) (Smith 13-25) Explain the account of the 4 Hindu wants (what we want vs. really want). How does this relate to the ‘path of desire’ vs. ‘path of renunciation’? What does the Hindu account of desire ultimately assume about its full/complete satisfaction? One of the four accounts that the Hindu wants are pleasure that is very natural. Wealth, fame, and power are the last three. They do not survive bodily death these are things you can’t take with you. This relates to the ‘path of desire’ because Hindus locate pleasure and succus on the path of desire.
The Hindu account of desire assumes that they will gain a lot of knowledge and their soul will live eternally with God. 2) (Smith 26-50) Explain the four yoga’s giving traits and examples of each. Which seems closest to your own personality? How/Why? Raja yoga is something that is intended to . Jnana yoga is intended for spiritual aspirants who have a strong reflective bent, is the path to oneness with godhead through knowledge. Karma yoga is the path of selfless acts and selfless service. Bhakti yoga is about serving God and love to others. The one that seems the closest to me is Bhakti because it’s the most popular and I try to show love to others.
3) (Smith 50-55) What are the Hindu stages of life? Explain each briefly.The first stage began after the rite of initiation, between the ages of eight and twelve, it lasted 12 years. which the student lived with the teacher rendering service for instruction. The prime responsibility at this stage was to learn to offer a receptive mind to all that the teacher, standing, as it were, on the pinnacle of the past, could transmit. The second stage is the householder. Begins with marriage.
During life’s noonday, with physical powers at their zenith, interest and energies naturally turned outward. Another stage is the stage of retirement, any time after the first arrival of the grandchild, the individually take advantage of license of age and withdraw from the social obligations that were thus far shouldered with a will. The final stage wherein the goal is actually reached is the state of sannyasin defined by the Bhagavad-Gita as ‘one who neither hates nor loves anything’.
4) (Smith 55-59; see also Chapters 2 and 3 of ‘Selections from the Bhagavad-Gita’) What are the Hindu stations of life/caste system? In the selection(s) from the Bhagavad-Gita, how does the role of caste influence Arjuna’s dilemma? How does he ultimately overcome the dilemma/crisis? Explain. How caste arose confuses a lot of people in history. A host of aryans possing a different language, culture, and physiognomy (tall, fair skinned, blue eyed, straight haired) migrated into India. The clash of differences that followed burgeoned the caste system, if it did not actually create it.
5) (Smith 60-63) Explain the personal and the transpersonal Hindu accounts of God in detail. What are some of the key differences between personal and transpersonal conception of God? If so distinct, does Smith believe they can still refer to the same object? Are you convinced by his verdict? Explain. Convinced in personal terms, god will stand in relation to the word as an artist to his or her handiwork. God will be creator (Brahma, preserver(Vishnu), and destroyer (Shiva), these are the personal concepts. Transpersonal conception of god is means that people see him in different ways like father and son. Smith believed that there is only one god.
And I believe in his verdict also because that just the way that I grew up. 6) (Smith 63-8; see also Chapters 2-4 ‘Selections from the Bhagavad-Gita’) Give a detailed account of the Hindu view of morality. Include in your response the Hindu view of karma, moral/spiritual maturation, and the role(s) of castes. What is the fatalist objection, according to Smith? How does Smith explain that Hinduism would reply? On your view, does the reply to the critique seem adequate? Explain why or why not. God says that your suppose to give up your emotions to be moral. Morality is having an understanding of your responsibilities and duties That need to be carried out in life, and this decides if you land in the caste system.
Fatalist believe in fate if it is supposed to happens it happens. In the rules of the caste system it cannot be changed. Yes the reply on the critique seems adequate because they do not care what the future holds because that is their fate.7) (Smith 68-72) List and explain one or more main feature(s) of the Hindu approach to cosmology (literally: the ordering of the world, universe, creation). One Hindu concept of cosmetology is Lila.
Hindus believe that the world was created by brahman. They believe that the world is timeless. And that the world is created and destroyed like our souls. 8) (Smith 68-72 and elsewhere in the chapter) Explain in detail one or more of the main divisions between jnana transpersonal God and bhakti yoga personal God (either on the conduct of life, the doctrine of God, the issue of salvation, or in the realm of cosmology).
In Bhakti yoga when you worship you are given salvation from god. Bhakti is the most popular and practiced yoga. Jnana is knowledge and the goal is to connect with brahman. One the did that then they get salvation.
