Syllabus, Grade Breakdown, Etc 8/30/2011 10:07:00 AM
GRADE BREAKDOWN: O %ere are 3 exams over te semester, eac wort 30% of grade O lass attendance is 10%
First Exam = HINDUISM (October 6 t
Second Exam = ALL O%HER INDIAN RELIGIONS (November 8 t
%ird Exam = xxx (%BH
Most lectures are done by PowerPoint. PowerPoints might be posted.
Eastern Religions as ompreensive Systems of Life 8/30/2011 10:07:00 AM NO% ON EXAM
Silk Road Connection = One of te longest land routes (spanning 1000s of miles connecting major civilizations of te time (ina & India in te East, Arabia in te middle, Byzantium Empire in te West. O Facilitated cross cultural fertilization of ideas O Resulted in a mix of people influencing ideas all over te continent 4 Indian pilosopers in Persia, Byzantiums in ina, etc O Played a significant role in Medieval %imes 4 Lost influence wen Sea Routes came around
I. ndia O Ancient ivilization, goes back to approx. 3,000 B (5,000 years of istory O 'arious social, cultural, religious and pilosopical systems ave existed 4 %ere is no clear cut boundary between social, cultural or religious structure (class structure was partially social, partially cultural, etc. 4 Wat could be social became a part of te religion 4 Divine and uman will always coexist. - Hinduism 4 ou cant miss religion in India. Its everywere. Its not like ere, were tings are easy to miss. O Native Religions: Hinduism, Buddism, Jainism, Sikism O Migrated Religions: Islam, ristianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism 4 Zoroastrianism: A monoteistic pre-Islamic religion of ancient Persia founded by Zoroaster in te 6t century B
1. Religions and Pilosopies of India O ulture Ancient Religious Beliefs / ults 4 Fertility ults: %ree (sacred fig trees, Serpent, Animals 4 Worsip of Icons: Goddess & Male Deities, Fire Ritual, Bating Ritual O Religions of te Indian %ree 4 Hindu: Diwali, Festival of Ligts, God Krisnas Birtday, Sivas Nigt Festival 4 Buddist: Buddas Birtday 4 Sikism: Guru Nanaks birtday 2. Indian Religions are tis worldly type O Living a god life in tis world and ave fun O es religious, celebration of life is equally important O Life is colourful and joyful O Do not worry all te time about karma and after deat crisis O %e common-eld belief tat most Indian religious focus on te afterlife, etc. is untrue. 3. oga: A System for Spiritual Discipline O oga for Weigt Loss & Exercises O oga, a system of meditation & contemplation for discipline pysical and mental awareness O Union wit divine deities. 4. Asceticism as a way of life 6 BE O Jain Monk: Non-violence as a way of life, wearing a mask to avoid killing microbes by inaling tem (really.? 5. Hinduism: %ree Ways of Discipline O to acieve monksa / liberation O ause & Effect = Fruits (wat? O %e discipline of wisdom 6. Reincarnation or Rebirt O ircle of life-deat-rebirt O Its a fact of life 4 Except wen you really screw up. %en you can end your rebirt cycle by completely destroying your karma O entral to religions and pilosopies O Saped te culture and Indian world view(s O If you do karmically well, you will be reborn into someting good 4 Killing an animal is extremely bad karma. 4 %at does not necessarily mean tat you will be reborn into a iger caste. ou could be reborn as a grassopper or someting too. O our consciousness does not usually carry over to your rebirt. 7. Sacred Arts & Devotion O elebration fo life and divine experience O Art is not for our sake in India. 4 Art as more purpose tan just being aestetically pleasing 4 Most early art is religious art. 4 Dancing siva is a cultural / religious dance. 8. ulture and Religion O Diwali Festival: elebration of Life, Family and Social Relationsips O Religion: 'ictory of Good over Evil - Stories of Gods & Goddesses O Religion on display in India - Gods are everywere O Prayers to Sun - worsip at ome O Goddess Laksmi images worsiped in vendor stores O God Ganesa in corporate offices O Puja worsip - performed before a new venture O New cars blessed at temples (wow. O Rituals from birt to deat O Indian weddings - culture and religion weaved seamlessly togeter
China O Ancient civilization, just like India. More tan 5,000 years of istory. O Historical writing became in ina very early, still ave old belief system O ultural, social, religious and pilosopical systems are intertwined over istory. No clear cut boundaries O Major Religions are onfucianism and Daoism O Migrated religions are Buddism, Islam and ristianity
3. Pilosopies as compreensive systems of life and no rigid boundaries O Confucianism - social is sacred for onfucius Morals, etics and social relationsips - cultivation of umaneness 4 onfucius values and ideologies for state and government and noble leadersip O aoism - Harmony of nature and cosmic forces. Individual and universal levels, te perfect balance of ying & yang 4 Daoist Ideas: %raditional Science and Medicine. Holistic approaces: acupuncture, alcemy, erbal treatment, martial Arts, %ai-ci & meditation tecniques 5. Distinctive systems of Pilosopy, Religion and Etics O Daoism = in-ang cosmic forces O inese culture religion and worldviews 4 %e onfucius symbol means total armony, rigteousness in your own life and your relations wit your neigbor
Its like wearing tree ats. popular saying in ina. Daoism for tis world, onfucianism for cultivation of uman relationsips, Buddism for after life.
Its a question of balance! Wy Study Religion? 11/3/2011 11:14:00 AM 1. Wy Study Religion? O Islamic Revolution in Iran, 1979 4 During te Sas regime in 1960-70s. Iran was more modernized in every way. Diplomatic relations w/ US were very good. Sa was deposed in 1979, 40 million people participated in te revolution. (Wy did tey revolt? Ppl started defending te traditional religious values. All te modernization tat ad occurred was turned on its ass. Back to traditional values. O Eastern Europe & Soviet Union, 1989 4 Disintegration of communist order. O 9/11 al-Qaeda attacks on World %rade enter, 2001 4 . O WERE RE&S BSE
2. Insider and Outsider Perspectives O Wo is an insider? 4 Follower/devotee/member 4 Particular tradition 4 Subjective & devotional O Wo is an outsider? 4 Studies about oters religions 4 Objective, analytical, interpretive 4 Not immersed in culture. Not a follower of te religion O %% Q&%E (see "Why Study Religion" pdf) 4 %o Summarize: %e reader is invited to direct is mind to a moment of deeply-felt religious experience.(e can recall emotions of adolescence, .discomforts of indigestion or . social feelings, but .annot re.all any intrinsi.ally religious feelings. Otto is in favour of te first and experience of te religious participant. %e fait of an aderent (follower/devotee Insiders perspective is important because its a self- represented view of te religious experience. Is it a problem to ONL take an insiders view? es. ou need to take bot an insider and outsiders view. 3. %wo views of religion in te modern world O Favourable or Positive: religion is magnificent and te most profound expression of te uman spirit 4 O ondemnation or Negative: religion a bligt, infestation or affliction and creates superstition, ignorance, atred, repression and genocide. 4 Religion creates a dangerous world. It does, indeed, create dangerous situations. SEE $5anish Inq., Holo.aust, Darfur Geno.ides. O %ere is a tird category 4 Ones own religion is true, and all oters is wrong. O Why .ant there be a fourth? An a..e5ting .ategory? O Referring to Muller (Max Muller, German scolar, He wo knows one, knows none. 4 He wo only knows one religion knows noting, because es never allowed is mind to expand beyond is narrow-minded beliefs. 4 ou dont know ow oter tings are different. 4 Kupasta manduka Frog in a Well. (Sanskirt saying %e well is te wole world for te frog, but in reality te world is so muc bigger and te frog just doesnt know it because es never botered to venture outside of te well 4. East-West dicotomy (A division or .ontrast between two things that are or are re5resented as being o55osed or entirely different.) O Western use of te term `religion - piety, fait, action - ristian community O 1490 European world - word religions define oter traditions O ristianity as 3 features: reedal beliefs, sacred and secular, igly exclusive membersip (tink Aristotles 11 uman virtues and ow teyre only applied to a certain sub sect of Atenian men. 4 ou wont find similar tings in Eastern religions. %ey are structured and founded in a different way. O Pagan or Paganism 4 Non-Judeo-ristian traditions 4 Polyteistic religions before ristianization 4 Greek mytology and Roman religions = Pagan Anyting tats not ristianity, Judaism, Islam, etc. is dumped in te Pagan andbasket 4 Actually refers to pre-ristian religions O Wider Sense: Eastern religions, Native traditions of Americas, Non- Abraamic folk O Narrow Sense: Local / rural traditions in World Religions Roster of Religions O 1846 - Frederick Denison Maurice (ANGLIAN %HEOLOGIAN - `great `living `world religions - istorically influential / alive (doctrinal dept - first person to say tat were dumping everyting in a Pagan Handbasket 4 Reason we ave East and West religion definition 4 %ese pagan beliefs are still alive, not all `dead religions O Buddism, ristianity, Islam - Missionary Religions O Judaisim, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Sinto - National Religious Heritage O onfucianism & %aoism ina
ot &nder -ove Categories O %ribal - Oral O Died out religions O New religions in 19 t century
East - West: Geograpical and cultural boundaries O Western Religions: Judaism, ristianity, Islam 4 Islam is a `western religion because its monoteistic O Eastern Religions: Hinduism, Buddism, onfucianism, Daoism, Sinto 4 Polyteistic. O Fence Sitters: Zoroastrianism and Sikism provisional cultural boundaries
O Sared aracteristics 4 Western Religions united by propetic and scriptural revelation from teir ONE God %us says te Lord 4 Eastern traditions are wisdom-oriented - reflective uman insigt of a wise teacer or sage. Buddas experience I meditated and reflected, tis insigt came to me 5. omparative Approac O Religion developed as a discipline of study in 19 t century 4 Max Muller (German Indologist 4 %e Science of Religion 4 Asian religions =/= Pagan ategory O No speculative teories in te past O Accurate information O Non-biased study + interpretation O Sound comparative study differences and similarities O %ey didnt study religions broadly. %ey studied eac individually. 4 Because of Muller, tey started looking more broadly How does God differ in eac religion? Wat differences, similarities are tere? O ircea Eliade, Romanian Scolar (immigrated to USA 4 Religion on its own terms 4 Religion is experienced in a given tradition, by te people / believers and te viewpoints of te believers 4 Historical: tey are reducible to non-religious forms of beavior or non-religious istory (economic, social, political 4 %ere is no purely religious penomena
O %e Language of Religion: 3 categories 4 yth: reation, stories of Gods, propets, saints. Every religion begins wit a creation story to explain ow tey got tere. Examples: Genesis, osmic Man, Muamma, Budda 4 Sym-ol: Representation of core ideas/beliefs. Most religions ave a symbol tat represents tem, suc as te ross for ristianity, te Star of David for Judaism, etc. Examples: lotus, Om, yin-yang, swastika 4 Ritual: Facilitates to practice/experience religion. Rituals are necessary so people can participate and actually become a part of te religion. reates te social aspect of religion. reates te religious community. W/o ritual, religion would long be dead. It lives troug 5ra.ti.e. Religious meaning for believer Enactment of myts, gods deeds, stories of supernatural ontent of religious truts or mytic truts Examples: Eucarist, prasada, salat prayer O %e language of myts, symbols, and rituals creates a world for believers to lead life in a particular way 4 Wisdom, Knowledge, models of beavior and practice, and te religion, te way it was given. O Eac religious tradition as a specific world view.
Academic Study of Religion O Patterns in religious tradition 4 reation Myts, %rimurti/%rinity O Similarities and differences 4 Darma in Hinduism & Buddism O Understanding of oters religions and ones own religion Expressions of Basic Human Religion 8/30/2011 10:07:00 AM 1. %e Stoneenge O Massive circle of standing stones, 3500-4000 BE O onstruction, symbolism, function 4 %e course of te suns movement 4 %e burial ground & ceremonial ground Probably used for ceremonies in ancient times Generally at dawn, lead by a ief / Religious Autority, etc 4 Astronomical observatory 4 Heel Stone as a point of reference Not actually inside Stoneenge O Summer Solstice Sun is norteast O Winter Solstice Sun is in reverse course Sun & %e Order of te Universe
2. Wy is sun worsip so important in oter cultures / religions? O Roman festival of Saturnalia 4 %e annual `rebirt of te Sun O ristians in 4 E Rome 4 %e birt of te Risen rist O inese Emperor 4 %emple of Heaven 4 Winter Solstice O Indian festival of Sankranti 4 New year of te arvest season 4 %e renewal of life O Sun Worsip 4 Pre-istorical agrarian cultures Sun worsip in literate and organized religious cultures rist as incarnate deity Sun as te powerful deity Gayatri Mantra in India
Some concepts in all religions O Powerful Gods 4 God is always masculine, Eart is always feminine O Sacred Places 4 O A Life after Deat O %ree Worlds 4 oncept in every culture. Multiple eavens. 4 Heavens, underworld, eart. Underworld is dangerous, dark Heaven is safe, ligt, etc. O Animal Spirits 4 Feared and revered 4 Wen animals were killed, tey were treated wit te proper respect b/c ppl were afraid tat oterwise, te spirits would be angry and wouldnt allow te people to use te animals for food, etc.
Wy are umans religious? O Religion from uman 4 Experience: Good or bad powers O Emotional 4 Fear, Awe, Love, Hate O Intellectual 4 Questioning: God, Universe, World 4 Humans are naturally questioning uman beings, always ave to question tings
%en Waves of Religion (%e istory of uman religiosity O Wave 1: Samanism 4 Healing Rituals See ealing rituals in most early religions / cultures Esp. in tribal cultures Had all types of rituals to ask for protection and for blessings from te spirits 4 Unfriendly spirits an be anyone / anyting Spirits = associated wit natural penomenon Unfriendly spirits associated wit dangerous / mytical creatures 4 %e Saman A person aving access to, and influence in, te world of spirits Acted as a messenger between umans and spirits Must be psycic, or survived near deat, or watever. Guided by one particular spirit %ake on te persona of a particular spirit during a trance or position 4 Preistoric unting societies: ritual spirits 4 Economics and daily life
O Wave 2: onnecting to te osmos 4 ame about in te Neolitic period osmic cycles Stoneenge O Wanted to study te stars, etc %ombs and Stupas 4 Animals and Gods Animals ave divine power 4 %e ycle of Seasons onstellations of Planets Believe constellations affected uman life O Ancient astrology! Deat & Life: %ombs Animals and Gods (wait, didnt I already say tat?
O Wave 3: %emple Religion 4 Indo-European Priests Dont settle Good, skilled warriors %ravel everywere. %ey were nomads. Adapted everywere easily Sacrificial religion, believed in animal, etc., sacrifices 4 Jewis Priestood First temple built by Solomon (destroyed in 1770 E Establised by David First religion wit legitimate %emple 4 %emple, priests, ierarcy Hierarcy: Priests, Soldiers, Middle class, lower class. 4 Sacrificial religion 4 Patriarcy Male oriented society, and religion
O Wave 4: Propetic Religion 4 %emple at Delpi, Greece %e Oracle 'irgin Priestess ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delpi#Oracle 4 Abraamic Propetic %raditions
4 Seeds of propetic religion 4 Delpi virgin priestess, Apollo, ontact w/ Divine 4 Propesies: Judaism, ristianity, Islam
O Wave 5: %e Energy God 4 Divinity A force / energy 4 Dao (%ao in inese ulture Literally means way, pat or route 4 Braman in Indian ulture Sat (One? %rut? or %rut 4 No attributes. %is is te absolute God. He as no caracteristics. Encompasses all cosmic energy 'ery mysterious
O Wave 6: Purity and Monasticism 4 Ganges Ascetic %raditions Ganges was a river (trans-boundary river in India / Banglades 4 Indian religious / spiritual scools 4 Religious etics & non-violence 4 'ows of celibacy
O Wave 7: Mystery Religion 4 Greek & Roman %raditions oncerned about te renewal of life 4 Mystery and Secretive 4 Persepone myt & afterlife Disappearance of Persepone = disappearance of growt, etc, because er moter (Goddess of te Harvest was miserable witout er ou know te story, us. 4 ristianity Baptism Deat & Resurrection of Jesus
O Wave 8: God on Eart 4 Avatar Incarnation God walks among us, propet kinda ting 4 A savior figure 4 Krisna Avatar of 'isnu 4 Amitaba %e Budda of Saving Grace 4 oming down of a God 4 Divine & Human worlds protect te world
O Wave 9: Scriptural Religion 4 Almost all world religions ave scripture Zoroastrian Avest of Persia Hindu 'edas %ora of Judaism All tree Scriptures: %ora, Bible, Quran (Koran Important in uman istory A book, word of God, divinely-inspired souce of knowledge List patterns of virtuous life
O Wave 10: Fundamentalism 4 American Protestantism 20 t entury Believe in te absolute, be-all-end-all trut of te Bible Most sent cildren to religious scools 4 Fundamentalist cultures %end to be male-oriented %at seems fairly common, doesnt it? Stupid men. 4 Exclusivist claims Our God is te only God. Still, only want to do teir own ting, dont force teir views on oter people 4 Oter religions 4 Militant minorities %ese are te negative minorities. %aliban, Al Qaeda, Wite Supremacy, etc.
%e nature of religious belief and practice as canged over time. O Some religions developed independently on teir own 4 Some inspired oter religions 4 I.e.: all te off-soots of ristianity / atolicism O ange & Response: Human conditions witin Historical, ultural, Socio-Economic & Political ontexts 4 All of tese tings led to canges in religion / culture / tradition Religion in Pre-Historic India 11/3/2011 11:14:00 AM
Outline I. Introduction to India II.Indus 'alley & Harappa ivilization III. Aryan Migration Issues 4 %e Indo-Europeans I'. Hinduism: Banyan %ree
(ntroduction %o) O %erms: Hindu, India, Hinduism, Barat from Sindu River O Persians: Hindu for Sindu, Hindustan O Greeks: Indu (Sindu river 4 320 BE - Alexander te Great comes to India O ultural Migrations, etnic & cultural diversity 4 Different languages 4 ultural is more or less te same But tere are many differences in food, costumes, textiles, religion, language 4 15 different official languages, in addition to national language (Hindi O Indian sub.ontinent or Sout Asia 4 Geograpically separate from rest of Asia. East, Sout, West surrounded by water. Nort bordered by Nepal & Pakistan O 1947 = Indian independence (August 1947, Britis India is dissolved, te Dominion of India gains independence 4 Britis came to India mid 19 t century (1800s
Wat is India today? O Native Religions 4 Hinduism - omprises of a diverse family of devotional and ascetic cults and pilosopical scools, all saring a belief in reincarnation and involving te worsip of a large panteon of deities. 4 Buddhism - founded by Siddarta Gautama in NE India in te 5t century bc, wic teaces tat enligtenment may be reaced by elimination of eartly desires and of te idea of te self. 4 Jainism - A nonteistic religion founded in India in te 6t century bc as a reaction against te teacings of ortodox Bramanism, and still practiced tere. %e Jain religion teaces salvation by perfection troug successive lives, and non-injury to living creatures. Approx. 4 million in India now 4 $ikhism - 6 or 7 million in India O Foreign Religions 4 Islam Long istory in Sout Asia 8 t century onward It goes on forever. More tan 150 million Muslims in India 4 ristianity Started wit European men 15 t century - 19 t century More tan 14 million ristians
O Hinduism & Hindu Identity 4 900 million Hindus & Hindu identify ommunity or caste or tradition Hindu is not just a cultural identity, its a religious identity Even if youre non-religious Hindu, youre still a Hindu. O ou are born Hindu, no matter wat you follow. 'aisnava, God 'isnu 4 Hinduism, as a term, came into use in te 19 t century, plurality of traditions, religious identity Utilised as a glue to old community togeter against Britis rule %ink civil virtue (relationsips are needed to advance society, etc 4 $anatana Dharma or eternal trut 4 Hinduism is not an empty term
ndus Valley & Harappa Civilization
O Nortwest region of India 4 2,750 BE 4 480 km 4 Major Sites Moenjadaro Harappa
O Wo are te Indus & Harappan People? 4 Urban settlements 4 Impressive builders ities Planned streets Residences 4 Water tecnology Great Bat Swimming pool?! Probably a religious ting. Drainage and sewer systems 4 We didnt know about tis civilization until about te 1920s Excavation uncovered all tese civilizations & settlements by accident. Now tere are more tan 1,000 excavation sites 4 Arcaeological discoveries Buildings, Wells, Grain Storage Lotal drainage system Moenjadaro well Harappa city site Harappa city site Harappa Buildings & streets Bating systems in ancient & modern India %e Great Bat, Moenjadaro, 2500 BE O Swimming pool-like brick structure O Water facility system O Religious ritual purpose? O Similar to temple water tanks %emple Water %ank O %irupati, Sout India O 15 t century %emple Water %ank, Sout India 4 %ey knew ow to treat waste water Great job. Seriously. No, seriously. 4 %ey also ad eated public bats We dont ave tose.
O Art of Writing 4 Steatite seals wit pictograps & ideograps Script not completely decipered Sometimes teyre bilingual, not one singular language 4 Dravidian languages of Sout India
O Religion and Ritual 4 Houses worsip Fire alters Rituals Animal Bones (wut. Bating places & wells Every Hindu ome as a ome srine 4 %erracotta figures Stone sculptures Image worsip 4 Male figure wit orns Sitting in yoga posture 4 Halls of worsip Kinda like temples 4 Polyteistic
O Moter Goddess 4 %erracotta female figures Moter goddess cult & fertility 4 %ree spirits - Pipal tree & worsippers wit plants 4 Deat and burial customs Men & women are buried togeter %is is apparently unusual I guess because women used to trow temselves on te funeral pyre O Do tey still do tat? O I know Laura wises tey did.
O Skiled Artisans at Harappa 4 rafted objects Bronze Gold Silver %erracotta Glazed ceramic Semiprecious stones
O Wat caused te decline of Indus & Harappa ivilization? 4 Flooding of Indus River? Or an Epidemic. 4 Not invasions Peaceful migrations of Indo-Europeans from entral Asia 4 Sopisticated urban culture & polyteistic religion 4 Indus & Harappa - older tan 3,000 BE 4 Indian religions and culture
ryan igration ssues - ndo Europeans
O Aryan Migration %eories!! 4 %heory 1: Aryan migration(s to Nortwest India, 2000 - 1500 BE entral Asian tribes - Europe (nortern, western, Ireland, Scandinavian countries Iran - India Aryans - Iran, `omeland of te Aryans and India social class `noble ones (tese sentences make no sense. Evidence: Linguistic links between 'edic scriptures of Aryans and Iranian Avesta, European Languages Sanskrit, ancient Greek and Latin - Indo-European language group 4 %heory 2 Aryan migrations from 6,000 BE Peaceful migration for farming purposes Migration from te region of modern %urkey O Not central Asia Agricultural population 4 %heory 3 Aryans, te original settlers of te India Indus region, te migrations from India to oter regions (%HIS SEN%ENE MAKES NO SENSE OMFG Literary, astronomical, geological data O Rigveda: te River Saraswati & 5 tribes (1500 BE O Geological: River was dry at te time of Aryan migration (wats tat got to do wit it. O Aryans settled muc before 1500 BE 4 Harappa 2,500 BE Political, racial, religious, nationalist agendas
4 None of tese teories are conclusive
O Indo-Europeans and Indus 'alley 4 'ery distinctive cutlures Aryan Nomans - 'edas scriptures, ritual religion, social system Indus Urban people, religious beliefs, image worsip, oter practices 4 Marriage fo two cultures and Hinduism
V Hinduism: Complexity & iversity
O Banyan %ree metapor 4 National tree of India 4 Really fucking big ass tree 4 Huge moter trunk in te center Brances wind and twist, go down into te eart, create teir own trees O Hinduism and its Manifestations O Monoteism & Polyteism 4 One and Many 'edic Religion & Society 11/3/2011 11:14:00 AM
&%E I. 'edic Scriptures II. reation myts III. Gods, Religious Beliefs and Rituals I'. 'edas as scriptural autority
I. 'edic Scriptures
O 1. 'egas, scared scriptures 4 knowledge troug revelation -- $ruti (tat wic was eard Divine words uttered to sages 4 Not originally written by men Initially passed down orally troug generations Began to worry te words would be lost Approx 1,000 (B, AD? wrote it all down Originally came troug te sages God spoke to te Sages and te Sages passed on te word of God 4 'eda from Sanskrit root verb vid (to know O 2. Mantras carged wit power (efficacy O 3. 'edas 4 igest scriptural autority revealed trut by God ortodox traditions follow 'egas te closer your tradition / mantra is to te original 'edas, te closer you are to God O 4. 'edas and te Bramin class, custodians and priestly scools O 4 (again?. Vedic Collections composition 1500 BE - 800 BE 4 Rg Veda - te oldest. 1028 ymns, nature gods, glorification 4 $ama Veda - ymnal singing / music 4 Yajur Veda - ritual and liturgy 4 Atharva Veda - late text, contains non-Aryan material, logic, incantations, medicinal, evil spirits. Sometimes not counted because it contains non-Aryan material O 5. Interpretation of 'edas 4 Eac 'eda w/ 4 sections Hymn Ritual Forest books Pilosopical works (upanisads O 6. Meaning, purpose, true nature, individual & universe relationsip
Hymns: praise of Gods O attle, orses, cildren, food, rain, poetic intelligence, good life
'edic Oral Recitation O 3,500 years O 'edic mantras 4 Sacred sound, divine revelation O Pronounciation & musical scales O Double cecking metod
Creation yths O osmic Person, Hindu World Origins
O 1. %e Hymn of Purusa, te osmic Person 4 Rg Veda 10.90, $ 8, WR 38-39 %e man wo ad a tousand eads (1 It is te Man wo is all of tis (2 All creatures are a quarter of im; tree quarters are wat is immortal in eaven (3-4 %e Man as te sacrificial offering to Purusa (7 Everyting born from im.world (9-14, 4 classes of beings (11-12 %e Man: mout became Braman; is arms. warrior, is tigs te People, is feet te servants (12 Oter tings from tat sacrifice: first ritual laws (darma, verses, cants, formulas, animals, te Man, moon, sun, wind. 4 MAJOR POIN%S One cosmic giant figure containing te universe itself Gods made sacrifice of a Man to Purusa Sacrifice necessary for creation & sustenance of world Four divisions of social classes First laws of darma Sacrificial religion O 2. %e reation Hymn 4 Rg Veda 10.129, WR 29 Neiter non-existent nor existent Noting exists - water, te life force tat was covered wit emptiness.from te power of eat Neiter deat nor immortality - nigt and day. %hat one -reathed, windless, -y its own impulse. Desire in te beginning te first seed of mind. Poets? Seers.found te bond of existence in non- existence Wo really knows? %e gods came afterwards. reation? It formed itself.or peraps it did not 4 MAJOR POIN%S Sopisticated creation ymn 900 BE Abstract & metapysical ideas osmic vision and universe Indian pilosopical tougt - sat (real and asat (unreal Not accepting of ready-made myts Searc for te secret of existence Admits ignorance
ods, Religious Beliefs, and Rituals
O %e oncept of God 4 %wo ideologies 1. One God as te universe Itself, te cosmic Purusa (man 2. Many gods created from tat original One personifications of natural penomena 4 ategory 2. Gods of Nature Fire (Agni Water ('aruna Soma (Plant Warrior God Indra 'isnu and Rudra (Siva Goddess of Speec ('ac - Sarasvati in Hindu 4 Vedic ods (except gni) - guardian deities in classical period
gni, %he od of Fire 4 Fire sacrifice Fire sacrifice for Aryans Agni, Gods uman world Square fire alter, wood, clarified butter, mantras recited Sacrifice of primeval man to te creation idea enacted Rta %e cosmic order %rut & Justice Rains, intelligence, progeny Soma juice Priestly Bramin class
4 Prayer to Agni ($ 11 I pray to Agni (1 ...e will bring te gods ere (2 ...Wealt and growt (3 ... sacrificial ritual (4 . wis fulfilling (5 ... sine upon darkness (6 ... king over sacrifices (8
O MAJOR POIN%S 4 Agni: mediating agent of sacrifice, gods, worsippers 4 Agnis presence terrestrial mid-atmosperic eavenly regions 4 %e primary receiver of sacrifice, oblations to oter Gods 4 Let us make a good fire and pray wit a good fire 4 False accusation to Agni bring upon disaster - extinction of Fire causes problems
Soma, the od of Plants 4 Plant, God, Substance 4 Epedra `Sea Grape 4 Pressing soma in yajna ajna = ritual of sacrifice 4 Exalted states & visions 4 Mystical experience 4 Fire sacrifice pressing soma leaves, soma juice wit milk, consumed by priests & gods 4 A drink of immortality 4 Agni and Soma in fire sacrifice 4 Soma identified wit Moon
ndra, the Warrior od ($ 9-11) 4 Indra te king of te gods te most powerful Warrior 'irtues, Battle, %underbolt Hindu equivalent of Zeus? About 250 ymns specifically to Indra %e slaying of te demon 'ritra demons are seen as evil forces constant battle between te Gods (olders of te good and te Demons (te bad guys Indra released imprisoned rain waters from te body of te demon So tere was no rain O %at seems like a bad idea %e soma drinker and ero of Aryan tribes %e primordial battle between demons and Gods to establis cosmic law and order for umans to prosper A stabled, ordered cosmos by Indra
V Vedas as Scriptual uthority
O Sacred scripture 4 But not kept in ouses 4 Bramins ave been te custodians of 'edas 4 Specialized training is required to read te 'edas its a very ancient form of sanskript not many people can actually read it only te bramins. O Ritual texts used by priests in temple rituals O Sacred mantras 4 Eternal Sound and Words O %ranscendental aspect and autoritative nature 4 Eternal coeval wit God 4 non-uman autorsip originally came from God O Faultless, supreme source of knowledge 4 Everyting in te 'edas is completely true 4 %ere are no flaws in te 'edas If anyting, if you tink you find a flaw, ten you yourself are probably flawed O Ortodoxy determined based on acceptance of 'edas 4 %e more accepting you are of te 'edas, te closer oyu are to God and true ortodoxy O Oter texts more popular tan 'edas 4 %e `fift 'eda
CC&S
O Aryans and 'edic Religion 1500 BE O Nomadic, pastoral culture 4 Hymnal scriptures O One God, many forms O Higly developed ritualistic society 4 fire sacrifice O Specific social ierarcy
No one WRO%E te 'edas. %ey were given te knowledge. %ats wy tey are eternal. %ey coexist wit God. 8/30/2011 10:07:00 AM &panisads Pilosopical Forms of Hinduism 700 - 600 BE
1. Major Features of Upanisadic Period O Upanisad = upa + nisad 4 `seated near by guru/teacer 4 Guru lineage scools, ascetic and ouseolder O A new pase of development 4 Literature & Pilosopy 4 A canon of 18 books (700-600 BE Sanskrit Language Not muc about ritual or religious practice, mostly pilosopical inquires forest wisdom O %raditions of Forest Wisdom 4 A period of great tinkers, ascetic / renouncer traditions 4 Written in te forest 4 Sramama (eterodox (heterodox - not conforming wit accepted / ortodox traditions 4 New ideas & Doctrinal systems 4 arl Jaspers called it the " PER" Many great tinkers born in tis period (not just in India, but all over te world O Dialogical format 4 fater & son 4 usband and wife 4 fellow seers 4 guru & disciples O An era of questioning 4 Autority of Bramins 4 Meaning & purpose of ritual 4 Nature & relationsip of Braman & Atman 4 Karma / Action & Samsara / Reincarnation 4 Welfare of individual 4 Mysteries of life & deat 4 Wat is te nature of individual and god? O Pilosopical interpretations of 'edic texts and religious ideas 4 Doctrines of transmigration, nonviolence, karma 4 Braman and Atman, mystical gnosis in searc of release (moska from te cycle of birt and deat (samsara O Individual and inner contemplation 4 oga & meditation metods O Sifting awareness from ritualism to pilosopical tougt, organized religious community to individualistic focus, external to internal 4 tats not to say ritual isnt important It is still very important today
JR CCEP%S & C%R BEEFS
O 1. How Many Gods Are %ere? WR 41 4 Brihandaranyaka U5anishad, 3.9.1-2 Sakalyas Question to sage ajnavalkya: ow many gods are tere? tree undred and tree or tirty-tree yes, but really, ow many gods are tere? One es, but wo aer tose tree undred and tree? `%ey are but te powers of te gods ekam sat bahuda vandanti %rut is one, people speak of it many O %ere is one, but people speak of it in many ways One and many O 2. Braman, %e Supreme Being 4 Wat is Braman? %e Supreme Being, ultimate reality, universal soul `Pervades and yet transcends not only uman tougt but te universe itself. Braman wit existence or trut (sat, knowledge (jnana, infinity (ananta, consciousness (cit, bliss (ananada 4 Brhadaranyaka U5anisad 3.8 (WR 28 Braman is woven across space like warp and woof, a weaving loom and embodies everyting in te universe - Braman - expansiveness of unknown nature - inseparable entity - everywere Breat or breating %at one breated, windless, by its own impulse. (Rg Veda, 10.129 4 macrocosm (cosmic and microcosm (uman 4 Impersonal absolute, formless entity, neutral gender 4 %o know Braman is to enter a new state of consciousness Engligtened being? 4 Inner contemplation, meditation, yoga
O 3 tman, individual self or soul 4 Seed and %ree - subtle essence of self, idden inside a nut, idden gold in every uman eart 4 %e relationsip of Atman & Braman Salt & Water analogy (Chandogya U5anishad Famous dictum: tat tvam asi (`you are tat 4 %at is you $ 24-25 4 Atman - deatless, eternal, subtle energy 4 Braman, te inner controller of te uman soul Ultimate goal: Knowing inner self, atman, wic means knowing te Braman 4 Wy dont we feel tat way? Ignorance Karmic bondage Samsara cycle of life, deat, rebirt
O 4. %opics from The $.ared $.ri5tures of the ast (18-22 4 amas (te god of deat Instructions to Naciketas A story from The Katha U5anishad %e knowledge of te atman (te self O 15-18 Om and Braman O 19-24 Nature of atman O 2.3.1-13 cariot and orses analogy O 4.1-5 inward and outward looking O 6.1-2 Braman, te root of te eternal tree 4 Sacrifices annot Lead to te Ultimate Goal (arte?! %ension between sacrificial religion and asceticism and devotion Man as to give up all is possessions to tose wo are attending te sacrifice No more fire alters. 1.2.1-9 unsteady boats cycle of old age and deat deluded men and desire cildis and worldly existence 11-13 practice austerities (tapas & devotion tranquil ones spiritual teacer realization of Braman
O 5. Karma and Samsara (cycle of rebirt 4 oncept of Karma or action: two types 1 ritual action in 'edic religion and later ortodox Hindu systems 2 action wit morals and etics in Upanisad period-a system of rewards and punisments attaced to various actions 4 3 kinds of karma: past, present, future awarded/punised based on merits and demerits of uman action 4 A cain of cause and effect leads to numerous lifetimes One would become acc (? to as one acts and one conducts onsequences of ones own actions lead to te repeated rebirt of an eternal and uncanging soul/self
O 6. Moksa Liberation 4 Ultimate goal: breaking of te reincarnation cycle troug good karma and intuitive wisdom 4 liberation (moska from te cycle of life and rebirt (samsara 4 `a supreme, experiential, transforming wisdom 4 liberated soul never undergo samsara again 4 Enligtenment 4 Famous verse (BAU, WR 40 Lead me from te unreal to reality Lead me from darkness to ligt Lead me from deat to immortality Om, let tere be peace, peace, peace
CC&S O Pilosopical scools of tougt O Ascetic / Renunciation / Monastic traditions O %e Pat of Knowledge (wisdom to liberation O Less prominence to sacrificial religion and ritual O More importance to inner contemplation and reflection of ones self 8/30/2011 10:07:00 AM LIS%EN %O LE%URE %O %AKE NO%ES. No time to take notes tis class. %oo busy writing Aristotle paper. 8/30/2011 10:07:00 AM 9/22 was apparently lost in translation.ooooops. 8/30/2011 10:07:00 AM Hindu Way of ife O Lecture 9
&%E 1. %e oncept of Darma 2. Epic Ramayana 3. %e Four Stages of Life 4. %e Four Goals of Life 5. Life-ycle Rites 6. Women's Rituals 7. Foreead marks.
1. %e oncept of Darma O Darma form to old on to 4 Meanings: Religion, duty; social, moral, etical, law (jurisprudence, rigteousness or worldly order, osmic order 4 Darma can be used intercangeably to describe all of tese tings O Darma in different periods 4 'edic Performance of ritual duties by priestly class Perform te sacrifices correctly, as described in te text Darma described te ritual duty of te priestly class, performing te sacrifices correctly. 4 Upanisad Moral duty, individual and universal levels 4 lassical Hinduism Rules of conduct (varna-asrama darma O Sadarana darma 4 ommon to all umanity; non-violence 4 oter virtues 4 ertain principles are drawn under tis category of Darma O Darma is te foundation of Hindu society & religion 4 Weter people follow Darma or not, it is still a cornerstone of Indian / Hindu society
2. %e Ramayana O %e Story of Rama 4 'almiki (te autor and te Ramayana A major text, remember the author 4 A living epic in Hindu life Has been a source of inspiration for generations in India and elsewere For over 2,500 years (or someting 4 Story and main caracters Well known as far as ambodia, %ailand, India, many Sout-Eastern Asian countries Story of te Kings family, te royal family Has 3 wives, no cildren ildren are important to te continuity of te lineage Has a ceremony, asks 'isna for cildren Got blessed food troug te fire. Sared troug te tree wives Got tree sons Life was good until Rama (te oldest son reaced te age of coronation On coronation nigt, te kings second wife demands e fulfill er two wises its a long story as to WH e granted er tese two wises to begin wit Se wants er son, Ko-someting, to be coronated instead of Rama Also, wants Rama to go into te forest into exile for 14 years %e King cant go against is wifes wises because e promised er and it would be against is Darma or someting Woops, missed part of te story So.te second broter rules on is broters bealf for 14 years Rama journeyed and stuff and met a bunca demons Demon king, demon race? O Wat te actual fuck. Rama.well some demon wants to marry im and yada yada O %eres some kidnapping O and a golden deer. 4 Wat te fuck? 4 WR 43-44 Ramas darma is to kill te demon and save is wife! Eventually, Rama kills.someone. Monkey god? 4 Operation of Darma rules in life according to gender and social relationsips 4 Etics and Moral values 4 Most beloved God: Son, broter and usband 4 Best (model of kingsip Ideology in every culture 'ery ideal form of ruling Moral model for kingsip 4 Ramayana beyond India
3. %e Four Stages of Life O Student 4 Goes out into te world for 10-15 years or someting O Houseolder 4 omes ome, marries a girl, starts a ome and a family and suc 4 %o free imself from te debts tat e as to is Guru and te debts e as to is Gods Pays off tese debts by being a part of te family or someting Man is unable to pay off is debts because es ineligible witout a marriage to a woman ant participate in rituals or do anyting O suckaa O Forest Dweller 4 Semi-retirement, 60s if you make it tat old 4 Family duties, spending time on teir own spiritual pat 4 Doing watever te fuck tey want. 4 But in te Ancient India. used to live family beind, go into forest, go live alone in te forest and unite wit spiritualness O World Renouncer 4 After fulfilling all te family duties, tey can renounce teir family and go off on teir own 4 an renounce all teir duties (as long as teyve been fulfilled 4 People rarely do tis in modern times O Bramanical ideology 4 A model for all caste communities
4. %e Goals of Life O 1. Darma 4 ones own duty and rigteousness 4 One sould follow darma all te time O 2. Arta 4 Wealt O 3. Kama 4 desire or passion 4 Sensual pleasures in many types Sexual, aestetic, etc. O 4. Moksa 4 liberation from te cycle of samsara 4 Long term goal for life
5. Life-ycle Rites O Samskaras or sacraments prescribed in law books or darma sastras 4 Normative rites practiced in all Hindu communities O Some sacraments common to all 4 Birt Rituals 4 Marriage ceremony %e debt of man %e Sages %e Gods %e Ancestors A wife is important in fulfilling te darma of a usband Past Arranged marriages Informal networks Present Formal marriage bureaus Matrimonial advertisements, etc Simple or lavis weddings O %raditional and registered marriages %e Gift of te 'irgin Fater ands off is daugter to er groom %e lasping of Hands %aking te Seven Steps togeter %ake steps around te fire or someting Giving of `auspiciousness A neckace for bride Symbol of marriage Excanging of rings 'edic ymns Wife as a partner fulfilling darma of a usband, companion and friend O Not a possession or servant 4 Funeral rites Last sacrament and cremation by fire Burial reserved for young cildren, unmarried, and ascetics Deat, pollution period for a family, inauspicious Life is usually full of appiness, etc. Wait, but wats pollution O Seriously, youre not answering te question. Deat itself is a pollution in life Lasts 10-11 days Last bat and decoration of body, recitation of ymns Funeral rites properly performed; soul remains as a gost (preta Liberation of water and balls of rice O Some are only for te upper classes 4 Initiation (upanayana ceremony 1 st stage of a young Bramin life Student life stage Leaving to a Gurus scool Boy bated and priest cants ymns Sacred tread to wear over is left soulder Gayatri or sun mantra is given to im O Life-cycle rites mark transitions from one stage of life to anoter 4 Kinda like a coming-of-age kind of ting O Bat rituals for pregnant women O Name-giving ceremony O Chudakarana or mundan 4 %onsure (? of te first air of a cild
6. Women and Womens Rituals O ontradictory attitudes towards women 4 Ex: The Laws of Manu, WR 89 4 Woman sould be onoured 4 Womans complete dependence O Western notions of Hindu women due to law books and later commentaries 4 Woman as a dutiful wife, subservient to man O Manus laws neiter prescriptive nor normative O Woman's role significant as a partner to a man in fulfilling darma obligations O Religious and financial independence 4 Women patrons in Ancient & ontemporary India O Women in a Patriarcal Society 4 A domain or rituals, oral raditions, worsip and devotion O 'otive rituals in onor of deities 4 Welfare of oters Family Husband ilren ommunity Domestic realm 4 Worldly rewards not for salvation O Sumangali 4 Married `auspicious woman 4 'irtuous woman rules of stri darma (woman 4 Excels in rituals, fasting, fulfilling vows 4 Steadfast and faitful devotion 4 Powerful and onoured Dead spirits of sumangalis
7. Foreead Marks O A Little Story! O Married women ave to wear te dot 4 But times are canging so sometimes tey dont O Its vermillion red powder 4 Flower petals, etc. 4 not important. O ultural and religious symbol 4 Religion Put on statues of deities 4 oga Worn between te eyebrows because tats te igest spiritual place %ird eye or someting" 4 ultural If you see young women wearing it, tats a cultural symbol. But married women generally HA'E to wear tem Fasion stickers used now Made in different sapes, etc.
LAS% LE%URE ON HINDU WA OF LIFE
Exam on October 6t
%otal Questions, 50 questions and 100 points O %rue/False 4 15 statement questions O Multiple oice 4 35 questions
apter 1: About Religions apter 2: Hindu %raditions: powerpoint lecture topics and terms at te end of te capter Scriptres of te East: covered topics only
ou sould focus: 1. General facts (some major dates O major religious dates 2. Scriptures 3. Deities (Gods 4. Doctrines 5. oncepts / idas 6. Worsip 8/30/2011 10:07:00 AM (First few minutes are clip from Gandhi. Remember watcing tat for Euro?
Outline I. Hinduism in olonial Period O Reforms & Revival II. Hinduism in Post-Independence Era
I. Hinduism in olonial Period O Reforms & Revival 4 1. From Britis Perspective %rade & economic interests Building an Empire Progressin of India Religion monoteistic form of Hinduism Idolatry Social issues aste system O Missionaries saw it as a negative ting Britis didn't understand it (? Sati Burning of te widow %e oldest wife (usually would trow erself on te funeral pyre so tat se could go wit im to deat so tat e was not alone O Because it was a wifes duty to accompany er usband 4 2. From Indian and Hindus Perspective Nationalist Movement and Indias unity as One Nation Freedom movement and Indias independence Religious Reforms 1. Bramo Samaj 2. Arya Samaj 3. Ramakrisna Movement Revival of Hinduism
O %e Bramo Samaj of Roy 4 (protest and response 4 Founded te Bramo Samaj, 1828 4 Humanity, Rationalist, Reformist 4 Influenced by European liberalism 4 Major reform in Hinduism Upanisadic pilosopy, not classical Hindu religious practices 4 Used 'edanta form of Hinduism to defend missionary attacks on Hindu polyteism 4 American Unitarians and The Pre.e5ts of Jesus 4 Never really became a part of mainstream Hinduism O %e Arya Samaj 4 Dayananda Saraswati Sanskrit Scolar 4 'egas as true scriptures, eternal truts 4 Science and reason 4 Rejects iconic worsip Loving savior god Antropomorpic form of god 4 %otal elimination karma not possible so do liberation 4 Humanitarian service Not renunciation 4 Educational institutions for 'edic learning 4 Influential organization and membersip O %e Ramakrisna Movement 4 Neo-'edanta Scool of Hinduism Ramakrisnas vision of goddess Kali Mystic devotee Broader vision of all religions %rut in all religions No caste distinctions Monastic order of ascetics wit a new vision Living in and for te world Humanitarian services Educational & medicinal institutions-first indian model
II. Hinduism in Post-Independence Era O 1. India and Hinduism O 2. Religious Diversity & omplexity O 3. Spiritual Movements and Leaders O 4. Modern Reproductive %ecnologies O 5. %e Hindu Diaspora
O 1. India and Hinduism 4 Indian constitution, religious diversity, secular nation 4 900 million Hindus and Hindu identity Break down of caste system Sectarian and non-Sectarian %raditions 4 Hinduism in te 21 st century Religious tolerance Religious pluralism 4 ommunity violence, politics and religion O 2. Hinduism: Religious Diversity & omplexity 4 %e Banyan %ree or %e River Modals O 3. Spiritual Movements and Leaders 4 20 t entury - Present Acaryas or Gurus Acaryas are initiated into a particular order, teac a particular religious teacing Guru's teac more of everyting Spiritual leaders and organized instutitions Literacy of religious and spiritual values Financial empires - criticism O 4. Modern Reproductive %ecnologies 4 Religion and use of reproductive tecnologies 4 %e Darma Sastra texts and `sisu-atya 4 Abortion = legal 4 Etical dimension Male cildren and female fetuses Female fetuses were aborted because families wanted men O 5. %e Hindu Diaspora in America 4 1. 19 t -20 t century spiritual missions 4 2. 1965 Immigration Act of Asia, Hindu migrations, Hinduism and %emple building
1. Spiritual Missions Swami 'ivekanada, 'edanta O 1893 - %e Parliament of Word Religions in icago O Pioneering disciple of Ramakrisna O 'endanta Scool O Indian spirituality and Western science Oter spiritual teacers O Paramaamsa ogananda 4 Self-realization fellowsip 4 alifornia O Maarsi ogi 4 %ranscendental oga Organiation 4 World-Wide Organization O Swami 8/30/2011 10:07:00 AM %heravada Buddhism O Way of the Elders (ittle Vehicle)
&%E 1. Buddist councils and divisions 2. King Asoka and Darma-rule 3. %eravada in Sri Lanka 4. %eravada scriptures & teacings 5. Practice 6. Film
%ES O Buddist ouncils and Divisions 4 4 t BE %e formal divison of te Sanga (the Buddhist .ommunity of monks, nuns, novi.es, et. 4 %e Stanviravada (scool of te elders %eravada in Pali 4 %e Maasangika Great ommunity Maayana, %e Great 'eicle? 4 Wy te division? Interpretation and differing views of te Buddas teacings and doctrines Sanga rules O King Asoka and Darma-Rule 4 King Asoka irca 273 4 %e Kalinga War onversion to Buddism Asoka conquered te Kalinga As e looked over te dead bodies, te deat and suffering, e began to reflect on all e ad done (WRE 198 4 Darma-rule and Darma-conquest 4 Asokan edicts & Budda darma 4 Buddist stupas and veneration of Budda 4 %e King as Weel %urner Non-violence as a public etic O %eravada and Buddas %eacings 4 Scriptures, %ripatakas, %ree Baskets Get notes on tat 4 %ree gems 4 Four Noble %ruts 4 %e Eigtfold Pat 4 %e Dependent Origination O %eravada Practices 4 Budda-puja anting praise to Budda 'owing to observe te five precepts Refrain from O %aking life O %aking tat wic is not given O Sexual misconduct O Wrong speec O Intoxicants 4 Merit making rituals Bring good karma! Alms-giving Monks for daily food Lay people serve food into alms bowls O On special occasions in temples %e Dana (giving Ritual %emple, pilgrimage place, ome Monks perform Budda puja O Budda image on ome alter, cant paritta scripture String connecting Budda image, monks, lay people ant and Darma talk Idea of merit transfer 'esak %e Budda Day Festival O Budda Day observed O Birt, enligtenment, parinirvana O %emples and pilgrimage Life-cycle and Deat rituals No specific Buddist practices Follows Hindu tradition ustoms in Asian countries 'ipassana Meditation `insigt or `mindfulness Meditation posture oncentration on breating Mindfulness of oter parts of te body O Personal emotions or relationsips wit oters rhats or worty ones Higest beings, nirvana Not called as buddas because tey are followers of te Buddist pat 4 First Buddhist issionaries Monk Mainda Asokas son Sri Lanka, 3 BE The Great Chroni.le Maina converts Sri Lankan kings and people Stupa, darma all, teacings %eravada Buddism Pali canon of Buddist scriptures Lecture 15 8/30/2011 10:07:00 AM ahayana Buddhism O %e Greater 'eicle
&%E O 1. %e Maayana O 2. Scriptures O 3. Maayana Doctrine O 4. Maayana Practice
1. %e Maayana O HIS%OR 4 %e Maayana movement begins in 1 E Dismisses older forms of Buddism as %eravada 4 Maayana Buddism is from one fo te 18 sects 4 Dominant form of Buddism Expanded to entral Asia, ina via te Silk Road 4 Different from %eravada Different scriptures, doctrines, rituals, meditation 4 Maayana opens doors male, female, lay, monks. 4 Lay people can acieve nirvana by perfectly ones own wisdom
2. Maayana Scriptures O Perfection of Wisdom Sutras 4 Scriptures of te east 98-106 1. %e Heart of Perfect Wisdom Sutra (98-99 Bodisattva Avalokitesvara in meditative absorption %e give aggregates (skanda are empty of inerent existence Sariputa asks: How sould a son of good lineage train if e wants to practice te profound perfection of wisdom? Form is emptiness; emptiness is form. %erefore, te mantra. 2. %e Lotus Sutra (103-105 Parable of te Burning House O %e practice of skillful means of bodisattvas and buddas O %actics used for te good and benefit of beings O %o draw tem away from mundane pleasures toward darma O %e parable of te burning ouse 4 %e man and is sons 4 So tis wealty man as sons, and is ouse is on fire. He escapes and e asked is kids to follow im, but tey didnt, tey stayed in te ouse, playing wit teir toys, not realizing te ouse is on fire. He asks tem to come out and tey dont listen. %e cildren are compared to te people in ignorance. %e man O A skillful metod to protect is sons from te burning ouse 4 Penomenal world 3. Everyting is ontrolled by te Mind (106 All penomena are productions of te mind O Everyting is created by te mind Ordinary beings vs. bodisattvas %e world is led, te mind karma, carries all tings away Bodisattvas and mind 4. %e Basis onsciousness (106 %e tougt as te basis consciousness Basis consciousness te fundamental level of te mind O omprised of te seeds of past actions and mental states %e seeds, te Mind, te consciousness %e cultivation of tougts and emotion O Poistive or negative Appropriating consciousness - body Mind te collector of forms, sounds 3. Maayana Doctrine O i. %e Lay Sanga O ii. Doctrine of te %ree Bodies O iii. Expedient Means and te Lotus Sutra O iv. Bodisattvas O v. Merit %ransfer O vi. Meditaiton and 'isualization
4 i. %e Lay Sanga %e cange in te religious role of te lay people Opened doors to lay people in seeking spiritual development and enligtment %e dragon girl story from The Lotus $utra 4 ii. %e Doctrine fo te %ree Bodies osmology Buddists - eavenly realms, buddas, Bodisattvas A transcendental Budda %e speculation of powers of enligtened beings of te past oncept of triple bodies %e Doctrine of %ree Bodies (trikaya 1. Appearance Body or %ransformation Body (nirmanakaya O Manifestation of buddas in uman form, Sakyamuni O %os et in te weel of darma 2. Body of Bliss or Heavenly Beings (sambhogakaya O Bodisattvas (beings of perfected wisdom O Budda Realms (eavenly abodes O Bodisattvas ambitaba (pure land 3. %e Darma Body or %e Absolute Body (dharmakaya O One cosmic reality 4 Oneness of all buddas 4 %e unity of Budda nature or Budda potential in store 4 iii. Expedient Means %e metod of upaya or skillful means Used according to peoples capacity to receive Steps to towards more complex understanding %e lotus sutra and te parable of te burning ouse Scriptures as guides Raft analogy 4 iv. %e Bodisattvas Bodisatttvas Saviors Historically incarnate figures Role as saints or angels Bodisattvas vow and compassion Salvation fo all living beings Bodisattvas Merit transfer for te welfare of people Forgoes te nirvana Returns to te world Ms criticism of %eravada self centered Bodisattvas assist buddas in eavenly realms Buddist teism 'eneration of bodisattvas Prayers of petition anting of ymns Meditation Avalokitesvara %e one wo looks down upon 4 v. Merit %ransfer Buddas and bodisattvas an transfer merit from temselves to oter people Devotees can appeal teir cosen bodisattvas Different in %eravada 4 vi. Meditation and 'isualization 'ision meditations on buddas or bodisattvas A vision of tat figure Acieve ig state of consciousness
4. Maayana Practice O Buddist triple reguge and five precepts O 'eneration of Stupa O 'eneration bodisattvas O Participation in Buddist temple rituals O Observation of Budda Day and oter festivals O Pilgrimage to Buddist sacred places 8/30/2011 10:07:00 AM %he Jain %radition
1. General aracteristics O A minority religion 4 Few million people 4 Western states 4 Gujarat, Rajastan, Karnataka (soutern O 6 t BE India 4 Sramana Renounciation Orders 4 Establised in 6 t BE by ascetic propet Maavira Lineage of 24 teacers O JINAS - `victors or `conquerors 4 Jinas called %irtankaras (`ford-builders 4 Acieved perfect enligtenment and served as guides for oter uman beings O Jainism 4 Pat of self restraint 4 Pat to appiness, trut, self realization 4 Strict ascetic practices O 'eneration of JINAS and te following of teir pat 4 Regal cakravartin (world conquerer 4 Arat in deep meditation (world renouncer 4 Karma accrued from a life of non-violence O Paradoxical disjunction 4 Jains community 4 %is worldly acievements vs. Oter worldly etod 4 Business expertise, worldly success, social identity O Power of renunciation 4 Not in opposing worldly power, but rater in transcending it O Non 'iolence is te igest form of religious conduct 4 Life forms wit an eternal soul (jiva, restrain from arming oters result in good karma 4 Intentional and unintentional karmic actions O %e Self 4 `oter, luminous, radiating peace O Entanglement of te Self 4 Use of worldly substances leads to impurity and suffering O Samyak darsan or momentary awakening 4 onscious minds troug `rigt fait or `correct intuition into te workings of te world 4 Liberation attained - glimpse of self magnificence
2. Origins and Development O 1. Origins 4 Sramana `world renouncing movement 6 t BE Jain Origins 9 t - 6 t BE 4 24 %eacers Risaba, Founder and First %eacer %eacers were from Warrior aste 4 'ardamana Maavira 24 t teacer 6 t BE 4 Rejected te braamnical ortodoxy and flaws wit cosmic social order 4 Salvation from cosmos Purposeless place of suffering O 2. Maaviras biograpy 4 Stories: mytical and istorical elements %ransfer of is embryo from womb of a Bramin woman to a Queen %risala Many previous birts 24 t and te last teacer of degenerate time period 4 Became a Jina and Arat, called Kevalin or liberated one Omniscient & compreending all objects Knew and saw all conditions of te world, gods, men and dmeons 4 Pysical deat, 599 BE 72 years omplete detacment from te world O 3. Jain Monastery 4 Jainism as a four-fold community Monks Nuns Laymen Laywomen 4 ommunity of ouseolders and mendicants (beggers 4 Women into Sanga, notewort feature Maavira sanga 36,000 Nuns 14,000 Monks 318,000 Laywomen 159,000 Laymen 4 Institutionalization of sanga split into two traditions (4 t
BE %raditions developed in isolation due to te migration of some to sout %e Nortern group O Svetambara, %e Wite-lad 4 Abandoned Maaviras principle of nudity 4 Wore wite robes 4 lotes ad no bearing on Spiritual Progress %e Soutern Group O Digambara, %e Sky-lad 4 Nudity = `most elemental expression of non-attacment & non-violence Self-identification two groups Women eligibility for initiation into te order O Sky-clad: women disqualified for renunciation O Wite-clad: permitted women into order Bot groups O Womens bodies are inferior to mens 4 Weaker by nature 4 Ascetic pat is more difficult O Rebirt into male body, prerequisite for full renunciation O Women as noble women 4 Lead a life of semi-renunciation O Wite-lad sect liberal, full initiation for women 4 %e nature of Jinas omniscient Sky-lad No normal life %ranscendent ommunicate by a divine Supernatural sound Wite-lad Omniscent Jina subject to bodily demands Normal life ommunicates troug spoken word O 4. Jain Scriptures 4 %e Agama: 3 brances 1. The Purva or An.ient Jaina metapysics, cosmology, pilosopy 2. The Anga or the limbs Mendicant conduct, doctrine, karma and religious naratives 3. The Angabahya or the an.illary limbs ommentaries on above topics, astrology, cycles of time 4 %ransmission of canon for some generations Was nearly lost after 4 BE Some section of te second branc survived 4 Revived scriptures by bot sects 4 The Tatthvartha $utra of te Umasvati (2 E, fundamentals of te tradition, manuscript followed by bot communities O 5. osmology 4 osmos wit 6 eternal substances (dravya and te knowledge of tese dravya and self perfection 4 2 Broad ategories 1. Jiva (Soul Eternal Substance wit sconsciousness Souls wit samsara jivas of rebirt Souls wit no rebirt are liberated souls 2. Ajiva (non-soul 5 types witout consciousness O Pudgala 4 oncrete substance wit attributes 4 Subtle form in matter and energy, body and mind, tougt, speec, all knowledge, including ow to free oneself 4 Pudgala not opposite to jiva/soul, neutral 4 Attaced to matter and jiga (friend/foe; jiva depends on pudgala for its release 4 Problems All beings wit jiva and ajiva entangled, prevents soulf rom acieving a state of bliss, and its possible in purity and in separation from non-soul Entanglement due to Karmic particles of auspicious, inauspicious, all sould be cleansed 3. Practice O %ree Jewels 4 1. orrect Practice 4 2. orrect Intuition 4 3. orrect Knowledge O Wy Practice is Most Important 4 Jain Worldview Lack of consciousness plays a key roel in te problems of eartly existence Problems due to pysical realities and must be dealt wit pysically suc as penance and fasting Entanglement of soul and non-soul substances real so concrete action is necessary to purify soul 4 Daily life practices Dietary restrictions, fasting Equanimity Prayer of forgiveness Fast to deat Worsip of jinas 4 Practice of ouseolders Acestics vary, levels of intensity also differ Houseolders follow strict fasting and dietary practices No meat, fis, eggs, certain fruits wit seeds, root vegetables, and NO ALOHOL (a! Avoided professions involved wit violence or killing Practice of non-violence Pious acts of donations to temples and religious activities Reflection and meditation A daily period of 48 minutes for meditation or reflection, away from worldly concerns to develop indifference 4 Sallekana, te Fast to Deat Ritual fast voluntarily undertaken by advanced spiritual Jains to celebrate te deat Deat as a total detacment, accepted wit equanimity, jina te victor over ego, gred, body Higly self-disciplined Jains for dispassionate deat, a power of explusion of bad karma nad ensure a good rebirt NO% SUIIDE Able to `discard te body witout pain or fear, great deat wit calmness and equanimity, te ultimate reward of a live wit according to Jain princeiples O 'eneration of Jinas 4 Devotion and worsip of jina images in temples 4 ant namokar mantra, omage to jinas and oter mantras to destroy all sins (devotional 4 Worsip puja Pat of self-reaisation and `worldly benefits (non- teistic aspect 4 Pure devotion to accrue good karma 4 Annual pilgrimage to Jina of Sky-lad sect 8/30/2011 10:07:00 AM %he Sikh %radition
1. Origins O Sikism and Siks 4 Punjab region 4 Nortwestern India 4 25 million practicers in India O Only 500 years old 4 Guru Nanak, founder, establised in 1519 4 Developed into religion wit lineage of 10 gurus O Sikism 4 ommunity and religious identity 4 More recently a political identity as wel O Similarities to Monoteistic traditions of Islam and Jewis, wit a strong Hindu influence O Birth of Sikh %radition 4 Hindu and Muslim devotional mysticism 4 Nort Indian Saint %radition Bakti or devotional Hinduism Hata yoga, a system of meditation postures and breat control Sufism, Islamic mystical tradition 4 Battles between Mugal emperors and Sik gurus Small scale battles, not large one 4 Sikism was born int is culture milieu
2. Guru Nanak, %e Founder O Nanak, 1469 4 Katri upper caste 4 Nortwestern India O Birt Narratives 4 1. Early ontemplative Period 4 2. Mystical Experience and Divine Mission 4 3. ommunity of Disciples O Divine Experience 4 Page 112 4 %ravelled extensively 4 Pilgrimage to Hindu and Muslim scared sites O Foundation of te Sik Pant 4 1519 community and spiritual guide Devotional singing (kirtan and congregational worsip, recitation of te name of God. O Nanaks 974 devotional ymns into scripture in te Adi Granth 4 Distinction and identity of is teacings, beliefs, practices 4 Welcomed oter religious communities 4 Message to difference audiences (page 113 O 3-fold Discpline 4 Name 4 arity 4 Purity O Spiritual message troug 3 institutions 4 1. Sangat (Holy Fellowsip 4 2. Daramsala (te Sik place of worsip (gurudwara Gurudwara = ouse of worsip 4 3. Langar (te communal meal No social status, caste, gender O Guru Nanak on women 4 Page 114 4 Against te inferior position assigned to women %ried to establis equal position for women
3. %e %en Gurus and %e Sik Pant O A spiritual lineage of ten gurus over two centuries 4 Katri ig cast O &R&S 4 Angad (Guru 2 ollection of Nanaks ymns ommunal kitcen (langar Gurumuki s.ri5t Hired by Nanak to continue te religion Nanaks own son would not be te next guru, as e followed a different religion 4 Amardas (3 Founded a town Missionaries, expansion of Pant Women as missionaries No custom of veils, widows are allowed to remarry Did a lot for womens equality Publised pamplets of Sik tradition so teir religion could circulate Son of Angad (? 4 Ramdas (4 Amritsar %own of pool of te nectar of immortality Ramdas 679 new ymns 4 Arjan (5 1. Harimandir %emple 2. Adi Granth 3. %e Sik Pant Independent identity ange in community leadersip, politico-military role Imprisoned by Mugal Jaangir O First martyrdom 4 Hargobind (6 %raditional religious autority and new temporal autority wit an emblem An emblem of two swords flanking a double- edged sword and a discus Battles wit Mugal troops 4 Guru 7 and 8 were not interested in politics Did more spiritual tings Mugals didnt care about tem 4 Execution fo %eg Baadur (9 by Mugal Aurangzeb (last emperor of Mugal period, Emperor wit te bad reputation, 0 religious tolerance Islamic laws & taxes, forced conversion (te Mugal, btw %eg Baadur became a martyr for freedom of worsip and uman rigts 4 Gobind Sing (10 Sik community as military order Kalsa, institution for loyal Siks Initiation by a sweet drink of `nectar 4 End of te line of te human gurus 4 %e scripture and te corporate community Given te rigt to continue by temselves
4. rystallization fo te Religion O 1. Sacred Scripture 4 Adi Granth (first book or Guru Granth $ahib (`revered bok tat is te Guru 1,430 pages 36 contributors Poems from te first 5 gurus and gurus from oter communities Liturgical prayers 31 major musical patterns Miscellaneous works but tis is te main one %rained reciting person of granthi 4 Dasam Granth %e Book of te %ent Poems of te 10 t Guru 1,428 pages Morning Prayer (`Master Recitation 4 %e Adi Granth as divine word, divine guidance, divine autority 4 Gurudwara Adi Granth Higest onor of worsip 4 Books All comforts, a bed, a ligt, a fan 4 anopy Ik Onkar monogram 4 Books carried in procession 4 Food offerings, sweets Blessed by God 4 Hindu temple worsip parallels O 2. %e Kalsa 4 Guru Gobind Sing, 10 t Guru Initiation of kalsa Siks, solidarity of sik community Baptism-like reitual Spring consecrated water (nectar - nectar bearing Five items of identity (%e Five Ks A set of rules of fait and practice Rait (Pat Reborn in te ouse of Guru, Sing for Men, Kaur for Women Five Ks O Kes - Uncut air / Beard O Kirpan - sword O Kara Iron - steel bracelet O Kanda - sword O Kangra - comb O Kacera - boxer sorts %ey are te five mandatory pysical symbols O Siks cannot ide teir identity, must ave tese symbols O 3. Sik Doctrine 4 1. Akal Purak %e Ancient One, Formless God, nirguna, transcendent Saraguna w/ attributes in te divine Name (nam and bani or Words and persons of te Gurus 4 2. Endless creation, unmanifest reveal 4 3. Karam, Sansar, Divine Grace Karma or Action Moral cause and effect Sansar, reincarnation `Divine Order Divine Grace overrides Karma 4 4. Divine Revelation Nam, divine word, guru Self centeredness (haumai from Akal Purak %e rebirt of Akal Purak troug guru, divine word, grace 4 5. Remembering te Divine Name Devotional signing Meditiation Good actions as part of spiritual discipline and more empatsis on divine grace 4 5. Four notions of Gurusip God as guru %eacer as guru Scripture as guru ommunity as guru
5. Practice O 1. Prayer 4 %e Divine Name 4 5 liturgical prayers 4 Nanaks ja5gi Wat is Japgi? O 2. ongregational Worsip 4 anopied stand %e Bok 4 Devotees cover teir eads 4 Men and women separately 4 Granti Reader 4 Musicians singing 4 %aking te Gurus word 4 Kara Prasad A blessed food O Nanaks mul mantra (root statement 4 %ere is one Supreme Being, te Eternal Reality. He is te Creator, witout fear and devoid of enmity. He is immortal, never incarnated, self-existent, known by grace troug te uru. %e Eternal ne, from te beginning, troug all time, present now, te Everlasting Reality. O 3. Langar, te ommunity Kitcen 4 Meals for everyone 4 Siks and non-Siks O 4. %e Annual Festival cycle 4 Hindu festivals wit a different purpose 4 New ears Day for te birtday of Sik community (Khalsa 4 Diwali festival Hargobind from imprisonment under te Mugal court O %he Sikh dentity 4 1. %e `baptized amrit-dhari Siks into te Kalsa institution (influencial minority 4 2. %e kes-dhari Siks (uncut air males w/ NO Kalsa intiation (majority! 4 3. %e sahaj-dhari Siks `gradualist (saven and cut air
efining the Sikh %radition in the 19 th Century O %e Sing Saba movement 1873 O Religion five undred years old O Independent religion wit influences from Hinduism and Islam O Developed by 10 Gurus