Hinduism & The Four Aims of Life

2/1 - Hinduism: 4 Aims of Life Upanishad Review/cont. Part of Vedas Many diff Upanishads w/ diff names • Meditations Inquiries -said to be ~108! atman What's the nature of Self? What's ultimate reality? Brahman Tat tuam asi: You are that (Self Brahman) • Brahman cannot be described/beyond words. wlin us but transcends the universe Brahman is "not that" & "not that" ete Everyone lives in the city of Brahman & seek happiness, but we're really just ignorant of Brahman's bliss Katha Upanishad •Father is supposed to give EVERYTHING (even his son) • He ends up only giving bad (like sick cattle) • The son goes to death (underworld/hell) • Death isn't there & feels so bad (didn't treat his guest) • Death giver him 3 wishes Father not mad Sacrifice to get to heaven - Asks for the secret of death 4 AIMS & LIFE • Classical Hindu thinkers How should we live our life? • Not just one meaning of life multiple Dharma definitions: duty, righteousness, ethics, virtue Caste duty is diff to who we are 1. Brahmins (prests, teachers) } 2. Kshatriyas (warniors, rulers) Simplified, so many more 3. Vaishyas (merchants, traders) 4. Shudras (servants, menial labors) * often was a system of oppression, many outcasts Stage of Life 1. Student enjoying First 25 years of life life 2. Household - ✓ 3. Forest-dweller - renounce world & pleasure, live in woods Marry, have a to sig fanaily, 9 work 4. Renundate renounce pleasures, house, maternal things. Kama - definitions pleasures (wants, physical too) condition pursuing pleasures must be wlin dharma →ex haung sex outside of marriage is BAD Artha def wealth, prosperity (only on condition of dharma, ethical) Moksha - det liberation This life is not your only life→ lives before you've live counters Endless cycle of future lived Samsare cycle of existence; rebirth. this sucks→ scary Moksha cont. -karma = action, deeds. Samsara = SCARY every act you do has a consequence powers samsara # can determine your next birth! But you might have a lot of bad karma & get sent to hell even if you're good in this life ultimate goal break free from cycle (LIBERATION) - one thought you're already liberated bc Brahman is win you. To escape is to realize this (waking up) renunciated also wander place to place to vernind others to renounce