Unit+I+Module+1+Hinduism

= Module 1: Hinduism and Indian Philosophy =

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Hinduism and Indian Philosophy **Is Hinduism a religion?** **What are the major themes of Hinduism?**


 * Mandatory activities**:
 * Read God of New Things “by Pankaj Mishra and respond to the discussion forum.
 * Define the following terms: karma, moksha, dharma, samsara and respond to the discussion forum.
 * Read the short version of the Ramayana and answer the questions. When done please respond to the prompt on the discussion forum. This should be a thoughtful response.
 * Read the selection from the Bahagavad Gita and respond on the discussion forum.
 * In written form (either on paper on electronically answer the two questions for the module.


 * Choice activities:**
 * Look up web resources on the Ramayana and post them to the wikipage on the Annotated Webography page. Be sure to annotate your links. Tell us what it is about and why we should look at this site.
 * Read the essay: The Religions of South Asia: A Historical Introduction and provide a response.
 * Look up web resources on the Bahagavad Gita that are appropriate for high school and post them on the Annotated Webography page.
 * Create a version of the Ramayana for younger children (3-4th grade). This can be in picture book form, webpage, comic book, etc.
 * Create a video of a scene from either the Ramayana or the Gita and upload it to youtube. Post the link on the Annotated Webography page.
 * Research the Reamker dance and post a video of it on the website on the Hinduism page. Explain what we are looking at.
 * Look up how the Ramayana influenced other countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, etc.
 * Read the Hinduism chapter from Huston Smith’s book //The World’s Religions//
 * Read the entire illustrated version of //Ramayana// or the prose version by Menon and compare it to other epics that you are familiar with (such as the Odyssey or the Illiad).
 * Research how Hinduism is evident in modern Indian film. Post your findings on the webpage on the Hinduism Page or create a new page.
 * Read the entire //Bahagavad Gita// and write a critique of the piece in the contemporary setting. Do you think that soldiers in Iraq should read this?
 * Create an illustrated version of the //Gita// that explains the purpose of the story.
 * Create a page on the wikispace that explains Karma, dharma, samsara, and moksha. See me to create the page.
 * Watch the movie //Groundhog Day// and write an essay explaining the way the movie captured the ideas of Hinduism (karma, dharma, samsara, moksha)
 * Investigate the languages of India including but no limited to: hindi, Punjabi, Sanskrit.
 * Research and catalog images of the //Ramayana// in Indian painting. Create a webpage that highlights the major parts of the story.
 * Interview an Indian-American who identifies themselves as Hindu and post the interview on the webpage (either written, audio, or video)
 * Go to a Hindu temple and interview some of the people or collect information.

Hinduism is the name that the west has given to the myrid of beliefs that abound in South Asia (now specifically in India). It is a complex and difficult religion to get your hands around.

I recommend reading the following reading "God of New Things" by Mishra. It does a good job of overviewing some of the complexity of these issues.



Please watch the following lecture on Hinduism: Part I: Background of Hinduism Part II: Intro to the idea of 'god' in Hinduism Part III: The Four Major Concepts of Hinduism media type="youtube" key="hWKePE8usA4" height="390" width="480"

Read the following shortened version of the Ramayana and answer the questions. You may turn them in electronically or in person.



Please read the following chapter from the Bahagavad Gita and answer the question in the discussion forum. You may turn them in electronically or in person.