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The Nature of Life

The Nature of Life. How to live a holy life. How the religions see it. Sanctification (Judaism) Sin & Salvation (Christianity) Submission (Islam) What goes around comes around (karma & dharma) (Hinduism) The Four Noble Truths (Buddhism) Go with the flow (Taoism)

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The Nature of Life

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  1. The Nature of Life How to live a holy life

  2. How the religions see it • Sanctification (Judaism) • Sin & Salvation (Christianity) • Submission (Islam) • What goes around comes around (karma & dharma) (Hinduism) • The Four Noble Truths (Buddhism) • Go with the flow (Taoism) • Become more fully human (Confucianism) • Life in this world is an illusion

  3. Sanctification of Life: Judaism • Life as sacred • Purpose of life is to make this world a more holy place • Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) • Sin is to be avoided by following God’s law • Sin is to be atoned for through personal sacrifice/offering, correct the mistake

  4. Sin & Salvation: Christianity • The Fall & Original Sin • Inherently sinful nature of humanity (sin cannot be avoided) • Salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross (it is done for us) • Repentance (recognize one’s sinful nature and accept the sacrifice on your behalf)  • Sins are forgiven, our sinful nature is overcome

  5. Submission: Islam • Free will of man vs. God’s will • Submit to God’s will in this life • Build a society based on submission to God’s will  • Reward in the afterlife

  6. Karma & Dharma: Hinduism • Samsara: the cycles of birth-life-death-rebirth • Atman: the individual soul • Karma: law of cause and effect that leaves its mark on our soul and affects our rebirth • Dharma: the cosmic and social law, how to live righteously in this world to gain the best karma – the organization of life

  7. HinduismVarna: 4 castes, social duty • Priests & teachers • Nobles & warriors • Merchants and farmers • Servants & hired hands

  8. HinduismAshrama: 4 stages of life • Student • Householder • Retirement • Renunciation

  9. HinduismDharma: 4 goals of life • Pleasure • Success • Duty to society • Spiritual life

  10. The Four Noble Truths: Buddhism • Life involves suffering • The cause of suffering: self-centered desire • There is an end to suffering: Nirvana • The way to end suffering: the 8-fold path

  11. The Eight-fold Path: Wisdom: • Right understanding • Right motivation (think good thoughts) Morality: • Right speech (speak good words) • Right action (do good actions) • Right livelihood Mental Discipline: • Right effort • Right mindfulness • Right concentration

  12. Follow nature’s lead: Taoism • Tao: the “way” of nature • Humans are part of nature • Nature has a natural balance and harmony • Yin-Yang: harmony of opposites • Wei-wu-wei: “active non-action” go with the flow, do not interfere

  13. Become more fully human: Confucianism • Jen: human-heartedness/Benevolence • Reciprocity: the Golden Rule (do not do to others as you would not have others do to you) • The five constant relationships: • Husband & wife • Parent & child • Older & younger sibling • Older & younger friend • Ruler & subject

  14. Life in this world is an illusion • “Consciousness Only” school of Buddhism • Gnosticism • Christian Science, Unity & other “New Thought” religions • Vedanta Hinduism: • Maya = illusion (projection of the mind of god) • Lila = play, game (of the gods) • Avidya = ignorance (of our real existence) • Our real existence is not material Life is but a dream, all the world’s a stage

  15. Deep thinking questions • What similarities do you see amongst some of these ideas? • How would the belief that this world and life is an illusion affect how someone would live that life? • Your questions…

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