Reaction paper to Gilgamesh due THIS FRIDAY, Jan. 21.

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Reaction paper to Gilgamesh due THIS FRIDAY, Jan.
21. Dont forget to vote for Person of the Week!
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• HINDUISM AND ITS OFFSHOOTS IN
• POST-ARYAN-CONQUEST
  INDIA
• Hinduism changes as a result of contacts with
  pre-existing and
• new Indian belief systems.
• Later (post-Vedas) scriptures
• A. UPANISHADS (800-450 B.C.E.)
• (1) Introduced transmigration of souls
• ( cycle of rebirth SAMSARA)
• (2) Probably composed by Brahmin priests
  after Aryans had
• settled.

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B. BAGHAVAD-GITA (c. 400 B.C.E.)
conversation between warrior Arjuna and god
Krishna C. The battle is described in the
MAHABHARATA (codified c. 350 B.C.E.),
the epic of the rivalry of 2 related families.
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D. Divinities are all part of universal godhead
take different forms (notably human, but
with many arms and/or heads)
Indra
Brahma
Ganesh/ Ganesha
Vishnu
Shiva
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E. Cosmic trinity Brahma
(Creator)
Shiva (destroyer)
Vishnu (Preserver)
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F. Avatars / incarnations
Krishna, avatar of Vishnu
Ganesh/ Ganesha, son of Shiva
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G. Consorts
Parvati, consort of Shiva
Kali, avatar of Parvati
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(The late ex-Beatle George Harrison used to
worship Kali.)
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III. Offshoots of Hinduism Jainism A. Jain gt
jina (conqueror), after 24 jinas who conquered
their KARMAs and escaped from SAMSARA.
B. 24TH jina Prince Mahavir (599-527
B.C.E.), restorer who overcame SAMSARA
through meditation.
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C. Jain ideals (1) AHIMSA (non-violence)
(2) truthfulness (3) not stealing
(4) celibacy (5) detachment from material
world
D. Jain monks white-clad, sky clad
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IV. Offshoots of Hinduism Buddhism

• Prince Siddhartha Gautama (ca. 563-483 B.C.E.) -
  Kshatriya caste
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• B. Bo tree
• C. NIRVANA union of
• the soul with the
• universal void

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• D. The Buddhas preaching
• (1) The Middle Way
• (2) Four Noble Truths
• All life is suffering.
• All suffering is caused by desire.
• The way to stop suffering is to stop having
  desire.
• The way to stop having desire is to follow the
  Eight-Fold Path.

• (3) The Eight-Fold Path
• Right views
• Right intentions
• Right speech
• Right action

• Right livelihood
• Right effort
• Right thoughts
• Right contemplation

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V. Because of Jain and Buddhist stress on AHIMSA,
the horse sacrifice was abandoned in favor
of... The inner sacrifice through YOGA