Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Hinduism in Indonesia wikipedia , lookup
Brahma Sutras wikipedia , lookup
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali wikipedia , lookup
History of Hinduism wikipedia , lookup
Neo-Vedanta wikipedia , lookup
Buddhism and Hinduism wikipedia , lookup
Hindu–Islamic relations wikipedia , lookup
Yoga Yajnavalkya wikipedia , lookup
Rajan Zed prayer protest wikipedia , lookup
Yoga (philosophy) wikipedia , lookup
1. Three Approaches to Religious Pluralism Exclusivism Inclusivism Intolerant of other faiths JWs, Born-Agains, Fundamentalists Tolerant of other faiths, but there is only one true religion Roman Catholic and other Mainline Christian Churches Pluralism All religions are equal and true: Hinduism Intro to Hinduism World’s oldest literate religion c. 3,000 BCE Predominately in India…85% of the population In US & Western cultures, the Krishna Consciousness of the 70s and the Yoga influx of the 90s have popularized Hinduism creating a watered-down version Because Hinduism has many paths itself, it tends to present itself as a pluralistic religion It is, in reality, a collection of similar religious traditions Ancient Hinduism The Vedic Age: 3000 BCE-600 BCE No clear beginning/no founder Sacred scriptures: the Vedas, the Upanishads Main god: Indra: storm god: like ancient gods, took on characteristics of nature Brahamism: very formal, ritualistic Many people cut off from ritual practice Protest Religions and Hindu Renaissance Rise of Buddhism and Jainism led to a refashioning and reform by Hindu scholars Hinduism adopted some (but not all) of Buddhist and Jainist concepts Accepted Buddhist concepts of karma and reincarnation Rejected Buddhist concepts of no-self (anatman) and enlightenment in single lifetime Hinduism Refashioned Sacred Scriptures: Mahabaratas (epic poems) Bhagavad Gita (Song of the Lord) Arjuna and Krishna dialogue on the nature of existence Idea of self (atman) dharma (duty to one’s caste) and karma reaffirmed Advaita Hindu philosopher Shankara (4th century BCE) developed key Hindu (and eastern religions/philosophies) idea of advaita Not two/not one (nondualism) Meant to highlight our relationship between self (atman) and Brahman (the Divine One, the Ground of Being) Advaita continued Advaita challenges our assumptions on the nature of the relationship between self/God; I/you; Mind/body; life/death; reason/emotion; male/female Similar in nature to Christian doctrines of Incarnation and Trinity a they too challenge our assumptions on the nature of God/Christ/self 2. Life Goals Kama (sensual pleasure)…desire Artha (wealth, fame, power)….desire Dharma (Call to Service)…renunciation Moksha (Liberation)….renunciation Are these not typical life-stages? A. Kama Pursuit of pleasure within the constraints of appropriate morality Kama Sutra…tantrism The end result proves dissatisfying b/c the individual seeks only to fill the self Youth, Childhood B. Artha Worldly success…fame, wealth, power Like pleasure, worldly success proves to be unfulfilling b/c the self is insatiable Young Adulthood C. Dharma Call to Service…the individual has left the stage of the will-to-get (meaninglessness) and entered the will-to-give (meaning) Adulthood: Middle Age Kama and artha focus on the self, while dharma focuses on the community The goals of each path progressively move away from the self (ego) towards others. D. Moksha Beyond the previous goals, eventually people (not all) come to realize that they want Absolute… Being: Problem? our physical bodies cease to exist Knowledge: Problem? our minds are finite Joy: Problem? we become bored, disappointed, and experience pain Joy Pain…can be overcome through intense focus Disappointment…can be overcome if expectations are lowered and perceptions are expanded to others and not limited to the self Boredom…can be overcome if we take interest in others Knowledge There is so much more to our minds than we give credit. Directed meditation can free the mind and allow it to reach its potential Being Our (B)being (not bodies) are infinite Similar to Aquinas’ view that all are interconnected b/c they participate in God’s Being 3. Four Paths to Liberation Path = Yoga Yoga…”method of training designed to lead to integration or union of the human spirit with God.” God = Brahman: characteristics? Monistic…universal essence, Source and Ground of Being Theistic…characterized by one of the many Hindu deities A. Jnana Yoga …the way to God through knowledge B. Bhakti Yoga …the way to God through love (devotion) (Christianity often seen as a Bhakti path to God C. Karma Yoga …the way to God through selfless works (Does Christianity fit here?) D. Raja Yoga …the way to God through meditation, contemplation and physical exercises Hinduism: Basic Tenets Respect for life: very incarnational Ganges: giver of life, cleanser of karma Samsara…wheel of rebirth. Also means worldly and individual suffering Karma…moral law of cause and effect. Our thoughts, emotions, and actions in this life determine our form in the next Dharma…duty, or teaching leading to Selflessness Nirvana…This ultimately leads to nirvana..the release and extinguishing of the self Devotees flock to the banks of the Ganges in the hopes of cleansing bad karma. A. Jnana Yoga Knowledge Shedding of the ego to realize the Eternal Self (Atman) and be one with Brahman Intense study of the sacred scriptures: Vedas Upanishads Mahabharata Bhagavad-Gita B. Bhakti Yoga Devotion to the gods and goddesses Each deity is an expression of Brahman A family can worship a deity in their home with a puja (act of worship or shrine) Ritual offerings The community worships a deity in a mandir (temple) Prayers Ritual offerings A puja A Mandir Deities Brahma…creator Vishnu…preserver Shiva…destroyer Trimurti Kali…goddess of death and alleviator of fears Ganesha…god of prosperity and remover of obstacles Durga…goddess of balance Krishna…avatar (incarnated divine being) C. Karma Yoga All work within one’s life is done for selfless purposes The Blessed Lord said: “As the ignorant men act from attachment to action, O Arjuna, so should the wise act without attachment, wishing the welfare of the world. -Bhagavad Gita, ch.3, Verse 25. Mother Theresa…Ghandi’s struggle to free India and the harijan Dharma…live according to caste The Caste Brahmin…priests Karma…dictated into which caste one was born Kshatriya…Upper-class Vaishya…working-class Sudra…servants Outcastes/Untouchables…harijan D. Raja Yoga Stretching, bending, balancing and sitting exercises. Breathing exercises that aim to control the mind. Withdrawing the attention from the body and the senses by focusing on the body. Concentration of the mind. Meditation. Uninterrupted contemplation of Reality. Chakras (Seven Levels of Energy) Chakra comes from the Sanskrit, “circle” The body is seen as an energy field w/ seven levels, each representing a specific power center When chakra energy is blocked, spiritual development is hindered and emotional/physical difficulties germinate A person can channel through the chakras 1. Muladhara …coccyx…material security…physical base 2. Svadhisthana…sex organs…identity and sexuality 3. Manipura…solar plexus…power-center 4. Anihata…heart…love…compassion 5. Vishudda…throat and vocal chords…finding our true voice 6. Ajna…center of forehead…”Third Eye”…vision…wisdom…no more duality 7. Soma…Thousand-Petaled Lotus Flower…Crown Region…Spiritual Connection Colors 1.Red 2.Orange 3.Yellow 4.Green 5.Blue 6.Purple 7.White