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Module 8 Coherence Systems

Module 8 Coherence Systems. In the next three weeks we will look at three major regional religious traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. Coherence Systems – Overview of Today’s Work. First part of the lecture:

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Module 8 Coherence Systems

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  1. Module 8 Coherence Systems In the next three weeks we will look at three major regional religious traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam

  2. Coherence Systems – Overview of Today’s Work First part of the lecture: • General introduction to regional religions and our approach to studies of religion • A brief introduction to Hinduism

  3. Module 8 Objectives On successful completion of this module, you should be able to: •  identify the principal religious traditions of Australia, Asia and the Pacific, and those countries where each is practised • describe key ideas of each religious tradition included in this module

  4. Module 8 Objectives • identify the central source books or written record (if any) of each religious tradition • identify the ways in which a particular religious tradition can affect the behaviour of believers

  5. Coherence systems The Asia Pacific region is rich in religious traditions • Let’s acknowledge some of them …..

  6. A Coherence System • We use the phrase “coherence system” rather than “religion” to avoid some of the cultural baggage associated with “religion” • The cultural baggage might include angels, Easter, church schools, historical strife between different faiths, God, Sunday school, Christmas ….

  7. A Coherence System • Is a creative intellectual and emotional attempt to make sense of human life on earth, and to construct a satisfying order of life • Is a way of connecting this world with “the world beyond” which we glimpse, and is a way of bringing the worlds together so they “make sense” (cohere).

  8. Hinduism • the religion or coherence system of “the people beyond the Indus river”

  9. There are Hindus living in Fiji, Malaysia, Bali, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Africa and the West Indies Why is that? Why these countries? Hindu communities

  10. The Indic States • Southeast Asian states which were influenced by Hindu philosophical, religious and social ideas

  11. What does Hinduism signify? • Like “game”, Hinduism signifies a whole range of beliefs and practices • Think of the word “game”. Talk to your neighbour about what “game” really means. Can you pin it down?

  12. Three Organising Questions • From What? What is the situation in which we humans find ourselves, and from which we seek liberation? • To What? To what do people aspire? What are peoples’ spiritual goals? • By What? How do people seek to achieve their goals?

  13. Hinduism and the human situation • Human life is cyclical, not linear

  14. Hinduism and the human situation • The character of our life is affected by behaviour in past lives

  15. Hinduism and the human situation • Past behaviour determines our status in life

  16. Hinduism and the human situation • Individuals are ordered hierarchically in terms of ritual purity

  17. The Law of Effects:The Law of Karma • Karma derives from a word which relates to the idea of creation, creating (kri) • Karma is an account of what we do, what we create in life, what the effects of our actions will be

  18. How is Karma expressed? • The effect of what we have done determines our status in future lives • Our status is indicated by our caste membership • A Hindu’s caste status is an indication of their ritual purity

  19. Major Caste Divisions • Brahmin • Kshatriya • Vaisya • Sudra • Dalits (outcastes)

  20. How Does Caste Affect Daily Life? • It affects marriage: people should marry partners of the same ritual purity level • It affects interpersonal relations: who you can share food with, where you live • It privileges some groups, and marginalises others: some groups, for example, are allowed access to the scriptures, others are not

  21. The Human Situation - The Hindu View Summary • Human life is cyclical • Individual status is affected by behaviour in past lives • Humans are ranked in terms of ritual purity • Humans can aspire to a higher rank • Higher rank is dependent on the way we behave on earth (on our karma)

  22. Q2: To What do Hindus Aspire? Hindus aspire to three things: • Survival, and betterment in life • The acquisition of merit, and the desire to be re-born well • Liberation and salvation

  23. Q3: How do Hindus try to achieve their spiritual goals? We can identify three different, very general patterns of behaviour which Hindus follow in trying to reach their goals: • The Pragmatic path or pattern of behaviour • The Dharma path, or the Wheel of Law pattern of behaviour • The Transcendental path

  24. The Pragmatic Path • The main concern is to avoid misfortune, and to ask supernatural agents to help • Religious behaviour typically involves making vows, making offerings, performing rituals

  25. The Dharma Path • Hindus who want to achieve merit and to be re-born “well” follow the path of dharma, sometimes called the Wheel of Law

  26. The Concept of Dharma • Good or righteous conduct; to live life in accordance with the laws and duties of your caste • Dharma differs for different castes • Dharma is an elite tradition centred on the scriptures and commentaries • The dharma path depends on priests and scholars who advise others

  27. The Dharma Path • Hindus who follow the dharma path typically observe caste rituals, read scripture, go on pilgrimages to holy places, build temples, give gifts to temples, • try to “live right”, try to “live well”

  28. The Transcendental Path • The drive is toward liberation from this world and human existence • The individual who follows the transcendental path renounces the world and tries to find release through different disciplines

  29. A Contemporary Fourth Path: Devotionalism • Devotion, called Bhakti, is very popular in India today • The way of achieving your spiritual goals is seen to be devotion to the gods. • Devotion can take many forms: singing, chanting god’s name, prayer

  30. Devotionalism and Liberation • Salvation or liberation is understood as a gift from god • So liberation can come from intense devotion, and does not depend on endless re-births, endless shifts up the scale of ritual purity • Devotionalism is a very radical doctrine, as it offers release here and now, in this life

  31. Devotion: the Contract Whosoever offers to me with a pure heart A leaf, a flower, a drop of water, That offering from a pure heart I accept

  32. How Do Hindus Achieve Their Spiritual Goals? Summary There are three paths to spirituality: • The Pragmatic path • The Dharma path • The Transcendental Path

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