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Mother India

Mother India. Home of a thousand religions. Religion – our Context. Definitional problems with the term Contextual issues “Religion” in the West derives from ligare "bind, connect"; likely from a prefixed re-ligare , i.e. re (again) + ligare or "to reconnect.“

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Mother India

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  1. Mother India Home of a thousand religions

  2. Religion – our Context • Definitional problems with the term • Contextual issues • “Religion” in the West derives from ligare "bind, connect"; likely from a prefixed re-ligare, i.e. re (again) + ligare or "to reconnect.“ • The term “religion” was introduced into many cultures by Westerners, as many communities did not see a need to differentiate the term

  3. Religion in the Ancient world • Religious Identity was more of a representation of the local ‘lifecraft’ of choice • Acts of devotion and loyalty were geo-politically located and interchangeable • Not terribly unlike political parties • Largely about tax-bases

  4. Religion and politics • From Egyptian to Late-Roman times, there was little distinction between “religious identity” and “political identity.” • The mixture of “religious” and “political” identity, although usually present, is not as emphasized in other cultures around the world

  5. Different views on religion • Religion as a set of beliefs • Supernatural beings • Classical Western Monotheism definition • All powerful, All knowing, Omni-benevolent • The Theist Position • The Deist Position

  6. Different views on religion Theist Deist • A personal, omnipresent God • Involved, and invested, in the microprocesses of the world • In this view, questions are a sign of poor faith • An impersonal, departed God • Set the game up in advance and is sitting back, watching it unfold • In this view, questions are a sign of good faith

  7. Non-Monotheistic Systems • Generally, non-monotheistic systems are polytheistic, and consist of soap-opera-like explanations of the different gods and the games they play with each other and humanity • Consider the tale of Prometheus Link: http://www.authorama.com/old-greek-stories-5.html

  8. India and The Vedas • In the case of India, we find the earliest known religious texts, i.e., the Vedas • The Vedas consist of four main parts • The Rig Veda • The Yajurveda • The Samaveda • The Atharvaveda

  9. The Vedas • These books consisted of a 1000 or so verses that served as ritual manuals, priestly duties, and the occasional philosophical speculation.

  10. The Vedas • All of what would later be known as Indic Religion and Philosophy is, in various degrees, responding or reacting to the initial ideas set up in the Vedas.

  11. Vedic Culture(s) • These early Vedic culture(s) serve as the roots of what would later be a large number of religious traditions • Hinduism • Buddhism • Jainism • Each of these traditions is, to some degree, responding or reacting to the Vedas

  12. Hinduism • The term itself is problematic, as it has non-Indian origins • Originally, the invading Muslims (starting around the 7th century) coined the term to designate “non-Muslims”.

  13. Hinduism • They had to cross the Indus River to enter India, which was called “Sindu” in ancient Persian, so the people on the other side were simply called “Sindus”, which, when transliterated from Persian, became “Hindu”

  14. Hinduism • Unlike religions in the West, there is very little tying the myriad of traditions and philosophies of this continent together except • Their response or reaction to the Vedic ideas • The ideas of Dharma and Karma

  15. Dharma in Hinduism • This view of Dharma originates in the Vedas • The Vedas, it is believed, are the sound of the Universe itself, an embedded instruction manual available to those who can hear it. • Thus, Dharma is, initially, the correct engagement of the Universe via the instruction manual. That is, it is a proper Vedic ritual or sacrifice

  16. Dharma in Hinduism • One of the most influential Vedic text on present day Indian society is Rig Veda 10.90, the PurushaSukta • In this verse we get a quasi-creation story in which the primordial man, the Purusha, is sacrificed by the God(s) to bring about the world of man. This act creates and sustains what is called the caste system, or theVarnasandJatis

  17. Dharma in Hinduism • The head is transformed into knowledge, and from it springs forth the Brahmin Caste • Vedic poets, priests, scholars, teachers, landowners • The Arms represent strength, and becomes the Kshatriya caste • nobility, warriors, landowners • The Abdomen and legs becomes the Vaisya caste • 'the people' : traders and farmers • The feet become the Sudra caste • artisans, workers, servants and household slaves

  18. Dharma in Hinduism • There is also an additional caste, not mentioned in this text, that, up until recent times, was called the “Untouchable” caste. • This was the ultimate outsider in society, those who did not fit at all and were the receipts of the harshest social cruelty • Currently, they have renamed themselves “Dalits”, meaning “oppressed” and are actively seeking social justice for their caste

  19. Karma in Hinduism • The basic idea is that every action generates conditions for more than the mere visible effect • In a Vedic context, karma refers specifically to the rituals and sacrifices

  20. Social Order in Hinduism

  21. Social Order in Hinduism Can read, write, and teach the Vedas Can learn and read the Vedas Can only hear the Vedas. Can’t read them or write them Can’t read, write, or even hear the Vedas or speak of them

  22. Ethics in Hinduism As these three upper sections, or “twice-borns”, have the opportunity to learn the Vedas (in varying degrees) they are also expected to adhere to the four stages of life

  23. Four Stages of Life • Once a higher Caste Birth is achieved, then a “twice-born” is obligated to follow the Four Stages of Life, or the Āshramas • The Āshramasare in turn governed by the four goals of human life • Dharma • kama(sensual pleasure) • artha (wealth) • moksha(liberation from samsara)

  24. BhavaChakra Also known as Samsara

  25. Four Stages of Life Dharma is the objective Kama and artha This is a preparation stage Dharma and Moksha

  26. Overall Structure of Hindu Ethics • The ethical thing to do for a given individual is based on their Caste and stage of life, or, their Dharma is based on their Varna and Ashrama • This particular understanding of one’s specific dharma is called their Varnashrama Dharma

  27. Overall Structure of Hindu Ethics • The ethical thing to do for a given individual is based on their Caste and stage of life, or, their Dharma is based on their Varnaand Ashrama • This particular understanding of one’s specific dharma is called their Varnashrama Dharma

  28. The Vedas • Not only are the texts written in a distinctly Indian style, i.e., in a very evocative style, but Sanskrit itself is an amazingly flexible language • The alphabet is structured in accordance to the sounds within the human voice

  29. Sanskrit

  30. Sanskrit

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