gek1045 lecture 8 hinduism

HinduismHinduism

Lecture 8: Part 1Lecture 8: Part 1

This week…This week…

Hindu Practice (Part 1)Hindu Practice (Part 1) What is Dharma?, What is Dharma?, What is Ashrama, Varna/Jati ?What is Ashrama, Varna/Jati ? What is Hindu soteriology?What is Hindu soteriology?

Hinduism in context (Part 2)Hinduism in context (Part 2)

Practice: DharmaPractice: Dharma

Dharma, can be seen as “duty”. But it also Dharma, can be seen as “duty”. But it also involves: involves: Playing one’s personal and social role according Playing one’s personal and social role according

the principles of the divine, and according to the the principles of the divine, and according to the relationship between Atman and Brahman. relationship between Atman and Brahman.


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

PracticePractice

Samsara: Samsara: cycles of rebirthcycles of rebirth Unlike the Ambrahamanic faiths, one’s earthly Unlike the Ambrahamanic faiths, one’s earthly

existence does not merely cease upon death. existence does not merely cease upon death. Rather, one’s essence transcends the expiration of Rather, one’s essence transcends the expiration of the physical body such that conscisuoness is the physical body such that conscisuoness is transferred to another form. transferred to another form.


Karma: Karma: one reaps what one sows one reaps what one sows in the next in the next lifelife Samsara is affected by the ways in which one lives Samsara is affected by the ways in which one lives

one’s life. If one has been righteous and virtuous one’s life. If one has been righteous and virtuous in fulfillment of one’s Dharma, one can expect to in fulfillment of one’s Dharma, one can expect to gain favourable conditions in the next cycle of gain favourable conditions in the next cycle of rebirth. rebirth.


Moksha: the final, ultimate goal or release Moksha: the final, ultimate goal or release That is not to say that humans are just engaged in That is not to say that humans are just engaged in

endless cycles of rebirth. The final ultimate goal is endless cycles of rebirth. The final ultimate goal is when Atman and Brahman are united, as described when Atman and Brahman are united, as described in the Upanishads. The ultimate goal is a release in the Upanishads. The ultimate goal is a release from rebirth.from rebirth.

Practice: Hindu soteriologyPractice: Hindu soteriology

What: Moksha. Unity of Atman and BrahmanWhat: Moksha. Unity of Atman and Brahman How? Follow one’s Dharma, practices acts of How? Follow one’s Dharma, practices acts of

sacrifice and yoga, observe the responsibilities of sacrifice and yoga, observe the responsibilities of one’s casteone’s caste

When? Cyclic states of samsara, more than one When? Cyclic states of samsara, more than one lifetime. lifetime.

Where? Not a place, but a state. Everywhere, as Where? Not a place, but a state. Everywhere, as Brahman infuses and transcends all things. Brahman infuses and transcends all things.

Who? Atman as “I” transcends cycles of rebirth, but Who? Atman as “I” transcends cycles of rebirth, but is also reunited with Brahman in a state of Mokshais also reunited with Brahman in a state of Moksha

In the next section on the Bhagavad Gita, In the next section on the Bhagavad Gita, reflect on these two questions:reflect on these two questions:

How is one to fulfill one’s dharma?How is one to fulfill one’s dharma? Is ‘divine intervention’ necessary?Is ‘divine intervention’ necessary?

Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita

In this scene from the Bhagavad Gita, the Deity In this scene from the Bhagavad Gita, the Deity Krishna counsels Prince Arjuna, who is torn between Krishna counsels Prince Arjuna, who is torn between going to battle against his kin. Krishna reminds Arjuna going to battle against his kin. Krishna reminds Arjuna that he must detach himself from the consequences of that he must detach himself from the consequences of battle, for battle in this case is consistent with one’s battle, for battle in this case is consistent with one’s Dharma, spiritual duty…Why does Arjuna eventually Dharma, spiritual duty…Why does Arjuna eventually agree to go to battle? agree to go to battle?

WATCH: WATCH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B4Z1PB97KYv=_B4Z1PB97KY


After having seen the clip, compare Dharma After having seen the clip, compare Dharma with Jihadwith Jihad Both of these describe one’s religious duty, and is Both of these describe one’s religious duty, and is

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


Religion as a rationale for violenceReligion as a rationale for violence In the Bhagavad Gita, military action is justified by In the Bhagavad Gita, military action is justified by

Dharma. What is important is that one must detach Dharma. What is important is that one must detach oneself from the consequences of one’s actions. oneself from the consequences of one’s actions.

Think back to our lecture on Islam. What is the Think back to our lecture on Islam. What is the rationale for violence in Jihad? What are the rationale for violence in Jihad? What are the conditions under which violence is permissible? conditions under which violence is permissible? What are the rewards for violence? What kind of What are the rewards for violence? What kind of internal subjectivity must one have to engage in internal subjectivity must one have to engage in violence?violence?

Practice: Caste and SocietyPractice: Caste and Society

AshramaAshrama: Life Stages (there are 4) (Patterns.. : Life Stages (there are 4) (Patterns.. p. 132)p. 132) Humans go through different stages in life. They Humans go through different stages in life. They

are: are: Celibate student, married householder, retiree dwelling Celibate student, married householder, retiree dwelling

in the forest, wandering renunciantin the forest, wandering renunciant

Practice: Caste and SocietyPractice: Caste and Society

Varna/JatiVarna/Jati: Life Status (there are also 4): Life Status (there are also 4) Brahmana Brahmana (priests and scholars), (priests and scholars), kshatriya kshatriya (rulers (rulers

and warriors), and warriors), vaishya vaishya (merchants and artisans), (merchants and artisans), shudra shudra (laborers and peasants)(laborers and peasants)

Untouchables, or Dalits, are not a caste per se. Untouchables, or Dalits, are not a caste per se. They exist outside of the caste system, and they They exist outside of the caste system, and they must not intermingle with the other castes for the must not intermingle with the other castes for the sake of maintaining purity. WE shall examine sake of maintaining purity. WE shall examine Dalits in the second part of the lectureDalits in the second part of the lecture

Caste and SocietyCaste and Society

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


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


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

HinduismHinduism

Lecture 8: Part 2Lecture 8: Part 2

For this part of the lecture…For this part of the lecture…

Contextualise Hinduism in relation to Contextualise Hinduism in relation to ‘modern’ life: Technology and Love‘modern’ life: Technology and Love YogaYoga Arranged marriageArranged marriage

Contextualise Hinduism in relation to issues of Contextualise Hinduism in relation to issues of social classsocial classhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBxy1R0jitMhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBxy1R0jitM

Yoga WarsYoga Wars

Yoga is program of discipline and liberation. There Yoga is program of discipline and liberation. There are four primary types; Jnana, Karma, Bhakti, Raja are four primary types; Jnana, Karma, Bhakti, Raja (Patterns.. P. 132)(Patterns.. P. 132)

Is yoga a religious activity from the perspective of Is yoga a religious activity from the perspective of yuppies (Young Urban Professionals)? Or is it more yuppies (Young Urban Professionals)? Or is it more about other reasons, such as social interaction, about other reasons, such as social interaction, health/fitness? How did yoga become devoid of its health/fitness? How did yoga become devoid of its religious significations?religious significations? http://www.pureyoga.com/en/singapore/http://www.pureyoga.com/en/singapore/ http://www.trueyoga.com.sg/http://www.trueyoga.com.sg/

MarriageMarriage

Patterns P. 147Patterns P. 147 Think about the concept of ‘falling in love’ in Think about the concept of ‘falling in love’ in

the context of an arranged marriage, which is the context of an arranged marriage, which is not uncommon among Hindus. Sometimes, not uncommon among Hindus. Sometimes, these marriages are arranged via online, both these marriages are arranged via online, both with and without the complicity of the man and with and without the complicity of the man and woman themselves:woman themselves:

How are Hindus supposed to love?How are Hindus supposed to love? http://www.hindu-singles.com/http://www.hindu-singles.com/


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

Hello, I’m dalitHello, I’m dalit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBxy1R0jitMv=WBxy1R0jitM

Think about caste in terms of modern day Think about caste in terms of modern day notions of class, human rights, equality and notions of class, human rights, equality and social relations. social relations.

Remember how we asked whether democracy Remember how we asked whether democracy was compatible with Islam? This time, we ask was compatible with Islam? This time, we ask is Human Rights compatible with Caste?is Human Rights compatible with Caste?

gek1045 lecture 8 hinduism

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