maps and models are not the things themselves.
•
This may seem like a very obvious point – and in some ways
it is BUT it is a point that teachers like me need to remind
themselves of frequently.
•
The map is not the territory (Korzybski); The menu is not the
meal (Watts).
THE KEY TERMS
MANTRA
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A MANTRA is a sacred sound, word, or verse from scripture.
•
Mantra is Sanskrit for ‘instrument of thought.’
•
Mantras in Hinduism are always in Sanskrit, the language of the
most important sacred texts of Hinduism – the VEDAS.
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Reciting a MANTRA silently or aloud is not only an aid to
MEDITATION, it is a FORM of meditation.
•
The origins of MANTRAS – like the origins of Hinduism itself – are
very mysterious and probably lie in prehistory (the time before
writing).
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Most Hindus believe that the ultimate source of MANTRAS is
BRAHMAN – the ABSOLUTE – ULTIMATE REALITY.
MANTRA
•
MANTRAS are very closely linked with the most important Hindu
SACRED TEXTS – the VEDAS – and the language of their
composition: SANSKRIT.
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VEDA means KNOWLEDGE.
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Acceptance of the authority of the VEDAS is probably one of the
only widely agreed criteria for being Hindu.
•
The Vedas were transmitted orally for many centuries (or
millennia) until they were finally committed to writing in the 2nd
century BCE.
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Most Hindus believe that these texts were ‘heard’ (SHRUTI) BY
SAGES (RISHIS) – not actually composed them (a type of revelation)
The Sanskrit
Writing System
AUM
MANTRA
•
AUM is probably the most famous and simplest of all Hindu
mantras.
•
AUM or OM (as it is sometimes written) ॐ – does not have a
simple meaning as such. In that regard it is an excellent example
of a mantra as an ‘instrument of thought’.
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The single syllable AUM is said to represent all of the VEDAS.
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The process of saying AUM aloud is seen as a representation of
the three cycles of cosmic creation: CREATION, MAINTENANCE
and DESTRUCTION.
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Recitation of a mantra is also seen as having direct physical effects
upon the user.
GAYATRI MANTRA
The GAYATRI MANTRA is an invocation of the sun and is transmitted
during the sacred thread initiation ceremony (upanayanam). It is taken
from the VEDAS – close link between MANTRA and SCRIPTURE.
VEDAS
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As previously noted, the VEDAS are the most important
sacred texts of Hinduism.
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Many Hindus believe that the VEDAS contain ALL
KNOWLEDGE – not just things related to Hinduism.
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As noted, their origins are contested, with most traditional
Hindus believing them to be eternal – like the universe itself.
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The VEDAS are the source of many MANTRAS, such as the
GAYATRI mantra seen above.
Printed Text of
the Vedas
MEDITAION
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We are all familiar with mediation or some form of it. For
example the mindfulness that we hear so much of these days
is actually based on a form of Buddhist meditation.
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Meditation differs from one Dharmic religion to another in
terms of how it is done and what it aims to achieve.
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In Hinduism, meditation is known by the Sanskrit term
DHYANA – contemplation, reflection, sustained attention.
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Meditation in Hinduism is seen as having many benefits for
the meditator in the here-and-now.
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However, the ultimate aim of meditation for a Hindu is to
achieve MOKSHA – liberation from the cycle of SAMSARA
(RE)BIRTH
DEATH
SAMSARA
LIFE
•
SAMSARA is the eternal cycle of birth, death,
rebirth, death, rebirth and so on.
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One’s present life is just one in a countless series
of existences that extends far into the past, if not
eternity.
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These previous existences may not all have been
human, and each of them has a bearing on the
next.
MOKSHA
MOKSHA
(RE)BIRTH
DEATH
SAMSARA
LIFE
• The word moksha literally means liberation or release and
refers to liberation or release from the cycle of birth, life,
death and rebirth (samsara).
• Achieving moksha is the ultimate goal of Hinduism.
• Other ways of working towards moksha evolved over
time: these are known as yogas.
• The word yoga literally means yoking or joining (indeed it
is related to the English word yoke).
• A yoga is a practice (physical or psychological)
whose aim is moksha from the cycle of birth,
death, rebirth (samsara): meditation is a yoga.
RESOURCES
Routledge, 2006
Dunedin, 2010