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SUMMARY:Hindu Ethics - Lessons From Dharma Sankatams In Vedic Texts
DESCRIPTION:INDICA welcomes you to Hindu Ethics – Lessons from Dharma Sankatams in Vedic Texts\, an online symposium planned on the 20th of August 2023.  \nIn the vast landscape of human thought\, few concepts have resonated as profoundly as the idea of Dharma. Emerging from the cultural and philosophical heritage of Bhāratavarṣa—a part of the world described in no less than sixty-three verses in the critical edition of the Mahābhārata and which encompasses all of today’s mainland India1—Dharma encompasses a deep understanding of ethical and moral principles that guide human actions and decisions.  \nDharma is of hoary antiquity: the string Dharma occurs at least 81 times2 in the Ṛgveda Saṃhitā\, widely regarded as the oldest amongst what UNESCO describes as the “first literary documents in the history of humankind.”3 At least as early as the pre-Buddhist Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad (BU)\, Dharma had already been explicitly elevated to a position where it was declared that “…there is nothing higher than Dharma.” {(Olivelle 2016:10); translation of तस्माद्धर्मात्परं नास्ति in BU 1.4.14}.  \nOver time and across texts4\, it has signified different things\, including but not limited to duty\, righteousness\, law\, and even the cosmic order that underpins the universe5. By way of just one example: James Fitzgerald has presented in a table titled Overview of the word Dharma in Mbh (Fitzgerald 2004:674) what he calls three senses of Dharma in the Mahābhārata (1. “Normative action that is beneficial to its agent after death” 2. “Abstract quality of correctness\, rightness\, goodness or justice” 3. “Universally good character attributes\, habits\, dispositions”) and corresponding anchoring translations and main supplements—six of them—namely law\, merit\, right\, just\, virtue and piety.  This complexity can be seen to mirror the multifaceted nature of human existence\, where individuals are bound by responsibilities to self\, society\, and the cosmos. Unlike rigid ethical systems\, Dharma is fluid and adaptive\, acknowledging the dynamic interplay between individual aspirations and societal norms. A defining aspect of Dharma is its universality. Resonating beyond cultures and epochs\, Dharma provides a transcendent framework for ethical considerations. Echoes of Dharma can be discerned in the Stoic philosophy of ancient Greece\, the Confucian teachings of China\, and the indigenous wisdom of diverse cultures. This universality speaks to the profound understanding of human nature within Dharma\, recognizing our capacity for both self-interest and compassion. The pursuit of Dharma is also often inherently tied to a pursuit of justice. The Bhagavadgītā\, a cornerstone of Hindu philosophy and a prominent milestone in philosophical thought across time\, presents Arjuna with a धर्मसंकटम्‌ (loosely\, an ethical dilemma)  on the battlefield – a conflict between his duty as a warrior to go to war for upholding Dharma (here\, justice) and his affection and respect for some of his familial elders and Guru-s. Arjuna’s turmoil mirrors our contemporary conflicts\, whether in professional\, familial\, or political realms. The lesson transcends mere dilemmas; it urges us to rise above biases and pressures\, championing what is right and just.  \nThe contemporary world\, shaped by technological advancement and cultural evolution\, presents numerous moral and ethical quandaries. In this landscape\, a steadfast commitment to carefully discern what Dharma is\, when faced with ethical dilemmas\, and then to strive to uphold it\, can provide the strength of purpose and a steady compass to navigate dilemmas. Studying Dharma-related dilemmas across time can also potentially result in the cultivation of an appreciation for the interconnectedness of life and an opportunity to refine one’s personal ethics.  \nRegister for INDICA’s online symposium Hindu Ethics – Lessons from Dharma Sankatams in Vedic Texts to hear from a diverse range of voices (see schedule below) as they reflect on धर्मसंकटम्‌ across a wide range of texts and present their distilled insights. \n\n\nSee verses 06010005 to 06010068 in Belvalkar (1947:45-59)\nSee Footnote 25 in Kalyanasundaram (2020:20) t.ly/sOIK4 \nNeelam Yadav sees at least five categories of meanings of Dharma in the Ṛgveda: स्वभाव\, विधि\, नियम\, यज्ञानुष्टान\, सदाचार या पुण्य कर्म. Yadav (2014:2)\nhttps://en.unesco.org/memoryoftheworld/registry/530\nFor a succinct and rigorous introductory survey of Dharma across texts\, See scholar Nityānanda Miśra’s recent twenty-minute video What is Dharma (धर्म) as per Sanātana texts? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mM3icQWsG4):\n00:50 Dharma in Vedic texts\n02:26 Dharma as per Vyākaraṇa\n04:18 Dharma as per Koṣas\n07:54 Dharma as per various commentaries\n08:32 Dharma as per Mīmāṃsā\n10:44 Dharma as per Vaiśeṣika\n12:35 Dharma in Itihāsas and Purāṇas \n14:47 Dharma sets humans apart from animals\n15:39 Dharma as per Manusmṛti\n17:58 A beautiful verse on Dharma\n20:40 Conclusion\nFor an easily-accessible emic perspective on the scope of Dharma\, in English\, see the section धर्मविस्तृतिः in Dharmawiki:    https://dharmawiki.org/index.php/Dharma_(%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83)\n\n\nReferences \nBelvalkar\, Shripad Krishna. 1947. The Bhīshmaparvan Being the Sixth Book of the Mahābhārata the Great Epic of India. Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute \nFitzgerald\, James L. 2004. “Dharma and Its Translation in the Mahābhārata.” Journal of Indian Philosophy 32 (5-6): 671–85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10781-004-8640-7 \nKalyanasundaram\, Megh. 2020. “The Earliest Textual Attestation of ‘Dharmaśāstra’ and More: An Analysis of Chronology in ‘a Dharma Reader.’” Academia. November 2020. \nhttps://www.academia.edu/44589423/The_earliest_textual_attestation_of_dharma%C5%9B%C4%81stra_and_more\n_An_analysis_of_chronology_in_A_Dharma_Reader_ \nOlivelle\, Patrick. 2016. A Dharma Reader Classical Indian Law. New York Columbia University Press \nYadav\, Neelam. 2014. धर्मशास्त्रीय न्यायिक प्रक्रिया. New Delhi: Chaukhambha \n###SCHEDULE###\n\n\n\n\n08:00\nMegh Kalyanasundaram\nDirector – Special Projects\, INDICA\nOn Dharma and Dilemmas: Some Thoughts\n\n\n08:15\nVishwa Adluri\nProfessor in the Philosophy Department at Hunter College\, New York\nDharma and Social Justice in the Mahabharata\n\n\n09:00\nAditi Banerjee\nAuthor\nEthics v. Morality: Lessons from the Itihaasa-s\n\n\n09:15\nMadhavi Kolhatkar Retired Professor\, Scholar\nDharmasankata: The Episode of Madhavi\n\n\n10:00\nRajnish Kumar Mishra  Professor\, Scholar\nShreya-Preya Axis of Dharmasankata: Eposides from the Arsha Kavya-s\n\n\n10:45\nDushyanth Sridhar Scholar\nDharma & Dharmasankata in Ramayana\n\n\n11:30\nSridhar Potaraju\nAdvocate on Record\, Supreme Court of India\nDharmasankata: Dilemma in Decision Making\n\n\n12:00\nNithin Sridhar\nDirector & Chief Curator of INDICA Center for Moksha Studies (Advaita Academy)\nDisentangling Arjuna’s Vishada: Gita’s solution to action-paralysis caused by Dharmasankata\n\n\n12:30\nAbhinav Agarwal\nAuthor\, Curator – INDICA Books\nThe Subtlety of Dharma\n\n\n13:00\nGV Shivakumar\nScholar-in-Residence and Consulting Editor for IndicA Today\nBheeshmacharya – A Life Full Of Dharmasankata\n\n\n13:30\nSrirama Chakradhar\nAuthor\, Thavaasmi\nConflict management in Ramayana\n\n\n14:00\nSrilakshmi Peddada\nVirtue Ethics and Law making\n\n\n14:30\nNagaraj Paturi\nSenior Director & Chief Curator\, INDICA\nEthical Dilemma discussions in Vedic Normative Ethiics\n\n\n\n 
URL:https://indica.events/event/hindu-ethics-lessons-from-dharma-sankatams-in-vedic-texts/
CATEGORIES:Symposiums
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