MMW 121 5

Vaclac Havel

"The End of a Modern Era" says to focus on the experience and expression of the good life in the PAST, before technology came to be, in order to look at those theories about the good life without letting science/technology influence the definition. We enjoy the achievements of of modern civilization and yet we do not know what to do with ourselves. There's no unified meaning. We understand our own lives less and less. We live in a modern word where almost everything is possible and yet nothing is certain.

Epic of Gilgamesh

(Lect 1.2) Bond over the battle against the beast. (Humbala) Death of Enkidu: Gilgamesh rages, laments, builds a statue to honor his friend. Confronts the sadness and the reality of the end of the human condition of death and that he has to face it Eternal life: struggle between the "god" and the "man." Light versus darkness, life and death. His desire is immortality. Encounter with Siduri, a female guide: Tells him to find desires in one's own life. He can't avoid death, which frightens him. Death is inevitable. Ursanabi: helps him build a boat to cross the ocean. Ferryman. Tells him there's a plant that could make him inmortal. He finds it but a serpent takes it away. Utnapishtim: man who found eternal life. Tells him there is no permanence. You can't escape death. Enlil: reminds him of his own destiny. Kingship was his destiny, everlasting life was not. Tells him to rule justly so people wouldn't lament his greatness. What he found: -Friendship -Abuse of power -There is no permanence -Conflict/tension between nature and civilization -Conflict/tension between desire (of the gods- eternal life) and destiny (of man=death) -One's work as his flory and only hope for humanity -Importance of relationships -Pain/wound of relationships open us to wisdom -Accept death, live live at its fullest -Noteriety as a form of immortality -Importance of relationships -Find happiness with what you have We don't always get what we DESIRE, we are often encountered with the unexpected. Our perspective on how to handle it is what brings us the rewards.

Gilgamesh

(Lect. 1.2) Taught us about SACRIFICE, SACRIFICE SELF GLORY FOR AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS, FOR FRIENDSHIP. LIVE LIFE WITHOUT BEING DRIVEN BY THE HOPES OF ETERNAL YOUTH/LIFE King of Urk, made perfect, has everything, but still desires to be like the gods. 2/3 god, 1/3 man. That part is restless and begins his search for fame. Becomes friends with Enkidu, coexist and have a deep bond. Both kill the Bull of Heaven and the gods decide that one must die (Enkidu) Mesopotamia and Near Eastern Socities. What he sought: -Fame/glory -Fullfill his desures (fame, glory, eternal life) even if they weren't his destiny

Enkidu

(Lect. 1.2) Wild man in the forest, tamed, "civilized." Arrives weakened by an encounter with a woman (harlot) who tames him. Becomes friends with Gilgamesh, become good friends. He is Gildameshe's "second self."

Michel Montaigne Essays

10.1 STUDY PHILOSOPHY, LEARN HOW TO DIE IS TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE. EVERY DAY IS A GIFT, REALIZE MOST THINGS ARE APPEARANCES. DETACH FROM THE VALUE OF THE LENGTH OF YOUR LIFE. LIVE EVERY DAY AT IT'S FULLEST. He was a devote catholic and a skeptic We should study philosophy because philosophy forces us to think about our death and, therefore, improves the quality of our lives. Thinking about our death frees us. If you pre-mediate on death, spend time thinking about it, you're no longer a slave to it. It's freedom. Thinking about it will give you freedom. "Studying philosophy prepares us to die because: 1) study and contemplation do in some sort withdraw us from our soul, and employ it separately from the body, which is a kind of apprenticeship and a resemblance of death 2) or else, because all the wisdom and reasoning in the world do in the end conclude in this point, to teach us not to fear to die." (Reader, p. 145) Your whole life can be lived in a single day, once you have the awareness of that. Main points: Awareness, choice Seize the day, pack as much into your life as possible. Spontaneous, immediate goals. Take risks. Follow your dreams. Set out to achieve fewer, long-term goals.

Moksha 4 Stages of Life

2.1 Liberation from suffering; liberation from the cycle of rebirth 1) Student 2) Householder 3) Retirement 4) Wanderer

Buddha

2.1 TAUGHT US TO WAKE UP. TO DETACH FROM OUR DESIRES BY REALIZING THE ILLUSION OF WHAT IS NOT REAL. CULTIVATE COMPASION AND CONNECTION Buddhism: Reactionary movement: emphasized more of the people making these interpretations, not just the priest (brahmin) Prince Siddhartha Gautama- born to the warriors. Becomes aware, realized there's suffering in the world, goes on some sort of trance. Four encounters: 1) Aged person (he is suffering) 2) Diseased Person 3) Corpse being cremated (Sees death) 4) Sadhu (Sitting under a tree, completely blissed out. He sees him as the way out of suffering. Concludes there's a lot of suffering in the word and he suffers too after realizing that. Renunciation: leaves to become a seeker, goes from Sadhu to Sadhu. Realizes theres a way to get out of suffering: accepting a denial of self, getting rid of the self (no self- Anatman) Reluctantly allowed women to become monks with rules that did not make them equal to men Buddha: one who is awake

Dharma

2.1 Actions you perform and the merit that gains back for you Realization means you see it through direct experience

samsara

2.1 BUDDHISM in Buddhism is the beginningless cycle of repeated birth, mundane existence and dying again that all beings pass through. Samsara is considered to be dukkha, unsatisfactory and painful, perpetuated by desire and avidya (ignorance), and the resulting karma.

nirvana vs. moksha

2.1 Moksha: Liberation from the Wheel of life and rebirth (life, birth, and rebirth). It can be stopped, be liberated by renoucing desires, meditation, yoga, dharma/ethics (karma), Knowledge+disciplined action+devotion= liberatiton (moksa) Nirvana: real realization. Extinguishing the self. It's ineffable, can't be described by words. Cease from suffering.

OM

2.1 Noise during meditation, a vibration (Vedas) Pre-Hindu traditions

Vedas

2.1 Oral traditions held the people together. Vedas meant truth, wisdom, knowledge. People believed it was expressed in sound, hence the oral traditions --> shruti Smriti= divine revelations codified into rituals brahminism vedas, sacrifice, Brahma

Brahma

2.1 The God of Creation in Hindu mythology.

Brahman

2.1 ULTIMATE REALITY, beyond a god

karma

2.1 notion of action (cause and effect) law of moral causation. All things are caused by other things, what you do affects future things. Impact of past and present actions on your life. Also about that unfulfilled release of the wheel of life, death, and rebirth from the past life. If you don't achieve liberation on your past life, you will come back to do it again and hopefully achieve liberation.

Dharma (Teachings) Four Noble Truths

2.2 Buddha 1) Life is suffering (as we go through life we will suffer) 2) Desire/ Attachment and Delusion is the cause of our suffering (Because you desire, you suffer) 3) There is a way to end the suffering 4) The way to end suffering is to go through the Eight-Fold Path Desire is NOY natural, it's constructed. It's based on conditions so it can be stopped. Stop desire and attachment and then you can stop suffering.

Eight Fold Path

2.2 Buddha Practice in the path to liberation from samsara (painful cycle of rebirth) -Right understanding -Right thought -right speech -right action -right livelihood -right effort -right mindfulness -right concentration

Heart Sutra

2.2 Explains the emptiness of each of the five conditions that many believed comprise a human being: -Form -Sensation -Perception -Consciousness

Acceptance of Women in the Order

2.2 The Buddha reluctantly allowed women to become nuns, but only with rules that subjected them to male monks.

Krishna

3.1 Gita Arjuna begs help from charioteer, Krishna about his dilemmas Tells him to understand what's real and what's not real. Choose an action and you fulill it with devotion which iwill help you make a decision. Offer that action up to something greater, in this case to him. COMPLETE ACTION WITH DEVOTION. Correct action will be the one in line with completing your dharma, your greater duty True Self- you while pursuing your dharma. Your true self, Experiencing ultimate reality. self- just a human embodiment on earth. Not enlightened, caught in desire, not aware or realized. still not released from the wheel of rebirth

karma yoga

3.1 Gita yoga=to yolk (have direct knowledge of ultimate reality, to be aware) DISCIPLINED ACTION; correct action There is a higher purpose for what we do

jnana yoga

3.1 Gita Self KNOWLEDGE and action Understand what is real Goal: knowledge of ultimate reality. Realizing Atman (direct knowledge)

Arjuna

3.1 Gita KNOWLEDGE+DEVOTION+ACTION= LIBERATION KNOWING WHAT IS REAL AND NOT REAL DISCIPLINED ACTION FOR SOEMTHING GREATER Moral Dilemma: lead his clan into battle against his family. Strong kinship duties, learning how to be a warrior. According to him, his dharma is his duty as a warrior (his caste) and his duty to his kin (his family) so he thinks he has two dilemmas. His issues -emotional attachment to family -uncertainty in his life and lack of clarity. -complete inability to act. Actions and inaction. Dharma: be a warrior so he must take the correct action and kill his relatives Seek ultimate reality through Krishna

bhakti yoga

3.1 Gita: devotion to Krishna Ultimate goal: union with the ultimate reality through love Action as LOVING DEVOTION/ sacrifice

dharma

3.2 Gita Our own duty Everyone has their own Sacred duty, correct action, order of the universe and the world.

wen

4.2 Arts of peace Culture and refinement music, poetry, dance, calligraphy, aesthetics

jen

4.2 Confucius Humanity - typically translated as "benevolence" or "authoritative". Jen can be understood as the kind of "way of being" that captures the exemplary person. A person who is Jen cares about others in a deep and fundamental way, it is part of what and who they are. In the Analects, "jen" actually appears in two senses; (a) as one virtue among others. What this means is that Jen is seen as a virtue (of caring) alongside courage, generosity, etc. In the other sense, (b), it is understood as the kind of state that a person achieves when he has all the regular virtues. So a person who is courageous, generous, kind, filial (and so on) is Jen. It's what a person is "when they've got the whole package" in a way. The book flips between the two uses, though the (b) use is more prominent. When it is used in the sense of (b) it often means "authoritative" and when used for (a) it is closer to "benevolent".

Wendy Doniger

4.2 Kama Sutra Argues that Vatsyana's original Kama Sutra advocates women's sexual pleasure, agency, and freedom. Liberal attitudes to women's education. Concentration on women's sexual pleasure. Sexuality as culture Sexual desire, then, in which the body's wanting and violence, sexual nature requires cultivation (culture). But culture requires leisure and means, time and money, KS as the champion of sexual pleasure. Erotic not as dangerous and polluting, but exciting, sensuous, aestheic

Kama Sutra

4.2 SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS CAN BE PART OF THE SACRED RITUAL OF LIFE. REDUCE SUFFERING, THROUGH OUR LONG DEVOTION IF TREATED WITH INTENTIONALITY. 4 main goals of human life: Dharma, artha, kama 1) Moksha (liberation) 2)Dharma (sacred duty) 3) Artha (Drive for wealth, power and advantage) 4) Kama (art of sensial pleasure) The activities of daily life can fullfill Dharma through sensial (love, romance, beauty) and sexual experience. "Sacred" sex ("Real" sex), the sex that transcends, is that performed in the right contect with the right intention, within a sense of order. Kama can be a channel for direct knowledge of Ultimate Reality (what is real)

li

4.2 Confucius Ritual - translation: "ritual" or "rite". The "Li" are those customs that prevail in a culture. So, think of holding the door open for a person when they are entering a building. This is your way of being respectful via the appropriation of, or use of, a cultural Li. Without the Li, Confucius thinks, we cannot be Jen or Junzi, because we lose our ability to respond to one another as human beings. Without the Li we are merely animals.

chun-tzu

4.2 Confucius The gentleman Person who has reached or exhibits true humanity Practices self-cultivation, or cultivates his moral personality, in order to bring tranquility to all. Righteousness and poise Leads by example Education

Ben Zhao

4.2 Han Dynasty- age of cultural flowering, as a woman she benefits from that Only woman historian in the Imperial Court Lessons for Women. The "good life" for women "A woman (ought to) have three obediences (father, husband, sons) and four qualifications: womanly virtue; (2) womanly words; (3) womanly bearing; and (4) womanly work." Structure for women to maintain order and virtue in society. Recaptures Confucius texts. Importance of girls education. She solidifies the concept of "being a gentleman" that women could be that too. Gives us evidence that women write history and write for other women.

artha

4.2 Kama Sutra Drive for wealth, pwoer and advantage

kama

4.2 Kama Sutra Kama=art of sensual pleasure

Book of Job

5.1 Suffering and justice Satan appears to test Job's devotion to job. His children livestock, and home are destroyed. He gets skin sores. He begins to curse God about how he lets bad things happen to good people. God appears and silences him, making him realize how little he knows about the universe (limitation of his knowledge) and God's unlimited power. God is upset with his friends for spewing poor advice but God forgives them. God gives him twice as much in return in the end. How to live the good life: Keep faith, follow laws of job, you will be rewarded in the end. Appreciate the good and the bad. We know the bad to know the good. Get out of yourself and see the bigger picture, how great and mighty god is Misery is part of our existence, there's a benefit to it at the end. Who causes the bad to happen? God allowing Satan to do it or Satan on his own Not worry about what's the reason for why it's happening Lesson: not rely on some sense of cosmic justice in the world, sometimes things just happen You don't know God's reasons and it's not your place to question him, you just have to act Notion of faith, things will get better. Job didn't achieve that wisdom until God told him and it's his faith that got him there. We don't know the reasons and outcome of your suffering True, deep faith compels one to question the source and reason for our beliefs - based on our critical conscience, what we innately know to be just, virtuous, compassionate, and reasonable Seems less naïve and self-centered by the end of his questioning Job is humbled into silence as he really learns to listen or experience

Ecclesiastes

5.1 THERE'S A TIME FOR EVERYTHING AND SOMETIMES THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF THINGS. Division of the Israelite Empire: Kingdoms of Juda and Israel Babylonian exile., Persian influence on writing Way of Jewish leaders to have jews regroup Series of aphorism Don't know who the author is but scholars have gotten the term "Qoheleth" (teacher of the assembly) to desribe the individual. Theme: justice (notion in life that sometimes we wonder why things happen to us because it doesn't seem fait. ex) ch. 8, line 14-15. One's work (one's dharma, connecting it back to other readings.) When one is doing the work they're supposed to be doing it and enjoying it, it won't feel as labor. Anxiety: Ch.4, line 6. Recognition that there should be pleasure in work, it's a benefit. IT's also a sign you're doing the work you're supposed to be doing. "Gift of God"= good life. Good work, hard work, that can be enjoyed, eat, and drink. Find your work, let pleasure be a signal that you're in the right work, enjoy that work, eat, and drink. Ch.2 line 24

Yahweh

5.1 Juda Recognized him as their primary divinity

Song of Songs

5.1/5.2 THERE'S A TIME FOR EVERYTHING AND SOMETIMES THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF THINGS. AKA: Song of Solomon Division of the Israelite Empire: Kingdoms of Juda and Israel Babylonian exile., Persian influence on writing Way of Jewish leaders to have jews regroup Lyrical poem Setting is ancient Palestine Six Interpretations of this text: -Jewish tradition (God's love for humankind) -Christian tradition (allegory of Jesus's love for the church) -Mystical tradition (Christian and Muslim) - Ultimate Love (intimacy between humans and the divine. Metaphor for the description of ultimate love. What heaven feels like) -Erotic love poetry (based on comparisons of erotic love poetry of other traditions) -Mesopotamian tale of marriage -Krishna connection (in every tradition there is a longing for, an intimate connection with the ultimate reality.) Language is very erotic and erotic. Longing for something intimate, something essential. That longing could be for God, or that humans are longing for some kind of knowledge of what is real, our own integrity, what makes us whole human beings.

Qoheleth

5.2 Ecclesiastes =Teacher of the assembly (Ecclesiastes)

Paradox of Choice

5.2 Similar concept as Ecclesiastes "Everybody Needs a Fishbowl" Paradox of free choice, and how much choice people can handle before they feel completely paralyzed. Whether they don't act at all or make the wrong choice. Too many choices could be overwhelming. Secret to happiness is lower expectations. Are you Maxifier: maximizing your choices (wanting the best, researches every possible option) or satisfier: the one that settles, make one choice and be done with it. What's good enough He says that those who maximize it exhaust themselves looking for the choices and question themselves a lot.

Shulammite girl

5.2 Song of Songs (the love interest) The Song of Solomon is a series of lyrical poems organized as a lengthy dialogue between a young woman and her lover. A third party, or chorus, occasionally addresses the lovers. The first poem is spoken by the young maiden, who longs to be near her lover and enjoy his kisses. She explains that she has a dark complexion because her family sends her to work in the vineyards. She searches for her lover, comparing him to a wandering shepherd, and the chorus encourages her to follow the flocks to his tent. Lover praises her beauty. Her groom appears as King Solomon.

Socrates

6.1 LIVE AN EXAMINED LIFE, FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS ARE CONSTANTLY INTEROGATED TO THE POINT OF SILENCE TO LIVE A MORE MEANINGFUL LIFE. REALIZE THE ULTIMATE REALITY Oracle tells him he will be the wisest of men in Athens Socrates says he doesn't quite understand that claim by the oracle so he leads a life seeking that out. Becomes a traveling teacher to the younger generations. Tests all the people that he thinks could be more wise than he is, so influential people of the time, trying to make sense of this prophecy. Becomes a truth seeker, does it through the socratic method (asks a question and then continues to examine the answer in a dialogue with his subject, to test every assertion that is made until truth is reached. He finds out there are a lot of things he doesn't know and also that people don't really know things, or as much as they think they know. They don't have REAL understanding of their subject. He becomes disliked by exposing their ignorance to themselves and other Athenians. Puts democracy to a test and continuously challenges it. Gets charged with: -Creating new gods and "not believing in the gods" of Athens -Speaking from his own divine sign; own wisdom (his own wisdom that no one else had control over. Being able to interpret the gods on his own.) "making the worse the stronger argument" (he is working "against" the truth by trying to make a poor argument a better argument) -Corrupting the young -Unpatriotic, rebellious, atheist, or blasphemous threat to democracy Real understanding and learning when the mind is open. Examine the concepts we don't know. Real understanding: reaching that point of frustration and surrender and then there's openness to learning. Then you examine things all the way to their core and then you'll know what you know and don't know.

Plato

6.1 At Socrate's trial Virtues: -Righteousness -Courage -Freedom -Truth -Justice -Beauty

Apology

6.1 Socrates and Plato -Euthyphro -Apology (Argues for the importance of democracy and there are people who play the role of truth seeking. That process cultivates VIRTUE. A society will be virtuous through the cultivation of virtuous people, so education, philosophy, etc is needed. People are good, and the one's that aren't good is because their virtue hasn't been cultivated.) -Crito (Integrity in the face of death/ Friends try to convince him to go into exile but he refuses. Says he needs to be just and virtuous and follow the laws of Athens. What people think about the law matters, not what they think of him -Phaedo (Virtuous life: moderation, righteousness, courage, freedom, truth) Cost of an examined life: social outcast

philosophia

6.1 Socrates/Plato/Aristotle Contemplation for contemplation sake Contemplation to seek truth and clarity- questioning to the point of silence (Ultimate Reality) Contemplation + Assessment How? Socratic Dialogue: -Expose false beliefs and interrogate fundamental principles -Reach silence and ultimate silence

Nichomachaean Ethics

7.1 Aristotle virtuous activity and contemplation and a long enough life would lead to udemonia (fulfillment over time) (Nichomachaean- his father) Studied at Plato's academy Virtues: -Courage -Moderation Being happy as working well in fulfilling their function. Tranquility+activity=antidote to suffering HAPPINESS GOAL: Determine how best to achieve happiness -10 books, separate scrolls -Edited collection and synthesis of his lectures at the Lyceum -Representative of classical Greek philosophy -Becomes the basis for medieval European philosophy influenced Spanish-Muslim philosopher Averroes and Christian Thomas Aquinas The function/purpose of humans is to act with a rational principal to achieve an end. There are many ends to human activity, but the final, chief end is eudaimonia (happiness, well-being) Humans are social/political beings. The science of this human activity is political science, a measured, rational approach to the - To be happy = virtuous, engage in virtuous activity - If someone is happy, they are living well and doing well Eudaimonia- GOOD LIFE; the only, one, final end = HAPPINESS (because it's the only thing we choose for ourselves, for its own sake, and for no other purpose) "Happiness, then, is something final and self-sufficient, and is the end of action." (R, 60). Doesn't need anything else, complete, final. The only end that we (state or individual) desire simply for its own sake is Happiness CHOICE+VIRTUOUS ACTIVITY+PHILOSOPHIA (CONTEMPLATION +ASSESSMENT)+SUFFICIENTLY EQUIPPED WITH EXTERNAL GOODS+OVER TIME (COMPLETE LIFE)= EUDAMONIA (THE GOOD LIFE) The experience of Happiness is best understood in terms of well-being or tranquility that virtue, virtue with reflection, and reflection with philosophy brings. On a Good Wife: women are subject to men, but as higher than slaves. Obey husband. No head in public affairs

Epicureanism

7.1 Greek Practical philosophy of serenity in an often tumultuous world. Observation and logic to study the world and examine the human condition Good life: contentment and pleasure Epicureanism- Hedonism but more in line with what Aristotle thought (pleasures are sought, not monetary pleasures.) Pleasure = lack of pain, troubles Moderation Enduring Tranquility of soul (eudaimonia) Higher/lower pleasures Friendship Work Philosophy/Contemplation Death Reason (vs. Fate, Chance) pleasure: pain can be minimized or reduced. Not necessarily a positive emotion, it's a freedom from those things that cause pain. More moderate. Self control and independence. one shouldn't take too many responsibilities because that leads to pain. excess is not good, moderation is key. Intellectual soul, serenity of the body. Avoid extreme pleasures that have possible painful outcomes. Higher pleasures of the mind, intellectual, artistic. Lower pleasures related to the body: food, water, sex. Friendship is important, have a lot of good friends. Work for meaning, not status or wealth. Women and slaved followed these teachings.

Hedonism

7.1 Greek Things and activities are sought, not just pleasure. Don't plan on finding pleasure, just seek the things that are meaningful and fulfilling, the product is the pleasure. Engagement is the main point. If you look for pleasure and make it the main goal, you will be disappointed. Only pleasure or pain motivate us- most important intrinsic good and proper aim of human life. Pursuing what you love because you love it, not because you're expecting to get something from it. In the end, you could achieve pleasure as a side situation but it's not your main goal. When your main goal is your pleasure, you risk not finding it and therefore getting disappointed. Pleasure based on sensation, on feelings.

Lucretius

7.1 Roman -View of fear of death: People should not fear death because when they die, they no longer exist, anyways. - The body, mind, and soul are made of moving particles (atomic theory.) 6 volume text, intellectuals were becoming special of the role of religion in the roman empire. Skeptical text about the gods and the soul. The soul is material Challenge what is considered to be superstitious beliefs. Understand the nature of things to live the good life with a rational approach. Fear of death is unnecessary ALL things are materials made of atoms that temporary come together. Physical connection of the soul and the mind. Unity of the soul and the mind REASON GOVERNS THE NATURAL./HUMAN WORLD. BOTH THE SOUL AND THE MIND. Lucretius identifies the supernatural with the notion that the deities created our world or interfere with its operations in some way. He argues against fear of such deities by demonstrating, through observations and arguments, that the operations of the world can be accounted for in terms of natural phenomena.

Epicurus

7.1 Greek Epicurus of Samos Founded a school he called the Garden To Epicurus, the unhappiness and degradation of humans arose largely from the dread which they entertained of the power of the deities, from terror of their wrath

On the Nature of Things

7.1 Lucretius the greatest poetic monument of Epicurean philosophy. It is outstanding both as a scientific explanation of the poet's atomic theory and as a fine poem -with the goal of explaining Epicurean philosophy to a Roman audience - Mind and soul = single nature. - Mind is mortal (falsehood of eternal soul) 2e

Jesus movements

7.2 "Pillars of Jerusalem" - Peter, James & John "Family of Jesus"- James bro. "Congregation of Israel" - miracles "Synagogue Reform Movement" - meal Changing Judaism "Q" - collected sayings in 30s-40s

Jesus

7.2 COULD BUILD A KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ON EARTH (FOCUS NOT ON PERSONAL GAIN BUT ON LOVE) Challenged religious norms (more intimate and internalized form of spirituality against strict priestly taught spirituality) Internalized vs. ritual spirituality Kingdom of Heaven is at hand Challenged social norms: Kingdom of Heaven Mutual forgiveness Communal property Cancellation of debts Ethical reciprocity Release from anxiety Love enemies Blessed are the poor (in spirit) Kingdom of God (Spiritual, social, political. Afterlife, heaven, spiritual place with a location Or Social community Christ congregations: recognized Jesus as divine, Messiah, knowledge/guidance from a direct experience with God.

Josephus

7.2 "A doer of startling things" Recorded Jewish history

Gospel of Matthew

8.1 Personal salvation and how does one live in a community (like Confucius)

Gospel of Mary

8.1 SALVATION IS FOUND WITHIN OURSELVES. INTO THAT PLACE OF SILENCE, A PLACE OF CHARITY AND SALVATION, FREEDOM FROM WANT, HAPPINESS, UNION Human nature (soul) is perfect goodness, divine, the "true seeds of humanity," Kingdom of Heaven The Kingdom of God is within, it's about disengagement of the world. (Similar to detachment int he Buddhist context.) Human nature- the soul. Perfect goodness, divinely inspired if not divine itself. Positive view of what humanity is. Pure wisdom in its truest form. Those seeds cultivate the kingdom of heaven from within. Mystical knowledge that is not empirical or external. This sort of knowledge exists within people. Sin: Corruption of the soul, separation from god This is what keeps people from realizing the seeds of humanity to achieve full wisdom. Not living out your true humanity. Corruption of the soul with this sins. We aren't born with them Nature of adultery= sin. In this case, adultery means putting two things together that don't belong together because of a broken promise/ commitment. Two things that corrupt each other and make each other impure. Those two things are the spiritual and the material, when you put them together you have sin. (page 85) Natural: goodness BaD: 7 powers of the material world, things that don't belong together. Bind the soul to the body and keep humans from true humanity (Darkness, desire, ignorance, wrath, zeal for death, domain of the flesh, wisdom of the wrathful person) We are not born with those. Salvation/englightment: perfect rest of the soul. SILENCE, fruition of seeds of humanity Located INSIDE us Mary's writings were not included in the canons.

Augustine of Hippo

8.1 What is unhappiness? It is human nature to want and make wants known - concupiscence (Book Two, Chap. II, 2) Suffering as Sin - what separates us from Ultimate Reality (God); Humans are sinful by nature (Original Sin); our desires/passions Salvation - attained in a struggle between the corporal/material and the spiritual/transcendent. Salvation (enlightenment) comes in submitting the Will (passions) to God's Laws (Ultimate Reality). Turning point in his conversion experience: death of a friend, realizing getting attached to material things will cause suffering.

muslim

8.2 "one who submits"

jihad

8.2 ISLAM Everyday STRUGGLE with doing right Good life= submission to Allah and jihad.

islam

8.2 Sunni (5 Pillars of Islam)" Creed, prayer, almsgiving, fasting, pilgrimage

Umma

8.2 ISLAM The word Ummah refers to "the people" in Arabic, more specifically to Muslim people with a common ideology and culture. "Ummah" is also said in the Quran by Allah referring to Muslims =muslim community Good life: living your life according to the concepts of Ilam and the struggle that come with it. Everyday struggle with doing right (jihad) It's about submission to Allah= jihad Shahid= martyr/witness Hadith: reports, sayings of Muhammad Sufism: Rabiah, Rumi (poetry involving the senses, vibrant. Similar to Song of Songs) Hijrah: flight to Medina -Organized the ummah(h) and the first mosques (gathering places) Leaves Mecca, moves to Medina to be able to really teach.

Muhammad

8.2 SURRENDER AND INVEST IN AN EQUITABLE COMMUNITY THROUGH FAITH AND THROUGH ACTIONS (CHARITY, ACTS OF COMMUNITY) seal of the prophets- he is the last of the great prphets ,a messanger from Allah (god) Political and religious leader Khadijah- his wife, runs a business with him Night of Destiny: he is visited by the arkangel Gabriel -Recieves revelations from God, recited by Gabriel (first 25 verses of Qu'ran) No successor named

potlach

9.1 Schivelbusch (Tastes of Paradise) Drinking rituals (like rounds) as a form of gift giving

Genussmittel

9.1 Tastes of Paradise Articles of pleasure Commodities that bring pleasure the social construction of meaning of commodities how luxuries/commodities come to represent ideas about the Good Life how a modern consumer culture was formed (the kind of "affluent society" that Marshall Sahlins' challenged. (p. 168, p. 185, p. 223)

Confucius

AND BEN ZHAO: TAUGHT US THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCATED TO CREATE A GOOD SOCIETY THROUGH RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS Was a failure in what he thought was his path. Thought he would end up in a n important political position, that was his path, but he didn't achieve that. -Emphasis is on community, the individual doesn't get the benefit -Rational, relationships, order, and common ritual/practice. Not through that mystical. -Investing and cultivating humanity= virtue for all Humanity is good, humans are good. -Real virtue is not about the individual, it is attained in social relations, not isolation. In institutions or communities, form relationships. Mutual benefit. -Human goodness=develop society. -Recognition there is never ending work of social transformation. Confucianism: human focused on the good nature of humanity. Done by investing in human virtue, focusing on the rational and human agency, not much on the spiritual. Natural law (heaven): less about deities, more about what people would do to help each other out. Five Constant Relationships Mencius- human nature is fundamentally good.

Atman/atman

Atman/Brahman (True self) atman (human self) Atman/Brahman (True Self)= atman (human self)+ Brahman (universal self)

bikkus

BUDDHISM an ordained male monastic ("monk") in Buddhism. Male and female monastics ("nun", bhikkhuni (Sanskrit bhikṣuṇī) are members of the Buddhist community.

Patacara

BUDDHISM Patacara, after running through Savatthi naked and disconsolate, prostrated at the feet of the Buddha, describing her family tragedies. The Buddha explained this using Buddhist doctrines, and Patacara immediately understood the nature of impermanence. She thus became a sotapanna, the first stage of arahanthood, which she later achieved. The Buddha said that she was the foremost Keeper of the Vinaya amongst the Nuns, and thus the female counterpart of the monk Upali. Her interest in the "Rules of Conduct" of the monastic life was attributed to her reflections on her former indulgences.

Sangha

BUDDHISM the Buddhist community of monks, nuns, novices, and laity.

Siddhartha Guatama

Buddha. A price. Experiences Nirvana, real realization. Realizes there's a middle path people can take to stop their suffering, by accepting a denial of a self, getting rid of the self, extinguishing the self. (Anatman)

xioa/filial piety

Confucius Five constant relationships Ruler (benevolent) subject (loyal) Parents (loving) children (reverential, respectful Husband (good) wife (receptive; listening) Elder siblings (gentle) younger (respectful) Friends (considerate) friends (deferential) Loyal, reciprocity translation: "filial piety" or "dutiful as a child towards a parent". A person who embodies filial piety acts and feels in the way that one should towards one's parents. A filial person cares for his parents, worries about them, doesn't talk back, etc.

yoga

Form of meditation. A group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India. There is a broad variety of Yoga schools, practices, and goals in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism

Golden Mean

GREEK In Ancient Greek philosophy, especially that of Aristotle, the golden mean or golden middle way is the desirable middle between two extremes, one of excess and the other of deficiency. For example, in the Aristotelian view, courage is a virtue, but if taken to excess would manifest as recklessness, and, in deficiency, cowardice. To the Greek mentality, it was an attribute of beauty. Both ancients and moderns believed that there is a close association in mathematics between beauty and truth. The Greeks believed there to be three "ingredients" to beauty: symmetry, proportion, and harmony. Beauty was an object of love and something that was to be imitated and reproduced in their lives, architecture, education (paideia),

Varnas

Head: brahmins (priests, who help guide the cosmic order) Arms: kshatriya (warriors, protectors of society. Secular rulers- princes or Kings) Legs: Vaishya. Doers.Skilled professionals, the producers. Farmers, merchants, etc. Feet: Sudra. Day laborers and servants. They serve other people's work. Underneath the body: The untouchables. Polluted, unsure. Early formation of the Caste System.

Tanakh

Hebrew Bible, is the canonical collection of JEWISH texts, which is also a textual source for the Christian Old Testament. These texts are composed mainly in Biblical Hebrew, with some passages in Biblical Aramaic (in the books of Daniel, Ezra and a few others). The traditional Hebrew text is known as the Masoretic Text.

Mahabhrata

Hinduism is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the Ramayana (Gita is part of it) The Mahabharata is an epic narrative of the Kurukshetra War and the fates of the Kaurava and the Pandava princes. It also contains philosophical and devotional material, such as a discussion of the four "goals of life" or purusharthas (12.161). Among the principal works and stories in the Mahabharata are the Bhagavad Gita, the story of Damayanti, an abbreviated version of the Ramayana, and the Rishyasringa, often considered as works in their own right.

Ramadan

ISLAM Fasting (from desire, to open yourself upto Allah's wisdom, solidarity with the poor, activities that distract you from gid)

Quraysh

ISLAM Muhammad's tribe

Qur'an

ISLAM Recitations central religious text of Islam, which Muslims believe to be a revelation from God (Arabic: الله‎‎, Allah).[1] It is widely regarded as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language.[2][3] The Quran is divided into chapters (surah in Arabic), which are then divided into verses (ayah). People believed it was verbally revealed by God to Muhammad.

Gospel of Thomas

JESUS The gospel of Thomas is a Gnostic gospel, espousing a Gnostic viewpoint of Christianity. provides insight into the oral gospel traditions. Sayings attributed to Jesus it is not a narrative account of the life of Jesus; instead, it consists of logia (sayings) attributed to Jesus, sometimes stand-alone, sometimes embedded in short dialogues or parables. The text contains a possible allusion to the death of Jesus in logion 65[9] (Parable of the Wicked Tenants, paralleled in the Synoptic Gospels), but doesn't mention his crucifixion, his resurrection, or the final judgment; nor does it mention a messianic understanding of Jesus.[10][11] Since its discovery, many scholars have seen it as evidence in support of the existence of the so-called Q source, which might have been very similar in its form as a collection of sayings of Jesus without any accounts of his deeds or his life and death, a so-called "sayings gospel"

Mount/Beatitudes

JESUS The Beatitudes are eight blessings recounted in the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew. Each is a proverb-like proclamation, without narrative, "cryptic, precise, and full of meaning. Each one includes a topic that forms a major biblical theme".[1] Four of the blessings also appear in the Sermon on the Plain in the Gospel of Luke, followed by four woes which mirror the blessings.[2] The term beatitude comes from the Latin noun beātitūdō which means "happiness".[3][4][5] In the Vulgate (Latin), the book of Matthew titles this section Beatitudines, and "Beatitudes" was anglicized from that term. Each Beatitude consists of two phrases: the condition and the result. In almost every case the condition is from familiar Old Testament context, but Jesus teaches a new interpretation.[6] Together, the Beatitudes present a new set of Christian ideals that focus on a spirit of love and humility different in orientation than the usual force and exaction taken. They echo the ideals of the teachings of Jesus on mercy, spirituality, and compassion

Sermon on the Mount

JESUS a collection of sayings and teachings of Jesus, which emphasizes his moral teaching found in the Gospel of Matthew (chapters 5, 6, and 7).[1][2] It is the first of the Five Discourses of Matthew and takes place relatively early in the Ministry of Jesus after he has been baptized by John the Baptist and preached in Galilee. The Sermon is the longest continuous section of Jesus speaking found in the New Testament, and has been one of the most widely quoted elements of the Canonical Gospels.[3] It includes some of the best known teachings of Jesus, such as the Beatitudes, and the widely recited Lord's Prayer. To most believers in Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount contains the central tenets of Christian discipleship.[3] The last verse of chapter 5 is considered to be a focal point that summarizes the teaching of the sermon: "be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect", advising his disciples and followers to seek the path towards perfection and the Kingdom of Heaven.[4]

Gnostic Christians

JESUS/ CHRISTIANITY "The Gnostic Gospels inspire a rethinking that faith is about our living relationship with Christ rather than believing beliefs. They encourage us to seek with love what is true and honest for ourselves, the world and God." As a threat to this purity, the judgment on these who challenged some of the knowledge of the church came to be called "Gnostics, "and they were described as "know nothings," which was the intent of the name. Particularly, any belief that differed, for example, belief in a spiritual resurrection rather than a bodily resurrection, was simply false and wrong. Thus, the Gnostics would argue that this early church got it wrong. What is immovable in Christianity is not our beliefs -- but our faith!

Q (Quelle) Source

Jesus Is a hypothetical written collection of Jesus's sayings (logia). Q is (part of) the common material found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke but not in the Gospel of Mark. According to this hypothesis, this material was drawn from the early Church's Oral Tradition. which might have been very similar in its form as a collection of sayings of Jesus without any accounts of his deeds or his life and death, a so-called "sayings gospel Similar to the Gospel of Thomas

brahmin

Lect 2.1 Priest. Ancient priests could hear the utterances of reality, and they only had the ability to interpret them and then would put them in rituals They take these utterances and make them into code through rituals (smriti) Highest caste of Hindu society Study Vedas Brahminism: priests interpret everything, only them. Old vetas, old oral tradition.

Upanishads

Lect. 2.1 TAUGHT US TO FIND WISDOM WITHIN OUR SHINNING SELF. WITH ULTIMATE REALITY, NOT WITH WHAT'S IN FASHION Reactionary movement: emphasized more of the people making these interpretations, not just the priest (brahmin) Critiques of Vedas and brahminism They believed that other people with guidance could manifest the ultimate reality. Others could have DIRECT realization, experience with ultimate reality. That doesn't just belong to priests, it can belong to anyone. Desire is natural- kama, artha Mandaka: Says priests are offering a lower form of knowledge and that there's an actually higher form that can be learned. Uddalaka: tells his son he is part of everyone's reality, you are all part of the whole. Teaching about the ultimate reality that is unified and everyone can experience if it's realized. Desire is natural for humans: physical desire, desire for profession. It's part of what makes us human but it's also oppressive. That desire becomes oppressive. pleasure is impermanent which leads us to desire something else. It's a cycle. We will continue to seek them and we will die and born again because of those unmet desires, so it causes us some problems, described as the Wheel of life and rebirth (life, birth, and rebirth). It can be stopped, be liberated, from the wheel (moksha) by realizing what most people really want, which is a realize from that desire and it's achievable. Karma: notion of action (cause and effect) law of moral causation. All things are caused by other things, what you do affects future things. Impact of past and present actions on your life. Also about that unfulfilled release of the wheel of life, death, and rebirth from the past life. If you don't achieve liberation on your past life, you will come back to do it again and hopefully achieve liberation. Desire---> samsara Moksha atman (self) Yoga meditation dharma On being fully human: Good life is attained through wisdom of the Higher, Universal (not lower/limited) Self which is interconnected from the source of life. Full realization of our interconnectedness allows us to escape desire (samsara) multiple paths to Brahman = Universal Self, Eternal, The Beyond Within, Being/Awareness/Bliss, the Absolute, Spirit (God) The Self and the Good Life 1) To want pleasure is natural for humans. Physical, sensual and thus sexual pleasure (Kama) and economic self-sufficiency or possessions (artha) power. The Path of Desire is Natural . . . Inevitable . . . But, it is also oppressive. Running faster and faster to get rewards that mean less and less (hedonic treadmill). But pleasure is impermanent and the drives are insatiable. Janaka/Yajnavalkya Upandishad, p. 19 We are said to be what our desire is." If we are born with desires, we will seek them until death, if we still have unsatisfied desires, we will be re-born to satisfy them 2) The only liberation from this wheel of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara) is by realizing that what most people REALLY (liberation) want, they CAN HAVE, and, in fact, they already possess inside themselves. Inside the human body and beyond human consciousness, is BEING (BRAHMAN) that infuses all life/consciousness. The human connection to/awareness (realization, through direct experience) Brahman is known as Atman/Brahman. A liberated human = body + awareness = Atman-Brahman. A divine "Self" buried beneath the distractions, false assumptions, and instintcs of the "self" (CR, 18, a shining Self that watches "dreams woven out of past deeds and present desires.") 3) This "Self-realization" (p 19) brings moksha = release from the finitude that restricts us from the limitless being, consciousness, and bliss of our hearts' desires.

Bhagavad Gita

Part of the Mahabhara (Classic Hinduism) Recapturing concept of dharma= one's duty. Better to die in one's own duty. Better to do your duty imperfectly then to do someone else's duty. Turning point= when Krishna shows him his true form. Awakens him to see ultimate reality Krishna is the manifestation of what Arjuna needs Action not only with discipline but with devotion.

Mecca

Pilgrimage site- hajj Economic and religious center Imam-prayer leader Madrasas: schools (for studying texts) Ka'aba: sacred space/structure (black box int he middle)

reciprocity

Plato The social norm of reciprocity is the expectation that people will respond to each other in similar ways—responding to gifts and kindnesses from others with similar benevolence of their own, and responding to harmful, hurtful acts from others with either indifference or some form of retaliation. In Plato's Crito, Socrates considers whether citizens might have a duty of gratitude to obey the laws of the state, in much the way they have duties of gratitude to their parents CONFUCIUS translation: "reciprocal" or "the Golden Rule". The Golden Rule is extremely important in Confucianism. "Shu" is the kind of attitude towards others that a person has when he or she is reciprocal, caring about others in the way in which he wants them to care about him (or her). Shu

Five Pillars of Islam

Protection AND IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY Kalima/ Shahadah- declaration of faith Zakat (required)/ sadaqa (voluntary)- almsgiving (having wealth isn't sinful, hoarding it is. When you give it away, it is blessed. Blesses reciever) Salat- daily prayer (5x a day; builds global community) Sawn/Ramadam-fasting 5) Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca

Schivelbusch: Taste of Paradise

Southern European, Catholic sensuality: Chocolate The role of pleasure in the Good Life; Food, drink, stimulants, intoxicants - PLEASURE -- and the Good Life (can link to Kama Sutra, the erotic/mystical poetry of Song of Songs, Sufi poets, that celebrate the physical and/or the sensual (beauty, texture senses) Spiritual, cultural, political shift--> chemical means--> effect (culture of consumption ; the social construction of the meaning of commodities)

Wolfgang Schvelbusch

TAUGHT US HOW THE COMMODITIES OF OUR MODERN LIFE PRODUCE DESIRES AND CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR BODIES, RELATIONSHIPS, AND CULTURE. Wrote Tastes of Paradise

Hedonic Treadmill

Tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes. We gain experiences and loose our savoring of that and to that cause our new sufferings. creates a look of NEEDS

Upanishads versus Buddha's Teachings

Upanishads: -Suffering caused by desire (natural) -Liberation (moksha) by realizing the True Self (atman/Brahman) -Through yoga (meditation), dharma, karma Buddha -Suffering caused by desire is not natural -Desire (suffering) can cease (nirvana) by detachment from desire -Through Eight-fold Path -And mindfulness meditation on impermanence, emptiness -No self (Anatman); no caste; no form Withdrawal away from freedom to get our liberation. Challenged that Dharma wasn't connected directly to the caste -knowledge is an obstacle for understanding

Sophia

Was a Christian church and got later on converted into a mosque Where Christianity and Islam coexist