...Karma Yoga Karma Yoga A book by Swami Vivekananda Based on lectures the Swami delivered in his rented rooms at 228 W 39th Street in December, 1895 and January, 1896. The classes were free of charge. Generally the Swami held two classes daily- morning and evening. Although the Swami delivered many lectures and held numerous classes in the two years and five months he had been in America, these lectures constituted a departure in the way they were recorded. Just prior to the commencement of his Winter -95-96 season in NYC, his friends and supporters aided him by advertising for and ultimately hiring a professional stenographer: The man selected, Joseph Josiah Goodwin, later became a disciple of the Swami and followed him to England and India. file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/Chitra%20Selv...ivekananda/BooksBySwami/KarmaYoga/KarmaYogaPDF.html (1 of 88)2/25/2007 9:26:35 PM Karma Yoga Goodwin's transcriptions of the Swami's lectures form the basis of five books. CHAPTER 1 Karma in its effect on character file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/Chitra%20Selv...ivekananda/BooksBySwami/KarmaYoga/KarmaYogaPDF.html (2 of 88)2/25/2007 9:26:35 PM Karma Yoga The word Karma is derived from the Sanskrit Kri, to do; all action is Karma. Technically, this word also means the effects of actions. In connection with metaphysics, it sometimes means the effects, of which our past actions were the causes. But in Karma-Yoga we have simply to do with the word Karma as...
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...Karma Yoga Karma Yoga A book by Swami Vivekananda Based on lectures the Swami delivered in his rented rooms at 228 W 39th Street in December, 1895 and January, 1896. The classes were free of charge. Generally the Swami held two classes daily- morning and evening. Although the Swami delivered many lectures and held numerous classes in the two years and five months he had been in America, these lectures constituted a departure in the way they were recorded. Just prior to the commencement of his Winter -95-96 season in NYC, his friends and supporters aided him by advertising for and ultimately hiring a professional stenographer: The man selected, Joseph Josiah Goodwin, later became a disciple of the Swami and followed him to England and India. file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/Chitra%20Selv...ivekananda/BooksBySwami/KarmaYoga/KarmaYogaPDF.html (1 of 88)2/25/2007 9:26:35 PM Karma Yoga Goodwin's transcriptions of the Swami's lectures form the basis of five books. CHAPTER 1 Karma in its effect on character file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/Chitra%20Selv...ivekananda/BooksBySwami/KarmaYoga/KarmaYogaPDF.html (2 of 88)2/25/2007 9:26:35 PM Karma Yoga The word Karma is derived from the Sanskrit Kri, to do; all action is Karma. Technically, this word also means the effects of actions. In connection with metaphysics, it sometimes means the effects, of which our past actions were the causes. But in Karma-Yoga we have simply to do with the word Karma as...
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...Buddhism has become a religion that millions across the globe have started to participate in. Many people believe in the idea of karma, that if one does good things, good things will happen to them. However, several people do not realize that many Buddhist practices such as karma and reincarnation are rooted in Hinduism. How do the different Hindu and Buddhist prayers compare and how are they used amongst the lay people? These two religions have stark differences with their methods of prayer, so how have lay Buddhists found a balance between Hindu traditions and Buddhist traditions? Buddhism is known as the middle path between the relaxed version of Hinduism and the strict rules of other religions such as Jainism. Buddhism attempts to break...
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...be regarded as partnership in search of eternal oneness”. (Weider/Gutierrez p.67) The Hindu religion has four goals in the meaning/purpose of life. Pleasure, wealth, harmony and liberation. The first two consume the individual as it causes evil and suffering. The other two fulfill the individual. True salvation is to abandon the evil desires (pleasure and wealth) and become liberated (moksha). (Hindson/Caner p.263) Hindus believe that they should release all evil desires and egos and therefore they live through spiritual practices. Yoga, mental discipline and good deeds to all life forms. (Hindson/Carner p.264) Hindus believe in karma and by doing good deeds you receive good karma. Hindus believe in reincarnation, which is where you are born again in a new different body. (Merriam-Webster) Life is an illusion and to end the cycle of reincarnation one but eliminate all desires. You can do this by doing good deeds which leads to good karma and climbing the ladder of existence, ultimately wanting to reach Nirana. (Weider/Gutierrez p.69) (Hinderson/Caner p.263) Part Two: Hinduism much like Christianity both believe in God and that god created them. However, the...
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...is a natural transition for the soul, which survives and, guided by karma, continues its long pilgrimage until it is one with God. After many lifetimes of following karma, the soul is fully matured in love, wisdom and knowledge of God. There is no longer a need for physical birth, for all lessons have been learned, all karmas fulfilled. That soul is then liberated, freed from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Evolution then continues in the more refined spiritual worlds. Similarly, after we graduate from elementary school we never have to go back to the fifth grade. We have gone beyond that level in understanding. Karma plays an important role in this evolution by determining how a person’s soul is transferred to another being. If a person does good deeds and has a good conscious their soul enters the next higher stage of its journey. For example: if it is already human than the next stage would be a human in a higher caste, or if they do bad deeds and have corrupt conscious their soul is “downgraded) to a lower stage in its journey. This Hindu view of the soul's evolution answers many otherwise bewildering questions, removing the fear of death while giving assurance that each soul is evolving toward the same spiritual destiny, for the Hindu believes that karma and reincarnation are leading every single soul to God Realization. Another “tool” that Hindus use other than practicing good karma is Yoga. Yoga helps them achieve this by bringing people’s minds and soul closer to...
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...Religions: Eastern and West 2 September 2014 The Four Yogas In Hinduism, there are four paths of yoga that are utilized as a reference guide that can help one along their spiritual journey towards self-realization. These paths provide different avenues that work for different people and are tailored towards certain temperaments so that one can choose the path that will provide them with the most success. According to Philip Novak, “Hinduism recognizes four paths of yoga or methods of self-transformation: the yoga of action (karma), the yoga of devotion (bhakti), the yoga of knowledge (jnana), and the yoga of meditation (raja yoga)” (Novak 34). These are paths to spiritual self- transformation that one can take after they have been taught that the controlling of the mind comes through meditation. Karma yoga is the pathway to self-transformation through work or action in the form of selfless service. Karma yoga appeals to those who have active temperaments. An example is given out of the book explaining that we are human machines made for action or work. Meaning, that our entire body, except for the reproductive apparatus merges together through action. The drive to work is mental not economical. We are by nature selfish beings, through Karma yoga we can step out of our spiritual ignorance through selfless actions. The goal of Karma yoga is for one to continually work towards acting in a selfless nature. Karma yoga is the action towards diminishing one’s self-centeredness...
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...Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Volume 1 Addresses at The Parliament of Religions Karma-Yoga Raja-Yoga Lectures and Discourses Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Volume 1 Addresses at The Parliament of Religions Response to Welcome Why We Disagree Paper on Hinduism Religion not the Crying Need of India Buddhism, the Fulfilment of Hinduism Address at the Final Session Home / Complete-Works / Volume 1 / Addresses at The Parliament of Religions / > Home / Complete-Works / Volume 1 / Addresses at The Parliament of Religions / > Home / Complete-Works / Volume 1 / Karma-Yoga / > Home / Complete-Works / Volume 1 / Raja-Yoga / > Home / Complete-Works / Volume 1 / Raja-Yoga / > Home / Complete-Works / Volume 1 / Raja-Yoga / > Home / Complete-Works / Volume 1 / Raja-Yoga / > Home / Complete-Works / Volume 1 / Raja-Yoga / > Home / Complete-Works / Volume 1 / Raja-Yoga / > Home / Complete-Works / Volume 1 / Raja-Yoga / > Home / Complete-Works / Volume 1 / Raja-Yoga / > Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Volume 1 Lectures and Discourses Soul, God and Religion The Hindu Religion What is Religion? Vedic Religious Ideals The Vedanta Philosophy Reason and Religion Vedanta as a Factor in Civilisation The Spirit and Influence of Vedanta Steps of Hindu Philosophic thought Steps to Realisation Vedanta and Privilege Privilege Krishna Gita I Gita II Gita III Mohammed Vilvamangala The Soul and God Breathing Practical Religion: Breathing...
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...Blake Watson November-1-2013 James & Kathleen Hum 140 & Eng 101 5 Page Essay Final World Views/Benefits from Hinduism & Buddhism (Quotes are italicized and the source of the quote is bolded) Although Hinduism and Buddhism are third world country religions that most of us are not familiar with, does not mean we cannot benefit or get something out of them ourselves, whether we believe in them or not. Here in this essay i will be talking about the similarities and differences that contrast between these two massive religions that hopefully, can show a form of common ground between yourself (If you’re an “outsider”) and them. (The religious practitioners). Lets start from the beginning; who were the founders? The answer to that question is quite complex. Buddhism was founded around the 5th century B.C.E. by Siddhartha Gautama, who is commonly referred to as “The Buddha” which translates to the literal word enlightened or awakened. The creator and founder of Buddhism. On the other hand, Hinduism has no official founder and most of its practices are based off of concepts formed in Buddhism. Back to the fact that these two religions are third world country religions, what is their purpose? That is the main goal of both religions? The main goal or purpose of Buddhism...
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...Chapter 3 Study Guide: Hinduism 1. What are the Vedas? a. Four collections of ancient prayers and rituals 2. When was the Vedic Period? a. 2000 to 500 B.C.E. 3. What language was used in this period? a. Sanskrit 4. Who are Aryans and what is the Aryan invasion theory? What evidence supports this theory? a. Single people b. Aryan invasion theory- the Vedas believed to be the religious writings of this invading people c. Entering new lands, these people were thought to have carried their language and religion with them. Scholars initially believed that in India the outsiders imposed their social order quickly and violently on the older culture. 5. What is the Aryan immigration theory? a. There were repeated waves of migrations into Pakistan and northern India and that from these contacts between foreign and indigenous cultures the religion of the Vedas emerged 6. What are the objections to both of these theories? a. Scholars view any theory that assumes influence from outside India to be a continued relic of Western cultural imperialism Archeological, linguistic, and genetic investigations continue to offer more clues, but their interpretation has not resolved the issue 7. What are the specific areas of interest or concern for the gods Indra, Agni, Ushas, Rudra, Varuna, Vishnu, Surya, Soma and Yama? a. Indra i. God of storm and war, received great attention because of the strength his worshipers hoped to receive from him b. Agni i. God of fire, carried sacrifices...
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...what family the person is born into. Some other aspects of Hinduism that are shared among the different sects are the belief in the three-in-one god known as “Brahman,” which consists of: Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the Preserver), and Shiva (the Destroyer). There are three gods that make up Brahman – Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Hindus also worship the “wives” of Shiva, such as Kali, or one of Vishnu’s ten incarnations (avatars). There are literally millions of Hindu gods and goddesses, by some counts, as many as 330 million! At the same time, Hinduism teaches that all living things are Brahman at their core. In other words, all living things are Brahman, or god. Hindus also uphold the ideas of karma, reincarnation, and nirvana. The laws of karma state that good begets good, and bad begets bad. Every action, thought, or decision one makes has consequences , either good or bad, that will return to each person in the present life, or in one yet to come. Reincarnation is known as the “transmigration of souls,” or...
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...Hindu Beliefs About Samsara (Reincarnation) Samsara (reincarnation) is the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. As long as people are part of samsara, they will feel pain and death. To end samsara, your soul must escape from the cycle of rebirth and merge with Brahman. It may take many lifetimes to break free from samsara. To escape from samsara, people have to follow the basic beliefs of Hinduism. The beliefs are doing good actions for karma, they follow their dharma by behaving correctly and performing their social duties, and finally worshipping Brahman and other deities that represent different personalities of Brahman. Back in the ancient times, the Indians would go on holy journeys to sacred places like the Ganges and Saraswati Rivers...
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...museum in London and is dated to 1488. It predates the Bible, the Quran, and 50 Shades of Grey. As one of the oldest pieces of literature known to us it has gained a reputation as one of the most insightful tomes into the human condition and it’s philosophies and themes have influenced many of the most historically significant people and their actions. Mahatma Gandhi, Eleanor Roosevelt, Henry David Thoreau, and even Albert Einstein all read the Gita and were deeply moved by it. These are not normal run of the mill people, but were great thinkers, people of action and world-changers. Surely, the world has been influenced by such a powerful text through the many people it has inspired and taught with it’s central themes of Yoga and Renunciation, and Dharma and Karma among others. Here we will take a look at some of the major themes of the Gita as well as some of the historically significant figures it has influenced and why and how it shares similar themes with key works of literature. The book is basically a one on one philosophical conversation between a god and a human. Reading the first chapter can be daunting for some individuals however because of the sheer volume of names and dates that the reader probably will not be familiar with. In the first chapter, the book sets a stage and gives its back story....
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...Hinduism May 13, 2012 Axia College HUM 130 Hinduism is an ancient and complex religion that is composed of a variety of myths, gods, and philosophic ideas. Much like Buddhism, Hinduism is a belief structure founded on fundamental concepts such as karma and reincarnation. Hinduism believes that humans are trapped in a cycle of rebirth which places one in a particular place within the caste system in accordance with their actions in the prior life. Ultimately, the object of Hinduism is to break the cycle of rebirth by realizing the ultimate reality (Brahman) with all their being; enlightenment. For the Hindu, the liberation from the earthly existence is to become one with the Brahman (Flesher, 1998). These beliefs have a variety of interpretations and this allows for people of many different beliefs to be considered Hindu. The uniting concepts of Hinduism include: * Dharma- virtue, specifically this concept refers to one’s duties within a particular caste. It is virtuous to perform one’s duties in a willing and correct manner. * Samsara- the cycle of rebirth or reincarnation. * Karma- the belief that one’s actions accumulate over one's life and at death this accumulation of actions determines one placement in the next rebirth, either higher or lower in status. * Moksha- the end of the cycle of rebirth or liberation from it. This is the ultimate goal and result for understanding Brahman (Flesher, 1998). Hinduism is very similar to Islam in that it...
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...CHAPTER – VIII CONCEPTS HARMONY WITH ENVIRONMENT The term can be best described as “Ethico moral reponsiveness of business to all the members of the environment.” Man and nature are deeply interconnected and interdependent. The social responsibility of business must ensure that dealings and transactions with its stakeholders are ethico-moral. Ecology or nature is also an important stakeholder. Hnece there is no such right to exploit nature for purely selfish motives. As some one rightly said, “Man, nature, divine are one, attack one, the other two get the impact. They are part of a grand cycle. Hold a global vision and do not be greedy. Dependence of any business on its social and ecological environment is so complete that the very existence, survival and growth of any enterprise depends upon its acceptance by society and environment (who provide all inputs of resources). If it outlives its utility to the Society and environment it has no place and reason to exist. Today, we insist on the social responsiveness and awareness, the ability to relate the plans, policies and programmes to the social environment in such a way that these are mutually beneficial to the organization, society and ecology. The current trend is an organizations’ involvement in social actions. The mission and vision of any organization must express deep involvement in social actions to improve the quality of life in the society and quality of the environment. SELF CONTROL ...
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...Identify and describe three paths to God (yogas) in Hinduism. The three paths (marga) to God are practiced by Hindus to unite with God and achieve Moksha. These spiritual paths include meditation and work based on one’s caste in society. These methods provide a path to allow spiritual journey and union with the Devine. The varieties of yogas address the different needs of different people. Jnana Yoga is the path of knowledge yoga which followers study the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita and learn from teachers to contemplate their soul’s oneness with Brahman. Priests and intellectuals tend to gravitate to this practice. (Molloy, 2010, p.92). This form of yoga requires great time and dedication to learn and master meditation. It is the shortest of paths but also the most difficult. Three schools of philosophy include the Vedanta which holds all reality is Brahman, Sankhya which has one free their eternal self from bondage of their inner self, and Yoga which frees the eternal self from person. Karma Yoga is the path of action yoga which involves religious ceremonies, traditions and ethical duties. This yoga can be daily practice seen in everyday tasks done with dharma (ethical duty) and because it is the right thing to do. Molloy states “if done unselfishly, can be a way to perfection” (Molloy, 2010, p. 93). Examples would be raising family, completing tasks, and volunteering. Bhaki Yoga is the path of devotion and for emotional worship of the followers. Hinduism...
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