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61 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Dravidian/Indus River Valley Culture
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•One of the four places of early human civilization, which means they had writing
• Twin capitals are Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro o Walled cities with 35,000 to 45,000 people o No religious edifices, but proto-shiva meditating clay figures • Evidence of violent destruction (possibly by Aryans) around 1500 BCE |
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Aryans
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• "People of noble birth"
• Replaced Dravidians in Indus River Valley • Excellent nomadic warriors—male dominated, militaristic culture o Nomadic religion was similar to Persian mythology, but with opposite gods and demons • Religious texts were Vedas • Viewed themselves as at the mercy of gods |
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Vedas/Aryan Religion
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• Vedas (wisdom) revealed to the priests by gods
• Priests had to perfectly memorize them, as not to anger gods • Most important were the Rig Vedas, meant to placate the gods •Aryans would have fire ceremonies, where a priest would carefully sing the Rig Veda and make sacrifices to placate the gods. • Agni was the fire god, transported sacrifices to gods • Indra was the god that was the self projection of the Aryans; loved to eat, drink, and fight o Varuna – closest thing to a central deity, made sure everything worked as it should, people apologized to him when they fucked up o Gods divided into spheres: • Celestial – planets, sun, stars • Atmospheric gods – wind, sky, thunder • Terrestrial – mountains, rivers, fire • Rituals were henotheistic, only one god worshipped at a time • Goal in life was to be wealthy, have kids, and go to heaven for as long as possible |
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Progression of Aryan Religion
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o Gods are all important→ Rituals placating the gods become all important → Priests performing the rituals become more important
o The ritual is about the actions, not intention→the knowledge and understanding of the ritual is more important→outward ritual not important, what goes on in inner state of mind important (meditation) • Some priests gave up on rituals and money, focusing only on meditation |
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Upanishads
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• Last of the Vedic texts, from 900 to 400 BCE; Literally means “to sit at the feet of the teaching master”
• Not a ritual text, rather a wisdom o There is a transfer of focus from the gods to meditation, with controlled breathing |
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Moksha (Upanishad)
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Liberation, the primary religious goal Goal is to understand that Atman=Brahman and feel the spiritual bond between everyone and everything.
•Don’t worship a divine being, but recognize it in ourselves and ourselves as part of it |
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Atman (Upanishad)
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The immortal, true self. Deep philosophical and religious connection. Similar to a soul.
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Brahman (Upanishad)
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The ultimate reality underlying everything, the spiritual energy of the universe.
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Caste System
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• Varna (color)
o Subordination based on race o 4 Castes (various subcastes) • Brahmin – highest, priestly caste • All justifiable in terms of Karma and reincarnation |
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Advaita Vendanta
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• Literally (non-duality) + (end of the Vedas)
• Shankara (788-820) founded and systemized it o Son of a guru; child prodigy, wrote commentaries on the Upanishads at age 12 • Attempts to organize the Vedas into a coherent belief system • All of reality is one thing, it is non-dual o There is only Brahman and you are only a part of it, to be aware of it is pure bliss. • Meditation and study to reach it |
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Two Forms of Brahman (Advaita Vedanta)
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Nirguna - Brahman without characteristics, pure reality
Saguna - Brahman with the characteristics projected onto it by humans, the only one we can understand now |
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Three Characteristics Projected onto Saguna Brahman
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o Sat – pure being
o Cit – pure consciousness o Ananda – pure bliss |
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Three Levels of Being (Advaita Vedanta)
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o Being itself – Brahman
o Appearance • Symbolic – individual thing with a symbolic power to the underlying • Ordinary – the way things appear to us in everyday life • Illusory – things we think exist, but quickly realize do not o Unreality – that which can’t exist, like a 4-sided triangle o Sublate – going up the levels, ultimately everything we see is an illusion, we move up levels to experience Brahman |
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Maya
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• Maya is the relationship between reality and Brahman
o The failure to realize the oneness of reality is due to Maya o We superimpose our own views on reality |
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Atman
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The true, ultimate self
o When you realize that Atman=Brahman, you achieve Moksha and are liberated from the Jiva. |
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Jiva
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The individual, finite, embodied self that takes part in the world as we know it
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Karma and Reincarnation (Advaita Vedanta)
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o Under Advaita Vendata are ultimately an illusion, because it requires an individual, where as there is only the cosmos-wide, inclusive Brahman
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Jivanmukti
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Person liberated from Jiva. Has acheived moksha.
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Yogas
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Ways to reach enlightenment
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Jnana Yoga
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• Way to liberation is through understanding
• Most direct route to liberation • Goal=destroy ignorance/illusion, see directly to Atman |
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Bhakti Yoga
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Devotional
• Personal relationship to a deity, submit to will of god • Focus=love, must love and submit to god |
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Karma Yoga
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• Life is work, do every aspect of your life in a liberating way
• Discipline of action - Do the right thing with no thought of reward. Devotion to god/kindness to others is motivation. • Do dharma (duty) with perfection |
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Raja Yoga
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• Introspective, use of meditation to achieve enlightenment
• Direct awareness of the divine within ourselves |
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Bhagavad-Gita
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Review summary
1st Synthesis of religion and philosophy |
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Cult of Krishna (from Bhagavad-Gita)
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o He is the ultimate deity; if you see/know this and devote yourself to him, you go to “heaven” aren’t reborn
• Krishna worship is most important (devotional/Bhakti) • Other deities are ok to worship, but they are only a part of Krishna – only one real God • Only devotion can bring you closer to Krishna • Since Krishna is everything, recognize it and devote you self to him in all your actions • Krishna will give you the strength to worship and act with devotion • Krishna is everything at once |
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Triad of Gods (from Bhagavad-Gita)
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o Shiva – the second most worshipped god, god of death and destruction.
o Bhrama – creator god o Vishnu – the preserver god • Abstract, no form, not visible • Krishna is an avatar of Vishnu, the visible embodiment of Vishnu |
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Bhakti Theism
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•Basics: devotional, includes faith, love, and surrender to a deity
o Theistic religion o Idea of Bhakti: Jiva is trapped in maya, only through devotion to a deity can one escape, normally with the help of a guru and love o Prayer is central |
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Shiva Bhakti
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Shaivites
Fierce, inspires fear Rhythm of Shiva’s dance supports the universe Strong ascetics |
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Krishna Bahkti
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Vaishnavites
• Much more loving than Shiva Bahkti, Krishna is adult, god-like being, avatar who teaches o Vishnu Purana – Childhood of Krishna; must take on evil king • Radha is his consort |
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5 Ways to Worship Krishna
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All involve discipline/devotion
• Standard deity – like in Bhagavad-Gita • As a baby – meant for parents • Servant of Krishna – to as Krishna commands • Friend – Confidant, boys hung out with him • Lover and beloved – similar to nuns |
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Lower Bahkti
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Devotion to a deity retains an ulterior motive (you need something)
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Higher Bahkti
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Full, selfless devotion to a god, out of love
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Puja
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o Traditionally a ritualistic feast for priests who would go to a house for ceremonies
o Now just a daily ritual for people to people to honor a deity in their house |
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Northern School (Monkey)
Dispensation of Grace |
• Monkey carries young on back, young must hold on
• God will save you, but you have to take initiative |
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Southern School (Cat)
Dispensation of Grace |
• Cat carries young in mouth
• Total grace of god, god will save you, but nothing you can do |
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Modern Hinduism
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Began with British Empire in India, provoked Hindu Renaissance among those who didn't like British Rule
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Ramakrishna
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o Regarded as saint as a young man, tried many different religions
• Found all religions to be different paths up the same mountain, though Hinduism is unique because it can recognize this o Vivekanda – Western educated disciple of Ramakrishna • In a Chicago religious convention, he was the focus |
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Theosophical Society
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Western Association of aristocrats who were impressed by Vivekanda and wanted to convert to Hinduism
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Gandhi
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Born 1869, died 1948
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Swaraj
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• Self rule, both in the sense of independence of India, and ruling the self/discipline
• Must renounce all forms of violence and self seeking • Complete self-restraint |
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Ahimsa
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Non-violence – not only non-injury, but a state of universal love. Don’t even think harm to your enemies.
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Satyagraha
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(truth force) show people the power of truth, philosophy of non-violent resistance
• Relentless quest for the truth • Goal of Satyagraha is moshka, a liberated society, not only from the british, but from desire, anger, etc. |
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Mohammed
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Founder of Islam, born in Mecca
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Night of Prayer and Excellence
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o Goes out to pray often; goes to cave, and after the night of prayer and excellence, results in vision of Gabriel
• Religious visions, feels he must preach new religion |
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Major Concepts of Islam
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o Monotheism, no worship of idols, more social justice, preached Allah=1 true God
• On the day of judgment, one must turn to Allah |
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Medina and Mecca
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Mohammed and his followers go to Medina to escape persecution.
Mohammed solved religious conflict there, brings everyone to ISLAM 624 - Medina fights Mecca, Medina wins, Mecca becomes religious center of Islam |
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Quran
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Means "recitation"
o Written in Arabic, “untranslatable”, a miracle of clarity, prophetic, critique of false religion • Mohammad illiterate, believed to be the word of God as dictated to Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel o Chanted/recited in Mosques, no instruments o Humans must submit to Allah and Quran, become instrument of God • Islam means submission o Mohammed puts together rules of Islam in Medina o Summit of Scripture - Christian and Jewish scripture also accepted as word of God, prophets also legitimate Mohammad is the last of the prophets, because everything humans need to live is in the scriptures |
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Articles of Faith
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• No god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet - Greatest sin is polytheism
• Mohammed – last and greatest messenger of Allah, God spoke through him No new prophets Supreme authority • Angels (Gabriel) and the Devil (tempter) • Last Judgment (Apocalyspe) Heaven and hell, eternal • Ethical Demands - Must live moral life: no lying, stealing, murder, etc. |
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5 Pillars of Faith
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o Repetition of Basic Creed (No god but Allah, and Mohammad is his prophet)
o Ritual Prayer, 5 times a day o Almsgiving – freewill offering, a “loan” to Allah to feed impoverished and maintain Mosques o Fasting during Ramadan o Hajj – pilgrimage to Mecca, must be done at least once |
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Sunnis
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• Commonly described as orthodox, and differing from Shia in its understanding of the Sunna (strict Muslim law) and in its acceptance of the first three caliphs.
• Imam is only a prayer leader • Predestination |
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Shities
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• Followed esp. in Iran and Iraq, that rejects the first three Sunni caliphs and regards Ali, the fourth caliph, as Muhammad's first true successor
• Persecuted minority, find hidden/symbolic meaning • Imam is infallible authority • Free will |
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Muslims in India
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o Moved in mostly by military conquest
o Different Islamic groups attempting to assert control over northern India • Mughals (Muslims) and Turkish Sultans (Muslims) ruled for a long time Harsh rulers, oppressed Hindus because they were seen as a lesser, polytheistic faiths |
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Sikhism
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Sikh teaching centers on spiritual liberation and social justice and harmony, though the community took on a militant aspect during early conflicts. The last guru, Gobind Singh (1666–1708), passed his authority to the scripture, the Adi Granth, and to the Khalsa, the body of initiated Sikhs.
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Guru Nanak
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• Funder of Sikhism in the 1400s
o Born Hindu, taught in Muslim school o Used music for teaching, companion Mardana was a musician o Meditated on the bottom of a lake for three days, emerged speaking Jupji, the first Sikh scriptures |
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Mul Mantra
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Core concept within religious texts
o One god, reached by speaking the truth o Without fear, without hate – as Sikhs should be One Universal Creator God, The Name Is Truth, Creative Being Personified, No Fear, No Hatred, Image Of The Timeless One, Beyond Birth, Self-Existent, By Guru's Grace. |
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Practices
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Meditate all day
Pray 5 times a day Everyone equal, no caste system Gurdwana (Temple) on sundays Protect those in need Reincarnation, karma, liberation Vegetarianism Baptisim by choice |
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Gurus
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First 10 religious leaders
•Servants to God • Sikhs pray to god through the teaching of the Gurus • Last Guru proclaimed there would be no more gurus |
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Siri Guro Granth Sahib
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Holy Scriptures
o Majority written by 5th guru, Guru Arjan o Writings from a variety of people/sources, from mystics and kings to commoners |
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Golden Temple
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Based in Amistar, India
Vatican of Sikhism |
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Identifying Characteristics
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Turbans, beards, uncut hair
Wear "bana" — traditional Indian clothing Kirpan - tiny sword worn, defensive Ahmisa, actively preventing violence |
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Semi-Blend of Hinduism and Islam
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o A religion that hoped to bridge the divide between the two conflicting groups, to bring the best of both
• Muslim: one god, equality • Hindu: Maya, Karma, reincarnation |