HINDU HOLY POWERS

RELATIONSHIPS, SOCIETY, COMMUNITY:THE HOLINESS OF BEING

TOGETHER

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THE ISOLATION OF ANCIENT INDIA

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AN ANCIENT TRADITION

INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION• 3500-1500 BCE

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AN ANCIENT TRADITION

1500-800 BCEVEDIC LITERATURE DEVELOPES

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AN ANCIENT TRADITION

600-200 BCECOMPOSITION

OF UPHANISHADS

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AN ANCIENT TRADITION

THE ARYAN INVASION• 1900-1600 BCE DECLINE –

INDUS VALLEY CIV• C. 1500 BCEARYANS BEGIN TO

INFILTRATEFROM CENTRAL ASIA

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THE HINDU WAY OF LIFE

TRADITIONALLY, TO BE HINDU MEANT• TO LIVE IN (H)INDIA• TO BE PART OF THE “CASTE”

SYSTEM

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ORGANIZING SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

WHAT MIGHT BE SOME WAYS TO DO IT?

WHAT IS IN YOUR PISTIS?

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ORGANIZING SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

WHAT MIGHT BE SOME WAYS?1.FAMILY?2.SOCIAL RANK?3.OCCUPATION?4.INDIVIDUAL TALENT?5.AGE ?

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THE “VARNA” SYSTEM

• THE INDO-ARYANS SEEM TO HAVE BROUGHT WITH THEM A THREE PART SOCIAL SYSTEM:

1.PRIESTS2.MILITARY3.AGRICULTURE AND TRADE

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THE “VARNA” SYSTEM

• OVER TIME THEY ADDED ANOTHER LEVEL FOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF INDIA WHOM THEY HAD SUBJUGATED.

THE SHUDRAS• THESE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE LIKELY ALREADY

HAD A SIMILAR SYSTEM, THE “JATI” SYSTEM• CLOSED ENDOGAMOUS GROUPS BASED ON

OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALIZATION

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THE “VARNA” SYSTEM

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THE “VARNA” SYSTEM

IN THE VEDIC LAW OF MANU, THE IDEAL SOCIAL SYSTEM IS COMPOSED OF FOUR VARNASTHE “TWICE BORN”:

1.BRAHMINS- PRIESTS AND SCHOLARS2.KSHATRIYAS- WARRIORS AND RULERS3.VAISHYAS-IN COMMERCE AND TRADE_____________________________________4. SHUDRAS- LABORERS

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BRAHMINSPRIESTS AND SCHOLARS

• INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL LEADERS• PHILOSOPHERS• ARTISTS• TEACHERS

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KSHATRIYASWARRIORS AND RULERS

• ADMINISTRATORS• ORGANIZE PEOPLE AND PROJECTS• MILITARY• POLITICIANS• POLITICAL LEADERS

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VAISHYASCOMMERCE AND TRADE

• PRODUCERS• ARTISANS• TRADES PEOPLE• FARMERS• SKILLED WORKERS

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SHUDRAS- LABORERS

• FOLLOWERS• SERVANTS• UNSKILLED LABORERS

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THE “VARNA” SYSTEMIN SOME OF THE VEDIC LAW BOOKS, THERE IS A FIFTH GROUP CALLED

5. DASYUS (“ALIENS”)• HUNTERS, FISHERMEN, LEATHER WORKERS,

EXECUTIONERS, HANDLERS OF CORPSES• CONSIDERED UNCLEAN• “OUTCASTES”: LIVE OUTSIDE VARNA SYSTEM • “UNTOUCHABLES” VS. “HARIJAN”

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THE “VARNA” SYSTEM

• THE LAW OF KARMA- A MORAL UNIVERSE• REINCARNATION- YOU GET WHAT YOU

WANT– PICK UP WHERE YOU LEFT OFF

• MOKSHA- SOONER OR LATER EVERYONE WISES UP AND ACHIEVES LIBERATION

• THIS WORLD DOES NOT LAST• TRUE FULIFLLMENT LIES BEYOND

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THE “VARNA” SYSTEM

IS THERE A COSMIC DIMENSION OR REAL, LASTING MEANING TO HUMAN BEING AND ACTION?

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THE JATI SYSTEM

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THE “JATI” SYSTEM

• “JATI” MEANS “BIRTH”• THE PROPER TERM FOR “CASTE” (Pg = race,

lineage)• GEOGRAPHICALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY

LIMITED• LARGE KIN GROUP W/ OWN CUSTOMS,

DRESS, DIET, BEHAVIOR• DETERMINES RELATIONSHIPS IN AND OUT

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LEADING A HOLY LIFE

• YOGAS: DIFFERENT PATHS FOR DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS (in next segment)• STAGES OF LIFE- HOW OUGHT WE

TO LIVE?:–STUDENT: ACQUIRE PISTIS FOR

YOUR DHARMA23

LEADING A HOLY LIFE

HOUSEHOLDER: FAMILY, VOCATION, COMMUNITY• ENACT YOUR DHARMA• ENGAGE PLEASURE IN FAMILY•ACHIEVE SUCCESS THROUGH

VOCATION•DUTY IN COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

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LEADING A HOLY LIFE

RETIREMENT:– WITHDRAW FROM SOCIAL OBLIGATIONS– PURSUE ENDS OF PERSONAL INTEREST– SPEND TIME WITH THE YOUNG– LOOK INTO THE MEANING OF LIFE’S

JOURNEY– THEN THE FOREST DWELLER– SIMPLICITY AND DEPTH

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LEADING A HOLY LIFE

SANNYASIN• EXPANDING ONE’S IDENTITY BEYOND

SOCIAL OR EARTHLY PURPOSE• FINDING ONE’S LINK WITH THE

ABSOLUTE• NO EARTHLY GOAL• LEAVING ALL BEHIND

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RESOURCES

Smith, Huston. The World’s Religions. New York:HarperCollins, 1991.

Nielsen, Niles C., Jr., et. al. Religions of the World. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1988. 2nd ed.

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