Mythology II Ms. Dyer

Transcription

1 Mythology II Ms. Dyer

2 Explain what happens to the human self after death on this earth (plane / existence) Reflects Cultural Perceptions of this World Part of the Cycles of Nature suggesting a Return of whatever is lost & ultimately some kind of Restoration of Life (i.e. seasons, tides, paths of sun & moon) The Land of the Dead isn t necessarily pleasant or unpleasant bliss or suffering In the AfterLife, Individual Consciousness (Self / Soul) comes into its own as Part of a Larger Consciousness (All-Soul / World Soul) that Informs all things and all actions

3 Maat: a holy and ethical concept meaning truth, justice, righteousness, and order (personified in the Egyptian goddess Maat, beloved daughter of the sun god Re) achieved through a religious system in which the gods protected Egypt & held the forces of chaos, destruction, & misfortune at bay Apep or Apophis: the Egyptian serpent of chaos (sometimes depicted as a crocodile) that attacks the sun god s barque (boat) on his nightly journey through the underworld; called the Great Rebel or Evil One creating an interesting parallel to the Biblical serpent.

4 Karma: In Hinduism, the law of cause and effect which dictates that every action has consequences that influence how the soul will be reborn. This Indian concept, simply put, held that living a good life means the soul will be reborn into a higher state in its next incarnation. This on-going cycle of life-death-reincarnation continues until a person ultimately achieves spiritual perfection, at which point the soul enters a new level of existence called moksha ( release or salvation ) in which it is joined with Brahman, the divine godhead. Dharma: In Hinduism, the correct way of living, an all-inclusive sense of moral and spiritual duty with implications of truth & righteousness. Maintaining dharma is believed to bring rhythm to the natural world and order in society. Essential to maintaining dharma is a careful adherence to sacred religious observances & the social order and doing one s duty as defined by one s station. When dharma is not upheld, the result is uncertainty, natural disaster, and accidents what Star Wars would call a great disturbance in the Force.

5 Nirvana: In Buddhism, the concept of being peaceful and blessed that describes one s state of mind--a state without earthly desires, a state of perfection. By following a Middle Way/Path between the extremes of ascetic self-denial and sensuality, yet living in the world with compassion & by practicing the Noble Eightfold Path, nirvana can be reached. Noble Eightfold Path: Perfect understanding, or Knowledge of the truth Perfect aspiration, the intention to resist Perfect speech, or saying nothing to hurt others Perfect conduct through respecting life, morality, and property Perfect means of livelihood, or holding a job that does not injure others Perfect endeavor, striving to free the mind of evil Perfect mindfulness through controlling one s feelings and thoughts Perfect contemplation through the practice of proper forms of concentration

6 Guardian Spirit: Many African, Chinese & other ancestorworshipping cultures believe that the souls of their deceased ancestors serve as guardians & sources of wisdom for the living which some believe can be reborn into living things or in objects Fetishes: bones, carved statues, or unusual stones were thought to be inhabited by spirits & contain magical powers, but they were more closely associated with dead ancestors in African and other ancestor-worshipping cultures Totems: somewhat unique to Native Americans but similar to African fetishes, the totem is a symbol of a tribe, clan, or family imbued with spirit power & binds a human tribe to an animal species. The totem animal guards the tribe & in return, the tribe respects it and refuses to injure it for they are of one flesh.