WYSIWYG

What You See Is What You Get. This is a journal blog, an explore-blog, a bit of this and that blog. Sharing where the mood takes me. Perhaps it will take you too.

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YAM at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya
Have occasionally dropped in items about Hindu festivals here... most readers know I am a teacher (and ongoing student, for learning never stops!) of Vedanta, the philosophy which underpins Sanatana Dharma - and the whole of life everywhere actually. The relationship with my Beloved Yeshu has gained a breadth and depth it would never have had without the Knowledge gained in the past decade. There is no conversion in Hinduism; merely absorption and expansion of what exists already. Gradually, the tale of this journey will be told in the Mac Histories... yes I know they have been sporadic. The closer to 'now' they get, the more intense they become. There's a balance required.  One does at times question the purpose of writing one's story at all... then reading others' reminds that it is about finding things which might make a difference to some one. Somewhere. We read biographies because we want to know more about the person in focus, yes; but also because we want to compare our own lives and ponder how we would be in their situations - or whether we can live our own lives differently, perhaps inspired by what we read - or shocked and decide to change our ways, not to follow their fate!

Anyway, that's by the by. There may be a few readers who are curious about Hinduism in general. There is much within its scope. Sanatana Dharma is actually a way of life. As sometimes happens when one is thinking deeply on a subject, words or pictures appear, almost by magic,  which are related. So it is that I came across this video which was developed for teaching in sixth grade social studies in the USA. Of its type, it is one of the best I have seen. There are minor quibbles I could make with it, for it once or twice drops into stereotypical perceptions - there are even some Hindus who live up to the myth! However, it is really a very good little twenty minutes in which the basis and rationale are presented clearly and succinctly.

I do hope you will take the time to watch it and that, perhaps, a little increase of understanding will be gained.

9 comments:

  1. an open mind is like an open book - giving us the freedom to learn about what ever we want - we are off to watch the video - thank you for sharing

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  2. OK, we are gonna come back to watch it after we pop some popcorn. Mom likes biographical accounts.

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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    1. How interesting! Can't imagine all the work those priests put into such memorization! We appreciated a better understanding of the caste system too. The spiritual section was very interesting. Thought it was interesting that each individual selects their own day of worship and every home has a place of worship. Some lessons the rest of us can learn from and apply in our own religions! BTW, we never did get any popcorn . . . just sayin'.

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    2. Hari OM
      Dekhto-ki tum, dhanyavaad... thank you for watching! As you will eventually read here, memorising is key to Sanskrit... and this brahmacharini had her greatest ever battle! (Meno blog is a direct result of that time...)

      Vedantically, my main quibble is with the portion on caste, as there was an opportunity here to totally correct a lot of misunderstanting... then again, many Indians are themselves caught up in the incorrect application of the system; it is a case of the priest class (brahmins) appropriating scripture to their own ends... it was hinted at in the film by the fact that 'caste' became hereditary. In fact, no matter one's birth, one comes with a 'colour of mind'. In Sanskrit the word is Vurna, which translates as 'caste' in the sense of how a bronze is caste or how one caste's a fishing line. In other words, each has their own particular strength of talent, be it for the learning (Brahmin), for business (Vaishnava), for strategy and sports (Kshatriya), for manual works such as farming or building (Shudra) or, as the world requires such folk, your lot is that without any of these talents, there is garbage collection, dealing with the more 'sour' aspects and tasks, thus becoming 'untouchable' (Dalit).

      Therefore, in truth, there is someone of each caste, potentially, in every family. You will know it as the 'bookworm', the entrepreneurial type, the college footballer, the one who prefers to be in their garden.... and the one who is somehow lost in direction and just goes from job to job, earning enough to eat and drink... or lands up on the dole. The societal structure exists the world over and although the West would like to say it is class-free....................

      The word for a personal god through which to worship is Deity (for example, other than Lord Jesus, I pray via Sri Rama)... which may have been mistaken for 'day'... however, that said, there is no single day assigned for spiritual matters.... ever hour of every day is a time of worship if one wishes it to be so.

      So sorry you didn't get your popcorn doodz!!! But sure am glad you felt the film was worth the watching.
      Much Love, hugs and wags, Yxx

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  3. How interesting. Mom is now reading a book on Buddhism. So many wonder life lessons to be found in places we'd not normally explore.

    Abby Lab

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  4. Hello, even in my late fifties I feel like a student. There is always something new to learn. Thanks for sharing, enjoy your day!

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  5. It's very interesting. Mum loves to watch historical video. Thank you for sharing this YAM-aunty!
    Hugs,
    Suri

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