World World ReligionsReligions

Mythology and Mythology and

Eastern ReligionsEastern Religions

PolytheismPolytheism

poly=manypoly=many Theos=godTheos=god

Polytheistic religions believe in more Polytheistic religions believe in more than one god. than one god.

Important Polytheistic Important Polytheistic TraditionsTraditions

MythologyMythology

HinduismHinduism

MythologyMythology

Mythology is the best Mythology is the best attempt of primitive attempt of primitive people to explain why people to explain why things are the way things are the way they are.they are.

Most mythology has Most mythology has more than one god.more than one god.

Persephone returning from the Underworld

MythologyMythology

All regions of the All regions of the world have sets of world have sets of myths that explain myths that explain things like the things like the creation of the creation of the world, the seasons, world, the seasons, the rising and the rising and setting of the sun setting of the sun and other and other phenomena in phenomena in nature.nature.

Greek MythologyGreek Mythology

Greek mythology is the collection of Greek mythology is the collection of stories used by the people of Greece stories used by the people of Greece to explain phenomena in the world to explain phenomena in the world around them.around them.

Roman MythologyRoman Mythology

The The Roman Roman Empire Empire adopted adopted the greek the greek system of system of Gods and Gods and changed changed their their names.names.

Greek Greek GodGod

Roman Roman GodGod

ZeusZeus JupiterJupiter King of godsKing of gods

AresAres MarsMars God of warGod of war

HermesHermes MercurMercuryy

Messenger godMessenger god

PoseidonPoseidon NeptunNeptunee

God of seasGod of seas

DemeterDemeter SaturnSaturn God of God of agricultureagriculture

AphroditAphroditee

VenusVenus Goddess of loveGoddess of love

HeraHera JunoJuno Queen of godsQueen of gods

HadesHades PlutoPluto God of God of underworldunderworld

The RenaissanceThe Renaissance

The European Renaissance began The European Renaissance began with the rediscovery of ancient greek with the rediscovery of ancient greek art, architecture and literature.art, architecture and literature.

The Renaissance helped Greek and The Renaissance helped Greek and Roman mythology become an Roman mythology become an important part of Western culture.important part of Western culture.

Mythology in Western Mythology in Western CultureCulture

Mythological Mythological figurefigure

Modern cultureModern culture

Nike of Nike of SamothraceSamothrace

Nike shoesNike shoes

Roman godsRoman gods Solar systemSolar system

CupidCupid Valentines DayValentines Day

AchillesAchilles Achilles heelAchilles heel

Amazon WomenAmazon Women Amazon RiverAmazon River

NarcissusNarcissus NarcissismNarcissism

Nike

Cupid

Amazon Woman

Norse MythologyNorse Mythology Some of our days of the Some of our days of the

week come from Norse week come from Norse mythologymythology

Wednesday: Named after Wednesday: Named after the Norse god Odinthe Norse god Odin

Thursday: Named after the Thursday: Named after the Norse god ThorNorse god Thor

Friday: Named after the Friday: Named after the Norse god FreyjaNorse god Freyja

Thor the god of thunder

HinduismHinduism

Hinduism is Hinduism is considered to be the considered to be the world’s oldest world’s oldest organized religion.organized religion.

It began in India It began in India where it is still the where it is still the dominant religion.dominant religion.

VishnuVishnu Vishnu-The supreme Vishnu-The supreme

God. All-Pervading God. All-Pervading essence of all beings, essence of all beings, the creator and the creator and destroyer of all destroyer of all existences, one who existences, one who supports, sustains and supports, sustains and governs the Universe governs the Universe and originates and and originates and develops all elements develops all elements within. within.

AvatarsAvatars

Vishnu is beyond the Vishnu is beyond the capability of humans to capability of humans to understand. It is understand. It is believed, however, that believed, however, that Vishnu has revealed Vishnu has revealed himself in a lower form himself in a lower form (human) several times. (human) several times. Hindus worship all of Hindus worship all of the people whom are the people whom are considered to be considered to be avatars of Vishnu. avatars of Vishnu.

A representation of ten avatars of Vishnu

KrishnaKrishna

The most famous of The most famous of the avatars of Vishnu.the avatars of Vishnu.

He is usually depicted He is usually depicted as a young cow-herd as a young cow-herd or philosopher-princeor philosopher-prince

He is the spokesman He is the spokesman in a famous book of in a famous book of Hindu scripture known Hindu scripture known as the Bhagavad Gita.as the Bhagavad Gita.

RamaRama Rama is the seventh Rama is the seventh

avatar of Vishnu. He avatar of Vishnu. He was thought to be a was thought to be a perfect man because perfect man because of his selflessness of his selflessness and courage. and courage.

He fought a great He fought a great battle against battle against Ravanah who had Ravanah who had captured his wife captured his wife Sita.Sita.

Rama and Sita

ReincarnationReincarnation

Reincarnation is the Reincarnation is the idea that one’s current idea that one’s current life situation is the life situation is the result (karma) of result (karma) of actions in past lives. If actions in past lives. If you are good in this you are good in this life, you will receive life, you will receive and better situation in and better situation in the next life and vice-the next life and vice-versa.versa.

Dharma and KarmaDharma and Karma

Karma literally means “actions.” Karma literally means “actions.” Hindus believe that whatever we do Hindus believe that whatever we do (good or bad) will come back to us in (good or bad) will come back to us in greater abundance than we gave it in greater abundance than we gave it in the first place. the first place.

Dharma is the way of living that will Dharma is the way of living that will insure good karma.insure good karma.

Ganges Ganges RiverRiver

The Ganges River is Considered by Hindus to be holy.

Bathing in the Ganges is a Hindu ritual.

Holy Cow!Holy Cow!

If all living things If all living things have a soul, then, it have a soul, then, it stands to reason that stands to reason that killing an animal killing an animal would be a terrible would be a terrible thing to do. thing to do.

Most Hindus are, therefore, vegetarian. Most Hindus are, therefore, vegetarian. Cows are especially sacred because of their Cows are especially sacred because of their usefullness (for work, fertilizer and dariy usefullness (for work, fertilizer and dariy products) and their gentle natures.products) and their gentle natures.

Salvation-mokshaSalvation-moksha

The end result of this progression of The end result of this progression of lives is to reach a state where the soul lives is to reach a state where the soul becomes dissatisfied with the becomes dissatisfied with the limits/passions of the body. The limits/passions of the body. The realization that true happiness is realization that true happiness is eternal, not temporal, ends the cycle of eternal, not temporal, ends the cycle of life and death (samsara). The soul is life and death (samsara). The soul is free of the body and becomes one with free of the body and becomes one with the universe like Vishnu and the other the universe like Vishnu and the other gods.gods.

YogaYoga

Originally, yoga was a Hindu Originally, yoga was a Hindu spiritual practice (dharma) to spiritual practice (dharma) to aid in improving the power of aid in improving the power of the mind to gain spiritual the mind to gain spiritual insights and overcome the insights and overcome the limitations of the body. limitations of the body.

Although most people in the Although most people in the West see it as a form of West see it as a form of exercise (Hatha yoga) it has exercise (Hatha yoga) it has no less than five major no less than five major branches each with a specific branches each with a specific purpose.purpose.

Hatha YogaHatha Yoga Hatha yoga has Hatha yoga has

several parts: several parts: 1-Asanas: 1-Asanas:

placing the body placing the body into different into different positionspositions

2-deep breathing 2-deep breathing

AsanasAsanas

Before yoga was used just as an Before yoga was used just as an exercise, it was used to condition the exercise, it was used to condition the body to be able to sit for a long time body to be able to sit for a long time without being distracted by pain.without being distracted by pain.

Deep breathing helps to clear the Deep breathing helps to clear the mind of extraneous thoughts so it mind of extraneous thoughts so it can focus on one thing.can focus on one thing.

Brain WavesBrain Waves

Delta-state of sleepDelta-state of sleep

Alpha-state of Alpha-state of relaxationrelaxation

Beta- normal brain Beta- normal brain activity; awake and activity; awake and awareaware

Gamma- state of Gamma- state of panic, anxiety or panic, anxiety or agitationagitation

India’s Caste SystemIndia’s Caste System

Some brilliant political leader of India Some brilliant political leader of India used the idea of reincarnation to keep used the idea of reincarnation to keep people from challenging the power of the people from challenging the power of the elite. elite.

By creating castes, India’s social classes By creating castes, India’s social classes were set for life. If a person wanted to were set for life. If a person wanted to move to a higher caste, they would have move to a higher caste, they would have to be obedient in this life in order to get a to be obedient in this life in order to get a better situation in the next.better situation in the next.

India’s Caste SystemIndia’s Caste System

RankRank Jobs/positionsJobs/positions

BrahminBrahmin Priests, philosophers, Priests, philosophers, teachersteachers

KshatriyaKshatriya Warriors and rulersWarriors and rulers

VaisyaVaisya Merchants and land Merchants and land ownersowners

SudraSudra Manual workerManual worker

Pariah (untouchables)Pariah (untouchables) Those who did Those who did unclean work.unclean work.

DaoismDaoism

Daoism is a Chinese Daoism is a Chinese religion/philosophy that has parts religion/philosophy that has parts that are like mythology and others that are like mythology and others that are like more organized religion.that are like more organized religion.

Historical Historical BackgroundBackground

Lao-tzuLao-tzu(570?-490? BC), Chinese (570?-490? BC), Chinese philosopher and reputed founder of philosopher and reputed founder of Taoism. He was born in the province Taoism. He was born in the province of Henan (Ho-nan) and was a court of Henan (Ho-nan) and was a court librarian. According to tradition, he is librarian. According to tradition, he is the author of the Tao-te Ching the author of the Tao-te Ching (Classic of the Way and Its Virtue), a (Classic of the Way and Its Virtue), a philosophical treatise. By far the philosophical treatise. By far the most translated Chinese literary most translated Chinese literary work, this small book has had an work, this small book has had an enormous influence on Chinese enormous influence on Chinese thought and culture. It teaches that thought and culture. It teaches that "the way" (tao) is realized through "the way" (tao) is realized through recognition and acceptance of recognition and acceptance of nothingness; that is, wisdom is nothingness; that is, wisdom is understanding that weakness truly understanding that weakness truly equals strength, that happiness equals strength, that happiness depends on disaster, and that depends on disaster, and that passivity is the greatest action. passivity is the greatest action. 

Herbal Medicine, Tai Chi, Meditation, Herbal Medicine, Tai Chi, Meditation, Feng Shui and Martial Arts are all Feng Shui and Martial Arts are all ways to access the energy that flows ways to access the energy that flows and directs to the ultimate realityand directs to the ultimate reality

  

Daoism comes from the Chinese Daoism comes from the Chinese word “dao” also pronounced “tao” word “dao” also pronounced “tao” which means which means

The WayThe Way

ChiChi

Many symbols and icons from Chinese culture are Many symbols and icons from Chinese culture are becoming increasingly recognizable to the West. becoming increasingly recognizable to the West. What most westerners do not realize, however, is What most westerners do not realize, however, is that there is one concept that ties all of these that there is one concept that ties all of these components of Chinese culture together. components of Chinese culture together.

That concept is “Chi” That concept is “Chi” Chi is the life force (energy) that permeates all Chi is the life force (energy) that permeates all

life. A major component of each aspect of life. A major component of each aspect of Chinese culture is to maintain a free and Chinese culture is to maintain a free and harmonious flow of chi. The yin/yang symbol harmonious flow of chi. The yin/yang symbol represents that good and bad energy continually represents that good and bad energy continually move and flow through all life. move and flow through all life.

Daoism and HealthDaoism and Health

Chinese medicine is Chinese medicine is grounded in the idea that grounded in the idea that there is a direct link there is a direct link between the spirit and between the spirit and the body. Physical the body. Physical ailments are physical ailments are physical manifestations of manifestations of spiritual problems. spiritual problems. Healing, then takes place Healing, then takes place from the inside out rather from the inside out rather than the outside in.than the outside in.

Pressure PointsPressure Points

When energy flow is When energy flow is trapped, sickness trapped, sickness and disease can and disease can occur.occur.

This pent up energy This pent up energy can be released by can be released by applying pressure or applying pressure or inserting needlesinserting needles

Pressure PointsPressure Points

To experience optimal To experience optimal health, spirit, energy or health, spirit, energy or chi flows through the chi flows through the body unencumbered. body unencumbered. Sickness occurs when Sickness occurs when the flow of chi is stopped. the flow of chi is stopped. There are certain points There are certain points where pressure can be where pressure can be applied or needles applied or needles inserted to free up the inserted to free up the flow of energy. Each of flow of energy. Each of these “pressure points” these “pressure points” is connected to one of is connected to one of the bodies organs or the bodies organs or functionsfunctions

AccupunctureAccupuncture Accupuncure is the Accupuncure is the

practice of inserting practice of inserting needles into certain needles into certain points of the body points of the body where energy can where energy can get backed up. The get backed up. The needles free up the needles free up the energy so that it can energy so that it can flow through the flow through the body.body.

Tai ChiTai Chi

It Tai Chi is the regulation of It Tai Chi is the regulation of energy through fluid body energy through fluid body movement. It is thought movement. It is thought that the movements of tai that the movements of tai chi move energy through chi move energy through the body in ways that the body in ways that contribute to health and contribute to health and productivity. productivity.

is a form of exercize that, is a form of exercize that, although the movements although the movements are slow and methodical, are slow and methodical, have the effect of an have the effect of an aerobic workout. aerobic workout.

Herbal MedicineHerbal Medicine

In addition to In addition to acupuncture, acupuncture, massage and direct massage and direct pressure, thousands pressure, thousands of years of of years of experimentation experimentation resulted in a complex resulted in a complex knowledge of plants knowledge of plants and their given and their given remediesremedies. .

Feng ShuiFeng ShuiWhereas tai chi and acupuncture regulate the flow of energy of the body, Feng Shui is the regulation of energy of the larger physical world

Feng Shui and YouFeng Shui and You

The bagua is often The bagua is often used as a tool to used as a tool to optimize the flow of optimize the flow of energy through a energy through a house or office. house or office.

The bagua is placed The bagua is placed over the floor plan over the floor plan to match the to match the sections of the sections of the bagua with the bagua with the rooms of the house. rooms of the house.

Harmony with NatureHarmony with Nature

Feng shui can be Feng shui can be used to design a used to design a house that house that maximizes its maximizes its function and the function and the flow of energyflow of energy

BuddhismBuddhism

Buddhism is a religion that began in Buddhism is a religion that began in India in about 400 B.C. India in about 400 B.C.

Siddhartha Siddhartha GautamaGautama

Siddhartha Gautama was a prince in a small Siddhartha Gautama was a prince in a small kingdom in Northern India/Nepal. Legend says kingdom in Northern India/Nepal. Legend says that he was prophesied to either become a great that he was prophesied to either become a great king or a great holy man. His father wanted him king or a great holy man. His father wanted him to become a great king so he shielded him from to become a great king so he shielded him from religious teachings or knowledge of human religious teachings or knowledge of human suffering.suffering.

At the age of 29 he went out to meet his subjects. At the age of 29 he went out to meet his subjects. His father tried to remove the old, sick or His father tried to remove the old, sick or disabled from Siddhartha’s view. After meeting disabled from Siddhartha’s view. After meeting an old man and learning that all people would an old man and learning that all people would die, he became curious and began to make many die, he became curious and began to make many trips to meet ordinary people. He became trips to meet ordinary people. He became convinced that wealth and luxury would not bring convinced that wealth and luxury would not bring happiness and left the palace to live as a beggar. happiness and left the palace to live as a beggar. After years of searching and meditation, it is After years of searching and meditation, it is claimed that he reached enlightenment after claimed that he reached enlightenment after forty-nine days of meditation.forty-nine days of meditation.

BuddaBudda Siddhartha became “Budda” Siddhartha became “Budda”

(awakened one) when he discovered (awakened one) when he discovered the middle path. The path is a the middle path. The path is a balance between luxury and self balance between luxury and self denial.denial.

He spent his life teaching the way to He spent his life teaching the way to enlightenment.enlightenment.

A budda is anyone has reached A budda is anyone has reached englightenment. This means that englightenment. This means that they have discovered the nature of they have discovered the nature of reality through spiritual cultivation, reality through spiritual cultivation, investigation of the various religions investigation of the various religions of the time and meditation. of the time and meditation.

Spread of BuddhismSpread of Buddhism

Buddhism and Shinto Buddhism and Shinto

DharmaDharma

The teachings or law as expounded by The teachings or law as expounded by the Buddha. Dharma also means the the Buddha. Dharma also means the law of nature based on behavior of a law of nature based on behavior of a person and its consequences to be person and its consequences to be experienced (action and reaction). It experienced (action and reaction). It can also (especially in Mahayana can also (especially in Mahayana Buddhism) connote the ultimate and Buddhism) connote the ultimate and sustaining Reality which is sustaining Reality which is inseverable from the Buddha. inseverable from the Buddha.

Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths

the noble truth that is suffering" the noble truth that is suffering" "the noble truth that is the arising of "the noble truth that is the arising of

suffering" suffering" "the noble truth that is the end of "the noble truth that is the end of

suffering" suffering" "the noble truth that is the way "the noble truth that is the way

leading to the end of suffering leading to the end of suffering

The Eightfold The Eightfold PathPath

Sila: abstaining from un-wholsome deeds of body and Sila: abstaining from un-wholsome deeds of body and speechspeech

Right speechRight speech Right actionsRight actions Right livelihoodRight livelihood

Samadhi: mastery of one’s mindSamadhi: mastery of one’s mind Right effort/exerciseRight effort/exercise Right mindfulnessRight mindfulness Right concentrationRight concentration

Prajna: the wisdom that purifies the mindPrajna: the wisdom that purifies the mind Right thoughtsRight thoughts Right understandingRight understanding

The Dharmacakra is a symbol of the eightFold path to enlightenment

Zen BuddhismZen Buddhism Zen is a sect of Zen is a sect of

Mahayana BuddhismMahayana Buddhism

It has had a large It has had a large influence on Japanese influence on Japanese culture because it has culture because it has a great deal in a great deal in common with Shinto; a common with Shinto; a religion that has a religion that has a strong emphasis on strong emphasis on nature.nature.

Zen BeliefsZen Beliefs

Practitioners of Zen seek to Practitioners of Zen seek to discover truth through discover truth through acceptance of the present acceptance of the present moment, spontaneous action moment, spontaneous action and resisting the urge to and resisting the urge to judge something as “good” or judge something as “good” or “bad”. “bad”.

Zen does not rely on scripture Zen does not rely on scripture but on experience and but on experience and meditation.meditation.

Zen and ArtZen and Art

Understanding of the Understanding of the true nature of a thing true nature of a thing means not only seeing means not only seeing what is obvious but also what is obvious but also what is not obvious or what is not obvious or present. present.

Asian art usually Asian art usually focuses on nature.focuses on nature.

If people are If people are present present in art, they in art, they are often are often very small very small to remind to remind of our of our insignificance.insignificance.

There is usually a There is usually a lot of lot of empty space.empty space.

Zen GardensZen Gardens

Zen gardens combine the Zen gardens combine the appreciation of nature and the action appreciation of nature and the action of caring for the garden.of caring for the garden.

Zen and Martial ArtsZen and Martial Arts Repetition of an Repetition of an

action to the point action to the point where a person where a person does not think does not think about the action about the action but merely reacts but merely reacts to some force is a to some force is a reason for a reason for a strong connection strong connection between Zen and between Zen and martial arts.martial arts.

Zen and Martial ArtsZen and Martial Arts

Most martial arts include the Zen Most martial arts include the Zen concept of using the energy of concept of using the energy of another for to one’s advantage. another for to one’s advantage.

Rather than meet force with force, Rather than meet force with force, the martial artist will move away the martial artist will move away from the force and help it alongfrom the force and help it along

Review of World ReligionsReview of World Religions

Religion by PopulationReligion by Population