RLG205H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Vanaprastha, Brahmacharya, Four Noble Truths
Document Summary
Renunciaion is typical of many religions but especially insigniicant in ancient india. Characterized as what is disincive in south asian religions. Centrality that is unmatched in any region of the world. Renouncing in the literal defninion means to give up. In the vadic world the ritual life is given up: posiive. Bodily and mental pracices: the aim of sannyasa(the act of renouncing) is to free the individual from duies so they can devote themselves to god. Renouncers wander in the ciies: associated with buddhism and jainism, did have a community within monasteries, buddhists had insituions. Historical background of late vedic society (everything above is in the late vedic society) Development (urbanizaion: ciies began to appear, kingdoms began to appear in the central gangan plains. Stone weights were created in the 6th century. By the 7th century there were 16 major tribal kingdoms. Shramana are the ones who relinguish family ies and all other possesions.
