<p>The thesis shows in its historical introduction, that a serious split had developed in the Indian Religious Tradition between the actions necessary for achieving religious liberation (moksa) and the actions necessary for fulfilling the individual caste duty. The central. The central theme of the thesis is that the Bhagavad Gītā and in particular its central theme, karma-yoga, or action done with non-attachment to its results, establishes a new synthesis of action and meaning for the tradition.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

<p>No Abstract Included.</p> / Master of Arts (MA)

This essay explores ISKCON’s religious text A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, the Bhagavad Gita As It Is, as an American scripture. This commentary expressed a philosophy which attracted ISKCON’s American converts and gave voice to the protest they had against the larger American culture. Using Thomas Tweed’s theory of dissent, I show how the Bhagavad Gita As It Is gave the American converts of the 1960s and 1970s a language of dissent in the larger American conversation and allowed them to create an alternative American identity. In this way, the Bhagavad Gita is an American text.

In The Theology of Râmânuja, John Braisted Carman carefully examines the south Asian philosopher Râmânuja’s concepts of the Supreme Person, and the relational dynamics between the Supreme Person and the devotee. Carman sees in Râmânuja’s discussion of the master (úesî)/servant (úesa) relationship the most important understandings concerning the hierarchy between the Supreme Person and the devotee. Carmen argues that in this devotional relationship there is a point at which the distinction between the master and the servant is dissolved, and mutual dependence is revealed. This paper focuses on the point where the roles in the relationship between the divine and the devotee are reversed. In this reversal the master takes on the role of the servant and the servant the master. It is argued here that this role reversal is the action that illuminates the ultimate dissolution of the hierarchy that Râmânuja recognizes and results in spiritual empowerment for the devotee.

In The Theology of Râmânuja, John Braisted Carman carefully examines the south Asian philosopher Râmânuja’s concepts of the Supreme Person, and the relational dynamics between the Supreme Person and the devotee. Carman sees in Râmânuja’s discussion of the master (úesî)/servant (úesa) relationship the most important understandings concerning the hierarchy between the Supreme Person and the devotee. Carmen argues that in this devotional relationship there is a point at which the distinction between the master and the servant is dissolved, and mutual dependence is revealed. This paper focuses on the point where the roles in the relationship between the divine and the devotee are reversed. In this reversal the master takes on the role of the servant and the servant the master. It is argued here that this role reversal is the action that illuminates the ultimate dissolution of the hierarchy that Râmânuja recognizes and results in spiritual empowerment for the devotee.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T18:14:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rafael Giardini Lenzi.pdf: 1494429 bytes, checksum: 55a3d4eb4107b7e0f274a6b49fb760e8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-07-07 / Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo / From the existential conflict between I vs False ego, as enunciated by ancient mythology, this work investigates the interpretation s possibility of this duality nowadays. This way it is examined on these two temporal contexts the conflict between the man element, or even his soul, often designed as I, and his false ego, or false perception of himself. It starts with the analysis of an antiquity s literary source whose narrative explicitly shows this topic, the Bhagavad-Gita, and sequentially it is taken as object a mediatic verbal-visual-spatial text of the present time, the graphic novel Ramayan 3392 AD. By exploring this question on the first text it is aimed to identify it in the graphic novel, therefore examining the theme s continuity, which according to this point of view is originated in antiquity and kept in nowadays media. Thus it is looked forward to prove this interpretation s possibility in mediatic texts, to prove how this opposition can be considered a connection between different mythologies; and to analyze how the duality is structured at the present times, through comic books research. As important points are considered the changes that occur in the value of sacred, whose investment is existent in the ancient mythology connected to religiosity, but not in comic books generality, not explicitly at least. As theoretical basis to this problematic s analysis on the study corpus, it is used the referential of Greimas discursive semiotics and its development on Landowski s socio-semiotics, while for observations regarding mythologies, beyond these semioticists works and others , it is mainly taken this question s approach by Cassirer. It can be pointed that there is dissolution of the value of sacred, represented in ancient mythology by emphasis and detailing of the mystical and religious theme, while the subject hero s characterization by a duty is kept, in a way that the mystical religious value becomes an ethical value in the nowadays text, being kept in both texts the modalization by should as invariable. Furthermore, mediatic texts bring a differentiated appeal to sensible experience, through plastic components, which alongside with the verbal plane add another meaning s dimension to the narrative; a meaning that is also considered from the ancient text s prescription concerning the existential conflict examined, leading to the formation of a chromatic schematization connected to this opposition. As conclusions it is obtained a possible interpretation of the euphoric subjects as attached to cognitive instances, and of the dysphoric subject as associated to the somatic actancial instance precisely, in an assemblage constitutive of a single macro-subject. From myth to media rises the main change which is the passage from the direct holy s revelation to the detachment of aesthesic sensibility as key piece on the subject s formation. This mechanism allows the sensibility s perception as responsible for making feel the new proposition of the existential conflict that is undeniably of all times / A partir do conflito existencial definido como Eu vs Falso ego, conforme enunciado pela mitologia da antiguidade, este trabalho investiga a possibilidade de interpretação desta dualidade em textos midiáticos da atualidade. Desta forma, examina-se nestes dois contextos temporais o confronto entre o elemento homem, ou mesmo sua alma, frequentemente denominado Eu, e seu falso ego, ou falsa percepção de si mesmo. Parte-se da análise de uma fonte literária da antiguidade cuja narrativa apresenta explicitamente este tópico, o Bhagavad-Gita, e em seguida toma-se como objeto um texto midiático verbi-visual-espacial atual, a história em quadrinhos Ramayan 3392 AD. Explorando esta questão na primeira obra, busca-se identificá-la na história em quadrinhos, abordando assim a continuidade do tema, que de acordo com este ponto de vista surge na antiguidade e se mantém nas mitologias e mídias atuais. Procura-se então provar a possibilidade dessa interpretação nos textos midiáticos, provar como esta oposição pode ser considerada uma conexão entre as diferentes mitologias; e analisar como a dualidade é estruturada na atualidade, por meio da pesquisa sobre histórias em quadrinhos. Como ponto importante são consideradas as alterações que ocorrem no valor sacralizador, cujo investimento é presente na mitologia antiga ligada à religiosidade, mas não nas histórias em quadrinhos em sua generalidade, ao menos não de forma explícita. Como base teórica para as análises dessa problemática nos objetos do corpus de estudo é utilizado o referencial da semiótica discursiva de Greimas e o seu desenvolvimento na sociossemiótica de Landowski, enquanto para observações referentes a mitologias, além dos estudos desses e de outros semioticistas, é tomada a abordagem desta questão por Cassirer, principalmente. Pode-se apontar que há a dissolução do valor sagrado, representado na mitologia antiga pelo enfoque e detalhamento do tema místico e religioso, enquanto é mantida a caracterização do sujeito herói por um dever, de forma que o dever místico religioso passa a ser um dever ético no texto atual, sendo em ambos os textos a modalização por dever mantida como invariável. Além disso, os textos midiáticos trazem um apelo diferenciado à experiência sensível, por meio dos componentes plásticos, que junto ao plano verbal conferem outra dimensão de significação à narrativa; significação esta que é considerada também a partir da prescrição do texto antigo em relação ao conflito existencial abordado, levando à formação de uma esquematização cromática ligada a essa oposição. Como conclusões obtém-se uma interpretação possível dos sujeitos eufóricos como ligados às instâncias cognitivas, e do sujeito disfórico como associado à instância actancial somática propriamente, em um conjunto constituidor de um macrossujeito único. A principal alteração que emerge do mito na mídia é a passagem da revelação direta do sagrado ao destacamento da sensibilidade estésica como peça chave na constituição do sujeito. Esse mecanismo possibilita a percepção da sensibilidade como responsável por fazer sentir a nova proposição do confronto existencial que é incontestavelmente de todos os tempos

本論文以印度奧修大師( Osho Rajneesh )針對現代人生活方式所設計的「動態靜心」修練為對象，探討現代人實踐莫克夏( moksha )身心體驗之成效性與可行性。本文從印度經典《薄伽梵歌》來討論莫克夏的概念，試圖歸納出達到莫克夏的歷程，並指出莫克夏背後的印度解脫思想。本研究並以親身體驗的方式探討奧修動態靜心是否有助於體驗《薄伽梵歌》中所描述之moksha。 筆者獨自前往印度進行為期七日之「動態靜心禁語閉關」，並藉由自我民族誌研究法( auto-ethnography )呈現筆者意識轉化的歷程及莫克夏之身心體驗對於日常生活的轉變與影響。筆者透過自身的參與，來企圖了解自我意識於該活動之中的變化，討論靜心活動中所體驗到的身心轉化經驗，以及回歸日常生活之後的影響。 / This research probes into the effectiveness and feasibility of experiencing “moksha” through practicing the “Dynamic Meditations” originally designed by Osho Rajneesh. Through the exploration of “Bhagavad Gita”, one is able to understand the process of realizing moksha and the viewpoints of the ancient Indian wisdom of liberation. A self-experience approach is used in this study to better understand whether the dynamic meditations help to experience moksha depicted in “Bhagavad Gita” . This research uses auto-ethnography to explore the process of the transformation of my consciousness through a seven-day silent dynamic meditation retreat in Pune India. I try to understand the changes of my consciousness through my actual participation, analyzing the transformation of the body-mind experiences and the effects on my everyday life.

《薄伽梵歌》是以婆羅門教為主、廣納與修改印度流行的宗教修行方式與觀念、且重新解釋吠陀傳統的新婆羅門教，此一「新」讓婆羅門教不再只是遵循吠陀傳統、以婆羅門為中心的宗教，而是以種姓制度內所有人為本、以專意向著Krsna為本、使凡人都能得到解脫的「印度教」。 文中將從《薄伽梵歌》的基本 – karma為始，首先瞭解《薄伽梵歌》中的karma為何，其次是《薄伽梵歌》不斷強調的dharma(種姓職責)，第三是karma的細部分類 – guna，第四是《薄伽梵歌》將印度宗教修行方法統合至一的瑜伽。 從上可見得《薄伽梵歌》如何回應西元前七世紀到西元後三世紀婆羅門教面臨的問題，包括佛教與耆那教的產生、種姓制度的嚴峻與瓦解。 / Bhagavad Gita is based, in the main , on Brahmanism. However, as an important Hindu scripture, it synthesizes yet remodifies the previous religious practices and thoughts. It is neo-Brahmanism in a sense that it reconstructs the Vedic tradition. However, the Gita does not totally succumb to the authority of the Veda and Brahmanic orthodoxy. On the one hand, it addresses to the general audience under caste system; on the other hand, it declares that any devotee of Krsna, irrespective of the position in caste system, has the chance to attain moksa. The first part of the thesis is on the meaning of karma in the Gita. The second part is on dharma, or rather svadharma. The third part is on the details classification of karma, that is , the idea of guna. The last part is on the encompassing idea of yoga in the Gita which embodies different yogin traditions. The above description also gives us an idea that from the 7th century BCE to the 3rd century AD Brahmanism faced many troubles within and without. Among others, the dissemination of Buddhism, Jainism and the rigor as well as possible disintegration of the caste system pose formidable challenges.

This dissertation is a missiological evaluation of the challenges presented to Christian faith by reincarnation. Owing to the far-reaching theological implications of reincarnation, I have made use of an analytical grid to structure the research. It consists of seven sections, namely God, anthropology, ethics, hamartiology, soteriology, theodicy and history. This grid has been used to examine reincarnation as espoused in the Bhagavad-Gita (chapter 2) , as propounded by the well-known Hindu Swamis Vivekananda and Prabhupada (chapter 3) , and in the responses of four Christian theologians (Geddes MacGregor, John Hick, Vishal Mangalwadi and Edmond Robillard) to reincarnation (chapter 4) . There are many individuals within Western society who are attracted to reincarnation. My concern is to evaluate whether the Christian church can incorporate reincarnation in its religious worldview. In chapter 5, I give an evaluation of this question from a Reformed theological perspective. / Hierdie verhandeling is 'n missiologiese beoordeling van die uitdagings wat die leerstelling van reinkarnasie aan die Christelike geloof hied. As gevolg van die verreikende implikasies van reinkarnasie, gebruik ek 'n analitiese raamwerk om vorm te gee aan die· ondersoek. Hierdie raamwerk bestaan uit sewe onderafdelings, naamlik die beskouings oor God, mens, etiek, sonde, verlossing, teodisee en geskiedenis. Hierdie raamwerk word gebruik om die leerstelling van n!inkarnasie te ondersoek soos wat dit aan die orde kom in die Bhagavad-Gita (hoofstuk 2), in die geskrifte van die twee bekende Swamis Vivekananda en Prabhupada (hoofstuk 3) , en in die reaksies van vier Christenteoloe (Geddes MacGregor, John Hick, Vishal Mangalwadi en Edmond Robillard) op reinkarnasie (hoofstuk 4). Daar is heelwat mense in die Westerse samelewing wat aangetrokke is tot reinkarnasie. My vraagstelling is om te evalueer of die Christelike kerk re'inkarnasie in sy godsdienstige wereldbeeld kan opneem. In hoqfstuk 5, gee ek 'n beoordeling van hierdie vraag uit 'n Gereformeerde teologiese gesigspunt. / Christian,Spirituality, Church History and Missiology / M.Th. (Missiology)

<p>Vårt syfte med denna uppsats var att studera varför människor väljer att ansluta sig till två olika nya religiösa rörelser, Hare Krishna-rörelsen respektive Scientologikyrkan. Dessa två rörelser skiljer sig åt på flera olika sätt. Det mest tydliga är att Hare Krishna-rörelsen har en gudsbild (monistisk) till skillnad från Scientologikyrkan som istället tror på ett högre väsen, en personlig gud.</p><p>Vår utgångspunkt är antagandet att den nya tidens samhälle har skapat en större strävan efter individualitet och att samhällets medborgare söker efter tydlighet och enkelhet både vad gäller ledarskap och tro. Vi antar dessutom att samhällets sekularisering och den förändring som skett med tanke på skolans undervisning inom ämnet religion leder till en större nyfikenhet och till ett större intresse för nya religiösa rörelser.</p><p>Uppsatsen grundar sig på åtta djupintervjuer, med fyra medlemmar från Hare Krishna-rörelsen och fyra från Scientologikyrkan. Vi har även använt oss av litteraturstudier för att skapa en grund för vår undersökning. Resultatet visar att behovsuppfyllande var en återkommande orsak till anslutning och vidare att intervjuobjektens behov var skiftande.</p>