HINDUISM:HINDUISM:

Many Rivers to One OceanMany Rivers to One Ocean

AssignmenAssignments:ts:

•(due Weds, 2/11) Read 41-45; do 45 A(due Weds, 2/11) Read 41-45; do 45 A

•(due Thurs, 2/12) Read 45-48; do 48 C(due Thurs, 2/12) Read 45-48; do 48 C

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

AssignmentsAssignments• (due Thurs., 2/19) Read pp. 53-61a(due Thurs., 2/19) Read pp. 53-61a• (“) Written reflection (1-2 pghs): “Of (“) Written reflection (1-2 pghs): “Of

the 3 paths to liberation, with which the 3 paths to liberation, with which do you most connect? Why? Compare do you most connect? Why? Compare to your own faith?to your own faith?

• (Fri.,2/20) “Are You Ready for some (Fri.,2/20) “Are You Ready for some YOGA?!... Yeah, baby!!!YOGA?!... Yeah, baby!!!

• (Weds., 2/25) (Weds., 2/25) Read rest of Chapter, p. Read rest of Chapter, p. 61 onward/ prep for test61 onward/ prep for test

• (Fri., 2/27) TEST on Ch. 3: Hinduism(Fri., 2/27) TEST on Ch. 3: Hinduism

Reality and Human Reality and Human DestinyDestiny

BrahmanBrahmanAtmanAtmanMayaMaya

MokshaMoksha

““There is only one God,There is only one God,

but endless are his aspectsbut endless are his aspects

and endless are his names.and endless are his names.

Call him by any name and worship Call him by any name and worship himhim

in any aspect that pleases you,in any aspect that pleases you,

you are sure to see him.”you are sure to see him.”

-Shri Ramakrishna-Shri Ramakrishna

““Like drops of water in the ocean,Like drops of water in the ocean,

we are all one.we are all one.

We may appear to be different & We may appear to be different & distinct,distinct,

but during moments of deeper but during moments of deeper awarenessawareness

we realize that all is one.we realize that all is one.

Our true glory lies in recognizing the Our true glory lies in recognizing the truthtruth

of our inseparable identityof our inseparable identity

with all that is.”with all that is.”

BrahmanBrahman

• ““All is One”/ Reality as unity vs. All is One”/ Reality as unity vs. duality (monism)duality (monism)

• Indefinable, unknowable & limitlessIndefinable, unknowable & limitless

• ““Neti, neti” (“Not this, not that”)Neti, neti” (“Not this, not that”)

• It is the very essence of everything It is the very essence of everything and IS everythingand IS everything

MayaMaya

• = illusion, blindness= illusion, blindness

• Seeing Seeing – Parts vs. wholeParts vs. whole– Many vs. the OneMany vs. the One– Separateness vs. Separateness vs.

connectednessconnectedness

AtmanAtman

• The eternal Self… that The eternal Self… that is, Who you really, is, Who you really, really arereally are

• And, since ALL is One And, since ALL is One Reality (Brahman), so Reality (Brahman), so are you!are you!

• Atman IS Brahman and Atman IS Brahman and Brahman is AtmanBrahman is Atman

MokshaMoksha

• Liberation, release, salvationLiberation, release, salvation

• From what?From what?– Maya… blindness to reality, to the way Maya… blindness to reality, to the way

things really and simply arethings really and simply are

• How?How?– Ah… later! Ah… later!

Reality & Human Reality & Human Destiny:Destiny:

SamsaraSamsara

KarmaKarma

DharmaDharma

SamsaraSamsara

““wheel” of rebirthwheel” of rebirth ReincarnationReincarnation (“taking on flesh again”) (“taking on flesh again”)

of individual soulof individual soul Sometimes called Sometimes called transmigration, transmigration, or the or the

passing of a soul from one life-form to passing of a soul from one life-form to anotheranother

SamsaraSamsara ends when ends when mokshamoksha is achieved is achieved

KarmaKarma

Literally, “action” or “deeds”Literally, “action” or “deeds” Moral law of cause & effectMoral law of cause & effect Every action produces its justified Every action produces its justified

effecteffect Permanently recorded energyPermanently recorded energy Only humans can affect their own Only humans can affect their own

karmakarma

DharmaDharma

Ethical duty or “right action”, Ethical duty or “right action”, according to divine order of realityaccording to divine order of reality

A total way of life vs. “code” of A total way of life vs. “code” of actionsactions

Right action produces “good” karmaRight action produces “good” karma

Hindu CastesHindu Castes BrahminBrahmin – priests – priests KshatriyaKshatriya – warriors & – warriors &

administratorsadministrators Vaishya Vaishya – producers (farmers, – producers (farmers,

merchants, artisans, etc.)merchants, artisans, etc.) ShudraShudra – servants & laborers – servants & laborers

Untouchables –Untouchables – outcastes outcastes (Gandhi: “Harijan”: “God’s (Gandhi: “Harijan”: “God’s children”children”

Four Stages of LifeFour Stages of Life

StudentStudent HouseholderHouseholder Forest DwellerForest Dweller Wandering Ascetic (Wandering Ascetic (SannyasinSannyasin))

StudentStudent

CharacterizeCharacterized by study of d by study of the Vedas the Vedas and other and other sacred sacred literatureliterature

HouseholderHouseholder

Marked by Marked by pursuing a pursuing a career and career and raising a raising a familyfamily

Forest DwellerForest Dweller Requiring retreat Requiring retreat

from worldly from worldly bonds to engage bonds to engage fully in the fully in the spiritual questspiritual quest

Wandering Ascetic Wandering Ascetic ((SannyasinSannyasin))

Involving Involving returning to returning to society while society while remaining remaining detached detached from social from social lifelife

Four Goals of LifeFour Goals of Life Kama – Kama –

pleasure is pleasure is sought, but sought, but within the within the limits of limits of dharmadharma

Four Goals of LifeFour Goals of Life Artha – Artha – material material

success is success is sought, along sought, along with social power with social power and prestigeand prestige

Four Goals of LifeFour Goals of Life Dharma – Dharma –

harmony with harmony with dharmadharma is the is the primary primary concernconcern

Four Goals of LifeFour Goals of Life Moksha – Moksha – the the

goal is to achieve goal is to achieve the infinite the infinite being, awareness being, awareness and bliss of and bliss of liberationliberation

Three Paths of LiberationThree Paths of Liberation

Karma MargaKarma Marga

Jnana MargaJnana Marga

Bhakti MargaBhakti Marga

Karma MargaKarma Marga

The “path of works” or The “path of works” or “action”“action”

For those who prefer active For those who prefer active lifelife

Also called “karma yoga” Also called “karma yoga” (yoga= “discipline” or “path”)(yoga= “discipline” or “path”)

Focused on Focused on dharmadharma

Jnana MargaJnana Marga

The “path of knowledge”The “path of knowledge” For those who enjoy philosophy, For those who enjoy philosophy,

learning & meditationlearning & meditation Also called Also called jnana yogajnana yoga 3 philosophical schools:3 philosophical schools:

VedantaVedanta SankhyaSankhya YogaYoga

Jnana Marga: Jnana Marga: YogaYoga

Sometimes in a Sometimes in a separate separate category (a 4category (a 4thth path)path)

““Hatha yoga”Hatha yoga” Aimed at Aimed at

experience of experience of samadhisamadhi (see (see pp. 56-57)pp. 56-57)

Bhakti MargaBhakti Marga The “Path of Devotion”The “Path of Devotion” Also called Also called bhakti yogabhakti yoga For those who are For those who are

more naturally more naturally emotionalemotional

Focus: Personal Focus: Personal devotion to devotion to gods/goddessesgods/goddesses

Bhakti MargaBhakti Marga Major Major

gods/goddesses:gods/goddesses: Brahma: Brahma: CreatorCreator Vishnu: Vishnu: PreserverPreserver Shiva: Shiva: DestroyerDestroyer

Gods: not supreme Gods: not supreme “beings”, but “beings”, but “aspects” of Being “aspects” of Being Itself (Brahman)Itself (Brahman)

Within You, Without YouWithin You, Without You By George HarrisonBy George Harrison

We were talkingWe were talking

About the space between us allAbout the space between us all

And the peopleAnd the people

Who hide themselves behind a wall Who hide themselves behind a wall of illusionof illusion

Never glimpse the truthNever glimpse the truth

Then it’s far too lateThen it’s far too late

When they pass away…When they pass away…

We were talkingWe were talking

About the love we all could shareAbout the love we all could share

When we find itWhen we find it

To try our best to hold it thereTo try our best to hold it there

With our loveWith our love

We could save the worldWe could save the world

If they only knew…If they only knew…

Try to realize Try to realize

it’s all it’s all

within yourself no one else within yourself no one else

can make you changecan make you change

And to see you’re really only And to see you’re really only

very small andvery small and

Life flows on Life flows on

within you and without youwithin you and without you

we were talkingwe were talking

about the love that’s gone so about the love that’s gone so coldcold

and the peopleand the people

who gain the world and lose their who gain the world and lose their soulsoul

they don’t know, they can’t seethey don’t know, they can’t see

are you one of them?are you one of them?

When you’ve seen beyond When you’ve seen beyond yourself thenyourself then

You may findYou may find

Peace of mindPeace of mind

Is waiting thereIs waiting there

And the time will comeAnd the time will come

When you seeWhen you see

We’re all One,We’re all One,

And Life flows onAnd Life flows on

Within you and without you…Within you and without you…