things are bad and can eventually kill us (like burning or pain caused from a sharp knife) to pleasure and things which help life continue. The next is wealth, fame, and power, and sucess. The next two are called "the path of renunciation". The first of the two is community and the second is what we really want which is to
be happy. Hindu's call this "liberation". "Liberation from everything that distances us from infinite being, infinite
awareness, and inifinite bliss." In order to attain this we must cleanse ourselves from our distractions, our wrongs, our personal desires, and look beneath all of that to our innerself. Hindu's talk about four paths to the ultimate goal. They call this potential of understanding the human is called "yoga". "Yoga is a
method of training designed to lead to integration or union." Each of the four paths are designed for four different types of people. You do not have to use each of the paths to achieve your goal yet
they say you should try each and do which suits you best.
The first is the "Way to God through Knowledge". This involves three different stages. The first is hearing and listening to sages and to the written scriptures. The second step is thinking which is meditating and coming up with ideas on life. As well as reflecting on your own life and life itself. The next is to understand the
ongoing self and the fact that the self does not die, the inner self is infinite, yet everything else is finite and will perish or leave. You must focus on what is infinite.
The next "Way to God" is "through Love". It is said that the strongest emotion is love so what better way to God then through love. The aim of this goal is "the yoga of love and devotion is to direct toward God the love that lies at the base of every heart." I like the passage in the book that talks about the mans love for his
wife to where he couldn't stand to miss her for even a day. She told him that if he would just focus that energy on God he would find Him very quickly. So he did just that. "First, as healthy love is out-going, the bhakta will reject all suggestions that the God one loves is oneself, even on'es deepest Self, and insist on
God's otherness." Basically stating to share your love with others and not focus on your needs but help others. The second goal in this is to adore God with every part of your soul, body, mind. Give everything to Him. Put God above all other things in your love levels.
Another is the "Way to God through Work". In this path you show God that you give all of your work for Him. You come to work everyday with the attitude that you are working for God. You give the gifts of your labor to God.
The last "Way to God" is "through Psychophysical Exercises". This path is for the scientific and experimentally minded. It involves doing experiments on yourself rather than on Earth like typical sciences would have you do. This talks about the self as having four layers. The first layer of course is our body. Second is our
mind. Third is the conscious layer of our minds. Which is furthered by the subconscious that is being aware of something at an unaware level, another words it's in the brain yet not recognized yet. In this path their are eight steps to it's attainment. the first and second are common to all four "yogas" "Step one involves
the practice of abstentions, step two, the five observances (cleanliness, contentment, self-control, studiousness, and contemplation of the divine)". Step three is to keep the body focused on the mind and not on the body. Step four is to control your breathing. Step five is to get to a point where you are not bothered by anything, for instance in the text it talks about a wife not hearing what her husband said yet the sound waves were picked up
in the ear. So in other words get to a point where you can cause yourself to purposefully not hear other things. The sixth step is to be alone in the mind. The seventh is to focus on a singular object until it takes over the persons entire attention until step eight when the object vanishes and you are realizing that since it
is finite it will decay and go away yet you remain in your infinite state.
Hindus view life as getting to know what they truly are. They feel that is their whole entire purpose is to know the inner self and know God. They feel that their is only one God and you can get to
God through their path or any of the other religious paths their are. They feel different religions are their to suffice for the different people groups their are, races, age, geographical
location, and etc. They feel that everyone has their place in life and some are given more benefit then others yet you should still always make the best out of whats given to you. For those in leadership roles should not lead people under them astray, hence they are disciplined more severely then those would be for the same
penalties that are below them in caste. They feel that all Hindus and etc. should go about their path to find God no matter what. They feel that all being and things have a place in this world and that we are not alone in universallness. They believe that their is a heaven earth and a hell earth which we go through in our different
lifetimes. One must continue their goal for attainment to move up in the different earth levels. At least this is what I understand of it all.