Lecture One: Vedic vs. Post-Vedic Flashcards
Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism all originate during what time period?
600-400 BCE
Top three characteristic to the Vedic worldview:
- Worldly Prosperity
- Heaven is the highest goal
- The householder ideal
The vedic worldview is based on the texts known as the
Vedas
The vedas are the most ancient hindu texts which include values such as
- Household rituals
- Focus on having sons
- Having wealth
- Doing one’s part to keeping a good agricultural season
- Having a job that is in line with one’s heritage
- Good overall worldly prosperity
In the vedic view, heaven is seen as a place of
earthly pleasures
The householder ideal is generally the
a man who marries, has children, provides for family and performs rituals for the gods
Why do we usually put “post-vedic” in scare quotes?
“Post-Vedic” doesn’t mean the movement to an entirely new worldview, but an extension to the vedic worldview that brings tension and contrast
The “post-vedic” worldview focuses on the avoidance of
worldly entrapment
The “post-vedic” view argues to avoid desiring worldly things because those enjoyments tie us up in which process?
cycle of rebirth
What are seen as the ultimate entrapment?
Children, as parents develop strong attachments to them.
In “post-vedic” worldviews, what is seen as the problem?
the world and the constant satisfaction of desires.
What is the highest goal of the “post-vedic” worldview, which replaces earthly paradise?
Moksa [mo-k-sha]
Moksa is said to be attainable by
rejecting desiring stuff, wanting children or other worldly things
The renunciate ideal is someone who
gives up his family, wealth, identity, in order to pursue Moksha single mindedly
The highest goal of Moksa is inconsistent with
everything else in society, but it is still the highest goal
