1) Please read and take notes on the packet contain selections from World Mythology by Donna Rosenberg and Downward Dogs & Warriors by Zo Newell.
2) Respond to the text in this blog space. Comment on the World Mythology section using the study questions on page 3 as a guide. For the Downward Dogs section, respond to the stories in some way, making connections to literature or your personal experience with mythology. If you follow this religion, what other insights can you share? If you practice another religion, do you see similarities in these stories? What universal elements bring us together? Next week, we will be engaging in these yoga poses. Have you tried yoga or meditation before? If so, what advice or experience can you share with your classmates? I look forward to your responses.
One of the aspects that really stood out in Hindu stories was the focus upon Vishnu. Middle school seemed to equate Brahma with being the most significant, but this packet seemed to give Vishnu the primordial role. This could be a result of local culture versus a more national mindset, or maybe other interpretations of the religion, but this could be clarified by classmates who are Hindu. In addition, I thought it was really interesting how the world is being described as having three states, and then in “The Ramayana,” Vishnu that three earthly forms. Such consistency helps reinforce other principals of the religion. This deterioration of the world appears in Christianity, and is painting, “The Garden of Earthly Delights,” shows an increasingly evil world. A world that was one pure and perfect, but now corrupted, tends to be a common belief in various religions.
ReplyDeletePersonally, the idea that gods don’t just smite those they disagree with or see them as evil doesn’t seem to be conducive towards good behavior, and seems to create an atmosphere of fear. However, with gods that aren’t supreme to all other life forms, Hinduism seems to promote natural human behavior, where people aren’t forced into being false, and inner emotions can be released.
I have a limited yoga experience, and it was generally geared toward more of a core exercise rather than a mental one. In addition, I was much younger, so it was mostly boring to me. However, when I did an hour yoga class with my mom, who used to do lots of yoga, during a vacation. My mother complained that she disliked this certain type of yoga, and said that the movements felt too fast and didn’t flow very well, which was completely imperceptible to me.
I thought that the code of Dharma was one that was quite interesting. It talked about acting in a behavior that is fit for their place in society. The definition was a bit vague but I basically interpreted it as people should stick with the status quote and play the part in society which they were born into. Then there is a whole explanation of how the four different yugas play out and how each one of them is worse than the previous as people stray further from their belief in the Dharma. I personally don’t agree with this kind of idea. I can understand that Dharma promotes social order and civility in society as everyone does what they are expected to do. Yet it does not leave any wiggle room to change your life in accordance to your occupation, social class and purpose in society. It seems as though you are kind of stuck where you are. A peasant has to live their whole life knowing that there is no way to better their current situation and in believing in the Dharma they must act in an orderly and productive manner that a peasant would be. I was also quite intrigued by the myth about the great god Vishnu and his ability to take up all three forms of a creator, preserver and destroyer. The tale recalls how Vishnu goes about the cycles of life and death within the Maha Yuga periods and it reminded me of some of the natural cycles on our planet like photosynthesis or the water cycle. I also liked reading about the seated meditation poses and how it promotes eternal alertness but comfort and relaxation at the same time.
ReplyDeleteWhat I found most interesting was that in “World Mythology,” Vishnu as Shiva-Rudra is portrayed as the most evil god who destroys all life with fire and flood, but in “Downward Dogs and Warriors,” Newell says that “what [Shiva] destroys is negativity, illusion, the things that have to go in order to make room for new creation.” From one perspective, Shiva is definitely evil, but he can also be justified by the idea that every living thing during the Kali Yuga is immoral and blinded by money and sexual passions. Apparently, we are currently living in the Kali Yuga, which could make sense because there are many wars that have happened recently and are continuing to happen, and material wealth is idolized. I found Einstein’s scientific discovery fascinating that “our bodies are continually destroying and renewing their own cells - we are completely transformed every seven years.” This goes to show that destroying is not necessarily a negative thing because whatever is destroyed is replaced by something better.
ReplyDeleteThere were several terms that Newell used in “Downward Dogs and Warriors,” which I think are some of the goals of yoga: quality, center of balance, awareness, alertness, sensation, calmness, and relaxation. While I do not have much experience with yoga, I have done some guided meditations during gym and health class where these words were used frequently. I do know that although yoga looks easy from the outside, it requires immense strength and focus. In addition, it is interesting to consider that there is a difference “between laziness and intelligent inaction” as well as “intelligent action and thoughtless rage.” I think that the mind is the key to intelligent inaction and action. While the body can and should be relaxed, the mind must constantly be alert.
I am fascinated by the similarity in culture, fascinated by how seemingly independent peoples developed systems of belief so that so closely resemble each other. It seems to speak to shared human values. The ubiquity of religion itself is also interesting to me. It points to an innate human necessity. We, as a people, yearn for there to be a purpose to the universe and, overwhelmingly, we utilize religion as a means of providing a purpose for ourselves.
ReplyDeleteOne of the first things that struck me was the Hindu ages. The concept that people being about suffering via the unjust treatment of others felt familiar to me. Since grade school, teachers have professed that you should “treat others as you’d like to be treated.” However, the concept that society has transgressed to the point that the evil of the world has manifested itself into a period of cruelty, grief, suffering, and unnecessary death as in the Kali Yuga. I find it extremely poignant that these Hindu concepts, that have been taught for hundreds of years, still hold true today. It seems to substantiate the idea that humans are predictably selfish.
As a kid, I despised yoga and meditation. I remember, vividly, doing yoga in school and hating it; it was too slow and I had a real problem with the fact you couldn't ‘win’. I couldn't see the point. As I’ve grown I’ve come to enjoy meditating. Specifically, before wrestling matches, I find it super helpful to have a few moments of self-reflection. There’s something about the juxtaposition between this incredibly violent fast-paced sport in which the only object is to force your opponent to submit to your will and a calm period to focus on yourself that I find very cathartic. I totally appreciate the ideas of quality, center of balance, awareness, alertness, sensation, calmness, and relaxation that “Downward Dogs and Warriors” focuses on. These are ideals that I already value and I’m excited to use yoga to further my experience with them.
The concept of the cycle of life can be seen in many places in nature. The idea of rebirth can be seen from a generational point of view or from a periodical point of view. The generational argument is that we reproduce in order to give other life. This draws from the constant pattern that almost all natural things follow. They are born, grow up, reproduce, and die. This cycle is constant through almost all living things. The periodical argument has more to do with time of day or year. For example, everyday the sun comes up and goes down at night, only to follow the same pattern the next day. This gives some credence to the idea of rebirth as a cycle, but the cycle of the seasons is much more convincing. Every year The temperature goes from hot to warm, and from warm to cold, from cold to warm, and from warm to hot again. Many living things follow this cycle to survive. Trees lose their leaves so they are not crushed by snow. Bears hibernate because there is not food from them in the winter. For the outside observer, it may appear that every fall a bear goes into a cave and dies, and every spring it is reborn again. The seasons are most likely a stem for the concept of rebirth and the cycle of life, as the pattern of the seasons also follows the patterns set forth by the Hindu ages. Everything is pure in the spring, passionate in the summer, evil in the fall, and dies in the winter, only to be reborn again in the spring, pure as before. This not only supports the concept of the cycle of life, but also that life constantly gets worse. However, when one takes a more realistic look at the world, they might notice that as time passes, one’s life does get better. For instance, as animals grow they are able to fend off attackers easier and they are more adept in the art of escape. The truth lies in the middle. For humans the peak is known to be around the mid 20s. This is when most professional athletes are in their ‘prime’. It is then logical to assume that prior to this prime their life was getting “better” and after this prime their life was getting “worse”. While their life may actually not be getting better or worse, the concept of a ‘prime’ shows how life does get better up until a point, and then gets worse. The very definition of a prime is that they is no other point higher, or better. Therefore, the truth behind living is that we all have primes, and that they may be in different places, but up until our prime out life is getting better, and after it our life is getting worse.
ReplyDeleteI believe that everyone has one way or another to “meditate”. While this may not actually be sitting a room quietly, it is my belief that everyone has something that they are good at or something that calms them, focuses them. This could take the form of yoga, but it could also take the form of playing sports. Yoga can be used to calm one’s mind, to relieve stress. Sports can do the same thing for many people. Personally, I believe that always can focus better when I listen to music. It blocks out distractions for me. Almost every essay I wrote, every book I read, every homework problem I solved, I was listening to music. If I am not I start to become focused on my surroundings. One way I know how to relieve stress is to organize. Whether this is in my head or in the real world, putting things in their proper place seems to calm me and relieve stress. Too much homework? Put in all in order. Big essay coming up? Clean my room. These two tactics are my ‘yoga’. Listening to music focuses me and organizing calms me.
Hinduism, similar to other religions, also tries to explain the creation of the world and life after death. Hinduism, however, focuses on the god Vishnu and the dharma more so as the representation of morality.
ReplyDeleteChristianity established a monotheistic God who created the universe with his power. He summoned light, darkness, creatures, and many other things out of nothing and they obeyed his designs. People, as one of the millions of creatures on earth, has one soul. When people die, their souls are judged based on their virtues and then dispatched to heaven or hell. In Hinduism, there are multiple gods while each god has their distinctive tasks. Practitioners’ ultimate goal is to reach Nirvana, full consciousness and perception. The god Vishnu has multiple forms with various tasks all dedicated to raise said consciousness. He alone does not command creatures solely. Instead, he guides them through periods of life and help them reach higher levels of consciousness. God Vishnu preserves light for the people and destroys life in order to ascend them to a higher level in the next thousand Maha Yugas. Death, in Hinduism, is more of a cycle for the better as opposed to a one way passage.
To be honest, I have little experience in yoga and meditation. I generally do minimum exercise to stay healthy which involves walking and going up the stairs. (Both of them can be easily accomplished on a regular school day.) I tried meditation in health and personal fitness classes. On both occasions, I quickly fell asleep before the teachers finished their reading instructions. When I was younger, I used to do some yoga on Wii Fit boards and meditate using some Wii games. So I am eager to try some yoga poses in real life and meditate correctly (instead of sleeping XD).
I found the stories of mythology at the beginning of the reading very fascinating. Since I personally don’t believe in any sort of higher power or the idea of creationism, it’s interesting to read stories that others base major aspects of their life around. A main idea from the myths that resonated with me was the idea that life is a continuous cycle. I think it relates to some of the principles of Buddhism and also reincarnation, which states that when you die you are reborn based on how you lived your past life. In Buddhism you’re taught that suffering and discomfort are natural parts of being a human being, and you can ease your suffering and discomfort by accepting this fact. It’s cool to compare these teachings with the teachings of Catholicism, which essentially promise you prosperity after your life is over so long as you commit positive actions while you’re alive. Honestly, while I understand how meaningful religion is for people across the globe, I would much rather enjoy myself in the present rather than worrying about some future that isn’t really guaranteed to exist. It’s hard to buy into the idea that life is “continuous”, which I assume means you’re never truly gone even after death, because to me religion and myths seem like ways for people in the past, who had very little knowledge of the universe and its many parts, to cope with the terrifying thought of dying and its inevitability. These myths are super engaging and intricate, but they feel like bizarre rationalizations for concepts like “life” and “death” and the “sun”. This is backed up by the fact that there are records stating that ancient humans would sometimes die of heart attacks or fear during solar eclipses, simply because they didn’t understand what was going on. To them it seemed like the end of times, but thousands of years later we view it as a natural occurrence in our solar system. Who knows what we’ll be able to figure out about our universe in the future, and what beliefs will be shattered along with these discoveries. Also, to anyone who questions the many scientific theories about the universe’s creation, like what came before the big bang, I ask this question: how was God made? Time is a social construct, yo.
ReplyDeleteI also disagreed with some of the teachings of the master in the yoga story. What I got out of it, or rather what I thought the story was trying to say, was that since suffering is a natural part of being human we must devote most of our time and energy to practicing forms of mindfulness like yoga and meditation. Frankly, it seems like another person trying to tell me what to do with my life. Sure, everyone will suffer at different points in their life (especially through the college application process), but it’s possible to feel good and enjoy oneself by other means than following some regimented mindfulness schedule your whole life.
This blog post might seem very critical of other people’s beliefs, but with full sincerity I couldn’t care less about how other people choose to spend their lives. If you believe that a gigantic female god of destruction exists somewhere in the never ending circle of life, I completely respect that and you do you. If you pray to a giant meatball every night that you think gives you psychic powers, that’s also fine so long as you use your newfound abilities for good. Nobody should feel targeted or accused by others who claim to have all the answers since, in reality, none of us do. Your life, your business.
Cycles are visible in all forms of the world. Life itself follows a cycle, of birth to death and repeats for every living thing, trees and plants follow a cycle when they lose their leaves in winter and regain them in the spring, and even daily life follows cycles and routines. Reflected as well in Hindu culture, it’s just another example of how prominent this pattern is to storytellers. Out of any philosophy presented, I like this one the most. The idea that life only improves or gets worse is just smaller sections of the idea that life is a cycle. Life can improve at one moment and worsen the next.
ReplyDeleteIn those short stories from the Downward Dogs section, I noticed a lot of themes or people similar to those in Christianity. As a Catholic, we are taught about prayer and the power of God and how being in connection with him can change our lives. Before I delve into what I noticed, I know my words come with a grain of salt from this perspective, as I’ve had no other exposure to Hinduism other than through word of mouth or short readings like this one. I see in Hinduism, though, the idea is still the same. Instead of prayer, it’s meditation, and that’s how to become a better person. I also noticed a lot of self-reflection involved in yoga, as “the characters in the stories were aspects of our own minds”. The God in Catholicism is omnipotent to an extent and does not have much in common besides the fact that man was created from his own image. Even then, God really only speaks to his people and decides their lives. It is in the humans that we see ourselves reflected, not in the gods themselves like Hinduism. Even though there’s plenty of differences, religion is more or less the same. There are a god, or gods, powerful or not, somewhere that dictates the inner workings of the universe. Who, what, or why that god is the way it is may not be universal, but the god itself is.
I am in the yoga class this semester, and a tip I have is that yoga is a lot more work than it seems. Your entire body has to be tight in order to get everything out of the position. And, more personally, it’s hard to truly get something out of the practice unless you’re focused. You don’t have to be the biggest yoga fan in the room, but being able to follow along helps with focus and has helped me with getting a lot of stress off of my mind.
I read through the packet alongside my mother to ask any follow up questions or legends I have not heard about before. It was an illuminating experience since we are celebrating Karthigai Deepum (which is only observed by certain South Indian states). More on that later, but I noticed a jarring difference in the text vs. what I personally know about (Iyer) Hinduism. The text mentions that Vishnu can take on the form of Shiva or Brahma but I have learnt that they are three separate entities with different purposes that have their own incarnations (e.g. Vishnu as Krishna or Shiva as Annamalai, etc.) but never each other. This might be because different groups come up with different narratives like Iyers vs. Iyengars or North vs. South Indians.
ReplyDeleteNow, a story about Kartigai Deepum: We observe this festival because it is the day that Shiva took on the form of fire. Here is a fun Hindu legend about today. Brahma and Vishnu were fighting over who is the more supreme and powerful god. To break it up, Shiva presented them with a trial. He turned into fire and asked them to identify the beginning or the end of the flames and whoever is able to do so emerges victorious. Brahma turned into a swan to fly up and find the top while Vishnu took the form of a boar to find the bottom. They were unsuccessful in doing so but Brahma lied to Shiva saying he found the end which he was immediately punished for because Shiva, as an all-powerful omnipotent god, knew he was lying. Shiva cursed Brahma to have no dedicated place of worship for him on Earth (fun fact: There is only one, maybe two temples only addressing him in the world today)
One thing that is not mentioned in the text about The Ramayana, which I thought I would mention, is the birth and childhood of Ram and Sita's children: Luv and Kush (like love and happiness because "kush" is sanskrit/hindi for happiness). Also, the best character in Ramayana in my opinion is the giant Kumbakarna because he just sleeps for most of the epic, for about six months (until he is rudely woken up to fight in the war).
The belief of life as a continuous repetitive cycle can mean reincarnation, the idea of being reborn, or just the simple concept of routine, which is more realistic and easy to understand for most people. Whether you believe you only have one life or you can be reborn, the life you are living right now is a repetitive cycle. So when it asks what aspects of life support the view of a continuously repetitive cycle, our daily routine is a repetitive cycle. Most people have a daily routine that they repeat every single day: going to school, going to work, etc. That might not be as abstract or mythical as the idea of reincarnation, but if the repetitive cycle of a routine can control every aspect of most people’s lives. Maybe a concept like reincarnation does exist but without us knowing.
ReplyDeleteAlso, as I was reading the different stages of life, I’m surprised at the similarities of the fourth age, the Kali Yuga, and the world we live in today. The fourth age is the worse age out of all the ages, and it’s the one we’re living in.
Reading this article allowed me to see some of the similarities between Hinduism and other religions. I was born into Buddhism. My mom is quite religious, but not to the point where she shoves it in my face. So I’ve learned a lot about Buddhism over the years. It’s very similar to Hinduism. The concepts of life as a continuous repetitive cycle, reincarnation all exist in Buddhism. Though there are different gods, there are gods reincarnated as human heroes to protect mortals.
As for the yoga part, I’m excited to try out some yoga poses since I haven’t attempted yoga in some years. I used to do yoga with my mom early in the morning when I was a kid, and I enjoyed it, too, but as I grew up, I stopped doing yoga.
Reading the history of the myths about the yoga poses was incredibly fascinating. Growing up in a Catholic household, I have only ever learned about my own religion and the beliefs and sayings of Christianity which is why it is so fascinating to learn about someone else’s religion and the beliefs they hold so dear to their hearts. One of the most interesting things about the Hindu religion is that Vishnu has three forms, the creator, the preserver, and the destroyer. Each of these forms are drastically different yet they are all Vishnu. His name and role changes, “but the great god remains the same”. This concept demonstrates the evolution of people throughout their lifetime. The likes and dislikes of someone when they are 10 are very different compared to their likes and dislikes when they are 30. This person has not transformed into someone else but rather just evolved and changed over time, developing new habits and new likes or dislikes. Despite all these changes, either physically, mentally, emotionally, etc., they still are the same person they were when they were younger, and always will be that same person. The belief in Hinduism that “unity and pattern remains at the foundation of all apparent differences” is something that I find to be so beautiful. The people who practice Hinduism are taught to have an open mind for everyone who is different than them which is much needed in the world that we live in today where everyone is filled with so much hate. This charming ideal is something that I wish all people practiced regardless of their personal beliefs because it’s purpose is to bring everyone together instead of creating divisions between those who are different. Even if someone practices the same religion as you, or supports the same political party as you, there are hundreds of thousands of differences between you and that other person. It may seem as if everything between the two of you is the same but when it comes down to it, everyone has their own unique perspective, and attributes resulting in everyone being different in their own way. By practicing acceptance of all people, Hindus create a community in which they accept everyone for who they are and are willing to live in peace even if they might not believe or agree with what they believe or are doing.
ReplyDeleteOn a completely unrelated note, I am really looking forward to doing the yoga poses because Senior year is incredibly stressful and I could really go for a stress reliever. The last time I did yoga, it helped to lighten my mood and give me a break in my busy life but it did not necessarily reduce any stress but I think that mostly had to do with the fact that I was doing goat yoga and instead of doing the poses I simply was playing with the goats. A question I have however is why does the Warrior pose go 2-1-3 instead of the ordinary 1-2-3?
I do not practice a religion, nor do I know a lot about religion at all, but I’ve been taking Latin and these stories remind me of the myths we read. I feel like in AP Lit we read a lot of stories that reflect on the cycle of life to death and onwards, such as Mrs. Dalloway. Since I’m not a religious person, these stories have made me think about the bigger things in life, like what I’m making of myself or what will happen when death and I meet. I noticed there was a big theme of reincarnation throughout the stories, which I have never thought deeply about. I actually enjoyed reading about reincarnation from the perspective of someone who practices different religions. The aspect of these myths that really surprised me was talking about the impact that a higher power had on people and the idea that you must remain in the position you were born into. I had only read about these in Latin mythology, such as people not wanting to feel too vain about themselves because they feared Aphrodite would give them bad fortune- however, I only thought these were silly stories and not the truth. I kind of feel like these religions have the power to hold someone’s potential back in a way? Like believing that someone has the complete power over your life; kind of like a mother saying “I put you in this world and I can take you out of it.” Though people are born with a purpose, I don’t think one decision should be responsible for someone’s life or death.
ReplyDeleteAll religions have similarities in that they use stories and values to try to explain the unexplainable. They allow people to have faith in something bigger than themselves and their own world when tangible things are not enough. I found it interesting reading the story of the Creation, Death, and Rebirth of the universe. The idea of rebirth and a repetitive cycle of life is seen in many religions. While I read about the four ages, it made me think about life today, and the impacts that make the world where “virtue barely exists.” This made me think about the impact of technology on our world, and as life continues, how it relates to the four stages explained in the myths. Many religions seem to be revolved around the idea of the correlation between good and evil, right and wrong, or life and death. I grew up in a Catholic household, however I like to learn about other religions and beliefs. I liked reading about how throughout the four ages, dharma declines by ¼, which shifts the balance between good and evil.
ReplyDeleteResponses to the World Mythology Questions:
ReplyDelete1) The description of life being a continuous cycle can be interpreted multiple ways, as can all myths. I believe that there can be parallels drawn in all life, the birth, the growth, the challenge of surviving and ultimately death. I think that all beings and creatures go through this, it is a realistic postulation. No matter the length of your life, you at one point will come in, face some type of growth, attempt, then succeed or fail to survive. That is my interpretation of how life is repetitive, I'm interested to know how others interpreted it.
2) I think that it depends on a few things to decide if your life improves or gets worse. I think it is in the hands of the person to decide if they want their life to slope up or down. To be proactive, positive and keep teaching/leading will make one's life always ameliorate whereas the contrary will cause the degradation of integrity, passion, and worldly outlook. I find the improvement one most appealing, and I think that it all rests in how we follow Dharma after we are given adversity and challenge in our universe. Stay true to Dharma and your life will always improve.
3) The advantages of Dharma are wonderful, they improve character, integrity, work ethic and attitude. It is way of giving your life purpose. The disadvantages are low in my opinion, the only I could thing of are that it could make one naive or help one underestimate the evils of life. I think one must follow Dharma in order to keep strong work and personal values, but never assume the followings of others as they might covet or approach you with bad and deceiving intentions. It is something you must observe rather than discuss.
I think that the first Downward Dogs story taught me a lot about Yoga. It talks of the origin and Yoga and why it was invented. Shiva invented it in order to make life more meaningful, it is a way to master our minds, bodies, and ultimately our beings. I think this is excellent because it reveals that Shiva really is not an evil form, it is an intelligent and kind being. It destroys to keep organization, preserve natural cycles and make things that already exist stronger. I liked reading about how Yoga teaches us not to get angry at our shortcomings and limits, but rather accept them and do the best we can to push them. It is not just physical, it is emotional and spiritual too, which helps us prepare for meditation, which also now interests me. I think it is a comforting thought, Shiva and all that it represents.
I thought the selection of readings were very interesting. As someone who practices meditation and yoga frequently, I forget at times that the origins of many of those practices stem from religion. I'm not a very religious person, I tend to focus on the mindfulness and physical strength aspects of the practice.
ReplyDeleteI practice a specific type of yoga at least twice a week, called Bikram Yoga. My mom goes daily, and have been bringing me and the rest of my family to join her for years. Bikram is a type of hot yoga done in a room that is 105 °F with a humidity of 40%. The practice consists of the same 26 poses and two breathing exercises each class, which adds up to exactly 90 minutes. It’s much more demanding of the body than you’d expect, but the benefits are entirely worth it. According to a 2015 study, "The Effects of Bikram Yoga on Health: a Critical Review and Clinical Trial Recommendations" by Caroline A. Smith, frequent practice of Bikram yoga allows for “improved lower body strength, range of joint motion in both upper and lower body, and balance. It noted that unsystematic trials (without randomized controls) had found possible improvements in glucose tolerance, bone density, blood lipids, artery stiffness, mindfulness, and "perceived stress".’ My Mom has a few friends at her studio who were previously taking medication for diabetes, became frequent practitioners of the sport, and are now medication free and healthy.
However, not all about this practice is positive- in 2016, Bikram Choudhury, the creator of Bikram, was accused of sexual assault and faced multiple lawsuits… and quickly fled to India. Though the studio I practice with does not support Bikram Choudhury, there are still many studios around the globe that continue to hold him as an idol, who practice for the sole purpose of fulfilling a commitment/to please HIM, instead of for their own happiness and peace. I think this is an unhealthy way of practicing, and instead the sole focus in meditation and yoga practices should be self rehabilitation and centralized, individual happiness.
I liked the section called The Creation, Death, and Rebirth of the Universe. The idea of reincarnation that the section describes is fascinating, that "creation is always re-creation", that nothing is "new" and we are all a part of an unending cycle of time. With this unending cycle of time comes a pattern of creation to "to disintegration to dissolution to re-creation, over and over again." I'm not sure if I believe in that idea, but it's interesting to think about.
These pieces are absolutely fascinating. Reading through the ancient Hindu myths, the central idea of cyclical rebirth is quite intriguing to me. While in some cultures, gods are portrayed as truly good or truly bad, Vishnu seems to be neither. Whether he be the peaceful Brahma or the ruthlessly destructive Shiva-Rudra, he seems to represent all morals at once, thus making him an enigma. Many members of my family are Greek, and in ancient greek mythology, the gods were vastly different. Each had their own incredibly specific personality traits, were imperfect, and seemed far more human than god, often sinning in the same way that mortals do. Vishnu, however, while still retaining his personality, seems to be above these squabbles, and this sharp contrast is incredibly interesting.
ReplyDeleteI never knew that yoga had such an in-depth backstory. After learning of the stories of its inception while reading “Downward Dogs and Warriors” I have much more respect for the art. I never knew how truly sacred it could be. The stories behind each pose are amazing. For example, while from a distance the warrior poses may seem to be just that, they are far more than just “poses” Each body movement is meant to embody the righteousness and fierce power of the warrior Virabhadra. The stories seem to be endless, for each and every pose has an entire myth of its own. These works of religious and physical art are beautiful, and truly show how yoga can be far more than just stretches and twists.
My family members are very catholic so I was raised upon that religion and its strict mentality. I really loved reading all of these myths and views because they not only allowed me to gain a new perspective and how many pursue their spirituality but they honestly were very realistic. The myth of the Maha Yuga and its different ages was one that resonated with me as it very much applies to the world we live in today. We see how many are governed by material wealth, greed, and sexual passions to the point in which moral virtue is no longer considered. Vishnu reminded me of the Yin and Yang philosophy of Chinese culture. The Yin and Yang philosophy is centered on the attraction and interconnection of opposite forces and how we need both to have a balanced world. We see this through Vishnu as both Brahma and Shiva-Ruda, creator and destroyer of Earth.
ReplyDeleteI'm super excited to try out some yoga poses next class. My first experience with yoga was last year with Ms. Salvesen. I honestly thought it wouldn’t be too difficult and my main focus was to improve my flexibility. It turned out that yoga is actually a really hard practice because if done right, one has to fully engage with the body and mind so they can become one. After each class I discovered a new part of both my character and physical strength that I never thought I had.
Life has always been a continuously repetitive cycle. When a person or animal dies, their body is broken down by bacteria and feeds into the soil, so that more lives can be created from it. I think that reincarnation is a complicated concept, and this Hindu myth does a great job of simplifying that. I find the view of life where life continues to get worse the most realistic. People who live with an optimistic lifestyle will have their spirits completely crushed by an unfortunate situation they were unable to predict, wherein somebody with a pessimistic view of life will be prepared for any tragic occurrence that happens to them. I find the optimistic view of life more appealing, because it seems to be a happier way to live life, while the pessimistic view if far more realistic. According to this myth, the advantages of living according to dharma far outweigh the disadvantages, the quote- “People who are devoted to meditation, the highest virtue, and spend their lives being loyal to dharma. They work for the pleasure of it, rather than the necessity. Sorrow does not exist”(Rosenberg). If this is true, it sounds like a great way for a person to live their life with great advantages, however, I do not find this to be realistic. Most people don’t have the self- control to achieve this higher sense of self, and most people would not be able to strictly follow these principles. I believe that the concept of dharma supports an effort to correct social justice because it supports the ideology that everybody is equal, and all life has a purpose, so all walks of life should view each other as equal, and treat each others such.
ReplyDeleteI would say that a cyclical myth fits well for our cyclical lives. People are born, grow old, and then die to be succeeded by their descendents. With the passage of time there is change, and I think the most important component of this cycle is the importance of change, the necessity of Shiva for the acts of Brahma, and not just the importance but the inevitability. In contrast to western religion where there exists an eternity after death, I feel like dealing with change is a part of life, although the myth could be considered an unchanging eternity. Most interestingly to me is the degradation of virtue in the Maha Yuga. Each era is worse than than the one prior, until a reset, instead of improvement until reset. Similarly to abrahamic beliefs and the myth of the apple and the garden of eden, it suggests that humans take something perfect and twist it until it is no more, that life used to be easier. The second age being one of knowledge is what reminded me especially of the garden of eden. It seems contrary to progress made both culturally and technologically, perhaps because there is some sort of moral cost, or that the goals we reach for are unattainable. I for one believe in progress. The view that life used to be easier, can be comforting I think, since the past for most of us involves living with the comfort of our parents, and as we grow up we deal with a life increasing in duties.
ReplyDeleteThe yoga stories being centered around Shiva is interesting, that it is a practice handed down by the destroyer changes the perspective on who Shiva is, reinforcing that destruction is not evil. The story of Sati feels quite characteristically harsh and moral for the stories of old. Daksha is superficial and is punished as such, with his head being turned into that of a goat. Sati is rewarded for her sacrifice with having her wishes being fulfilled in the next. I’m really not very into yoga myself, having spent most of myself participating in more dynamic sports. However, the tying together of exercise and myth as a sort of ritual reminded me of chinese Tai Qi.
I thought that the code of Dharma was one that was quite interesting. It talked about acting in a behavior that is fit for their place in society. The definition was a bit vague but I basically interpreted it as people should stick with the status quote and play the part in society which they were born into. Then there is a whole explanation of how the four different yugas play out and how each one of them is worse than the previous as people stray further from their belief in the Dharma. I personally don’t agree with this kind of idea. I can understand that Dharma promotes social order and civility in society as everyone does what they are expected to do. Yet it does not leave any wiggle room to change your life in accordance to your occupation, social class and purpose in society. It seems as though you are kind of stuck where you are. A peasant has to live their whole life knowing that there is no way to better their current situation and in believing in the Dharma they must act in an orderly and productive manner that a peasant would be. I was also quite intrigued by the myth about the great god Vishnu and his ability to take up all three forms of a creator, preserver and destroyer. The tale recalls how Vishnu goes about the cycles of life and death within the Maha Yuga periods and it reminded me of some of the natural cycles on our planet like photosynthesis or the water cycle. I also liked reading about the seated meditation poses and how it promotes eternal alertness but comfort and relaxation at the same time.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1 about World Mythology asks what aspects of life support it being seen as a continuously repetitive cycle. I’ve noticed a lot of parts of life that seem to prove this point of view. For one, it seems like most people seem to have the same general paths through life as their ancestors have had for countless years (going to school, graduating, working, starting a family, retiring). The concept of reincarnation is also an example of a seemingly endless cycle. (To be born, then to die, only to be “reborn” and have the cycle begin again).
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2 was tricky. I don’t 100% agree with any of the three views; I think that life includes enough random elements/luck to be able to say that for some people, life only gets worse and for others it gets better. It can depend on how much you enjoyed your childhood, how good of a job you end up getting, etc. That being said, I think the belief that life continues to improve is the most appealing, for obvious reasons, as it’s far better to have optimism for improvement than be stuck with the belief that “it’s all downhill from here” at a young age.
The advantages and disadvantages of dharma are heavily based on what the current Maha Yuga is. In the Krita Yuga, there aren’t really any disadvantages at all. Everyone will be born good and have a happy life. On the other hand, if you’re born in the Kali Yuga, your life expectancy is very short and hunger, disease, and death are everywhere. From what I could understand, dharma helps with correcting social injustice, because everyone is subject to the same conditions at the same time. Whether that means them being happy or having to suffer, they all do it together.
Myths like the epic poem The Ramayana are used as a basis for moral instruction in Hindu society and is seen as a part of some people’s religious faith. Children are raised to decide what is right or wrong based off what Rama and Sita would do. While the behaviors written in the Ramayana are respected and still practiced today still, “contemporary Western codes of behavior sometimes differ from those portrayed in the Ramayana.” (Rosenberg) This relates to gap that arguably is growing between beliefs of Christians of today and the beliefs stated in the Bible. Everyone that practices a faith, regardless of which religion, must decide if their own moral beliefs correlate with the values their faith recommends.
ReplyDeleteMy comment on the World Mythology section is from more of a history and societal perspective than literature. When it comes to Hinduism, I first thought of what about the existing society and culture prompted the values held in the area’s religion. I remember learning in history class that India’s social structure was very strictly divided into class, with drastic differences in rights between them. In fact, the caste system can trace its origins back to ancient India.
ReplyDeleteThose at the top of the system, the Brahmins, were originally comprised of scriptual teachers and educators and consisted of a small portion of the population. On the other hand, the untouchables are the lowest social class, are treated more as slaves than citizens. I speculate that because the vast majority of Indian citizens for the larger period of history belonged to these lower social classes, a religion that appeals a wish to change status had particular appeal in this society. I also speculate that the origin resurrection is India for the same reasons. I find it interesting that because of all this, Hinduism can be seen as a conspiracy to prevent revolts in the lower classes. I kind of think that because everyone is encouraged to live and work according to their dharma in pursuit of movement up the social class, the lower classes just work rather than revolt.
When it comes to yoga, I am unsurprised by its constant connection to religion and spirituality. During the summer I did yoga consistently. What surprised me the most was just how bad I was, especially because I consider myself an athlete. I simply could not do many of the poses correctly because I wasn’t flexible enough. Because of our modern lives that have us sitting in chairs and laying still for thousands of hours longer than our ancestors would have, the average human is much less flexible than their body naturally allows. Yoga’s emphasis on the basic capabilities on the human body resonates with a primal sense of freedom in movement which I believe is where much of its appeal comes from.