Desires, Moksha, Atman-Brahman, Personality Types, Yogas, Gods, Stages, Karma, Samsara, Maya
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Transcript of Desires, Moksha, Atman-Brahman, Personality Types, Yogas, Gods, Stages, Karma, Samsara, Maya
Desires, Desires, Moksha,Moksha, Atman-Atman-
Brahman, Brahman, Personality Personality
Types, Yogas, Types, Yogas, Gods, Stages, Gods, Stages,
Karma, Karma, Samsara, MayaSamsara, Maya
GandhiGandhi
AUM AUM The sound from The sound from
which which everything was everything was createdcreated
The buzz of the The buzz of the CosmosCosmos
All vowels All vowels includedincluded
Big QuestionsBig Questions Polytheism or Monotheism?Polytheism or Monotheism?
Personal or Transpersonal?Personal or Transpersonal?
What is the purpose of life?What is the purpose of life?
What is the purpose of religion?What is the purpose of religion?
How are religions paths?How are religions paths?
Big IdeasBig Ideas
Big and Little Big and Little
Self-EmptyingSelf-Emptying Paths - Different Strokes for Paths - Different Strokes for
Different FolksDifferent Folks
The Goal: Moksha, Atman-The Goal: Moksha, Atman-BrahmanBrahman"It is only ignorance to "It is only ignorance to
regard the seeming regard the seeming separateness of objects separateness of objects in the external world as in the external world as real. The only true real. The only true reality is oneness with reality is oneness with Brahman, and the only Brahman, and the only right and true purpose in right and true purpose in human life is to realize human life is to realize this oneness. Man's this oneness. Man's essential duty is to essential duty is to transform his transform his consciousness so that he consciousness so that he can become one with can become one with Brahman" (Lamb, 27).Brahman" (Lamb, 27).
BasicsBasics• World’s oldest, extremely diverse, World’s oldest, extremely diverse,
constantly adapting constantly adapting • Goal – Atman (soul) Moksha Goal – Atman (soul) Moksha
(liberation) from cycle of Samsara (liberation) from cycle of Samsara (reincarnation), achieve unity (reincarnation), achieve unity with Brahman (universal spirit) by with Brahman (universal spirit) by freeing self from earthly desires freeing self from earthly desires through discipline (yogas)through discipline (yogas)
• Lacks historical founder, Lacks historical founder, organized priesthood, required organized priesthood, required creed of beliefs. creed of beliefs.
Hinduism MapHinduism Map
Where?Where?IndiaIndiaGanges River (Benares, etc.)Ganges River (Benares, etc.)
When?When? Pre-1500 B.C. Mother Pre-1500 B.C. Mother
goddess cult in Indus Valley goddess cult in Indus Valley
1400-500 B.C. - Aryan people 1400-500 B.C. - Aryan people who wrote the who wrote the VedasVedas - Ideas - Ideas of hierarchies (higher and of hierarchies (higher and lower) - beliefs, castes, lower) - beliefs, castes, occupations, etc. emergedoccupations, etc. emerged
““People are different"People are different" No founderNo founder
Four wantsFour wants
Four major stages of lifeFour major stages of life
Four major stations of life (Four major stations of life (castescastes))
Four major paths to God (Four major paths to God (YogasYogas) )
All approaches to God equally valid All approaches to God equally valid
Really Essential QuestionsReally Essential Questions When are you happy? When are you happy? When are you unhappy?When are you unhappy? What is your passion?What is your passion? When is your work your play? When is your work your play? What does your symbol mean? What does your symbol mean? What is an experience when words failed What is an experience when words failed
you?you? What is a symbol/image/picture you What is a symbol/image/picture you
would use to depict your image of “God”?would use to depict your image of “God”? Who is a role model you admire enough Who is a role model you admire enough
to emulate and why?to emulate and why?
You can You can have have what what you you
want!want!
What People Want: Path What People Want: Path of Desireof Desire1.1.Pleasure – not bad, right for a Pleasure – not bad, right for a
stage, seek intelligently, won’t stage, seek intelligently, won’t lastlast
2.2.Worldly success – Worldly success – a) wealth a) wealth b) fame b) fame c) power - more satisfying –c) power - more satisfying –involves othersinvolves others
You You can can
have have what what you you
want!want!
Why won’t worldly Why won’t worldly success last?success last?
Exclusive –hence competitive, Exclusive –hence competitive, precariousprecarious
Drive is insatiableDrive is insatiable
Centers meaning on self, not beyond Centers meaning on self, not beyond selfself
Finite and temporary – not eternal and Finite and temporary – not eternal and transcendent – can’t take them with transcendent – can’t take them with youyou
The Question All Religion The Question All Religion Begins WithBegins With
"Is this all?“ – Is there More? "Is this all?“ – Is there More?
Turn from desire when desire Turn from desire when desire turns from youturns from you
ToysToys
Psychological age v. Psychological age v. chronological agechronological age
What People Really Want:What People Really Want:B.B. Path of RenunciationPath of Renunciation
3. To be needed, useful, helpful - 3. To be needed, useful, helpful - DutyDuty
4. Liberation (“Moksha”) – 4. Liberation (“Moksha”) – a) being (sit)a) being (sit)b) awareness (chit)b) awareness (chit)c) bliss (ananda)c) bliss (ananda)
Human LimitationsHuman LimitationsGoalGoalObstacleObstacle
Joy Joy suffering, unmet desire, suffering, unmet desire, boredomboredom
Knowledge Knowledge ignoranceignorance
Being Being space and time (“I space and time (“I wish you were here”, wish you were here”, death, death, etc.)etc.)
The Three PoisonsThe Three Poisons
1.1. Desire/GraspingDesire/Grasping FireFire2.2. Aversion/Fear/HatredAversion/Fear/Hatred IceIce3.3. Ignorance/DelusionIgnorance/Delusion
Cause all sufferingCause all suffering Reflect Personality typesReflect Personality types
Caught between fear and desireCaught between fear and desire
Hindu Concept of the SelfHindu Concept of the Self
1.1. Body (caterpillar)Body (caterpillar)
2.2. Mind/Personality (conscious Mind/Personality (conscious and subconscious) (butterfly)and subconscious) (butterfly)
3.3. Atman-Brahman (flying)Atman-Brahman (flying)
Atman-BrahmanAtman-Brahman The Beyond WithinThe Beyond Within
Detachment from finite self, orDetachment from finite self, or
Attachment to whole of BEINGAttachment to whole of BEING
Big Picture and Small Big Picture and Small PicturePicture WholeWhole
OneOne EnergyEnergy TranscendentTranscendent
SpiritSpirit Idea/WordIdea/Word Tao unnamedTao unnamed Brahman – Brahman –
transpersonal, transpersonal, monomono
PartsParts ManyMany MatterMatter Immanent – Immanent –
Here/NowHere/Now FleshFlesh Incarnation/Incarnation/
FleshFlesh Tao namedTao named Gods – Gods –
personal, polypersonal, poly
Hinduism Hinduism and and ScienceScience All is one – unity All is one – unity
with Brahmanwith Brahman
Being is hierarchicalBeing is hierarchical
World is multipleWorld is multiple– Galaxies, Galaxies,
accordionaccordion
AgreesAgrees– Physics – Big Bang – Physics – Big Bang –
“pearl” of E, BOOM, “pearl” of E, BOOM, “cooled” into matter “cooled” into matter
– Physics/Chemistry - Physics/Chemistry - Atomic theory – Atomic theory – Stuff/MatterStuff/Matter MoleculesMolecules AtomsAtoms Subatomic particles, Subatomic particles,
quarks, no quarks, no mass/diam, etc.mass/diam, etc.
EnergyEnergy– Bio/Genetics – SamenessBio/Genetics – Sameness– Physics – String Theory?Physics – String Theory?
Strings of energy?Strings of energy? Parallel Universes?Parallel Universes?
Hinduism Hinduism and and ScienceScience Self is layered entitySelf is layered entity– BodyBody– Conscious MindConscious Mind– Subconscious MindSubconscious Mind– Atman-BrahmanAtman-Brahman
Life is Developmental Life is Developmental – stages of life, – stages of life, consciousnessconsciousness
Samsara – Cycles of Samsara – Cycles of death and rebirthdeath and rebirth
Karma – Moral cause Karma – Moral cause and effectand effect
AgreesAgrees– Psychology – levels Psychology – levels
of consciousnessof consciousness
Evolution, Evolution, psychological theorypsychological theory
Happens all the time Happens all the time in nature? – cycles of in nature? – cycles of water, nutrients, etc. water, nutrients, etc.
What goes around What goes around comes around?comes around?
Parables, Symbols, Rituals, Parables, Symbols, Rituals, MythsMyths
Scriptures, etc. Scriptures, etc. ““awake us to realms awake us to realms of gold hidden at of gold hidden at the depths of our the depths of our being”being”
Express Express inexpressible in inexpressible in everyday terms, everyday terms, pictures, etc. pictures, etc.
Hindu Hindu ScriptureScripture
UpanishadsUpanishads - - section section of of VedasVedas discussed discussed relationship between relationship between Brahman and Atman Brahman and Atman
MahabharataMahabharata and and RamayanaRamayana - - Long epic Long epic poems about a war, a poems about a war, a questquest
Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita – – part part of of MahabharataMahabharata – – dialogue between dialogue between warrior Arjuna and warrior Arjuna and Krishna, lays out Krishna, lays out essential concepts.essential concepts.
Bhagavad Bhagavad GitaGita
dialogue btw warrior dialogue btw warrior Arjuna + charioteer Arjuna + charioteer Krishna - avatar of Krishna - avatar of VishnuVishnu
Part of Part of Mahabharata -Mahabharata - about battle between about battle between Pandavas and 100 Pandavas and 100 sons of Dhritarashtrasons of Dhritarashtra
In 18 Teachings, In 18 Teachings, Krishna lays out much Krishna lays out much of Hindu philosophy of of Hindu philosophy of duty (dharma), moral duty (dharma), moral choice and choice and consequence (karma) consequence (karma) and discipline (yoga), and discipline (yoga), as well as the nature as well as the nature of the divine essence of the divine essence (Brahman), and it's (Brahman), and it's relationship to the self relationship to the self (Atman). (Atman).
Conceptions of GodConceptions of God Personal – God with attributes – Personal – God with attributes –
creator, loving, powerful, etc. creator, loving, powerful, etc. Impersonal/Transpersonal – God Impersonal/Transpersonal – God
without attributes – Godhead, without attributes – Godhead, Universal Essence, etc. Brahman, Universal Essence, etc. Brahman, Tao, Nirvana? YHVH? Spirit?Tao, Nirvana? YHVH? Spirit?
The Transcendent in the The Transcendent in the Immanent – Religion expresses Immanent – Religion expresses the inexpressible in the everyday the inexpressible in the everyday – Metaphors pointing to truth?– Metaphors pointing to truth?
Hindu Concept Hindu Concept
of Godof GodThou Before Whom All Thou Before Whom All
Words Recoil Words Recoil words fail "like words fail "like
trying to ladle the trying to ladle the ocean with a net.“ocean with a net.“
Need concrete, use Need concrete, use Supreme PersonSupreme Person
Saguna Brahman - God w/ Saguna Brahman - God w/ attributes - personalattributes - personal
Nirguna Brahman - God Nirguna Brahman - God w/out attributes - w/out attributes - transpersonal - how both? transpersonal - how both?
light = wave light = wave andand particle particle "personal terms" - though "personal terms" - though
not interveningnot intervening
Hindu Concept of Hindu Concept of GodGod
Brahman – unnamed, Brahman – unnamed, universal, universal, transcendent essence transcendent essence permeating everything permeating everything – Monotheistic?– Monotheistic?
Hindu Gods – Hindu Gods – Polytheistic?Polytheistic?
Hindu Hindu TrinityTrinity Brahma – CreatorBrahma – Creator
Vishnu – PreserverVishnu – Preserver– 10 Avatars 10 Avatars
(incarnations(incarnations KrishnaKrishna RamaRama BuddhaBuddha
Shiva – Destroyer Shiva – Destroyer – Destroys the barrier Destroys the barrier
between illusion between illusion and realityand reality
– Shiva NatarajaShiva Nataraja Lord of the DanceLord of the Dance
Jot everything Jot everything you see, you see, and guess and guess what it what it symbolizessymbolizes
More GodsMore Gods
How How Many Many Gods?Gods?
The whole aim The whole aim of Eastern of Eastern religion is to religion is to shift self-shift self-identity from identity from the light bulb to the light bulb to the light – the light –
Joseph CampbellJoseph Campbell
Goal - AwarenessGoal - Awareness ““The only thing that is unqualifiedly The only thing that is unqualifiedly
good is extended vision, the good is extended vision, the enlargement of one’s understanding enlargement of one’s understanding of the ultimate nature of things” of the ultimate nature of things” (Smith, 8).(Smith, 8).
For Hindus this vision is the For Hindus this vision is the
awareness of the essential unity of awareness of the essential unity of all things as being one with Brahmanall things as being one with Brahman
Light Bulb or Light? Light Bulb or Light?
Transformation of consciousnessTransformation of consciousness
Yoga - The Paths to GodYoga - The Paths to God
India's obsession: “tap into India's obsession: “tap into supreme strength, fullness of supreme strength, fullness of wisdom, unquenchable joy within”wisdom, unquenchable joy within”
Religion = path to higher states of Religion = path to higher states of beingbeing
People are different – 5 yogasPeople are different – 5 yogas
YOGAYOGA method of training/discipline method of training/discipline
designed to lead to integration or designed to lead to integration or unionunion
Yoke – your own consciousness to Yoke – your own consciousness to transcendent. transcendent.
Get rid of Desire and Fear by shifting Get rid of Desire and Fear by shifting ConsciousnessConsciousness
Defined broadly – the discipline of Defined broadly – the discipline of “following your bliss” (Joseph “following your bliss” (Joseph Campbell)Campbell)
Different strokes for different folksDifferent strokes for different folks
Four Personality Traits Four Personality Traits and Pathsand Paths: :
1. reflective - knowledge - Jnana 1. reflective - knowledge - Jnana yogayoga
2. emotional - love - Bhakti yoga2. emotional - love - Bhakti yoga
3. active - work - Karma yoga3. active - work - Karma yoga
4. experimental – psychophysical 4. experimental – psychophysical experiments – Raja yogaexperiments – Raja yoga
Hatha Yoga - Hatha Yoga - PreparatoryPreparatoryWhereas focus Whereas focus
in west is on in west is on strength, strength, focus in east focus in east is on controlis on control
Jnana YogaJnana Yoga
Reflective/Philosophical Reflective/Philosophical personality – personality –
Way to God through knowledge Way to God through knowledge of Brahmanof Brahman
Shortest and Steepest PathShortest and Steepest Path Staying “in the zone”Staying “in the zone” Shift self-ID to eternal partShift self-ID to eternal part
Bhakti Bhakti YogaYoga
Religion (God, ritual)Religion (God, ritual) Emotions, LoveEmotions, Love Most popular Most popular Closest 2 ChristianityClosest 2 Christianity Loving devotion to/ Loving devotion to/
worship of chosen worship of chosen deity, family goddeity, family god
Like devotion to Like devotion to saints?saints?
Myths, symbols, Myths, symbols, ritualsrituals
Bhakti Bhakti continuedcontinued1.1. Japam – Chanting Japam – Chanting
God's name - God's name - "washing or "washing or weaving, planting weaving, planting or shopping, or shopping, imperceptibly but imperceptibly but indelibly these indelibly these verbal droplets of verbal droplets of aspiration soak aspiration soak down into the down into the subconscious, subconscious, loading it with the loading it with the divine."divine."
2.2. See God in various See God in various human human relationshipsrelationships
3.3. Puja - Worship of Puja - Worship of chosen ideal chosen ideal
Karma YogaKarma Yoga Active PersonalityActive Personality Way to God through work – find Way to God through work – find
your passion, empty self of your passion, empty self of attachment/desireattachment/desire
Work for God selflessly - in love Work for God selflessly - in love (bhakti) or detachment (jnana) (bhakti) or detachment (jnana)
Starve the finite ego by Starve the finite ego by detaching self from fruits of labordetaching self from fruits of labor
Of four yogas, main difference is Of four yogas, main difference is between jnana and bhaktibetween jnana and bhakti
Habits to Cultivate FirstHabits to Cultivate First::1.1. non-injury non-injury 2. truthfulnessruthfulness3.3. non-stealing non-stealing 4.4. self controlself control5.5. cleanliness cleanliness 6.6. contentmentcontentment7.7. self-discipline self-discipline 8.8. compelling desire to reach the compelling desire to reach the
goal. goal.
Raja YogaRaja Yoga MeditationMeditation For the scientific personalityFor the scientific personality Through “psychophysical experimentsThrough “psychophysical experiments 8 steps (control/tune out body, 8 steps (control/tune out body,
breathing, senses, etc. deepen mental breathing, senses, etc. deepen mental concentration)concentration)
a "determined refusal to allow the a "determined refusal to allow the pitter patter of daily existence to pitter patter of daily existence to distract from the unknown demands of distract from the unknown demands of some urgency within " - a "total strike" some urgency within " - a "total strike" against the routine of existence.against the routine of existence.
Eight Steps of Raja Eight Steps of Raja Yoga Yoga 1) 5 Don’t’s1) 5 Don’t’s - cravings, injury, lying, stealing, sensuality, - cravings, injury, lying, stealing, sensuality,
greedgreed2) 5 Do’s2) 5 Do’s - cleanliness, contentment, self control, - cleanliness, contentment, self control,
studiousness, contemplation of divinestudiousness, contemplation of divine1 and 2 - clear moral static1 and 2 - clear moral static - achieve calmness in - achieve calmness in conscienceconscience
3) Body - yogic postures3) Body - yogic postures work through the body to mind, rid work through the body to mind, rid distractions, - lotus positiondistractions, - lotus position
4) Breathing4) Breathing, reduce air required – “light of lamp does not , reduce air required – “light of lamp does not flicker in windless place”flicker in windless place”
5) Senses - Control and Tune Out- 5) Senses - Control and Tune Out- close doors of perception - close doors of perception - Up to now five intrusions - like damming of rivulets, but Up to now five intrusions - like damming of rivulets, but lake bottom streams and fantasies continuelake bottom streams and fantasies continue
6) Mind - Focus and Control 6) Mind - Focus and Control still active/restless even now, still active/restless even now, allow thoughts that need release to exorcise themselves allow thoughts that need release to exorcise themselves
7) Deepen Concentration7) Deepen Concentration – deepen to losing self- – deepen to losing self-consciousnessconsciousness
8) Samadhi8) Samadhi - state of mind of complete absorption in God, - state of mind of complete absorption in God, forms fall away, "The knower is united with what is forms fall away, "The knower is united with what is known, been brought to the knowledge of total being, known, been brought to the knowledge of total being, and for a spell, dissolved into it"and for a spell, dissolved into it"
The The ChakrasChakras
Kundalini – dragon Kundalini – dragon journeyjourney
Raja=Royal yogaRaja=Royal yoga Lotuses Lotuses Psychotic drowns, yogi Psychotic drowns, yogi
swimsswims
The Seven The Seven ChakrasChakras
7 – Crown 7 – Crown
6 – Third Eye6 – Third Eye 5 – Larynx5 – Larynx 4 – Heart4 – Heart
3 - Navel3 - Navel 2 - Genitals2 - Genitals 1 – Base of Spine 1 – Base of Spine
(root)(root)
7 – The 1000 petal lotus 7 – The 1000 petal lotus – Distinctons disappear– Distinctons disappear
6 – Soul beholds God6 – Soul beholds God 5 - Cleansing, Air, Aum5 - Cleansing, Air, Aum 4 – Love (Divinity down, 4 – Love (Divinity down,
Human up)Human up)
3 – Power (most at 2 or 3 – Power (most at 2 or 3)3)
2 - Pleasure2 - Pleasure 1 – Holding On - dragon1 – Holding On - dragon
Benefits?Benefits?Hinduism agrees Hinduism agrees
w/ w/ psychoanalysis psychoanalysis that if only we that if only we could tap into could tap into our our subconscious subconscious we would we would experience a experience a remarkable remarkable expansion of expansion of power and lifepower and life
Stages of Stages of LifeLife
1. student - after rite of 1. student - after rite of initiation - 12 years oldinitiation - 12 years old
2. householder - duty to 2. householder - duty to family, vocation, family, vocation, community - first three community - first three wantswants
3. retirement - find 3. retirement - find meaningmeaning
4. Sannyasin - neither 4. Sannyasin - neither hates nor loves hates nor loves anything - identify with anything - identify with eternal selfeternal self
Stations of Life - Stations of Life - CastesCastes1.1. Brahmins - seers - reflective - Brahmins - seers - reflective -
philosophers, artists, religious leaders philosophers, artists, religious leaders and teachersand teachers
2.2. Kshatriyas - administratorsKshatriyas - administrators3.3. Vaishyas - producers, artisans, farmersVaishyas - producers, artisans, farmers4.4. Shudras - followers, servants, Shudras - followers, servants,
unskilled laborersunskilled laborers "perversion" with addition of 5th "perversion" with addition of 5th
group - outcastes/untouchablesgroup - outcastes/untouchables
CasteCaste From Buddha to Gandhi, many reformers From Buddha to Gandhi, many reformers
sought to remove untouchability from sought to remove untouchability from caste outlawed in India's constitutioncaste outlawed in India's constitution
5 perversions/deteriorations5 perversions/deteriorations:: 1. Untouchables1. Untouchables 2. Breakup of 4 into over 3000 subcastes 2. Breakup of 4 into over 3000 subcastes
–– 3. Proscriptions v. intermarriage, dining 3. Proscriptions v. intermarriage, dining
complicates societycomplicates society 4. Privileges - higher castes benefited at 4. Privileges - higher castes benefited at
expense of lowerexpense of lower 5. Caste became hereditary5. Caste became hereditary
Samsara – Samsara – Coming of Coming of age in the age in the universeuniverse
ReincarnationReincarnation "When we outgrow a suit "When we outgrow a suit
or find our house to or find our house to cramped, we exchange cramped, we exchange these for roomier ones these for roomier ones that offer our bodies that offer our bodies freer play - souls do the freer play - souls do the same."same."
From From GitaGita : : "Worn out garments"Worn out garmentsAre shed by the body.Are shed by the body.Worn out bodiesWorn out bodiesAre shed by the dweller Are shed by the dweller (soul)."(soul)."
““The function of your body is to put your The function of your body is to put your jiva in the realm of temporary existence” – jiva in the realm of temporary existence” – Joseph CampbellJoseph Campbell
What What Brings Brings You You Back? Back?
Two Things:Two Things:
DesireDesireandandFearFear
KarmaKarma
KarmaKarma Moral law of cause and effect - Moral law of cause and effect -
present life is exact product of past present life is exact product of past wants and actionswants and actions
"As you sow, so shall you reap.“"As you sow, so shall you reap.“ ““What goes around, comes around”What goes around, comes around” Desire and FearDesire and Fear Two important psychological Two important psychological
corollaries to Karma:corollaries to Karma: 1. Complete personal responsibility1. Complete personal responsibility 2. No accidents or chance events2. No accidents or chance events
Karma QuoteKarma Quote "It is as if each desire that aims at "It is as if each desire that aims at
the ego's gratification adds a grain the ego's gratification adds a grain of concrete to the wall surrounding of concrete to the wall surrounding the individual self and insulates it the individual self and insulates it from the infinite sea of being that from the infinite sea of being that surrounds it, while, conversely, surrounds it, while, conversely, each compassionate or each compassionate or disinterested act dislodges a grain disinterested act dislodges a grain from the confining dike" (66).from the confining dike" (66).
Hindu WorldviewHindu Worldview Giant AccordionGiant Accordion 1. Multiple - innumerable horizontal 1. Multiple - innumerable horizontal
galaxies, vertical tiers, temporal galaxies, vertical tiers, temporal cyclescycles
2. Moral - law of Karma 2. Moral - law of Karma 3. Middle – never heaven or hell, but 3. Middle – never heaven or hell, but
betweenbetween 4. Maya = illusion/”tricky”, passes off 4. Maya = illusion/”tricky”, passes off
“multiplicity, materiality and dualities “multiplicity, materiality and dualities as ultimate when they are provisional”as ultimate when they are provisional”
5. Training ground - people can 5. Training ground - people can developdevelop
6. Lila - divine play in the cosmic 6. Lila - divine play in the cosmic dancedance
Bird over the HimalayasBird over the Himalayas
Many Paths to the Same Many Paths to the Same SummitSummit
"truth is one, the sages call it "truth is one, the sages call it by many names" by many names"
stained glass windowstained glass window
Pun FunPun Fun