Integrations of Dharma and Moksha: New Syntheses

 

1.      Two Major Syntheses: Ashramadharma and the Bhagavadgita

a.       Two principle ideals in the Laws of Manu: social life should be organized into well-regulated classes (varnas); individual life should definite stages (ashramas) = Varnashramadharma

a.       The Four Ashramas:

                                                   i.      Brahmacarya – studenthood.  Study of Vedas.  Lasting about 12 years after initiation (upanayana).  Education in home of preceptor, ritual skills, in exchange for service to teacher.  Terminates with marriage.

                                                 ii.      Grhastya – householder.  Devoted to enjoyment of life, duties of care for family, acquisition of artha. When cil are adults, temples graying.

                                                iii.      Vanaprasthya – life in the forest. Hand over  worldly affairs to sons.  With wife.  Devote oneself to moksha.

                                               iv.      Sanyasa – world renunciation.  Life of homeless ascetic, possesses nothing, desires nothing but liberation

b.      The Bhagavadgita

                                                   i.      The great war of the Mahabharata

                                                 ii.      Arjuna’s dilemma

1.      Dharma violated – to kill or not to kill

2.      Action (in the world) vs. non-action (renunciation, sanyasa)

                                                iii.      Krishna’s counsel

1.      Nishkamakarma: Action without attachment to the fruits of one’s actions

2.      No karma accrued

3.      Live in the world and move toward moksha

2.      The ongoing debate

c.       Heterodox Traditions: Buddhism

                                                   i.      Siddhartha and the burning house

                                                 ii.      Jaratkaru and his supended ancestors