Fundamental
Scriptures:
1.
Vedas – ca. 1500-900 bce – Rig-Veda, Sama-,
Yajur- & Atharva-Vedas
2. Brahmanas – ca. 800-600 bce – appendices
to Vedas
3. Upanishads (& Aranyakas) – 700 bce ff. – 13+ appendices to Brahmanas (a bit like Hebrew Midrashim)
a. Brihad-Aranyaka-Upanishad – Karma
doctrine [Story: gods, men & demons asked
for a good teaching; Bhmn uttered, “da” to each – to gods: “damyata” (be self-controlled); to men: “datta”
(be generous); to demons: “dayadhvam” (be merciful). Thunder = “Da,
da, da....”]
b.
Chandogya-Up. – [Story:
“Tat tvam asi,” says Shvetaketu’s father... tree, fruit,
seed, pulp....]
c.
Other 10 of principal 13: Aitareya, Kena, Mundaka, Isa, Taittriya,
Prasna, Maitrayana, Katha, Kaushitaki, Mandukya-Upanishad
d. Shvetashvatara-Up. – (late) Purusha becomes altogether theistic
4. Yoga-Sutra ca. ii c. Bce (last part, v c. ad), Patanjali created
theistic [Ishvara] Samkhya-Yoga from atheistic Samkhya doctrine.
5. Bhagavad Gita – interpolation into (xi c. bce) Mahabharata – ca. ii-iii c. ad – favorite
Gandhi text: Why?
Yoga: Eating/exercising/meditating toward a
better disposition &
self-awareness. Hatha-yoga is
techniques focused on the physical body, but the root aim is preparation for
meditation & doing one’s duty.
2.
Our concepts of physiology may
differ today, but (negatively) clearing the pathways and (positively)
strengthening/exercising the capacity for full functioning is obviously still
an advantage.
3.
The 3 gunas (are
represented in foods, &c., and
control mood, behavior, ability to concentrate, &c.
a.
tamas= dulling, enervating stuff (of inertia): alcohol, re-cooked
foods, &c.
b.
rajas= energetic, excitable stuff (of passionate craving): spicy
foods, &c.
c.
sattva= intelligence-inspiring stuff: milk products, &c.
4.
Relaxation is essential to meditation,
concentration and overall health. Asanas
(postures), Dhautis (stomach
cleansing) & Tratakam (fixed
gazing) are exercise techniques which lead to relaxation.
5.
Raja-yoga – (instant) awareness of the “true Self”/Purusha: Dharana (focusing attention) leads to jñana (concentrated meditation), which, in turn, leads to samadhi (habitual focus/concentration).
6.
Jñana-yoga – release/moksha
– through knowledge: Jñana leads to samadhi/moksha.
7.
Karma-yoga – good deeds, ethical or ritual, lead to karma
which results in moksha.
8.
Mantra-yoga – phrase repetition – induces jñana of the jñana-yogin
& moksha.
9.
Laya-yoga – positive thinking – induces jñana of the jñana-yogin
& moksha.
10.
Bhakti-yoga – faith, devotion to a deity – borrows that deity’s
awareness/knowledge toward moksha.
Asramas (4 stages): Whole-life perspective—growth through
the age-appropriate stages:
1.
from infancy to adolescence:
parent/child & brahmacarin/guru
relationships
2.
family/career period: grhastha/sati
relationship (husband/wife, boss/worker, &c.)
– whether Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya or Shudra – the 4 castes
or classes (
3.
hermit grandparent: vanaprastha
stage
4.
detached holy beggar: sannyasin
stage
Karma concept: Duty, action, deeds,
work; or the Results of past deeds of oneself, family, society, &c. Karma determines one’s
responsibility/duty, & is at the
core of Hindu ethics – e.g., Bhagavad Gita emphasis on Prince Arjuna’s
need to lead his family into battle.
1. Society doesn’t need all priests, all merchants, &c.; so divided into classes (i.e.,
Brahmana – priest, intellectual
Kshatriya – warrior or government official
Vaishya – merchant, trader
Shudra – server/servant/slave
2. Age/experience (i.e., asrama)
determines readiness for specific stages.
6. Mandate re: Duty does not apply to the truly detached, the Self-aware:
7. “Karma (Duty) is prescribed in the Vedas.
The Vedas come from Brahman. Thus all-pervading Brahman is ever present in
Yajna (Service). The one who does not help to keep the wheel of creation in
motion by attending to sacrificial duties, and who rejoices in sense pleasures:
that sinful person lives in vain, O Arjuna. The one who rejoices in the Purusha
(Self) only, who is satisfied with that Self, who is content in the Self alone:
for such a (Self-realized) person there is no duty. Such a person has no
interest whatsoever in what is done or what is not done. A Self-realized person
does not depend on anybody for anything. Therefore, always perform your duty
efficiently and without attachment to the results, because by doing your work without
attachment you attain the Supreme (i.e., moksha).”
–Bhagavad Gita 3.15 - 19
Saguna vs. Nirguna Brahman: Opposing views of Reality, e.g., sides
of a cube, &c. (akin to
molecular physics vs.
macrophysics/biology – Purusha vs.
Prakriti.)
8. Reality can be seen in terms
of what is describable, tangible, concrete—i.e., the world as we
experience it (including mythopoeically) OR
9. Reality can be seen in terms
of what is ineffable, beyond the grasp of language—i.e., how it “really
is” without a perceiving/orienting/linguistic perspective.
10. Indian logic has always
recognized 4 (vs. Aristotle’s 2) states of being—”both X and non-X” and
“neither X nor non-X,” as well as the usual “X” or “non-X.” (E.g., if X
= “red,” then polka-dot, stripes or pink are “both,” and black, e.g., is
“neither.”
11.
Prakriti vs. Purusha:
“Prakriti (or Matter) is said to be what produces a physical
body and its organs (of perception and action).
“Purusha (or Consciousness) is said to be what experiences
pleasures and pains.
“Purusha, associating
with Prakriti, enjoys the Gunas of Prakriti. Attachment to the Gunas (due to
ignorance caused by previous Karma) gives birth to Jeevãtma in good and evil
wombs. This Supreme Spirit in the body is also called the Witness, the Guide,
the Supporter, the Enjoyer, and the great Lord or Paramãtma.”
“They who truly
understand Purusha and Prakriti with its Gunas are not born again regardless of
their mode of life.”
–Bhagavad Gita 13.20 - 23
Goal of Life: Brahmana’s “game of hide-and-seek”
Interplay/Dance: Shiva’s
dancing/pulsating universe of
Creation/Destruction. (TriMurti – with Brahman & Vishnu.)
Power of Truth
to perform miracles – another great influence on
Gandhi – e.g.,
[Story: princess needing to cross flooded
river….];
[Story: princess needing to distinguish which is her mate…].
© Robert C. Swain, 2004