Transcript Aryan Roots - Scarsdale Schools

Hinduism & Jainism
Percentage of
Hindus in
World Today
The Evolution of Hinduism
The roots of
Hinduism are
diverse, and
yet have given
life to two
other
religions:
Jainism and
Buddhism.
Indus Valley Roots of Hinduism:
concern for
social
order:
-where lived
based on
occupation
Reconstruction of Mohenjo-Daro
Indus Valley Roots of Hinduism
ritual bathing
-center of city was openair “pool temple” run
by priests
Great Bath, Mohenjodaro
Bathing in the Ganges
Between 2500 and 2000 BC:
Indo-Europeans migrated all over Eurasia
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
cattle worship
-herdsmen :. valued cattle
-socio-economic status
based on cattle
-sacrifices to gods
(cattle, horses, goats, sheep, grain)
Jaisalmer:
Desert Temple in the heart of
Thar Desert
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
Vedic gods
(devas)
-worshiped through
rituals and
sacrifices
Brahma, Siva, Vishnu
(Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebid)
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
The Vedas
(“knowledge”)
-instructions on
how to support,
enliven, and
nourish the Vedic
gods
The Vedas
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
Mantras
-sacred utterances
of utmost
importance to
ritual
“Om”
The sound of the universe
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
Sanskrit
-ancient language of India
“Aryan” -> “Erin” -> “Iran”
“naus” -> “nautical” -> “navigation”
“deva” -> “divine”
Sanskrit alphabet
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
There is a cosmic
order to the
universe.
(rita)
-maintained through ritual
Where did I come from?
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
“creator god”
(Brahma)
-spiritual core of:
temple
town
country
universe
all devas
Brahma
“God”
If Brahma is not a “god”, what exactly is
Brahma?!
What is the nature of the universe?
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
Atman
(the transcendental essence of
human life) – “the soul”
Brahma = Atman
What is the
nature of “god”
and my
existence?
moksha
the release from the human
condition that prevents the
union between Brahma and
Atman
maya
the illusionary condition of
everyday existence
samsara
the cycle of birth and death that
makes up our physical existence
(Hindu idea of reincarnation as
it is written in the Upanishads)
What am I supposed to do here?
dharma
one's righteous duty or virtuous path
To answer the question:
But what IS
the “right
thing?!
Live a life that promises worldly joys
and heavenly happiness.
a.k.a… Do the right thing!
Doing the right thing is a
combination of social obligations
and ethics… so just follow your
dharma and obey the Vedas.
How and why should I obey the Vedas?!
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
Brahmins
– priests
-the gatekeepers to Vedic
rituals
-knew mantras and
ceremonies
-were the spiritual
philosophers and
guides
Brahmin priests (today) practicing ancient Vedic rituals
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
Upanishads
-priests started to
ponder the purpose
and meaning of the
Vedas
-through spiritual
philosophy, they
introduced new
concepts
Vedic priests explained the reason for
following one’s obligations to his or
her dharma and the sacred texts as
“karma”.
Oh wait, I get it! It’s
like good vs. evil!
karma
the ongoing influence of past
actions on the future
NO! Karma is not about what is
“good” vs “bad”. It is about
what is “right” vs “wrong” according
to your position in
society and the Vedic teachings.
Wait… why should I bother following
my dharma and the sacred texts?!
According to the Vedic priests, it
is the only way to break the
cycle of samara (reincarnation).
It is the only way to have one’s
atman reunite with Brahma.
How do I know what my dharma is?
Aryan Roots of Hinduism:
Caste
– socio-economic class system
-adhere to the social expectations, and
cultural and religious obligations of
your role in society
Lakshmi: (caste goddess)
Goddess of wealth and success
Caste provides:
-identity for individual within social group
and in society at large
-regulations on ritual, food, occupation,
marriage, responsibilities to other castes
This is explained in the Bhagavad Gita:
“Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, knowledge,
wisdom and religiousness—these are the natural qualities by which the
brahmin’s work.
Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle,
generosity and leadership are the natural qualities of work for the kshatriya.
Farming, cow protection and business are the natural work for the vaishya,
and for the sudra there is labor and service to others.
By following his qualities of work, every man can become perfect…
By worship of the Lord, who is the source of all beings and who is allpervading, a man can attain perfection through performing his own work.”
(BG 18:41-44)
Untouchables?!
These are people who live outside of the caste system and are to avoid contact with
other Hindus inside the caste system. To Hindus, people who are born into this class
have failed to live up to their dharma or violated marriage rules in a previous life.
They are believed to be "untouchable" because they are so spiritually impure that
they could contaminate a caste member’s karma.
Traditionally, they are responsible for “dirty” jobs: street cleaners, latrine cleaners,
scavengers, leather tanners, cremators, butchers, etc. Because they are not
admitted into Hindu temples, they have formed religious sects of their own.
After India became an independent nation in 1947, its new constitution in 1950
outlawed the practice of "untouchability." The constitution also established
affirmative action programs to ensure that the scheduled castes would have access
to higher education and better jobs. These clauses guarantee that a certain
percentage of university and job openings will be assigned to disadvantaged
groups. Because of these programs, there has been some improvement in the
socio-economic mobility of untouchables, or as they are now commonly referred to
as “scheduled castes” or “scheduled tribes.” Sometimes they are even referred to as
“dahlit” or “suppressed.”
So then if untouchability is illegal and there
are laws in place to help and protect
suppressed groups, then it doesn’t really exist
anymore, right?
Unfortunately, no.
There are 2800 castes in India today:
1677 castes are considered suppressed groups, with
varying degrees of spiritual impurity.
They make up about 60% of India’s population
Dalits, at the very bottom, make up 16-25% of the
population (125-300 million men, women, and children).
90% of the poor and 95% of the illiterates are Dalits.
They suffer trafficking and human slavery, are
shunned charity, are discriminated against in the
education system, and are constantly under threat of
physical violence, especially in rural villages where
the caste system is the main form of government.
How is this system held in place?
What is used to justify this system?
religion
-authority of the Brahmins
-varnashrama-dharma
spiritual philosophy
-brahma
-atman
-karma
-samsara
-caste dharma
Challenging caste dharma impacts your karma which can
lengthen your samsara and prevent your atman from
becoming reunited with brahma.
Personal Reflection
Varnashrama can be seen as a basis for categorizing diversity in human
society. It can also be seen as the basis for inequality, since each group
has its own rights and responsibilities.
1. Do natural classifications exist and can they be useful? Or are they
all merely man-made and exploitative?
2. Is it advantageous to divide society according to each person's
natural tendency for a particular type of work?
3. Is it advantageous to form educational, political, trade, or labor
associations or guilds for co-operative and mutual support?
4. How does SHS apply varnashrama-dharma principles? In other
words, are there any categorizing of individuals and are there
specific rules and responsibilities for each of these groups?
The Ascetic Roots of Hinduism
Yoga “union”
goal of yoga:
- To become one with one’s Atman
Yoga poses
Yoga
• Restraint: nonviolence, speaking truth, no stealing,
celibacy, lack of greed
•
•
•
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Discipline: cleanliness, serenity, devotion to god
Posture: controlled, comfortable firm yoga poses
Breath Control: mind can be controlled by breath
Withdrawal of the Five Senses: as yogini enters
into deeper awareness, witness loss of five senses as
mind retreats into the body
Yoga
• Concentration: as yogini enters deeper awareness,
mind becomes increasingly focused and
concentrated
• Meditation: uninterrupted flow of awareness
• Absorption/Union:
1. awareness of self and surroundings has vanished
2. then attain perfect consciousness—there is nothing left
to reflect in the mind.
The mind has been released!