Educational blog for History classes at Holy Innocents' Episcopal School.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Blog Question #17
Listen to the "Ramayana" and comment on specific Hindu beliefs (concepts, truths, etc) that you hear. You can find it in the "Audio" section of the class page.
The duty of one to follow what his elders tell him are very key to Buddhism. The prince that rightfully should be king follows his (other mother?) and leaves the kingdom for 14 years. This is not right and so his half brother(whose mother wanted him to be king) decides to hold the throne in his brothers name. This is not the only key part in the tale, the idea that who of the brothers are inseparable because they are each a reincarnation of what I think is a god(I don't exactly remember). The ideas of duty to follow commands but also to the role of your life is a main point in this tale.
The main point that is stressed in the ramayana is that of dutifully carrying out ones dharma. Throughout the story, characters are depicted executing their dharam's even when their dharma leads them in difficult directions. For example, when the King's wife commands him to not pass the thrown to Rama, and to exile Rama as well, Rama calmly agrees to these demands because it is his dharma to obediently follow his father's wishes. Cita (Rama's wife) also dutifully follows her dharma when she agrees to follow her husband in to exile. Relating to the overall concept of carryout one's dharma, the Ramayana also stresses obeying one's elders in specific. For instance, when the sage appears before the King and requests that Rama help him destroy the demons, both the King and Rama respect their elders and agree, even though the mission is very dangerous.
I am a bit confused by your last two paragraphs. Can you clarify please. Is there one main point or two? Are the two main points that you appear to mention the same thing, or are the different.
Firstly, the Ramayana starts out mentioning that everyone knows his or her own place in society, therefore establishing a caste system similar to in Hinduism. Like Mary Catherine said, upholding one’s dharma is a very difficult task, which involves making hard decisions. Upholding one’s dharma is at the heart of Hinduism, and a very crucial part of the Ramayana. In Hinduism, if a person does good deeds and upholds their dharma, they will eventually connect their atman to the Brahman. In the story, Rama is a reincarnation of the god, and he acts very noble and kind, always doing what is right. After Rama is exiled, his brother finds him and begs for him to come back to the palace and rule, but Rama refuses. Even though it might seem like a good idea, Rama refuses to rule because it is his duty, his dharma, to keep his word and not return for 14 years. Rama’s wife also stays with him because it is her dharma to not leave him, and stay with him wherever he goes. Overall, this story shows how upholding one’s dharma is the most important thing, regardless of the circumstances.
The Ramayana begins by explaining the roles of each person in the world like a caste system. Like Annie and Mary Catherine said, it discusses the difficulty of completing your dharma in your lifetime. It is said that a person who carries out their dharma can connect their atman to the Brahman. It continues on to discuss Rama who refused the rule of king because he said it was his duty to do so for 14 years, his wife does the same because her dharma is to stay by his side. This is basically saying that achieving your dharma is the most important thing in the world, no matter what you have to do.
The Ramayana, the great hindu epic, emphasis is that one should carry out his/her dharma. Throughout the story of the king and his wife and his children, the must do specific things that sometimes they known that they have to do, but don't want to, but carry through with what they have to do because they known that they have to do it. They have to carry out their dharma in order to fulfill their role in the world and become closer to the end of their journey.
Ciel, Annie & Julia- nice responses, but can anybody give an answer beyond the scope of the question? It's not an essay...it's a blog. The question simply elicits discussion. Do you think that Rama is correct? Do you think uphold/completing your dharma is the most important thing?
The Ramayana is simply about fulfilling ones dharma diligently, no matter how painful it is. It is a tale that is told to show example, and to present role models to those it is told to.In many ways, its a lot like a sunday school story. It shows strong courageous people going through difficult times and doing the right thing no matter what simply because thats what they are supposed to do. A lot of parallels can be drawn between the Ramayana to the story of Jesus being betrayed and crucified. But anyways, back to the main question. The hinduism displayed in the story is simply that of the ideal hindu, which Rama exemplifies.
The ramayana is about fufilling one's dharma. it is about one's obligation to live their life the right way. the story sets an example for how people should act-by following their dharma. it exemplifies the idea that people just need to do what needs to be done. i think that the story correctly states that dharma is a persons most important thing to follow.
The Ramayana stresses doing ones dharma. Rama was exiled for 14 years by one of his half brothers mothers so one of his half brothers and wife went with him. Even after being asked to come back by his brother who is not king Rama honored his commitment to stay away for 14 years. The moral of this story is to honor ones commitment and do your dharma. This story shows how serious the hindu people were about their dharma.
At this beginning of the Ramayana, all the people in the caste system's duties were told. When Rama was born, his dharma was to kill Ravana, which he did. So yes, I think do one of the most important things to do is to complete your dharma. The main goal in Hinduism is to reunite the atman and brahman, like Annie said. To do this, one must do their dharma.
The Ramayana encourages the value of dharma. It wants people to walk away with the examples of what happens if you follow your dharma, even if it isn't your ideal choice.
The main purpose of the Ramayana was to put an emphasis on the importance of fulfilling one's Dharma. It was important, and most likely still is a big part of life to fill out one's dharma. They believe if it is not done right, than Karma will not be kind to you, and you will become further from finishing your cycle of Samsara. In Hindu life Samsara does not appeal to them as it does in a western mindset, A life that keeps on going and going? OH BOY! Samsara was not necessarily a pleasant thing in Hindu life. Basically my point is in a traditional Hindu mindset, that is the correct thing to do. In our american minds, that is in no way the ethical thing to do.
The beginning of the Ramayana talks about the caste system, which is very important in the Hindu religion and eventually shows/ gives the level of which type of dharma a person should have. In the Ramayana, the royal family completes a lot of different task that that they don't necessary want to do, but it will help them get closer to bringing their Atman to their Brahman. Bring the Atman (soul) to the Brahman (eternal life) is the main goal of Hinduism, so I think the story is relevant in trying to show the comparison of the importance of dharma in Hinduism.
The Ramayana simply suggests that a good person is going to fi-full your dharma, therefore ones atman can return to its Brahman. The story includes how Rama does not want to follow the King's rule, but he knows he must and he is determined to fu-fill his dharma, so he does it regardless of whether he wants to or not.
I do feel that the Rama is a correct story, so to speak, if one was discussing the rights and wrong of the religion.
The duty of one to follow what his elders tell him are very key to Buddhism. The prince that rightfully should be king follows his (other mother?) and leaves the kingdom for 14 years. This is not right and so his half brother(whose mother wanted him to be king) decides to hold the throne in his brothers name.
ReplyDeleteThis is not the only key part in the tale, the idea that who of the brothers are inseparable because they are each a reincarnation of what I think is a god(I don't exactly remember). The ideas of duty to follow commands but also to the role of your life is a main point in this tale.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThe main point that is stressed in the ramayana is that of dutifully carrying out ones dharma. Throughout the story, characters are depicted executing their dharam's even when their dharma leads them in difficult directions. For example, when the King's wife commands him to not pass the thrown to Rama, and to exile Rama as well, Rama calmly agrees to these demands because it is his dharma to obediently follow his father's wishes. Cita (Rama's wife) also dutifully follows her dharma when she agrees to follow her husband in to exile.
ReplyDeleteRelating to the overall concept of carryout one's dharma, the Ramayana also stresses obeying one's elders in specific. For instance, when the sage appears before the King and requests that Rama help him destroy the demons, both the King and Rama respect their elders and agree, even though the mission is very dangerous.
Tiernan-
ReplyDeleteI am a bit confused by your last two paragraphs. Can you clarify please.
Is there one main point or two? Are the two main points that you appear to mention the same thing, or are the different.
So MC....what is your point? One should carry out his/her dharma?
ReplyDeleteHow does this story differ from The Bhagavad Gita? Does it? why or why not?
Firstly, the Ramayana starts out mentioning that everyone knows his or her own place in society, therefore establishing a caste system similar to in Hinduism. Like Mary Catherine said, upholding one’s dharma is a very difficult task, which involves making hard decisions. Upholding one’s dharma is at the heart of Hinduism, and a very crucial part of the Ramayana. In Hinduism, if a person does good deeds and upholds their dharma, they will eventually connect their atman to the Brahman. In the story, Rama is a reincarnation of the god, and he acts very noble and kind, always doing what is right. After Rama is exiled, his brother finds him and begs for him to come back to the palace and rule, but Rama refuses. Even though it might seem like a good idea, Rama refuses to rule because it is his duty, his dharma, to keep his word and not return for 14 years. Rama’s wife also stays with him because it is her dharma to not leave him, and stay with him wherever he goes. Overall, this story shows how upholding one’s dharma is the most important thing, regardless of the circumstances.
ReplyDeleteThe Ramayana begins by explaining the roles of each person in the world like a caste system. Like Annie and Mary Catherine said, it discusses the difficulty of completing your dharma in your lifetime. It is said that a person who carries out their dharma can connect their atman to the Brahman. It continues on to discuss Rama who refused the rule of king because he said it was his duty to do so for 14 years, his wife does the same because her dharma is to stay by his side. This is basically saying that achieving your dharma is the most important thing in the world, no matter what you have to do.
ReplyDeleteThe Ramayana, the great hindu epic, emphasis is that one should carry out his/her dharma. Throughout the story of the king and his wife and his children, the must do specific things that sometimes they known that they have to do, but don't want to, but carry through with what they have to do because they known that they have to do it. They have to carry out their dharma in order to fulfill their role in the world and become closer to the end of their journey.
ReplyDeleteCiel, Annie & Julia- nice responses, but can anybody give an answer beyond the scope of the question? It's not an essay...it's a blog. The question simply elicits discussion. Do you think that Rama is correct? Do you think uphold/completing your dharma is the most important thing?
ReplyDeleteAnyone?
The Ramayana is simply about fulfilling ones dharma diligently, no matter how painful it is. It is a tale that is told to show example, and to present role models to those it is told to.In many ways, its a lot like a sunday school story. It shows strong courageous people going through difficult times and doing the right thing no matter what simply because thats what they are supposed to do. A lot of parallels can be drawn between the Ramayana to the story of Jesus being betrayed and crucified. But anyways, back to the main question. The hinduism displayed in the story is simply that of the ideal hindu, which Rama exemplifies.
ReplyDeleteThe ramayana is about fufilling one's dharma. it is about one's obligation to live their life the right way. the story sets an example for how people should act-by following their dharma. it exemplifies the idea that people just need to do what needs to be done. i think that the story correctly states that dharma is a persons most important thing to follow.
ReplyDeleteThe Ramayana stresses doing ones dharma. Rama was exiled for 14 years by one of his half brothers mothers so one of his half brothers and wife went with him. Even after being asked to come back by his brother who is not king Rama honored his commitment to stay away for 14 years. The moral of this story is to honor ones commitment and do your dharma. This story shows how serious the hindu people were about their dharma.
ReplyDeleteAt this beginning of the Ramayana, all the people in the caste system's duties were told. When Rama was born, his dharma was to kill Ravana, which he did. So yes, I think do one of the most important things to do is to complete your dharma. The main goal in Hinduism is to reunite the atman and brahman, like Annie said. To do this, one must do their dharma.
ReplyDeleteThe Ramayana encourages the value of dharma. It wants people to walk away with the examples of what happens if you follow your dharma, even if it isn't your ideal choice.
ReplyDeleteThe main purpose of the Ramayana was to put an emphasis on the importance of fulfilling one's Dharma. It was important, and most likely still is a big part of life to fill out one's dharma. They believe if it is not done right, than Karma will not be kind to you, and you will become further from finishing your cycle of Samsara. In Hindu life Samsara does not appeal to them as it does in a western mindset, A life that keeps on going and going? OH BOY! Samsara was not necessarily a pleasant thing in Hindu life. Basically my point is in a traditional Hindu mindset, that is the correct thing to do. In our american minds, that is in no way the ethical thing to do.
ReplyDeleteThe beginning of the Ramayana talks about the caste system, which is very important in the Hindu religion and eventually shows/ gives the level of which type of dharma a person should have. In the Ramayana, the royal family completes a lot of different task that that they don't necessary want to do, but it will help them get closer to bringing their Atman to their Brahman. Bring the Atman (soul) to the Brahman (eternal life) is the main goal of Hinduism, so I think the story is relevant in trying to show the comparison of the importance of dharma in Hinduism.
ReplyDeleteThe Ramayana simply suggests that a good person is going to fi-full your dharma, therefore ones atman can return to its Brahman. The story includes how Rama does not want to follow the King's rule, but he knows he must and he is determined to fu-fill his dharma, so he does it regardless of whether he wants to or not.
ReplyDeleteI do feel that the Rama is a correct story, so to speak, if one was discussing the rights and wrong of the religion.