Hinduism

Lecture 8: Part 1

This week


Hindu Practice (Part 1)

  

What is Dharma?, What is Ashrama, Varna/Jati ? Ashrama, Varna/Jati What is Hindu soteriology? soteriology?

Hinduism in context (Part 2)

Practice: Dharma


Dharma, can be seen as duty. But it also involves:



Playing ones personal and social role according the principles of the divine, and according to the relationship between Atman and Brahman.

Practice: Dharma


Often this is understood as ones religious duty. But is not merely about following certain commandments and precepts. Dharma also conditions certain ways of perceiving the world. For example, it conditions peoples perception of social relations and class. It could also condition perceptions of violence. We shall see examples of this in the next part of the lecture

Practice


Samsara: Samsara: cycles of rebirth



Unlike the Ambrahamanic faiths, ones earthly existence does not merely cease upon death. Rather, ones essence transcends the expiration of the physical body such that conscisuoness is transferred to another form.

Practice: Dharma


Karma: one reaps what one sows in the next life



Samsara is affected by the ways in which one lives ones life. If one has been righteous and virtuous in fulfillment of ones Dharma, one can expect to gain favourable conditions in the next cycle of rebirth.

Practice: Dharma


Moksha: the final, ultimate goal or release Moksha:



That is not to say that humans are just engaged in endless cycles of rebirth. The final ultimate goal is when Atman and Brahman are united, as described in the Upanishads. The ultimate goal is a release from rebirth.

Practice: Hindu soteriology

 

What: Moksha. Unity of Atman and Brahman Moksha. How? Follow ones Dharma, practices acts of sacrifice and yoga, observe the responsibilities of ones caste When? Cyclic states of samsara, more than samsara, one lifetime. Where? Not a place, but a state. Everywhere, as Brahman infuses and transcends all things. Who? Atman as I transcends cycles of rebirth, but is also reunited with Brahman in a state of Moksha

 

In the next section on the Bhagavad Gita, Gita, reflect on these two questions: How is one to fulfill ones dharma? Is divine intervention necessary?

Bhagavad Gita


In this scene from the Bhagavad Gita, the Deity Gita, Krishna counsels Prince Arjuna, who is torn between Arjuna, going to battle against his kin. Krishna reminds Arjuna that he must detach himself from the consequences of battle, for battle in this case is consistent with ones Dharma, spiritual dutyWhy does Arjuna eventually agree to go to battle? WATCH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B4Z1PB97KY

Bhagavad Gita


After having seen the clip, compare Dharma with Jihad



Both of these describe ones religious duty, and is a fundamental element in piety. Both of them involve the regulation and maintenance of inner states of consciousness, manifested in outward form. Can you think of how they might be different?

Bhagavad Gita


Religion as a rationale for violence



In the Bhagavad Gita, military action is justified Gita, by Dharma. What is important is that one must detach oneself from the consequences of ones actions. Think back to our lecture on Islam. What is the rationale for violence in Jihad? What are the conditions under which violence is permissible? What are the rewards for violence? What kind of internal subjectivity must one have to engage in violence?

Practice: Caste and Society



Ashrama: Ashrama: Life Stages (there are 4) (Patterns.. p. 132)



Humans go through different stages in life. They are:



Celibate student, married householder, retiree dwelling in the forest, wandering renunciant

Practice: Caste and Society



Varna/Jati: Varna/Jati: Life Status (there are also 4)



Brahmana (priests and scholars), kshatriya (rulers and warriors), vaishya (merchants and artisans), shudra (laborers and peasants) Untouchables, or Dalits, are not a caste per se. Dalits, They exist outside of the caste system, and they must not intermingle with the other castes for the sake of maintaining purity. WE shall examine Dalits in the second part of the lecture

Caste and Society



Why is the observance of ones caste important? Your textbook suggests a rationale for caste (see next slide):

Caste and Society



If all social groups fulfill their role, then all of society will find harmony and stability, not through the advancement of individuals but through the harmonious relations of groups. In this case, caste is not so much hierarchial privilege as it is a heightened responsibility within a particular social group (Patterns 146)

Caste and Society



According to the previous passage, caste is not about hierarchy, but about each social grouping having particular roles and duties to fill for the maintenance of social harmony. Watch the film called Hello, Im Dalit in the Dalit second part of the lecture, and discuss this.

Hinduism
Lecture 8: Part 2

For this part of the lecture



Contextualise Hinduism in relation to modern life: Technology and Love

 

Yoga Arranged marriage

Contextualise Hinduism in relation to issues of social class

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBxy1R0jitM

Yoga Wars


Yoga is program of discipline and liberation. There are four primary types; Jnana, Karma, Jnana, Bhakti, Raja (Patterns.. P. 132) Bhakti, Is yoga a religious activity from the perspective of yuppies (Young Urban Professionals)? Or is it more about other reasons, such as social interaction, health/fitness? How did yoga become devoid of its religious significations?


http://www.pureyoga.com/en/singapore/ http://www.trueyoga.com.sg/

Marriage
 

Patterns P. 147 Think about the concept of falling in love in the context of an arranged marriage, which is not uncommon among Hindus. Sometimes, these marriages are arranged via online, both with and without the complicity of the man and woman themselves: How are Hindus supposed to love?


http://www.hindu-singles.com/ http://www.hindu-

Caste and Society



If all social groups fulfill their role, then all of society will find harmony and stability, not through the advancement of individuals but through the harmonious relations of groups. In this case, caste is not so much hierarchial privilege as it is a heightened responsibility within a particular social group (Patterns 146)

Hello, Im dalit


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBxy1R0j itM Think about caste in terms of modern day notions of class, human rights, equality and social relations. Remember how we asked whether democracy was compatible with Islam? This time, we ask is Human Rights compatible with Caste?