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 right and true purpose in human life is to in human life is to realize this oneness. realize this oneness. Man's essential duty is Man's essential duty is to transform his to transform his consciousness so that consciousness so that he can become one with he can become one with Brahman" (Lamb, 27).Brahman" (Lamb, 27).

BasicsBasics• World’s oldest, extremely World’s oldest, extremely

diverse, constantly adapting diverse, 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) with Brahman (universal spirit) by freeing self from earthly by freeing self from earthly desires through discipline (yogas)desires 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 What is an experience when words

failed you?failed you? What is a symbol/image/picture you What is a symbol/image/picture you

would use to depict your image of would use to depict your image of “God”?“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 Finite and temporary – not eternal and transcendent – can’t take them and transcendent – can’t take them with youwith you

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 LimitationsGoalGoal ObstacleObstacle

Joy Joy suffering, unmet suffering, unmet desire, desire, boredomboredom

Knowledge Knowledge ignoranceignorance

Being Being space and time (“I space and time (“I wish you wish you

were here”, were here”, death, etc.)death, etc.)

The Three PoisonsThe Three Poisons

1.1. Desire/GraspingDesire/Grasping FireFire

2.2. Aversion/Fear/HatredAversion/Fear/Hatred IceIce

3.3. 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 Being is hierarchicalhierarchical

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 – Bio/Genetics –

SamenessSameness– 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 Life is Developmental – 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 awake us to realms of gold realms of gold hidden at the hidden at the depths of our 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 Long epic poems about a epic poems about a war, a questwar, a quest

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 Immanent The Transcendent in the Immanent – Religion expresses the – Religion expresses the inexpressible in the everyday – 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 Saguna Brahman - God w/ attributes - personalw/ attributes - personal

Nirguna Brahman - God Nirguna Brahman - God w/out attributes - w/out attributes - transpersonal - how transpersonal - how both? 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 Destroys the

barrier between barrier between illusion and realityillusion and 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 Joseph CampbellCampbell

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 enlargement of one’s understanding of the ultimate understanding of the ultimate nature of things” (Smith, 8).nature of things” (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 all things as being one with BrahmanBrahman

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 wisdom, unquenchable joy within”within”

Religion = path to higher states Religion = path to higher states of beingof being

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 Get rid of Desire and Fear by shifting Consciousnessshifting Consciousness

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 - PreparatoryPreparatory

Whereas 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 continuedcontinued

1.1. 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 distract from the unknown demands of some urgency within " - a "total of some urgency within " - a "total strike" against the routine of strike" against the routine of existence.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 anything - identify with eternal selfwith eternal self

Stations of Life - Stations of Life - CastesCastes1.1. Brahmins - seers - reflective - Brahmins - seers - reflective -

philosophers, artists, religious philosophers, artists, religious leaders and teachersleaders and teachers

2.2. Kshatriyas - administratorsKshatriyas - administrators3.3. Vaishyas - producers, artisans, Vaishyas - producers, artisans,

farmersfarmers4.4. 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 freer that offer our bodies freer play - souls do the same."play - souls do the same."

From From GitaGita : : "Worn out garments"Worn out garments

Are shed by the Are shed by the body.body.

Worn out bodiesWorn out bodies

Are shed by the Are shed by the dweller 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 Two Things:Things:

DesireDesire

andand

FearFear

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 as ultimate when they are provisional”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