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Module 8 Coherence Systems
In the next three weeks we will look In the next three weeks we will look at three major regional religious at three major regional religious
traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism and traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism and IslamIslam
Coherence Systems – Overview of Today’s Work
First part of the lecture:First part of the lecture: General introduction to regional religions General introduction to regional religions
and our approach to studies of religionand our approach to studies of religion A brief introduction to HinduismA brief introduction to Hinduism
Module 8 Objectives
On successful completion of this module, you On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:should be able to:
identify the principal religious traditions of identify the principal religious traditions of Australia, Asia and the Pacific, and those Australia, Asia and the Pacific, and those countries where each is practisedcountries where each is practised
describe key ideasdescribe key ideas of each religious of each religious tradition included in this moduletradition included in this module
Module 8 Objectives
identify the central source booksidentify the central source books or written or written record (if any) of each religious traditionrecord (if any) of each religious tradition
identify the ways in which a particular identify the ways in which a particular religious tradition can affect the behaviour religious tradition can affect the behaviour of believers of believers
Coherence systems
The Asia Pacific region is rich in religious The Asia Pacific region is rich in religious traditionstraditions
Let’s acknowledge some of them …..Let’s acknowledge some of them …..
A Coherence System
We use the phrase “coherence system” We use the phrase “coherence system” rather than “religion” to avoid some of the rather than “religion” to avoid some of the cultural baggage associated with “religion”cultural baggage associated with “religion”
The cultural baggage might include angels, The cultural baggage might include angels, Easter, church schools, historical strife Easter, church schools, historical strife between different faiths, God, Sunday between different faiths, God, Sunday school, school, Christmas Christmas ….….
A Coherence System
Is a creative intellectual and emotional Is a creative intellectual and emotional attempt to make sense of human life on attempt to make sense of human life on earth, and to construct a satisfying order of earth, and to construct a satisfying order of lifelife
Is a way of connecting this world with “the Is a way of connecting this world with “the world beyond” which we glimpse, and is a world beyond” which we glimpse, and is a way of bringing the worlds together so they way of bringing the worlds together so they “make sense” (cohere).“make sense” (cohere).
Hinduism
the religion or the religion or coherence coherence system of “the system of “the people people beyond the beyond the Indus river”Indus river”
Hindu communities
There are Hindus There are Hindus living in Fiji, living in Fiji, Malaysia, Bali, Malaysia, Bali, Singapore, Sri Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Lanka, South Africa and the Africa and the West IndiesWest Indies
Why is that?Why is that? Why these Why these
countries?countries?
The Indic States
Southeast Asian Southeast Asian states which were states which were influenced by influenced by Hindu Hindu philosophical, philosophical, religious and religious and social ideassocial ideas
What does Hinduism signify?
Like “game”, Hinduism signifies a Like “game”, Hinduism signifies a whole range of beliefs and whole range of beliefs and practicespractices
Think of the word Think of the word ““gamegame””. Talk to . Talk to your neighbour about what “game” your neighbour about what “game” really means. Can you pin it down?really means. Can you pin it down?
Three Organising Questions
1.1. From What?From What? What is the situation in What is the situation in which we humans find ourselves, and which we humans find ourselves, and from which we seek liberation?from which we seek liberation?
2.2. To What?To What? To what do people aspire? To what do people aspire? What are peoples’ spiritual goals?What are peoples’ spiritual goals?
3.3. By What?By What? How do people seek to How do people seek to achieve their goals?achieve their goals?
Hinduism and the human situation
Human life is Human life is cyclical, not cyclical, not linearlinear
Hinduism and the human situation
The character The character of our life is of our life is affected by affected by behaviour in behaviour in past livespast lives
Hinduism and the human situation
Past Past behaviour behaviour determines determines our status in our status in lifelife
Hinduism and the human situation
Individuals Individuals are ordered are ordered hierarchically hierarchically in terms of in terms of ritual purity ritual purity
The Law of Effects:The Law of Karma
Karma derives from a word which relates to Karma derives from a word which relates to the idea of creation, creating (kri)the idea of creation, creating (kri)
Karma is an account of what we do, what Karma is an account of what we do, what we create in life, what the effects of our we create in life, what the effects of our actions will beactions will be
How is Karma expressed?
The effect of what we have done The effect of what we have done determines our status in future livesdetermines our status in future lives
Our status is indicated by our caste Our status is indicated by our caste membershipmembership
A Hindu’s caste status is an indication A Hindu’s caste status is an indication of their ritual purityof their ritual purity
Major Caste Divisions
BrahminBrahmin KshatriyaKshatriya VaisyaVaisya SudraSudra
Dalits (outcastes)Dalits (outcastes)
How Does Caste Affect Daily Life?
It affects marriage: people should marry It affects marriage: people should marry partners of the same ritual purity levelpartners of the same ritual purity level
It affects interpersonal relations: who you can It affects interpersonal relations: who you can share food with, where you liveshare food with, where you live
It privileges some groups, and marginalises It privileges some groups, and marginalises others: some groupsothers: some groups,, for example, are for example, are allowed access to the scriptures, others are allowed access to the scriptures, others are notnot
The Human Situation - The Hindu View
SummarySummary Human life is cyclicalHuman life is cyclical Individual status is affected by behaviour in Individual status is affected by behaviour in
past livespast lives Humans are ranked in terms of ritual purityHumans are ranked in terms of ritual purity Humans can aspire to a higher rankHumans can aspire to a higher rank Higher rank is dependent on the way we Higher rank is dependent on the way we
behave on earth (on our karma)behave on earth (on our karma)
Q2: To What do Hindus Aspire?
Hindus aspire to three things:Hindus aspire to three things: Survival, and betterment in lifeSurvival, and betterment in life The acquisThe acquisiition of merit, and the tion of merit, and the
desire to be re-born welldesire to be re-born well Liberation and salvationLiberation and salvation
Q3: How do Hindus try to achieve their spiritual goals?
We can identify three different, very general We can identify three different, very general patterns of behaviour which Hindus follow patterns of behaviour which Hindus follow
in trying to reach their goals:in trying to reach their goals: The Pragmatic path or pattern of behaviourThe Pragmatic path or pattern of behaviour The Dharma path, or the Wheel of Law The Dharma path, or the Wheel of Law
pattern of behaviourpattern of behaviour The Transcendental pathThe Transcendental path
The Pragmatic Path
The main concern is to The main concern is to avoid misfortune, and avoid misfortune, and to ask supernatural to ask supernatural agents to helpagents to help
Religious behaviour Religious behaviour typically involves typically involves making vows, making making vows, making offerings, performing offerings, performing ritualsrituals
The Dharma Path
Hindus who want Hindus who want to achieve merit to achieve merit and to be re-born and to be re-born “well” follow the “well” follow the path of dharma, path of dharma, sometimes called sometimes called the Wheel of Lawthe Wheel of Law
The Concept of Dharma
Good or righteous conduct; to live life in Good or righteous conduct; to live life in accordance with the laws and duties of your accordance with the laws and duties of your castecaste
Dharma differs for different castesDharma differs for different castes Dharma is an elite tradition centred on the Dharma is an elite tradition centred on the
scriptures and commentariesscriptures and commentaries The dharma path depends on priests and The dharma path depends on priests and
scholars who advise othersscholars who advise others
The Dharma Path
Hindus who follow the Hindus who follow the dharma path typically dharma path typically observe caste rituals, observe caste rituals, read scripture, go on read scripture, go on pilgrimages to holy pilgrimages to holy places, build temples, places, build temples, give gifts to temples,give gifts to temples,
try to “live right”, try try to “live right”, try to “live well”to “live well”
The Transcendental Path
The drive is toward The drive is toward liberation from this liberation from this world and human world and human existenceexistence
The individual who The individual who follows the follows the transcendentaltranscendental path path renounces the world renounces the world and tries to find release and tries to find release through different through different disciplinesdisciplines
A Contemporary Fourth Path: Devotionalism
Devotion, called Bhakti, is very popular in Devotion, called Bhakti, is very popular in India todayIndia today
The way of achieving your spiritual goals is The way of achieving your spiritual goals is seen to be devotion to the gods.seen to be devotion to the gods.
Devotion can take many forms: singing, Devotion can take many forms: singing, chanting god’s name, prayerchanting god’s name, prayer
Devotionalism and Liberation
Salvation or liberation is understood as a Salvation or liberation is understood as a gift from godgift from god
So liberation can come from intense So liberation can come from intense devotion, and does not depend on endless devotion, and does not depend on endless re-births, endless shifts up the scale of ritual re-births, endless shifts up the scale of ritual puritypurity
Devotionalism is a very radical doctrine, as Devotionalism is a very radical doctrine, as it offers release here and now, in this lifeit offers release here and now, in this life
Devotion: the Contract
Whosoever offers to Whosoever offers to me with a pure heartme with a pure heart
A leaf, a flower, a A leaf, a flower, a drop of water,drop of water,
That offering from a That offering from a pure heartpure heart
I acceptI accept