Gandhi Shared Presentation

Here's a link to the presentation that you are all working on - Gandhi Presentation.

The handout for it is here - Gandhi Presentation Handout.

Your Hindu Gods - and Gandhi

First you presented your Hindu Gods and their potential to connect with "real world situations" for young people.

Then I introduced one of the most influential people in History, Mahatma Gandhi.  He was a Hindu.

Just read this - Oxygen on Earth about 700 million years earlier than we currently think.  An interesting article from CBC News Online.

The Hindu Gods

Today you'll be working either on your own computer or in the Library Lab or bank of 5 computers.

Your task is outlined on the Hindu Gods assignment sheet.

Here is the Hindu Gods Presentation to do your work in.

Hinduism and the Hindu Gods - Creation Story

We continued with the presentation on Hinduism from Friday.

Also, the Hindu Creation Story - let's have a look at the parts of it and how they related to culture, context and how they are similar or different from other creation stories . . . .

Before Time there was nothing.

But did God (Supreme Being) Brahman exist before time?  Yes.

Vishnu slept away peacefully in the coils of a cobra.  Cobra?  Cobras in India kill more people than any other animal - very powerful, and Vishnu would be safe in the coils of a cobra.

Slowly a sound started, it grew louder and filled up the emptiness.  The sound throbbed with energy and it drove the emptiness away.  BOOM!  Creation!  The sound was   oooooohhhhhhhmmmmmm...

The sound woke Vishnu and a lotus flower grew from his navel.  Brahma sat upon that lotus - he quietened the sound, stilled the waves and brought peace.

He started creating things - the earth, which was barren, was of no use, so he filled it with plants.  And he gave plants the ability to feel.

He then let living things evolve and the earth filled up with insects, birds, fish, mammals etc.

He had done it!  Brahma filled with earth with the glories of life!

There is only one God - Brahman.  In order for people to understand what "he's" up to he performs different tasks in the forms of different gods.  It's the only way we'll understand because our minds are so feeble compared to the power of Brahman.

Hinduism

We spent an enjoyable day discussing the origins and some of the inner workings of Hinduism in this introductory presentation on Hinduism.  We will continue on Monday.

I commend everyone in this class for your ability to stay engaged throughout our discussion even though it was Friday afternoon and it was very muggy and warm in the room.  Nicely done!

Glossary and Music

Here's the link to the Glossary of Terms (Vocab List) that you'll update remotely.

Next, find an example of a popular song with a spiritual or religious theme - it could be older, it doesn't necessarily have to be from current Top 40 lists.  Paste a link to the song and then paste the lyrics to the song and offer a brief interpretation of them into this Songs & Their Lyrics document.

And they we spent a fine day on Thursday viewing, listening and commenting on the connections to spirituality, religion and transcending the temporal world of these songs.  Nicely done!

Human Impulse Towards Spirituality cont'd

Bruce Cockburn, a famous Canadian singer-songwriter-guitarist, started us off with two songs that deal with our need to transcend ourselves . . .

Pacing the Cage  &   Lyrics
Wondering Where the Lions Are  &   Lyrics






Today you have this handout to help you think about why most humans are compelled towards some form of spirituality.  You will be working in pairs to fill up this editable document.

What came out of this discussion is the following which helps to address the main ideas about why humans see to be compelled towards some form of spirituality:

1. There is an evolutionary connection towards Spirituality:

- “group” thinking is beneficial - evolution favoured the power and wisdom of the group

- the group’s values were shared so they all “pulled in the same direction”

2. Humans are sooooo intelligent that we ask questions about our existence that are almost impossible to answer.

- Fear of the unknown prompts us to find out about those unknowns - we are curious.

- Seeking answers from higher powers, be they spiritual or wise people (ministers, shamans, scientists, rabbis) helps us to answer those difficult questions.

- Questions include:

- Is this all there is?

- What happens after we die?

- What should good behaviour be?

- How did this all start?

- What’s my place in all of this?

- Why should I be good?

- Can we know?

- Are we capable of knowing?

- Why is there suffering and what can we do about it?

- Is there a purpose to all of this?

3. We look for security within all of the unknowns of life.  Many find that in thinking beyond their own bodily needs, e.g. religion, meditation, community, education, family, authority, etc.

4. People seek happiness (a state of well-being, often through emotions from contentment & joy) and many find happiness when their needs are met. An example of several needs that most people have can be found within the theories of Maslow. Most of these needs are psychological, not physical.