Psych 415: 9/8/2009 Hinduism: guest speaker Dr. Manhadevan Hinduism Very important we study other religions -don?t get absorbed in our own In the world [ab Hinduism]: Reincarnation on wikipedia = fairly accurate Typically associated with Hinduism but also in many others Read: Autobiography of a Yogi by Yogananda Ancient tradition be in state of bliss à develop/grow religious anadar: bliss = Samadhi: inexhaustible bliss Get Samadhi by live in peace, life = full of joys & sorrows -cant have one w/o the other, cant know joy without having experienced sorrow Obtainable in many ways/thru many avenues Scripture à obtain by leading life of Niyama: living life of discipline Be ?master of self-pleasures, don?t be slave to them? not denying self but control Niyama achieved by: (1) Yoga, (2) Meditation, (3) satsong: good company (4) attend religious services Orgins of Yoga = India but not exclusive copyright to Hinduism Buddhism is diff from Hinduism, Buddhism focus here & now, how deal w/ suffering 1-4 = important obtain Samadhi Richard Davidson = from Wisconsin Experiences affect/change hippocampus & structure of the brain Nueroplasticity Researched 1,000 Hindu monks à yoga & meditation affect brain Practices 1-4 change us Diff types change brain Same ideas of reincarnation were part of Islam, Christianity, etc @ some point in time Where, to whom, born = map - determined by previous lives Some attempts validate reincarnation If lead good life this life à carry into next Birth & re birth = individualistic Bad things/sorrows in this life are from decisions/mistakes made in past life(lives) Reincarnate til Samadhi state, then stop, less choose to reincar. Again JC chose reincarnate to destroy evil A single life time may be possible/sufficient obtain Samadhi Promise of Hinduism Monotheistic religion: diff. manifestation but one supreme being/one creator: ?Brahma? Males & females god manifestation All ppl = nboth chars. (m & f) just in varying degrees T.S. Elliot (???) Diff. manifestations of Brahma Services frequentness depends Female god (Durga): usually T/F Days historically celebrate female Male: usually M/S Religious holidays = red on calendar in India Divali: usually in Oct. but depends how year falls So many holidays they don?t get off work (cept for the biggest ones) Narakasura = demon DurgaPooja = worship god in female form, 9 nights of worship after sundown 9 nights = ?navaratri? Prayer, activities like stick dance Most effective method(s) of obtaining Samadhi = meditation & yoga Help control desires So many diff schools of Yoga, some better for others (all diff like ppl diff) Numerous ways meditate (hot crossed legged) He = lay down, focus on breathing & quiet mind Some focus on mantra Tradition in fam. Typically sway which god manifestation worship Manifestations are like Christian denominations Diff sects = diff manifestations Heart of Hinduism = tolerance Realize one way work better for some, others = other ways better 1-4 = commonality among denominations/sects Journey may be different but get to same place Karma = acomplishments of this life that affect reincarnation & next life ?balance sheet? of good & not so good stuff Tendencies in life from previous Ex: smoke b/c smoked in previous life; etc What we do - if we try control & do good then we can/will influence our lives Influence possibility on our life = promise of Hinduism Karma from past = predict our future (like any other) interpretation(s) of scripture varies Caste system = blamed on economics not religion (karma) Person?s caste = depend fam. Born into but also what ppl do with circumstances given? Since last 50s years: little connection between born into caste & where end up; change b/c B.R. Ambedkai (1891-1956): bottom/?dog? à top He was voice for lower class; felt ghandi didn?t do enough for lower(lowest) class 1950s struggle: lower class successful change/better/allow social mobility & better treatment of lower class Caste born into is influenced by karma but individual can empower self & build themselves better lives (move up) Material wealth: go ahead accumulate but must respect money & not love/obsess/worship it? wealthy must use money to help the less fortunate? all must help others to the best of their ability (increase/affect their karma) Many yogis stress helping others à raise their quality of life (betters your karma) Once person obtains Samadhi, ppl can change bad karmas of others by go thru suffering (willingly) to speed up others obtainment of Samadhi by riding/lessening their bad karma What they believe JC did on by dying on the cross Orthodox views on birth control: tolerated but Hindu thought sex only purpose = prorogation of species but then don?t need BC Extreme orthodox = against Tantric view: karma sutra = ?love science? Can use sex & other pleasures to further Samadhi Use sex in form of yoga (thus all the positions) Not many yogis recommend bc likely get stuck in pleasure aspect Not just sex but other ?material pleasures? [food, etc] Drugs = prescribed then okay Moderate view = alcohol = ok if limit/control (spectrum of views like other religions) Many believe complete suppression/forbiddance but that leads to ppl wanting/desiring more Spectrum of views like any other religion Yogis = sacred? Rishis = sacred Hinduism = not one specific scripture but multiple Bhagavad Gita = ?song of God? 18 chapters Rishis = decide how lead lie (provide knowledge) Unpanishades = ?knowledge gained at foot of the teacher? 100s in Verdas Like the ?milk? Verdas à Unpanishades à Bhagavad Gita Bhagavad Gita: 2 groups: (1) Pandavas = good guys; (2) Kauravas = bad guys Feud over property: game, bad cheated & won all good?s properties, goods to live in forest & banished for 12 years, came back to claim (5) reading scriptures à gain Samadhi Ramayana: good prevailing over evil Demon abducts sita Eventually Ram. Slays demon & frees Sita
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