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SUMMARY of L#1 & L#2

We learned in L#1 Why and how humans made effort to know Ishvara, the creator and

the all-prevading. AS we saw in video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNbWgdYa6Ss

a) Man came to this world…”Who am I Why am I….”. This is beginning of human life

with true purpose of life.

b) *Interacted with Nature (environment), Fellow humans and heavens… In L#2 we

will focus on how human interacted with Nature and Fellow humans/heavens and

formed beliefs and rituals to connect Man to Self and Ishvara. Concept of prayer

and symbolism evolved.

c) Formed beliefs and rituals for peace and happiness out of fear or reverence of

Greater power around. Formed Ideal Way of life (knowledge, faith, disciplined way

of life) to reach inner peace & happiness.

d) Learned Essence of self/Life……. Journey of Soul.

Live in the world in a state of loving detachment.

e) Realized “Kingdom of Ishvara is within”…..Many paths ….one destination.

f) Love is the only force that unites…… Many shall become one…..then only we can be

happy and at peace.

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L#2: Ishvara through Nature & Symbolism

VIDEO:BBC. The Story ofGod 1. Life the Universe and Everything – YouTube

Whether we believe it or not, there is birth …. And then death. From observation, man has

realized there is a higher power and since historic time’s man wants to merge with that higher

power for peace and be one with it. It wants to feel that rather than feel the surrounding

environment which is a source of fluctuating senses of pain and pleasure.

Ishvara as Natural Forces/Elements: Which Man feared and then revered:compare with

other history eg Egypt-Mesopotamia

Wind (Vaayu): Temple in Kaalahasti, Andhra Pradesh (air, sound, smell..)

Space (Aakasha): Temple in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu

Fire (Agni): Temple in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu (light and heat)

Water (Varuna/Jambuka): Temple in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu

Earth (Prithvi/Bhoomi): Temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu (mud and vegetation)

Ishvara as Gods of personal choice (IshtaDevatas)

Rama Durga Hanuman Brahma surya

Shiva Krishna Ganesh Vishnu

Ishvara as Planetary God- Navagrahas

The Navagrahas are the nine planetary bodies. They are: Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangala

(Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu and Ketu (events

related to eclipses). The seven days of the week in the Hindu calendar are named after the

seven planets as given below. In most Hindu temples, idols of the navagrahas are installed in a

square pattern and worshipped (see figure below). It is interesting that none of the idols face

another idol in this arrangement. Indian astrology is based on the Navagraha positions at any

given time.

Navagraha Chart

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Graha Planet Day

Surya Sun Sunday

Chandra Moon Monday

Mangala Mars Tuesday

Budha Mercury Wednesday

Guru Jupiter Thursday

Shukra Venus Friday

Shani Saturn Saturday

Rahu (related to eclipses) Rahu & ketu are 2 halves of one entity

Ketu (related to eclipses)

ISHVARA IS SEEN IN PEOPLE YOU LOVE AND THINK HIGH OF: SYMBOLISM….evolved.

REMEMBER: These are all just forms of Ishvara, the Universal God. Eg Babylonians, Indus

Valley, Armenians (Zoroastarians), Greeks, Mesopotamia concepts of God based on nature and

power of destruction that human forces could not control. From polytheism to monotheism.

Vedanta and Ishvara: As mentioned in last lecture, Remembering the deity /any physical form/visual

or imaginative form and internally building a relationship with (or through) them is considered

essential to the practice/ to see the all pervading Ishvara. This is initiation and then combined with

humbleness, broadmindedness and disciplined life with love for everyone starts seeing Ishvara..

Advaita(oneness) and Dvaita (dualism): Remembering the deity and internally building a

relationship with (or through) them is considered essential to the practice. Within the Advaita

schools it is believed that the human mind needs a concrete form to understand the divine that

ultimately can never be defined. One can only realize the deity through a form of murti.

In contrast, the Dvaita (dualistic-instrument of Ishvara) associated schools believe the Supreme Being

to possess a divine form, and offer worship to their Ishta-deva as either a representation or direct

expansion of the Supreme Person

ISHVARA IS SEEN IN PEOPLE YOU LOVE AND THINK HIGH OF: SYMBOLISM…..

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Bring a picture or item you felt since toddler that you were very attached to and sometimes feel that

is what gives you comfort or makes you feel that you can talk to when alone. Eg picture of

grandparents or parents or any friend or any item like a special toy. Can you disrespect the picture

and throw it around.. Movie of Vikananda and picture of king.

*EXPERIMENT: Art Masterpiece & Space Suit: BEYOND THE BODY TO THE INNER

PERSON/Spirit/Ishwara

MATERIALS: A picture with an attractive frame. Cover the masterpiece with a sheet of paper to cover

the picture first. Also have a picture of astronomer on earth, and astronomer on moon/space wearing

space suit.

METHOD:

1) Look at the frame of Artwork first with the picture covered, and then see the picture and the frame

together as a master piece.

2) Look at the pictures of astronomer on earth and on moon with space suit. Note we need to wear a

space suit when we go to moon/space for survival and do the actions.

LESSONS LEARNED

1) It is silly if we go to art gallery and concentrate on frames rather than the masterpieces (picture)

within them. Human body is like a frame of the masterpiece artwork. Our masterpiece spirit

within. We should focus on the masterpiece spirit/Iswara within our frame of body. Not just do

things to beautify the body/frame. What are those actions???

2) Just as we need to put on space suit to visit moon/space; similarly our Spirit/IShwara wears a

space suit called body to come to live on earth. We existed before in our bodies, and we will

exist when we leave our bodies: I ENJOY LOOKING BEYOND THE BODY TO THE INNER

PERSON/Spirit/IShwara.

EXPERIMENT: Paper with Punched Holes: Let go of Judgment and be Open-Minded.

MATERIALS: paper with punched holes

METHOD: On the sheet of paper, punch holes in the center to peek through. Look through the hole and

see how much vision is limited by the size of the hole.

LESSON LEARNED:

1) Most of us are looking at the world only through peepholes. Our vision of other people is

peephole vision. Just as you are able to see only fragments of one another through the hole,

similarly you are really seeing or understanding of any other person or situation in fragments.

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Therefore we need to be very careful that we are not judging people or situations. We don’t see

the whole picture. We don’t have sufficient awareness.

2) Only by staying open minded, will we be able to tune to Ishwara’s judgment. Otherwise it is

impossible to hear the Spirit/Ishvara within us. Hence when we are open-minded, prayer (talk)

to Ishwara and Meditation (listen) to Ishwara will guide us through any situation. I LET GO OF

JUDGEMENT AND be open-minded to RELY ON THE WISDOM OF SPIRIT WITHIN.

With Symbolism came prayers…….elaborate methods……..but right attitude is all we need…..

Why do people pray: For Relief from discomfort or just being thankful? But sure to be

humble and acknowledge power. Next will be prayers…..