PHIL 203: Social Ethics
September 11, 2006
Lessons from India
Raja Yoga
1)The primary text of Raja Yoga is called the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
2) Patanjali may have been a saint-sage, or maybe a group of sages. Estimates of the date of the Sutras range from 5,000 B.C. to 300 A.D. He did not "invent" Yoga, but rather, systematized and compiled oral versions.
3) Sutra means "thread" in Sanskrit (the threads of meaning through which our own beads/pearls of experience and insight are strung, linked).
4) There are 200 Sutras, traditionally divided into 4 sections:
a. a portion on contemplation (samadhi pada)- theory of Yoga; given as inspiration to the student beginning the practices.
b. a portion on practice (sadhana pada)- practical philosophy; 5 of the 8 traditional limbs of Raja Yoga are explained.
c. a portion on accomplishments (vibhuti pada)- discusses final 3 steps.
d. a portion on absoluteness (kaivalya pada)- metaphysics of Yoga.
5) From Book One
a. Sutra #2: Yoga is the control of [or: cessation of identifying with] the fluctuations arising from the mind.
b. Sutra #6: They [the 5 types of mind fluctuations] are right knowledge, misconception, verbal delusion, sleep, and memory.
c. Sutra #7: The sources of right knowledge are direct perception, inference, and scriptural testimony.
d. Sutra #14: Practice [which helps control mental fluctuations and consists of effort toward steadiness of mind] becomes firmly grounded when well attended to for a long time, without break and in all earnestness.
e. Sutra #27: The word expressive of the Supreme God is the mystic sound OM.
f. Sutra #31: Accompaniments to the mental distractions include distress, despair, trembling of the body, and disturbed breathing [bad health].
6) From Book Two
a. Sutra #1: Tapah [translated as: the hard, sweaty work of devotion, self-purification], study of spiritual books, and surrender to the Supreme Being constitute Yoga in practice.
b. Sutra #3: Ignorance, egoism, attachment, hatred, and clinging to bodily life [excess fear of death] are the five obstacles [to samadhi, or: contemplation, consciouness].
c. Sutra #16: Pain that has not yet come is avoidable.
d. Sutra #28: By the practice of the limbs of Yoga, the impurities dwindle away and there dawns the light of wisdom, leading to discriminative discernment.
e. Sutra #29: [8 limbs of yoga]
f. Sutra #30: Yama consists of nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence, and non-greed.
g. Sutra #31: These Great Vows are universal, not limited by class, place, time, or circumstance [ethics of social equality].
h. Sutra #32: Niyama consists of purity, contentment, and acceptance but not causing pain, study of spiritual books, and worship of God [self-surrender].
i. Sutra #46: Asana is a steady, comfortable posture.
j. Sutra #47: By lessening the natural tendency for restlessness and by meditating on the infinite, posture [asana] is mastered.
Karma Yoga
1) The word karma is derived from the Sanskrit kri, ?to do.? All action is karma, as well as the effects of all actions. In short: karma means work.
2) The heart gradually gets purified through good work, as in: doing good for others without attachment to the end, working ?without motive.?
3) Dharma and the Krishna?s lesson to Arjuna in the Bhaghavad Gita: ?Why do we work? Because we love the world. Works keep the world going.?
Jnana Yoga
1) Jnana is Sanskrit for knowledge, gnosis [in Greek].
2) Jnana Yoga, through study, self-study, and meditation, aims to answer the questions: what is real? What is reality? What is this universe? From what does it arise? Into what does it go? How do we know what we know?
3) Symbolism of the world, icons, signs on the horizon, the universe as university in and of itself.
Bhakti Yoga
1) Bhakti Yoga is the Path of Devotion. Bhakti means intense love for God.
2) Solomon's Song of Songs, in mystical Jewish, Christian, Sufi traditions.
3) Comparable to 'Agape' in Christian theology
Other social ethics terms:
1) Yoga=Union
2) Dharma=Duty
3) Artha=household stage of acquiring independence
4) Kama=pleasure
5) Moksha=Liberation, enlightenment (Kingdom of God)
[It is beleived that a life worht living--our goals then are to have acheived these four elements: Dharma (duty), Artha (a livlihood), Kama (pleasure). amd Moksha (enlightenment).
6) "Namaste" (Sanskrit) as Hindu greeting [Also, we shall learn the know the 'mudra' or hand position for this greeting].
Discussion Questions:
1) What aspects of Yoga, Hindu theologies, and the Vedas are helpful to you in formulating, cultivating your own codes of social ethics?
2) Which are familiar, similar to traditions, ethics you already know?
3) Which are startling, seem foreign?
4) How could threads of these philosophies be incorporated into your own work (medical field, business, education, law, community service)? Or into your own class project?
