intro to religions: hinduism and buddhism

Upanishads

A major book in Hinduism that is often in the form of dialogues that explored the Vedas and the religious issues that they raised. -(upa=near, ni=down, shad=sit) taught to those sitting down beside teachers. -Vedic tradition that largely reshaped Hinduism with philosophical knowledge. -Early Upanishads largely composed between 800-500 BCE -Later Upanishads composed until 16th century. Originally in oral form.

Indus River Valley

A valley and early civilization along the Indus River, one of the longest rivers in the world.

Bodhisattvas

Future Buddhas. As the ideal types for Mahayana Buddhism, beings who have experienced enlightenment but, motivated by compassion, stop short of entering nirvana so as to help others achieve it

Deva

Gods of Hinduism

Four Varnas (name them)

Hereditary Castes: 1. Brahmins- priests, academics (mouth) 2. Kshatriyas- warriors, kings (arms) 3. Vaishyas- buisness community (thighs) 4. Kshudras- servants, commoners (feet) Out of Caste: The Dalit/Harijans- Pariahs, Untouchables

Hinduism: According to Stephen Prothero

Hinduism is the *way of devotion* Problem: *samsara* (death and rebirth) Solution: *moksha* (release) Technique: *devotion*

Notes September 14

Hinduism: You can worship the god that you want to worship Understood through heritage Clusters of communities that worship a particular god Hinduism as diverse, dynamic, colorful, joyful Religion that teaches you how to access your body and mind to access a different plane of existence Stephen Prothero's Pathways to Salvation Every religion has: A core PROBLEM to solve A SOLUTION to the problem And a TECHNIQUE to get there According to Stephen Prothero: What does Prothero say is the core PROBLEM of human life to be solved in Hinduism? Samsara, reincarnation Babies cry because it is a shock to be back Given the circumstances you had in your life previously The core PROBLEM is samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth The SOLUTION is... Moksha: release or freedom from samara (the cycle of birth and death) Maya is illusion, this world is just an illusion, we are trapped in this illusion, we are meant to get out of it, we have to wake up and let go Physicist would say, reality that we are observing right now, we cant see all the micro energies surrounding us We are made of code, DNA, force much greater than we are Computer code, made of 1s and 0s Idea of illusion, concept of seeing in a mirror, we can only see the next realm in the mirror but not face to face Physicist, same as how we see material life The Technique is... DEVOTION In Hinduism, gods represent different qualities of ultimate reality All the gods are aspects of that reality, depends on how we call on those gods Gods in Hinduism, living in a different realm Saints in Abrahamic traditions, lived in this realm, now in a different realm The problem is samsara (cycle of death and rebirth) The solution is moksha Gods will help you, give you insights Basic beliefs and concepts in Hinduism Truth is eternal One: truth is eternal: but many pathways to truth Like the Houston smith concept, truth is non negotiable Two: Brahman is the Ultimate Reality Brahman is the Supreme Cosmic Spirit Central concept in Hindu philosophy "Creative principle which lies realized in the whole world" (Paul Deussen, 1912) It is dynamic, in reality everything is dynamic Everything is changing microsecond to microsecond Identity is an illusion? Cluster of thoughts? Iron in your blood, comes from a distant star billions of years ago More than a individual, part of a community Brahman is like... drop in ocean: impact of a drop of water is common analogy for Brahman- the self or one Supreme spirit- that is the origin of the universe Ultimately you're meant to merge with that ultimate reality Represented by Lord Brahma, "The Creator" He is the creator god, different than brahman Three and Four: Samsara and Reincarnation: The perpetual cycle of life and death Hindu Mandala represents the universe of Samsara 248 dimensional object, shape of everything Reincarnation (Katha Upanishad 2.2.9) Reincarnation Bhagavad-Gita 2.22 "as the embodied soul continually passes..." Five-eight Mechanism of Samsara or Reincarnation: The Atman is eternal and transmigrated to new bodies Karma accumulates over time based on good and bad actions and determined next life Follow your Dharma (duty, destiny) in order to achieve Moksha Moksha, which is the Atman's liberation from samsara (cycle of birth, death and rebirth) FIVE What is Atman? That Atman (soul) is indeed Brahman It is also identified with the intellect, the mind, and the vital breath, with the eyes and ears... (Brihandaranyaka Upanishad 4.4.5, 9th century BCE) The full dimensionality of human life and good and bad wrapped up in the soul that you carry Your eternal soul related and is a mixture of the good and bad, impulses that we have Things that we have done The atman is the self, soul, does and acts so it becomes The self is identified with desire alone Different ways of thinking about atman, caught up in these desires that you're pursuing Yom Kippur, time to stop, think about how am I behaving towards others SIX: The Law of Karma Present condition of your soul (confusion, or serenity) is a product of your past decisions. You have made yourself what you are Discussion about justice, charity Researchers put people through a challenging trial Each member had to give a short speech on kindness and goodness They were anxious Your present thoughts, decisions, and actions determine your future states Every person gets what that person deserves even though decisions are freely arrived at, there is no chance in the universe Karma is the middle way between determinism and indeterminism, no randomness in the universe SEVEN Dharma Universal law determining right behavior and social order Each person's social, personal and cosmic duty "It is far better to discharge one's prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another's duties perfectly." Bhagavad-gita 3.35 Caste system, Buddhism renounced Vedic texts They converted to other religions Judaism, Christianity, Sikhism The caste is a hierarchical concept related to where you live, gender, language EIGHT- Moksha- liberation String Theory- Multiverse Ultimate reality, like a tree with different branches Ultimate reality- Brahman, multiple different branches and outcomes Came from one energetic burst of material Different branches, different dimensions of life NINE Four Types of Yoga Karma Yoga- Action Yoga (serving god in humanity) Bhakti Yoga Devotion Yoga (worshipping God) Ten , Four Varnas (Castes) Brahmin priests Kshatriya warriors, kings Vaishya merchants, landowners Sudra commoners, peasants, servants Untouchable, outcaste, out of caste, street sweepers, latrine cleaners Eleven, four stages of life (Ashramas) Learning Marriage and production Retirement Renunciation of world to seek liberation Four Stages of Life Ashrams Student 1-24 Householder 25-50, Grihastyhya Retired, 50-75 Renunciation, Sanyasa- 75 to 100 years Twelve Four Desires of Life Kama - pleasure, physical or emotional Artha Kama- pleasure, physique or emotional, okay to enjoy life Artha, power, fame and wealth Dharma- moral duty, also desire your moral duty Moksha, liberation from samsara Deities in Hinduism: Smartism, saivism Trimurti: 3 aspects of the universal, Supreme God Vishnu (preserver), Shiva (destroyer/judge) Brahma (creator) Tridevi: Consorts of the Trimurti Saraswati/Brahma, Lakshmi/Vishnu, Parvati/Shiva Together Shiva and Parvati gives birth to a child, with elephant head and child body, Ganesha, very popular god Vishnu, has different incarnations Ramayana- largest epics within Hindu scripture Male, female aspects FOURTEEN: Four Major Hindu Sects More diversity among these different traditions Shaivism, lord shiva the destroyer, asceticism and yoga, live within communities where they renounce the world Vaishnavism Shaktism, female goddess shakti, is the supreme being, primordial comic energy Hindu divine mother Smartism: worships the supreme as five forms in one: Ganesha, Shiva, shakti, Vishnu, and Surya Brahman the Supreme Being from which they emerge Fifteen Hindu Scriptures Vedas- earliest Hindu scriptures Upanishads- 800-500 BCE and 100 BCE Vedas Himalayas, River Saraswati

Notes September 30

Human Culture has gone through three transitions From PRIMATE CULTURE to MIMETIC CULTURE (imitation), through the expansion of executive functions From MIMETIC CULTURE to MYTHIC CULTURE through the emergence of linguistic symbols From MYTHIC CULTURE to THEORETIC CULTURE, through the intervention of writing in sum, this is a time when reflexivity emerges ("Thinking about thinking") Our life through symbols, ex: letters, icons on a computer Thinking about the symbolic culture through language Language was the vehicle for mythology to be continued, to be passed down Time of reflexivity, how do we think? Why do we think this way? Theory of mind If you know someone well enough you may know what they may be thinking More you understand the culture, more you understand the individual and you can practice the theory of mind Sacred objects would hold deep meaning, god or the transcendent Transcendent moves above everything else in life In Catholicism, saintly images or statues Ex: Torah in Judaism, Quran cannot be set on the floor, must be elevated above because they are so sacred Axial Age is a term coined by Karl Jaspers, who places the era between 800-200 BCE Most scholars argue the Axial Age took place between 500-300 BCE (excluding Homer) Axial Age: a new era in human cognition Nicholas Baumard, Alexandre Hyafil, Pascal Byer = "What Changed During the Axial Age" (2015) Different time frame and thought process in that time What changed during the axial age: cognitive styles or reward systems? Because human societies are expanding, from narrative to analytic Evidence based, much less emotive, fast, technological mediation (passage of information) Impact on what people's attitudes were towards money, sex, morals Buddhism emerges from Hinduism around this time: More ethical and less ritualistic in nature Hinduism focuses on realizing Brahman (ultimate reality) from within the Atman (self or soul) Buddhism focuses on finding the Anatman (non soul or non-self) through meditation and a disciplined life Ultimate Reality is knowing that nothing in oneself is "me" - everything is an illusion including the self In suffering I learn to connect to everyone else, suffering is a vehicle, leads us to more compassion We think of ourselves as being unique but we are like a cell compared to other cells, part of a larger system Asia-centric religion: 5th century BCE- Siddhartha and his teachings- Nepal and India 3rd century BCE - King Ashoka becomes patron of Buddhism 100 BCE-100 CE- Mahayana Buddhism emerges (get to the next level and come back to serve others and a Boddhisatva) 1st century CE0 Buddhism arrives in China 520 CE- Zen Buddhism arrives in China 538 CE- Buddhism arrives in Japan from Korea 7th-8th century CE... According to Stephen Prothero Buddhism is the way of awakening In search of Enlightenment: Practiced yoga Deprivation of worldly goods Extreme asceticism Self-mortification Collapses and almost drowns Accepts milk and rice pudding from a village girl The Middle Path Meditation is the right path to awakening A path of moderation Avoid extremes: self-indulgence or self-mortification Follow the Noble Eightfold Path Nirvana: to extinguish or to blow out Siddhartha was a Chakravartin "Turner of the Wheel" In samsara you can be born into many levels of existence Pig, snake, cock -> delusion, ignorance, greed, anger Base emotions shed over the course of all of our lifetimes Bodhisattva: A person who is able to reach Nirvana but chooses to return to save others from suffering Pali Cannon First Buddhist Texts c. 1st Century CE The core texts that most of the Buddhists revere The Spread of Buddhism 500 B.C.- 1250 A.D. Trirata: Triple Gem of Buddhism Buddha: Original Nature Sangha: Harmonious community of monks and nuns Sharma: compassionate teaching of Buddhas words and actions "I go to the buddha for refuge, I go to the dharma for refuge, I go to the sangha for refuge" Go to the scriptures and lessons for refuge the sangha What is Refuge? Where your soul and mind can be safe, relieve stress and suffering Mind over matter, the way we think about out suffering, how do I think about this so I can learn something In conflict, lean in rather than run away Judaism, sense of repairing the world, Islam sense of charity, be there for other people Hinduism, good karma Taking Refuge in the Buddha Take refuge means not taking refuge in him as a person but in the fact of his awakening Refuge in the dhamma, act of going for refuge, commits oneself to taking the buddhas teachings or the dhamma, primary guide to ones life You would follow the noble eightfold path Shama Three Levels The words of the buddhas teachings The act of putting those teachings into practice The attainment of awakening as a result of that practice Taking refuge in the Sangha Consists of all people, lay or ordained, who have practiced the dhamma to the point of gaining a glimpse of the deathless The communities of ordained monks and nuns How to lead others to enlightenment: After reaching enlightenment, Siddhartha laid out the foundation of all of his teachings- The Four Noble Truths: The essence of Buddha's teachings All existence is suffering (dukkha) The cause of suffering is craving or clinging The cessation of suffering comes with the cessation of craving The Noble Eightfold Path (leads to the end of suffering) Suffering is not our own Cessation of suffering comes with the cessation of craving Ultimately we are meant to see ourselves as fully human, connected to all other human people Suffering comes in three forms Ordinary Suffering Suffering from change Suffering from existence The Four Noble Truths Truth #2 The Origins of Suffering is Craving Craving attention arises from ignorance, greed hatred Broader knowledge that we have to get to Takes time and meditation and patience Time alone, when you let things percolate Taking time for yourself, allowing yourself to ponder, understand your own motivations Right speech, speech has weight, can injure, how we talk to ourselves, what we say about others Right mindfulness, how present are you Right effort, right action, right understanding, right speech, right concentration A monk approached the Buddha and asked him to summarize the Noble Eightfold Path Three types of right intention: good will , ill will What is right speech? Don't slander, be rude, lie Right Action and Right Livelihood Morality: 4. Right action, 5. Right Livelihood Concentration Right effort Right mindfulness Right concentration Meditation: Focus -> Clearing the false mind (or ego mind) and brining it into true mind Dualism-> Letting true and false mind coexist Jon Kabat-Zinn, Professor Mindfulness practice and secularized it Theravada is insightfulness practices, less ritualized, less interested in ritual or aesthetics, no incense, not that many bells, no dressing up in robes, they are generally less hierarchical Generally interested in rational or clarity-> give reasons for what you're doing Texts from the Pali canon, 5th century BCE Buddagahosta More contemporary writers and thinkers Focus on the Buddha Gotama Some are more fanciful, interpretations Buddha is the focus, little else that surrounds the Buddha Objective is to attain awakening Mahayana, Buddhist practices as Zen Tibetan Buddhism, considered a branch of Mahayana Buddhism More devotional, more aestheticized practice, incense, bells and sounds, people in robes, Zen practice

Dharma

In Hindu belief, a person's religious and moral duties

Reincarnation

In Hinduism and Buddhism, the process by which a soul is reborn continuously until it achieves perfect understanding

Yoga

a system of exercises practiced as part of the Hindu discipline to promote control of the body and mind KARMA YOGA - Action Yoga (Serving god in humanity) BHAKTI YOGA - Devotion Yoga (worshiping god as a personality) RAJ YOGA - Yoga of meditation (seek god through inward focus) JNANA YOGA (GNAN) - Path of knowledge (see what is real and permanent vs what is impermanent)

Secularization theory

a view that religion is on the decline, and that people around the world are turning to secular and rational ways of understanding their lives

Wrong knowledge

everything that is not a part of the right speech/intention/action/livelihood (right speech on different card; action/livelihood with 5 precepts) RIGHT INTENTION 1)The intention of renunciation, which counters the intention of desire. 2) The intention of good will, which counters the intention of ill will. 3) The intention of harmlessness, which counters the intention of harmfulness.

Five Principles of Jainism

five main vows: 1) ahimsa (non-violence), 2) satya (not lying), 3) asteya (not stealing), 4) brahmacharya (chastity), 5) aparigraha (non-attachment). *5 precepts but no killing --> no violence in general, and not being drunk --> non-attachment, AND NO SEX AT ALL*

Vajrayana Buddhism

formed in Tibet; a mixture of indigenous religion and Buddhism; emphasizes the physical body

Atman

in Hindu belief, a person's essential self

Brahman

the eternal essence of reality and the source of the universe, beyond the reach of human perception and thought

Brahmin

the highest of the four classes of the caste system, traditionally made up of priests

Theravada Buddhism

the oldest of the two major branches of Buddhism. Practiced mainly in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, and Cambodia, its beliefs are relatively conservative, holding close to the original teachings of the Buddha

Zen Buddhism

a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing the value of meditation and intuition.

Noble Eightfold path (know eight precepts)

"The way leading to the cessation of suffering: it is this noble eightfold path: 1) *right view:* observations that lead us away from delusions and wrong views 2) *right intention (thought)*: thinking objectively without looking at personal needs - getting rid of greed, ignorance, and anger (3 poisons) 3) *right speech* 4) *right action*: act of doing good as oppose to just thinking good 5) *right livelihood*: living a moral life (longer term right action) 6) *right effort*: always try to be good 7) *right mindfulness*: Pure thoughts 8) *right concentration*: do good meditation RED = wisdom BLUE = morality Purple = meditation (right VISALEMC: right, Vlad Is Still Aggressively Learning E=MC)sq

Trimurti

"Three forms" of the divine; the three gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

Karma

(Hinduism and Buddhism) the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation

Samsara

(Hinduism and Buddhism) the endless cycle of birth and suffering and death and rebirth

Sanskrit

(Hinduism) an ancient language of India (the language of the Vedas and of Hinduism)

Emile Durkheim

-Father of sociology, pioneer of modern social research and established the field as separate and distinct from psychology and politics -Major proponent of functionalism -Argued that modern society was more complex than primitive societies because they were all similar, shared a common language. Even when people were dissimilar, they relied on each other to make society function.

Four Noble Truths

1) All life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow. 2) The cause of suffering is nonvirtue, or negative deeds and mindsets such as hatred and desire. 3) The only cure for suffering is to overcome nonvirture. 4) The way to overcome nonvirtue is to follow the Eightfold Path

Five Precepts

1. Do not take life 2. Do not take what is not given 3. Do not engage in sensuous misconduct 4. Do not use false speech 5. Do not drink intoxicants

Three types of Suffering

1. Suffering of pain 2. Suffering of change 3. Suffering of conditioning

Brahma

A Hindu god considered the creator of the world.

Shiva

A Hindu god considered the destroyer of the world.

Vishnu

A Hindu god considered the preserver of the world

Middle Way

A basic Buddhist teaching that rejects both the pleasures of sensual indulgence and the self-denial of asceticism, focusing instead on a practical approach to spiritual attainment.

Based on your reading of Berger and Juergensmeyer, write 3-6 sentences about the impact of religious revival and desecularization around the world and think of 1 question you wish you could ask either author about their work.

According to Mark Juergensmeyer, in terms of a religious revival, there has been a globalization of religion, which means that many members of many different religions now live all around the world and not just in one place like they used to. Juergensmeyer also notes how religion relates to a transport of people and a "transnational acceptance" of religious ideas (Juergensmeyer 5). It is also possible that religious revival is going to create new religions and cultures. One question I would ask Juergensmeyer is do you think the way diaspora creates challenges for religious communities is going to change in the future? In other words, will religious people find themselves more comfortable in the country they migrated to than in the country where their culture originated? Berger also comments on desecularization in terms of Judaism and his anecdote of a modern Orthodox surgeon in which he says that his life is guided by religion and religious principles yet when he operates on a patient, he is following a "strictly secular discourse." However, the hospital is also affected by and interacts with religion in several ways. He also brings up international law that would need to be "religiously neutral" and judges that cannot make decisions based on their own religions. I would ask Peter Berger whether he has found that people can balance their religion and secularity well or if there are tensions when trying to adopt both ways of living.

Mahayana Buddhism

Also known as popular Buddhism, is allows people more ways to reach enlightenment and boddhisatvas can help you reach enlightenment.

Notes September 27

Buddhism Very philosophical tradition, psychological Has a founder Emerged out of Hinduism Main proponent, Siddhartha Gautama, was a brahman Son of a lord, a king Lived in a specific province of what is now India or Nepal Many of the same concepts as Hinduism Starting from Hinduism base, modifying from there Siddhartha did not believe in the Vedas, the basic scriptures within Hinduism, they also outline class differences within Hinduism Created a system that was very egalitarian Prothero, way to salvation? Where are you headed? What is the main purpose in human life? Why are we here? Do they have a faith community? Achieve the highest level of life that you can, become as wealthy as you possibly can The way most of American life looks at it Meditation helps you move outside of your ego The secret to Buddhist thought, life of the buddha, someone trying to understand that Someone born into a wealthy powerful family According to tradition, sage said to his mother, your child will either become a wise person or a very powerful king Got out of the palace grounds, saw that life was different Existential crisis Buddha, one of the religious founders, comes from having everything, sheds all of that to move into an impoverished lifestyle, be unencumbered Four noble truths An estimated 488 million people practicing Buddhism, or approximately 7% of the world's total population (Pew Research Center, 2010) You can practice Buddhist beliefs and concepts without infringing on your monotheistic worldview Asia-centric religion: Buddhism began in Asia The vast majority of all Buddhists (nearly 99%) still live in the Asia Pacific region Only two other regions- North America (3.9 million) and Europe (1.3 million)- have more than 1 million Buddhists (Pew Forum, 2012) Regional Distribution of Buddhists: Asia-Pacific North-America Europe Middle East, North Africa-> migrants who work in the middle east Top 10 Largest National Buddhist Populations China, Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka Zen Buddhist, Buddhist Movements In India, some Hindus have tried to absorb Buddhist theologies Buddhism as one of those many traditions Pew Research Center: Five facts about Buddhism: Roughly 7% of the worlds pop but expected to decrease to 5% to low fertility rates Half the worlds Buddhists live in china, only 18% of china's population Scholars agree that buddha was born in what today would be Nepal, taught in India, Buddhism is a minority faith in both countries Regional Median Ages of Buddhists: in Arica its 29 In North America its 33 Buddhists are a little younger in the United States Three Major Branches of Buddhism Theravada Buddhism- Traditionalists" or "School of the Elders" Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Laos and Cambodia Mahayana Buddhism- "Great Vehicle" Zen, Nichiren, Pure Land China, Japan, south Korea and Vietnam Vajrayana Buddhism- "Diamond Vehicle" Tantric Buddhism uses mantras, symbols and trances to reach Nirvana more quickly- Tibet Breakdown of Buddhism in the U.S. Mahayana Buddhism -> most popular in the U.S. Some people are in different sects According to Stephen Prothero Buddhism is the way of awakening! The problem is all of life is suffering, everybody suffers, there is a oneness, recognizing that life and suffering is what you are trying to escape Everything is an illusion, just produced by our thoughts, the whole life and death cycle requires suffering, you cant live and not feel The problem is suffering (dukkha) The solution is Nirvana The technique is the Eightfold Path! Love and pain are two sides of the same coin Sense of the uniqueness of our self, awakening tells us we are connected to every one and everything Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, The Enlightened One Different versions based on the culture, culture will embrace concepts and ideas and culture will make it its own Judaism is practiced in Africa, India, in America, Israel, by secular Jews Variety of ways of understanding Judaism Variety of ways of understanding sages, role of Buddha himself Buddhism emerges from Hinduism More "ethical" and less ritualistic in nature Hinduism focuses on realizing Brahman (Ultimate Reality) from within the Atman (self or soul) Buddhism focuses on finding the Anatman (non soul or non-self) through meditation and a disciplined life Ultimate Reality is knowing that nothing oneself is "me:-everything is an illusion, including the self Ultimate reality is knowing everything in myself is actually me The Life of Siddhartha according to Theravada Tripitaka Scripture Born in Lumbini, Nepal ca. 563 BCE SON OF KING SUDDHODANA, A SHAKYA CLAN He came to a deer reserve in Sarnath, gave first sermon Everything circles around, he migrated quite a distance over the course of his lifetime, doesn't look huge to us As tradition says, Queen Maha Maya dreams of a white elephant, signifies wisdom, holiness, peaceful and obedient mind According to tradition: At his birth Siddhartha said, "I am the best of the world, this is my last birth, and I will never be born again" <- did a baby actually say that ?! Myth adds a transcendent quality to the story He marries his cousin, Princess Yasodhara He had anything anyone would ever hope for Siddhartha witnesses four passing sights: A sick man An old man A corpse A monk At the age of 29, Siddhartha leaves the palace to seek enlightenment People got married much younger, by the age of 29 he is entering a stage where he is on a later trajectory Entering a mid-life cycle Siddhartha's Ascetic Life Begins to live an ascetic life Begs for alms in the street King Bimbisara offers him the throne. Later becomes an important disciple and protector of Siddhartha He turns it down and practices yoga In search of enlightenment: Practices yoga Deprivation of worldly goods Extreme asceticism Self-mortification Collapses and almost drowns Accepts milk and rice pudding from a girl Find the "Middle Path" He begins meditating under this big tree, meditates for seven days Thinking about where he lived, saw how insects laid their eggs in the grass Felt extreme compassion for them From the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta Do not indulge in sensual pleasure Do not devote to self affliction Avoiding both is the middle way, leads to calm Grew up where everything he wanted was there He tried going the route of extreme asceticism, didn't answer it either Middle path, not completely denying yourself pleasure, not making it your central focus Enlightenment is in a sweet spot between the two The awakened one The middle path: Meditation is the right path to awakening A path of moderation Avoid extremes: self-indulgence or self-mortification Follow the Noble Eightfold Path Know the self, allow you to become a person who is more temperate in the world Nirvana: To extinguish or to blow out: All of our perceived reality is simply thought The self does not exist We must seek the anatman (non-self) All life is connected It is real to us, every body has their own reality Everything in our lives, pushes us toward nirvana If our brain is projecting it, what can we learn from it? Buddhism is about the we not the I When we meditate, we cultivate compassion for ourselves Projecting that compassion outward toward other people Our bodies weren't the same as they were a couple of years ago The "I", the "me," the social me, the actual self is interactive, between those two places Propelling your body and the world Feedback isn't always accurate Feedback we are getting is about the person giving it as much as it is about us Our compassion should be projected to all of life As we grow older, this reality feels overwhelming, face suffering directly Recognize that suffering is part of our compassion with others Siddhartha was a Chakravartin "Turner of the Wheel The six states, the wheel of life Realm of devas, gods, mans, hungry ghosts Part of the Mahayana Theravada done believe that you go to this middle ground Bodhisattva, a person who is able to reach Nirvana but chooses to return to save others from suffering Small area where the Buddha's footprint was Ahsoka sent buddhas monks and nuns out to this region, Buddhism spread very quickly Moved to Afghanistan, Japan, Mongolia, Malaysia First Surviving Buddhist Texts Pali Canon 1st Century CE Tripitaka: Three Baskets Early monastic regulations (code of ethics for monks and nuns) Discourse of the buddha and his disciples Chiroptical commentary of the buddhas teachings Trirata: Triple Gem of Buddhism Buddhists proclaim devotion to three things: The Buddha: symbol of enlightenment The Dharma The Four Noble Truths: The essence of Buddha's teachings All existence is suffering (dukha) The cause of suffering is craving The cessation of suffering is ... What is "dukkha"? Suffering anxiety Stress Unsatisfactoriness Lack of contentment The four noble truths in detail, truth #1 There are three kinds of suffering Ordinary suffering, the physical and mental suffering associated with birth, growing old, illness and dying Suffering associated with samsara, cycle of birth and death Suffering rom change: the anxiety or stress of trying to hold onto concepts of situations, people or things that are constantly changing (global warming, aging, Suffering from conditioned states (of consciousness) Ignorance of the fact that all forms of life are changing Impermanence Without inner core or substance Things never live up to our expectations McKayla Maroney was not impressed with her silver medal The Four Nobel Truths Truth #2 The Origins of Suffering is Craving Craving arises from wrong knowledge (ignorance, hatred, greed) Craving: a powerful desire for something Craving for sense objects Craving to be something, to unite with an experience or to dominate over others Craving not to experience the world; a wish to be separated from painful feelings The Fourth Noble Truths, end of suffering, end of clinging, being okay with the outcome Not beating yourself up about it The way leading to the end of suffering Right understanding, speech, livelihood, etc. Way of viewing, way of thinking about how we interact with the world Eightfold path, wisdom, morality, concentration, how we focus our mind What is Right View or Right Understanding? Wisdom 1. right view All that we are is a result of what we have thought, it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts Zen Teacher Thich Nhat Hahn, Our happiness and the happiness of those around us depend on our degree of Right View Wisdom 2. What is right intention? Three types of right intention: The intention of renunciation, which counters the intention of desire The intention of good will, which counters the intention of ill will The intention of harmlessness Morality 3. What is "Right Speech"? What is "Right Speech"? As recorded in the Pali Canon, the historical Buda taught the right speech, don't engage in idle talk or gossip Morality 4. right action, 5. right livelihood No killing, misusing sex Concentration, 6. right effort ,7. right mindfulness, 8. right concentration Catherine Albanese, religion is a system of symbols by means of which people (a community), orient themselves in the world with reference to both ordinary and extraordinary powers The 4 C's : Creed (the explanation of life) Code of behavior, ethics Cult (actions relating the believer to the transcendent Community structure (monarchical, republican, individualistic, etc.) No perfect definition of religion

Buddhism: According to Stephen Prothero

Buddhism is *the Way of Awakening* Problem: *suffering* Solution: *nirvana* Technique: *Eightfold Path*

Vedas

Early Indian sacred 'knowledge'-the literal meaning of the term-long preserved and communicated orally by Brahmin priests and eventually written down. • Most ancient religious texts defining truth • Vedic texts were passed on orally for thousands of years • Compiled ca. 2000-500 BCE • Hindus believe texts were received directly from Brahma Four Vedas: 1. Rig Veda- Hymns to the gods 2. Yajur Veda- Priestly handbook for performing vedic sacrifices 3. Sama Veda- chants and tunes for singing at the sacrifices 4. Atharva Veda- Spells, charms and magical formulae pre-dating Aryan influence Each Veda has four parts arranged chronologically: -The Samhitas are the most ancient part of the Vedas, consisting of hymns of praise to God. -The Brahmanas are rituals and prayers to guide the priests in their duties. -The Aranyakas concern worship and meditation. -The Upanishads consist of the mystical and philosophical teachings of Hinduism.

notes september 2

Is religion still relevant in the 21st century Dharma, unique to yourself Paper: how do you organize your thoughts and self, what do you do in times of difficulty What role does govt regulation play in a persons life Us scholars, the most active in studying religion What role does the state play, what role do laws play? State protective of its religion,, Russia Part of national identity Religious freedom in this country, protected by the first amendment Creates a different environment for religions to take place How deeply religion is invested in culture What is religion composed of? Functions? Defined? Peter Beyer (substance)-> What religion is (function)-> What religion does Harder to ask ppl about their belief in something bc humans are not great at understanding their thinking process Functions of religion: Explains suffering and death Symbolizes society as a whole Commemorates important life stages Provides community Provides for the needy Social control Place to connect with ethnic group Place to build social capital and lean leadership skills Substance of religion: Rituals and rites Social norms Sacred scripture and objects Institutions Religious leaders Body of believers (Church) Charitable work Philosophy or way of life Concepts of transcendence How do we define religion Early definition by Emile Durkheim Religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say things set apart and forbidden Is it true? Sufficient? Geertz: system of symbols, establish powerful, pervasive, long-lasting moods and motivations Religion is a worldview (philosophy of life or conception of the world) Ritual Doctrinal/philosophical Ethical/legal Social (group) What is the difference between spiritualty and religion "the search and meaning in life events and a yearning for connectedness to the universe" "a person's experience of, or belief in, a power apart from his or her own existence" Substantive definitions of spiritualty Durkheim is a functionalist, would say it's the greater "we" of community, big brother, sense that someone is always watching over us Religion: A "set of beliefs, practices, and language that characterizes a community that is searching for transcendent meaning in a particular way, generally based upon belief in a deity" (An) organized system of practices and beliefs in which people engage, Global Religions: Past, present and future of the great world traditions World religions by Percent of World Population Always changing In the world, Christianity is the biggest religion and Islam Christian countries in Europe, declining in children , 1.3 instead of 1.5 Muslim families have more children Hinduism is a global religion People continue to practice Hinduism Buddhists growing rapidly as well Non-theistic, attach itself to many other types of religion including monotheism Very small percentage of ppl across the world in Judaism but profound impact Where religions tend to reside Inter-ethnic, inter-religious, pluralistic Folk religions -> indigenous religion, will blend with others like Christianity Native Americans have folk religions, blend their religions with other traditions Daoism, be a part of a person's life, nature, then Buddhist when they die Religion with culture interacting Can we study religion scientifically? Pew Research Center, assume they are non partisan, do not have an agenda Nones-> this generation, new arena for research How do they pass their disaffiliation to their children How does that protect or not protect the people Emile Durkheim studied suicide rates in catholic and Lutheran Belief in god by religious group -> Buddhist, catholic God isn't part of the Buddhist framework Word god is framed in a westernized, Abrahamic way Gods or the ultimate universe Historically black protestant-> 89% Among the Jewish population, ethnicity and religion are fused Enact your ethnic identity 86% of Mormons Psychology, mechanical engineering, political science -> don't believe in god Most-> accounting, elementary education, finance, marketing, art Accounting all about the rules, detail oriented, driven by rules, temperament thing Finance, goes up and down one day to the next Waves of the market are unpredictable

Four goals of life in Hinduism

Kama - pleasure, physical or emotional. Artha - power, fame and wealth. Dharma - Governing Kama and Artha in life of moral harmony. Moksha - The only true, infinite goal: liberation from samsara or reincarnation

notes September 9

Life, death, suffering, aspects of human life that done go away Human rights agendas, don't explain why suffering exists Religion provides a scaffolding Dogma is something that is what a lot of people have challenges with, spirituality but don't agree with the dogma Commonalities in the way things are framed Ways in which physicists describe the way the universe operates Study on scientists and religion, westernized were less likely to believe in God Asia, middle east, cosmology is more in synch with how science understands itself Peter Berger What is the "Secularization Thesis" Berger mentions in our class reading? The Desecularization of the World Cant hold science and something mystical in your hands at the same time, too ambivalent Comes from Austria Europe was becoming more secularized Basing his whole understanding just on Europe, on one space Some were more religious, Poland, leaned into the catholic church to overthrow communism Pope was instrumental in overthrowing soviet communism Ireland, long time conflict between two Christian traditions, protestants in power for many years The Secularization Thesis is a theory that assumes: Modernization necessarily leads to a decline of religion, both in society and in the minds of individuals -Peter Berger, The Desecularization of the World, pg. 2 Mark Juergensmeyer: Three Ways Religion is Global Global diasporas- "to scatter" Ethno-religious groups dispersed across the globe, such as Jewish, Sikhs, Tibetan Buddhists Translational religion- religions of expansion Believe their religious ideals and universally applicable. Examples: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Mormonism Religion of Global Societies- Religions of multi-cultural or pluralistic societies. Global transmission through migration and adaptation to new geographies, societies, and political contexts. Hinduism: Third Largest Religion Hinduism has over 1 billion adherents worldwide- 15% of world's population Third largest religion globally 98 percent of Hindus live on the Indian subcontinent Comparison of World Religions 2015 Where do Hindus Live? Largest Hindu populations: India, Bangladesh, Nepal Other Significant Hindu Populations: Sri Lanka Mauritius Suriname Guyana Bali Regional Distribution of Hindus Identity features are contextual Hinduism "Sindhu" (Indus river C. 2000 BCE : Hinduism Emerged from ancient civilizations in the Indus Valley Originally an ancient Vedic religion (based on scriptures called "Vedas" Early Civilizations They found a high degree of coordination in terms of how structures were built, vast geography, size of bricks were homogenized, some buildings techniques, being passe down across different cities Items in India traded in Mesopotamia and other locations Indus Valley Civilization 40,000 people: running water, wells, agricultural implements, baths, some had sewage The Indus Valley Culture (3300-1300 BCE) Estimated 500 cities along Indus river Sheltered harbor with docks and thriving trade Well planned cities with sophisticated government, business practices and waste management Advanced metallurgy/bead-making techniques Archaeologists find one... Lothal- ca. 3700 BCE one of the earliest known river docks Mohenjo-Daro (Indus river civilization) Indus Script on Seals - challenge in that the script has not been interpreted They had wheels, livestock, were growing things When you had a river, some stability for a civilization Grow your food, house your livestock Cities start to differentiate, people take on different roles People in metallurgy, artists, artisans Early Vedic period (1700-1100 BCE), eventually migrated down Happened in a speedy way, historians still perplexed over it They were covered for so long, ppl weren't aware of them In Hindu texts, refer to these large cities that existed Late 19th century, now evidence of thriving network of civilization Vedic period c. 1500-600 BCE C.1500 Aryans arrive- nomadic northerners from central Asia migrate in Indus valley C.1000 BCE Aryans expand into Ganges valley C.700 BCE Indian scholars codify and reinterpret Aryan beliefs. Upanishads (Veda) texts form basis of Hinduism C.700 BCE India divided into 16 Aryan kingdoms C.321 BCE-550 BCE Gupta Empire introduces "Golden Age of Hinduism" Sacred Veda Scriptures: Oldest Hindu scriptures in early Sanskrit Contains instructions for priests on ritual, poems, prayers, hymns, philosophy(originally preserved by oral tradition) Four chief collections: Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Artharva Veda Along with the Vedanta- Upanishads Gupta Empire- 321 BCE-550 CE Starts to expand, Hindu culture begins to homogenize at this point in time Characteristics of Hinduism Every personal God has multiple avatars One Divine Reality; Many gods and pathways Divine Set of Practices and Beliefs Many schools of thought and religious texts No overarching ecclesiastical order No central religious authorities No prophet(s) nor any binding holy book (although belief in the Vedas are central texts) Heterogenous Religion Hindus can be: Polytheist (many gids) Monotheistic (one god) Dualistic (divided into opposing parts) Pantheistic (god is imminent) Monistic (one ultimate reality) Agnostic (doubting Humanist (rational and human-centered) Atheistic (disbelief) Which definition fits best? Religion is (according to Gertz) 1: System of symbols 2: establish powerful pervasive and log-lasting moods and motivations in men 3: by formulating conceptions of a general order of existence and 4: clothing these conceptions with such an aura of factuality that (5) the moods and motivations Key Concepts: Dharma- law, duty, righteousness, religion (living in the right way Samsara- continuing cycle of birth, death, rebirth (reincarnation) (kind of like purgatory) Karma- consequence of actions (determines fate of the soul/atman) Atman- undying soul or self (transmigration) Supreme Brahman- ultimate Reality (monism) Moksha- liberation (yoga is the vehicle) Karma- very algebraic, numbers Actions might have a positive outcome Intention positive, negative outcome Intentions are really important Cant stop and not act Trying to purify your soul, soul is the atman, operating in consistency with the dharma Sanatana Sharma: The Eternal law which is incumbent upon all Hindus What is Dharma: Law, order, duty, custom, quality model The Rig Veda lists 20 meanings for "dharma" Samsara (reincarnation), regeneration of life Law of Karma Present condition of your soul (confusion or serenity) is a product of your past decisions/ You have made yourself what you are Your present thoughts, decisions, and actins determine your future states Every person gets what that person deserves- even though decision are freely arrived at, there is no chance in the universe Karma is the middle way between determinism and indeterminism. No randomness in the universe (philosphh.lander.edu) Karma is the middle path between those two things Free will is somewhere between predestination and anarchy Samsara = reincarnation "As the embodied soul (atman) continually passes in this body from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into a new body at death." Bhagavad-Gita 2.22 Karma (action) determines ones future lives Moksha - release form the cycle of birth and death Supreme Brahman The Supreme Cosmic Spirit Contains and pervades universe Highest universal principle Immanent Ultimate Reality Absolute Truth Subject and object (creates and is impacted by its own creation) Takes the form of light Believe in this reality but don't personify it The Known Brahman Awakened Dynamic, existence, duality, enjoyer, witness Creator and witness, enjoyer of creation Duties, names, forms, potencies, projections, states of consciousness

Craving Hinduism

Samudaya - suffering is caused by desire or craving. Craving, or tanha , keeps humans attached to existence. It means that humans are reincarnated again and again, or 'arise' again and again.

Buddha

Means "Enlightened One." He is said to have found a path for overcoming suffering.

The Dalai Lama

Originally, a title meaning 'universal priest' that the Mongol khans invented and bestowed on a Tibetan lama (priest) in the late 1500s to legitimate their power in Tibet. Subsequently, the title of the religious and political leader of Tibet.

Dharmic Religions

Refers to religions based in the Vedic religions from South Asia (India). Buddhism, Hinduism, Bhaktism

Maha Maya

Siddhartha's mother who dreamed of an elephant piercing her side with its tusk - a sign that something miraculous would happen

What is Right Speech?

Speaking honestly and kindly, in positive ways, avoiding lies, exaggeration, harsh words.

Four stages of life in Hinduism

Student, householder, retired, renunciant

Moksha

The Hindu concept of the spirit's 'liberation' from the endless cycle of rebirths.

Dukkha

The first of the Four Noble Truths, the basic Buddhist insight that suffering is part of the human condition.

Four Passing Sights

The four things Gautama saw upon leaving the palace which made him decide to leave his princely life: 1. old age 2. sickness 3. death 4. ascetic (sannyasin)

Bhagavad Gita

The most important work of Indian sacred literature, a dialogue between the great warrior Arjuna and the god Krishna on duty and the fate of the spirit. Epic Tale -Mahabharata Epic Poem -Longest epic poems ever written (Sanskrit) -Battle between cousins fighting for kingdom -Theme of justice -Contains the Bhagavad Gita -Origins of oral tradition - 8th -9th centuries BCE -Earliest copies of text - 400 BCE -Over 200,000 individual verses (100,000 couplets) Bhagavad Gita Demonstrates duty (dharma) Story of Prince Arjuna and his guide, Lord Krishna (8th incarnation of Vishnu) Setting: battlefield (Pandavas vs. Kauravas Metaphorical tale about moral and ethnical struggles in life Arjuna is encouraged to fulfill his dharma as a Kshatriya Concept of Atman (true soul) is emphasized

Siddhartha Gautama

The prince who is said to have founded Buddhism.

Nirvana

The state of enlightenment for Buddhists.

Dharma (Buddhism)

The teachings of the Buddha, and one of the Three Jewels of Buddhism

Fifteen Hindu Scriptures

Vedas - earliest Hindu scriptures Upanishads - 800-500 BCE -part of Vedas - philosophical, mystical, and monastic (chanted) Bhagavad Gita - ca. 500 BCE and 100 CE (sixth book of the Mahabharata - the world's longest poem) Ramayana - One of Hinduism's best known tales about Prince Rama and his wife, Sita. Story of good over evil

Notes August 31st

What is religion? Function vs. substance Working definitions of religion Define those terms for the reader Where are you getting the definition Is it understood by other scholars Cultural, different disciplines have different ways of thinking about religion Psych standpoint: emotional things and how religion helps them Political science: what are the institutions that push up against the state Sociologist? So much that goes outside of institutions, anthropology and soc will look at it differently as well (cultural systems) Difference between function and substance When things happen that you can't explain, cant find a logical explanation Religion is so much about experience "Books language is dense and abstract" A profound, spiritual experience Religion at its heart is experiential Rites and rituals, help others try to reach that same level of spiritual experience Any type of system, ideology Those rules and laws become political, associated with power Institutions have a mind of their own, try to survive Oust the founder if they don't help the institution survive Having a strange and powerful experience Religion helps people explain those experiential moments when something transcendent interacts Image of many types of religions WHAT IS RELIGION? What is the difference between substance and function? Provide a scholarly definition, there are many different types Peter Beyer makes a distinction between what religion is and substance and function Temple Worship in Bali Mandeans, small ethnic group, migrates to Wuster Ultra Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem African Christianity, not an institution, a space, location Iranian Pilgrims at Hajj Buddhist Nuns, wear same vestments as the males Group Work, What are the functions of religion?: It offers hope, offers protection, community, family Gives inspiration and motivation, Guided by morals, strict code to follow Helps you give back, be charitable, help others Empowerment Purpose bigger than ourselves Provides purpose Transcends humanity (Durkheim) Community and Belonging Spirituality and Comfort Individual/social/societal -> to shape laws (laws may be ethics if they follow those laws) Agreed upon behavioral practices Answers existential questions Government and law -> state Human rights -> individual in nature, translates more to the Abrahamic traditions than the Dharmic traditions On the group level more than individual level Motivation for action, social justice -> political, social action, charitable action Moral conscience-> on which ethics are based, shift dramatically from culture to culture Ex: Maori in Africa, different ethics than if you lived in NYC, part of Hasidic Jewish community Functions of Religion: Symbolizes society as a whole Explains suffering and death Commemorated important life stages Provide community Learn leadership, social capital Different life stages What is the substance of religion? Substance: customs, tradition, holidays, literature, music, code of conduct, set of beliefs, based on book, geographic location, monuments, idol worship, place that you have the ceremonies, food, prayers, blessings, language, dress code, things not tallowed to eat, heritage, ethicality, shared history Substance: Core texts, scripture- set of morals and principle for that group Lays out this transcendent code Set of different codes that evolved over time Scriptures and texts that are of importance differ over time Different denominations or sects have a different set of core texts Geographic Location Religious Institutions- churches, temples, synagogues, sacred sites !! Culture-> how does culture evolve within religion and religion evolve within culture Ethnicity All of this may add up to nationalism Worldview-> how the world operates, we all have different lenses and worldviews Often has an ideology, an ideology at a meta level, level that all of society agrees on, may be religious, be both political and religious Every one has different ideologies Ist = means proponent of Many different kinds of worldviews Faith in a larger or transcendent being The salvation doctrines, how are you saved by these religions Religious or sacred objects Mythology- scriptural passages have a moral purpose Book of job, mythology also associated with stories that are true Worship, important if you have a higher power that you are pleasing Religions are Composed of: Rituals and rites Social norms Sacred scripture and objects Institutions Religious leaders Body of believers (church-Durkheim) Charitable work Philosophy or way of life Concepts of transcendence Emile Durkheim 1858-1917 Asking questions about it, he was looking at Austrian suicide rates, what are the social causes of this Can I tie it to religious background? Catholics more likely or protestants? Big questions that he was asking His definition: religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is to say, things set apart and forbidden- beliefs and practices which untie into a single moral community called a church, all those who adhere to them." Practices meant to bond people together in a group, very rare that we experience this type bonding, world of pluralism Looking at more fundamental societies, totem, sense of transcendence, group of mentality Totem= represents community as a whole, Durkheim believed it represented society as a whole, broader consciousness of people involves Greater "other" constructed by the group He was a secularist and stepped way from religion, became a sociologist, functional standpoint not the substance of it Clifford Gertz was an anthropologist, look at things in terms of culture Religion is a system of symbols, powerful and pervasive long last moods and motivations, what should you do ? Saying that religion is a system of symbols, symbols are so powerful The way that he frames this, as if it were real Symbolic anthropologist Peter Berger 1929-2017 Functional definition: Scientific utility Often serve an ideological use- "as a quasi-scientific legitimation of the avoidance of transcendence" Can include meaning-complexes such as nationalism, or revolutionary faiths, or New "life-styles" with their cognitive and normative legitimations (veganism, environmentalism, PETA) Transcendence isn't something you can measure, don't mention transcendence because they are secularist In the 1970's, Peter Berger saw they were trying to avoid transcendence We do not have a way to define it Meaning complexes such as nationalism Sports behavior Definition so broad, sports has rituals, sacred rituals, uniforms, umpires Fall into same category as religion if you use the same definition Ideology of the state, competing ideology Patriotism, the state is the bigger force, bigger than we are Homeland itself can be its own society as a whole Veganism, how to we protect the planet, live in ways that protect the planet Substantive Definitions: Max Faber Never pinned down a definition of religion, looked very deeply at their substance The focus is on the here and now, lets be charitable The human world is a network of meanings Nothing in this world can be adequately understood without understanding these meanings "from within" Generally address belief in a higher power: God, gods, supernatural beings and worlds, or meta-empirical entities such as the ma'at of the ancient Egyptians or the Hindu law of karma Law of karma, related to your actions, every action collects positive or negative karma, non negotiable Courtney J. Bender (b. 1971), third generation Next generation of scholars, look at religion in a much more complex way Definitions of religion and spirituality are porous, historically variable, evident and implicit theological understandings, either too general or too specific Ninian Smart (1927-2001) Worldview, a worldview whether you are secular or religious contains similarities, myth and narrative ritual Doctrine, philosophy Ethical, legal Social Experiential dimension Material Political Invisible or divine world (religious only)

Ramayana

one of two classical Hindu epics telling of the banishment of Rama from his kingdom and the abduction of his wife by a demon and Rama's restoration to the throne -One of India's best known tales depicting Hindu heritage and history. -Rama 7th incarnation/avatar of Lord Vishnu It tells the story of Prince Rama who was sent into exile in the forest with his wife, Sita, and his brother, Lakshmana. -Sita is abducted by the evil demon Ravana but ultimately rescued by Prince Rama with the help of the Monkey God, Hanuman. -It is the story of good overcoming evil. Many people have said that it is a story about dharma or duty.

Arians

society of Arians - people who were proud of being Hindus and wanted to Reject the West/Christianity.