Introduction To Hindu Dharma - Selected Wisdom: Recent Episodes
SriRam
Introduction to Hindu Dharma consists of selections from more than 6500 discourses of Kanchi Sankaracharya. It covers the topics of prayer and virtue, metaphysical truth & the conflict between traditional Hindu Dharma and modernity. A sage in the Sankara tradition, Paramacharya was one of the most beloved & honored spiritual figures of the 20th century in India and much of Asia and Europe. This book has the distinction of introducing both Paramacharya and his spiritual legacy to the Western world in the form of an irreplaceable introduction to Hinduism. Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara
This series starts with an episode on Jagadguru Shri Adi Shankaracharya. Hope you enjoy listening to the episode. If you would like to support this project of mine please click on the link. Appreciate your gesture.🙏🏻🙏🏻. Patreon.com/SriramIyer
Shri Arvind Sharma of McGill University gives an introduction to the book and also analyses why the Jagadguru had made statements; their importance. He also compares the stand taken by both H H Shri Paramacharya and Mahatma Gandhi on social reforms.
This episode consists of the following:
NYAYA ( SCIENCE OF REASONING) : Rational Way to Know God; We Need All Types of Knowledge.
DHARMASASTRA (SCRIPTURE ON CODE OF CONDUCT : Realizing the Ideals of the Puranas: Freedom and Discipline
PURANAS ( TRADITIONAL STORIES) : Magnifying Glass of the Vedas ;Itihasas (Two Great Epics) and Puranas (Traditional Stories); Paradise or the Path of Atmajnana (Self-realization); The Epics and their Greatness; Why Differences among the Gods?
THE FORTY SAMSKARAS (ACTION THAT PURIFY): Samskaras (Actions that Purify); The Eight Qualities (Gunas) ; Gunas in Practical life ; Samskaras Performed by Parent ; Why not all Samskaras for All?
This episode consists of the following:
THE STATE AND RELIGION:
- True Secularism
- Responsibilities of the State in Elevating the People's Mind
- Limitations of the Role of the State in Matters of Religion
- Independent Body of Representatives of All Religions
- Religious Leaders Should Not Involve Themselves in Politics
- What the Government Gains by Nurturing Religion.
SELECTED WISDOM
This episode consists of the following:
THE VEDIC RELIGION AND VARNA (CASTE) DHARMA :What is Varna (Caste) Dharma?; Divided by Work but Still of One Heart; Why Only in This Country ; The Conflict between Tradition and Modernity; The Least Expected of Brahmins; Preserving the Vedas: Why it Is a Lifetime Mission ; My Work
THE SASTRAS: The Cure for the Disease Called Modern Civilization; Religion and Society; Neither too much Ease nor too many Comforts; Sastra or Conscience
This Episode consists of the following:
MARRIAGE: For the Practice of Dharma; Make Marriages Simple
GRUHST-ASRAMA (HOUSEHOLDER STAGE OF LIFE): Gruhasta (Householder), Gruhini (Wife of the Householder); Can a New Brahmin Caste be Created?; Aupasana (Daily Rites with Sacrificial Fire) and Women; Sacrifices
VARNA (CASTE) DHARMA FOR UNIVERSAL WELL - BEING:Jatis (Sub-Division of Caste) - Why so many Differences?; Innate Quality and Vocation by Birth; Vocations according to Guna (Character and Natural Inclination) - not in Practice; A wrong Notion about Brahmins ; The Eternal Religion; The Fourth Varna (Sudras) has Its Own Advantages; Removal of the Ego; Cry "Grow" - Don't Cry "Perish"
This episode consists of the following:
BRAHMACARYASRAMA (STUDENT BACHELORHOOD)
- Upanayana (Leading a Child to the Guru)
- Qualities of a Brahmacarin (Student- Bachelor)
- Naishtika Brahmacarya (Lifelong Student - Bachelorhood) and Family Life
- Domestic Life and Carnal Desire
- The Brahmin must Keep his Body Pure
- Gayatri (Invocatory Prayer) and Sandhyavandana (Daily Prayer)
- What about Women?
- The High Status of our Women
The Preface to the book has been written by Michael Oren Fitzerald. He narrates the book and its content.
This episode consists of the following:
RELIGION IN GENERAL :Dharma alone Protects; Punya (Virtuous Action); The Purpose of Religion; To be a True Man; Devotion Common to all faiths; The Unity of Religions; Qualities of Religious Leaders
THE VEDIC RELIGION: INTRODUCTORY: The Religion without a name; Distinctive Features of Sanatana Dharma (External Code of Conduct); The Vedas, the Root of All; The Vedas in their Original Form
This episode consists of the following:
THE VEDAS :
- The Basic Texts of Hinduism: Our ignorance of them Eternal
- Sound and Creation (Sruti) Western Vedic Research
- Sound & Meaning Yajna or Sacrifice
- What is Advaita The Threefold Purpose of Yajna (Sacrifice)
- To Discover the One Truth The Upanishads
- The Brahmasutras (Basic Text for All Vedantic Schools) Veda & Vedanta: Are They Opposed to One Another?
- Upanishadic Commentary on the Nature of the Self What do the Vedas Teach Us?
- Essence of Upanishadic Teaching
Acknowledging the permission and the audio rights given to me for creating this Audio version of the book " Introduction to Hindu Dharma" by H H Jagadguru Shri Chandrasekrendara Saraswathi Swamigal and also a short narration on the contents.
This episode consists of the following:
DHARMAS COMMON TO ALL:
- How to Control the Mind
- Guru-Bhakti (Devotion to the Guru)
- Ahimsa (Non-Violence)
- Truthfulness
- To Serve Others Is to Feel Blessed
- Towards Mental Purity
- Fault - Finding
- Anger
- Are We worthy of Being Angry?
- Love and Sorrow
- Love
This episode consists of the following:
FROM ACTION TO THE ACTIONLESS STATE:
- Outward Karma - Inward Meditation
- How to Cultivate Character and Good Conduct
- What is the Meaning of Worldly Existence?
- Do we need Rituals?
- The Starting Point of Yoga