Confucian Ideas Five key relationships Importance of propriety Elevation of scholarship over pedigree Nature of virtue Filial piety Confucian Classics Four Books Shinto Ideas Animism Importance of kami ID: 340891
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Re-Cap of Confucian and Shinto Concepts
Confucian IdeasFive key relationshipsImportance of proprietyElevation of scholarship over pedigreeNature of virtueFilial pietyConfucian ClassicsFour Books
Shinto Ideas
Animism
Importance of kami
Significance of torii gates
Harmony with nature
Shinto/Buddhist multiplex
Misogi
Kannagara
Shinto as indigenous religionSlide2
Hinduism
Truth is one; sages call it by various names.- Rig VedaSlide3
Hindu Origins
Hinduism- a collection of traditions?Any who use the Vedas in spiritual practiceSanatana Dharma (Eternal Religion)What perspective does this represent?Early emphasis on meditation practice as well as a variety of divine manifestationsPoly-, Mono-, or Mon-?Slide4
The Dharma
Dharma dutiesnatural lawsocial law/welfareethicsall life activitiesSlide5
Harappan Civilization
Very old civilizationCirca 2500 B.C.EBased on archaeological evidenceUse of lingams/menhirs- upright stone monumentsWorshipped Siva-like godAlso an indigenous Dravidian populationIs Hinduism another example of “indigenous” religion?Invaded by AryansCirca 2000-900 B.C. E.May or may not have brought religious ideas with themSlide6Slide7
The Vedas
The foundation of most Hindu practiceRig Veda- Sanskrit hymns devoted to devasSamhitas- the text of any of the VedasBrahmanas- detailing proper performance of ritualAranyakas- for reclusive meditation; “dangerous” ritualsUpanishads- the teachings of spiritual mastersWhy do most people skip to the end?realization of the oneness of the godhead, a supreme formless reality behind thee world of transitory appearances Vedas written down
Circa 1500-400 B.C.E.
Switches from oral tradition to written documents in SanskritSlide8
The Rig Veda
Oldest known scripture in the worldLists major deities in a traditionally polytheistic pantheonPresented side by side with the concept of one universal and unseen realityPraises and implores the blessings of the devas (shining ones)Devas could be thunder Gods, God’s of the dawn., god’s of drink, transparent as the sky (polytheistic)Slide9
Major Message of the Vedas
Existence of an Ultimate Realitybeyond human understandingceaselessly creatingsustaining all lifeencompassing all that isDeveloped into bhakti (devotional) practice because of difficulty in worshipping the formless?Slide10
Epic Poems- @400BCE-400CE
RamayanaVishnu producing an avatar (Rama) to help uplift humanityPortrays duties of relationships and ideal forms of roles (servant, prince, etc…)MahabarataShows all sides of human natureFocuses on the importance of righteous action18th book- The Bagavad-Gita- story of Krishna as an avatar of a chariot driver instructing Arjuna Slide11
The Brahmin
Priests who controlled the aspects of Vedic worshipBrahman (supreme reality)Without featuresWith features (god manifestation)Mantras introduced as ritual formulasThe sound invokes a reality they connote or describeAtman- personal “soul” that inhabits human beingsSlide12
Castes
Each caste (varna) is composed of multiple sub-categories (jat)List of castesBrahmin- priestsKshatriyas- nobility (kings, warriors, vassals)Vaishyas-backbone of economy (farmers and merchants)Shudra- manual laborers and artisansDalits- “Untouchables”- (dead body removal, filth removal, other “unclean”Renamed by M.K. Gandhi= harijans (“children of God”)Dalits now find that term patronizing/condescending Slide13
Universal Castes?Slide14
Why Is the Caste System Important?
This concept is integral to the precepts of Sanatana DharmaVedas contain laws that govern all aspects of lifeEvery person serves in their nicheSociety functions smoothly when these positions are accepted by allIt moves people from selfish desires to common good in the social orderWhat tradition also embraces this idea?Slide15
The Caste System (Cont.)
What are the up sides of a caste system?Why are caste systems somewhat incomprehensible to Western thinkers?Does this mean that Western religions are inherently selfish?Slide16
Concepts for the Upanishads
Contemplation of the “Luminous Self”How can this phrase be interpreted?ReincarnationSenses give an impermanent and inaccurate view of the worldTurning away from sensory input and transient material world Looking for connections with BrahmanIs God “out there?”Is God “In Here?”Slide17
Human Beings Contain...
A collection of transient and intransient formsAtman= the subtle self in you that is“You”= your conscious ego selfThe Brahman We (as the atman) are but waves on the ocean of BrahmanConnections to what other traditions?Slide18
Good and Bad Karma
KarmaAction and its consequenceas a person acts so they become…if a person has impure thoughts they become impure, if they are pure in thoughts they are pureWe bear the results and consequences of our actionsin this lifeand the next (reincarnated form)every move has far reaching consequencesSlide19
Breaking the Cycle
MokshaLiberation from the karmic cycle= wheel of birth, life, death (Samsara)Freedom from all constraints of this lifespacetimematterjoining with the Brahman?Requires many lifetimes of upward striving incarnation before one can move beyond the earthly transcendenceSlide20
Major Theistic Groups (Bhakti)
Three major groupings of deity worshippersVaishnavites- worship divine as Vishnuthe lotus floats serenely on the water with its roots firmly in the mudrefined spiritual energy rising from worldly contaminationSaivites- worship divine as Siva (the destroyer)Often represented with a consort (Parvati his spouse)Saktas-worship the female creative powerKaliwarrior goddess
destruction is actually transformationSlide21
VishnuSlide22
Vishnu’s Symbols
Conch shellMakes the purest sound from which creation springsGolden mace/clubA weapon signifying total power to destroy evilRotating disc/discusAnother weapon with the same symbolismLotus flowerFertility and regeneration; nurturing of the soul from worshipping VishnuSlide23
ShivaSlide24
Siva’s symbols
Circle of flamesThe universe in its entiretySnake around neckSymbol of fertility and strengthSmall drumRepresents sound of creationHand gesture (abhaya mudra)Symbol for fearlessnessLifted right footSymbolic of freedom from samsara
Flame in hand
The essence of creation and destructionSlide25
KaliSlide26Slide27
Yoga
Yoga“yoke” or “union” with the infinite consciousnessFrom root “yuj” meaning “to bind fast”All are considered paths of liberationOne should use some form of disciplined technique to achieve this.Raja YogaJnana YogaKarma YogaBhakti Yoga
Dharma YogaSlide28
Raja (Hatha
) YogaConsists of more than just he elements familiar to westernersYama- virtues/observancesNiyama- restraintsAsana- psoturesPranayama- breathingPratyahara-inward focusDharana-concentration for meditationDhyana- mediation
Samadhi- insightSlide29
Physiological and Physical
Raja Yoga asanas - physical posturesprana - invisible life energychakras - bodily energy centersmantras- sound repetitionyantras - a visual formSlide30
One Version of YogaSlide31Slide32
Rational Approach
Jnana Yogarational mind emphasisrestraint, renunciation, resignation, concentration, faithDeveloping an intellectual understanding of the relationships between the concepts expressed above and their impact on daily lifeIs this important to practice or to study?Slide33
Union Through Virtuous Action
Karma Yogaany service rendered without though or interest in its effect on anythingGod doing it through you, but not youActions have consequences in real world and also in the karmic worldIs there an equivalent to this in Western society?Slide34
Another Version of YogaSlide35
Devotional Union
Bhakti YogaLove relationship with/to a divine manifestation serves as the ultimate example of devotionThe bhakti practitioner expects the possibility of a physical appearance of god/godsHunter at Siva’s shrine- p. 81Slide36
Still Another Kind of Yoga!Slide37
Dharma Yoga
Often intermingled with karma yoga or any other of the yogic pathsFocused on following duties associated with caste and Hindu life cycleCarrying out gender roles as well as societal rolesWomen serve men and bear childrenSlide38
The Hindu Life Cycle
Traditional life periods25yrs eachChaste student learning from teacherHouseholder stageraise a family contribute productively to societyRetirement from society and beginnings of serious meditation and scriptural study Partial renunciateAscetic stage- full detachment from society
a
sannyasin
Most males do not follow this full path to its end stageSlide39
Guru
The guruVenerable/venerated teachers or spiritual guidesdo not proclaim themselves teachers, the students simply comeno guru necessary for the sincere earnest seeker?P. 98- floating wood symbolism Does that metaphor apply universally?Slide40
A Stereotypical Guru?Slide41
Guru NanakSlide42
Establishment of independent Indian state- 1947
Gandhi established two overreaching preceptsawareness of spiritual truth (satyagraha)non-violent resistance to military-industrial oppressionModern HinduismSlide43
Exclusivity Vs. Universalism
Sanatana DharmaInherently ecumenicalNon-proselytizing“Naturally” universal in appeal?Social/Political factorsHistory of India and PakistanConstant tensions between Muslims and HindusSlide44
More Modern Hinduism
Christianity appeals to those who are trapped into older caste-centered beliefs?Mahatma GandhiRamakrishnaVivekanandaPramahansa YoganandaMaharishi Mahesh YogiSlide45
ICW on Hinduism
Do you see political/social developments intertwined with religious practice in the United States? Do we have a “caste” system in place even though America is supposed to be the “land of opportunity?” How does that relate to dominant religious norms?