revelation from gods throught the sages

texts- Sruti and Smriti

part of Sruti

four parts

first three- prayers and literature

fourth- mystical

revealed to rishis

means "sitting at the feet of the Vedas"

aka- Vedanta

philosphical and metaphysical data

first (and oldest) Veda

collection of prayer hymns in poetry

second Veda

sacrificial rites and rituals

third Veda

hymns to be sung (from Rig Veda)

rearranged to fit rituals

fourth Veda

ethical principles

sciences

"that which is remembered"

post Vedic religious and legal literature

oral transmission at first

canonical literature of human authorship

epic devotional literature

assorted genres of other texts

"not this, not this"

God is beyond words

"great"

enternal reality

god has signifiers but not qualities

god has no qualities

like an ocean without ripples

easier to concieve god as perfect person

like loving parent/understanding companion

God with human qualities

creator, sustainer, controller of existance

like an ocean with waves

famous mystic

said both views (god with and without qualities) are correct

transcendent (world dependent on god, he's not affected by it)

or personally involved

spatially (innumerable galaxies)

temporally (creation/return continues eternally)

end of one world

when Brahma goes to sleep

everyone gets what he deserves

future depends on past

Karmic law is moral and spiritual

the world is in between heaven and hell

mixture of opposites (ie. good and evil)

means "magic"

world appears to be independent, but it's not

infinite good

means "god's play"

god is actor playing infinite number of roles

god is cosmic dancer and everything is part of the dance

infinite good

heavenly and hells worlds

continual reincarnation until reincarnation

Night of Brahma

student

householder (married)

forrest dweller (retirement)

renunciate (sannyasin)

humans differ in sense of time and space

occupation per ability

Brahmin

Kshatnya

Vaishyas

Shudras

seers

highest caste

followers of routine

lack self-discipline

lowest caste

castes degerated over time

formed subcastes and untouchables

social prohibitions

priveleging higher castes

became hereditary

at root of jiva

luminous infinite center

at the root of your own soul is god

(is also Brahman)

process of growth

"quickly passing through"

jiva goes through different bodies

automatic until human level (free choice and effort)

sensory delights

social achievements

duty (responsibility toward people)

infinite and eternal good- liberation

absense of limitations

being at one with Atman/Brahman

ultimate goal