Harmonizing Humanity

By Will Schulte

Did you know that all religions prior to Christ had a form of the Golden Rule? Did you know we are at the dawn of the Second Axial Age? Harmonizing Humanity explores how man's religious, historical, political, and economic practices and beliefs have united and divided us. Inequalities from the womb to the tomb because of race, gender, ethnicity, and social class has created disharmony. War divides us; 128 million soldiers and civilians have lost their lives in just the last century. Many organizations and individuals are working to dissolve the polarization in our human community. Solutions are being implemented to solve our daunting financial and social challenges. The vehicles for these changes are understanding, inclusion, bridging, and compassion. There is a new global awareness that is creating changes in our attitudes and behaviors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Will Schulte
• Release date: Dec 13, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301241422

Will Schulte

After thirty five years as an elementary and continuation high school teacher, I have turned to my love of writing. Teaching has influenced my writing by giving me a wealth of information about various perspectives, cultures, and religious beliefs. I have been married for forty one years to my wife Toni. We have three adult children, each a parent of a lovely daughter. My family has impacted my writing through their love and solving their difficulties in life. My first book, Villa of Chinchilla, is a fictional work written from a chinchilla's point of view. It was written after ten years in the chinchilla farm industry. My next project is writing a series of children's books tentatively named Animals Help Us. It is being written to help children solve their problems at home and at school.

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Harmonizing Humanity

By Will Schulte

Published by Will Schulte at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 Will Schulte

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase it or it was not purchased for your use only. Then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

PART 1 – UNDERSTANDING WHAT DIVIDES US

Chapter 1 – Our Purpose in Life and Religions

Chapter 2 – Christianity’s Effects on America and Scriptures

Chapter 3 – Our View of God Today

Chapter 4 – Women’s Equality in America

Chapter 5 – The Widening Gap in Economic Inequality

Chapter 6 – Ethnic Diversity in in America

Chapter 7 – Religion and Politics in America Today

Chapter 8 – Religion and Good Neighborliness

Chapter 9 – Religion and Discord

Chapter 10 – Bridging Our Differences

Chapter 11 – Man’s History and Diverse Cultures Have Caused Conflict

Chapter 12 – Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism

Chapter 13 – The Death Penalty

Chapter 14 – The United States and Unholy Alliances

PART 2: HARMONY WITHIN OURSELF, FAMILY, COMMUNITY, NATION, AND WORLD

Chapter 15 – Harmony within Ourselves

Chapter 16 – Harmony in the Family

Chapter 17 – Harmony in the Community

Chapter 18 – Harmony in the Nation and the World

Chapter 19 – Harmony through Inclusion and Compassion

Footnotes

Index

INTRODUCTION

The human mind appreciates music. We absorb the rhythms in the womb, even before we are born. At an early age babies are enamored by music although they do not fully understand or appreciate its complexity. It is only later, when we enter school, that we learn music has a melody and harmony. If more than one voice sings or instrument plays a different score from the melody, harmony is created. Harmony adorns the score with its difference from the melody. We gain a whole new understanding of music as a creation of a composition. Music appreciation leads to our playing musical instruments or singing in choirs. This experience gives us an exposure to the balance each part plays in the harmonic whole. We begin to listen to the various instruments and comprehend each one’s part in the composition. Some instruments play the melody in a rhythmic succession of tones in an aesthetic theme. At the same time other instruments play harmonies by playing different sets of notes from the melody, but enhance the piece still more into a broader sounding whole. In like manner as we listen or sing in choirs we distinguish differences between the various parts that are being sung. The sopranos and tenors usually sing the melody, but they sing the same series of notes in different octaves. Other voices, the alto, baritone, and bass sections sing their various parts with quite different parts in harmony with each other, thus creating a lovely sounding masterpiece. Knowledge of musical harmony leads to appreciating musical scores, orchestral performances, and musical entertainers.

Harmony in music is masterful and embellishing. Harmony among people is even more satisfying and necessary for loving families, enduring friendships, and cooperative relationships in the community, the nation, and the world. Our first lessons of harmony usually begin in our families. Some of us grew up in families that taught us to be harmonious. As we grew older we realized our needs could be quite different from our siblings and parents. Sibling rivalry often was the result of these differences. If our siblings were older, brighter, stronger, or more talented than ourselves, we would try to prove ourselves. Our perception of ourselves was formed by listening and believing the comments others said about us. Self-esteem can either drive us to improve or hinder us as we determine our place among others in our world. Our reaction to conflict and low self-esteem can cause us to choose to fight or try to resolve our differences in productive non–violent ways.

Traumatic events can happen to us. A death or severe injury of a family member causes discord within the family. A divorce or separation within our family is a cause of disharmony. Arguments and fights challenge family harmony. Drug or alcohol addiction is a leading cause of family disunity. A disease of a loved one or care of a relative with a terminal illness can put stresses and cause contention among family members. Our beliefs, sexual preference, or our choice of friends and partnerships are areas of family conflict.

In music the lack of harmony is dissonance or discord. We have all experienced times of dissonance in our lives. All religions support harmony. Religions teach us to be obedient to God’s laws and respect our parents’ and other authorities. We were instructed that when we followed these laws we would be rewarded with peace and serenity. If we disobeyed the Creator’s laws we were punished and felt discord with anger, guilt and shame. There were many times we followed all the rules, but still felt discontent. Relationships were difficult for many of us. We had a difficult time making friends and we felt different. Some of us were less humorous and articulate than our siblings and classmates.

We all need connections with others. Clubs that support our interests, gifts, and talents is one avenue to connect with others with those same interests. As youths Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4H, and other youth organizations taught us cooperation while learning enjoyable and sometimes challenging activities. Service to others is imbedded throughout these programs. As individuals achieve new levels of accomplishment or rank they are expected to help the younger members learn their skills and achieve their goals. Tolerance and acceptance of those that are different is ingrained into the groups’ consciousness. Service leads to completing individual projects that help other people and fulfill needs in our community. Service is another vehicle to harmony.

There were wonderful and inspiring leaders in our country during my high school years that promoted unity and harmony. John F. Kennedy spoke words that awakened my spirit, Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. Kennedy’s brother-in-law, Sergeant Shriver, was appointed to create the Peace Corps. People were being sent around the globe to aid others in need and improve their condition of life. Two of my nieces have been Peace Corps volunteers in Mali and Kazakhstan. Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. motivated many of us to not just speak of social justice, but to work towards equality in America. These people refined our social conscienceness. Social justice was being fought non-violently and it was working against deep-seated prejudice formed during our slavery days. The violence of the police, even the killing of innocent civil rights workers and volunteers, could not quell the fires of peaceful marches and legislation to follow. America began moving towards being more just and giving opportunities and access to more of our citizens.

War divides Americans and the world community. The Viet Nam War split Americans into two camps. One side could not comprehend why we were getting involved in a civil war in Southeast Asia. Diplomacy and negotiations, they felt, should be our foreign policy agenda. They loathed the loss of American lives and the devastating injuries incurred by so many soldiers. I was equally saddened and angered by the way so many supporters in the peace movement would be cruel and violent to our troops when they returned home. These troops were carrying out American foreign policy proposed and supported by our government. Non-violence was my stance, as it was in the civil rights movement. The other side supported the Viet Nam War believing in the Domino Theory. The theory contended if one Southeast Asian country fell to communism all Asian countries would fall. I wondered why we couldn’t solve this international dispute through private and joint negotiations among world leaders and within the United Nations? Today Americans are again divided over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. War creates fear, death and injury to many innocent people, as well as distrust, and cries of hatred toward the foreign interventionists.

My high school and college education reinforced the power of the pen is sharper than the sword. In college I found how affective the thoughts and actions of Mahatma Gandhi were. He achieved real change through non-violence. The writings of philosophers, successful leaders, and theologians were meaningful and useful to my epiphany of understanding how peace and harmony can be achieved even when an individual or a people are enduring catastrophic problems.

Americans are facing the worst political and economic down-turn since the Great Depression. Millions are out of work, can’t get interviews, and are losing hope. Many people have lost their homes or are about to. Our leaders are in a polarized battle for influence. There is divisive competition among our political parties and even within them. Economic disparity has widened every year for decades. Religious denominations and social agencies have fallen short in helping all those in need when more cooperation is imperative. Our citizens need help and our agencies and legislative bodies appear unresponsive.

This book is written like a conductor leading an orchestra. The conductor does not play any of the music, but leads the musicians to exhibit their talents through group harmony and solos. Likewise I am displaying the superb writings of experts in their fields to support my ideas on harmony. Many writers have influenced this book and I will share their thoughts with you. There were many major contributors to this book. Robert Putnam and David Campbell’s American Grace – How Religion Divides and Unites Us as well as Paul Froese and Christopher Bader’s America’s Four Gods – What We Say about God & What That Says About Us were invaluable in contributing needed information and statistics used in his work about our beliefs and their effects on Americans. Rachel Maddow’s Drift influenced and supports my views on American foreign policy and its development. Karen Armstrong’s writing and her Compassion Project gives us some direction towards achieving harmony here and abroad. Father Tom Bonacci supplied me with information about various religions and the Interfaith Peace Project which supports and creates peace in our communities. The articulate writings and beliefs of spiritual writers like Dwayne Dyer, Gary Zukav, and Father Joseph Girone, Karen Armstrong, and Father Gregory Boyle have molded my thoughts with inspirational solutions. I encourage you to read their books. As a social scientist, I will explore human cultures, belief systems created in those cultures, and our history and political decisions contributing to this scene of disharmony. I present some people and organizations accomplishing marvelous services today to harmonize humanity. They are inspirational and encourage us to become more involved or expand upon their programs.

We will begin by looking at the competing views on the fundamental question: What is our purpose in life? That question is answered by many according to the religious tradition, if any, they were reared under. Since most of us believe in God, in order to understand and appreciate one another, we will view the major religions, their beliefs and practices, and how they have affected the thinking of their adherents. Cultures formed these belief systems through their view of the world, their understanding of the unknown, and through revelations. Our review will include philosophies that have shaped human thought. Since we are a melting-pot nation we need to look at the histories and cultures of the immigrants to America to understand contrasting cultural thinking. The colonial cultures to America disrupted the indigenous people who were here before us. What are their beliefs and what should we learn from them? Scripture, prophets, and church founders all brought various ideas and forms of worship to guide us in our earthly journey. The way we view God varies considerably among individuals and religious traditions. Agnostics and atheists have a different world view than theists that should be understood and appreciated. Some organizations and historical movements influenced and continue to direct our American government and activities.

I take a critical look at our religious, historical, political, economic and social systems to uncover areas where they have created disharmony. Our thinking has caused prejudices, self-righteousness, and closed-mindedness that inhibit harmony. The numerous facts and statistics I present are meant to inform and support the need for reform and improvement. Our leaders have occasionally made some terrible mistakes which need to be reconciled. If we see why and how we got to these polarizing positions we can make corrections. This book’s goal is to bring people together to discuss our world’s problems and find solutions to them. We are an international community needing all of us to work together harmoniously.

We can achieve harmony in our families, our community, the nation, and the world despite these most challenging differences. The first part of Harmonizing Humanity is spent on understanding and appreciating our many and complex differences. The second part of the book deals with issues and possible solutions. Our diversity can be used to become more harmonious if we humbly see that we all have something to offer and contribute. Religious and social bridging are useful and necessary solutions that have already been instituted in areas of our country and abroad. Expansion of bridging between church denominations, social institutions, and community organizations will build a network of relief to the marginalized and promote social justice. Inclusion of all individuals regardless of race, sex, economic class, or religious tradition is imperative. We all should be involved in decision making and have access to equal opportunity if we are to achieve true unity. Finally, and primary to achieving harmony, is compassion. How can we become more compassionate and create a more compassionate world? Understanding, bridging, inclusion, and compassion are our foundations for harmonizing humanity.

Part 1 - Understanding What Divides Us

CHAPTER 1 OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE AND.RELIGIONS

To discuss harmony in our lives we first have to determine our purpose. Our purpose colors the way we see ourselves, perceive our difficulties, and how we should solve our challenges in life. Purpose is our compass, directing us and aligning us. It informs us whether we are on course. Determining our purpose answers the age old question, Why am I here?

One approach to purpose is called, The Ego-Directed. Wayne Dyer, in his book Real Magic explains this approach as seeing achievement, outcomes, and success as the goal. The person who is directed by ego sees material possessions, status, and position in life as important. The ego-directed person views others as either higher or lower than themselves. They measure that by their status and worldly possessions. This view motivates people to climb the ladder to success. It also means if you lose status, position, or possessions you become less than. Ego-directed people see competition as important to determine one’s position or status. They believe they have control of life and if they lose control, they are failures. Outcomes can be measured and calculated both presently and in the future.

The other approach to purpose is The Spiritual Approach as Dyer explains. This approach sees loving unconditionally and serving all people as life goals. The goal is to promote peace and prosperity for all. It is making contact with that part within ourselves that we know is there. These people go beyond outcome, success, and performance. Material possessions cease to dominate their lives, although they don’t disappear. They experience peace and serenity when they are divinely fulfilling their reason for being here. Wayne Dyer explains this approach and he believes our lives are a parenthesis in eternity. Our physical self can consider the concept that defies beginnings and ends, but cannot experience it directly. This must be left to the mind." 1 Eternity surrounds our lives. He goes on to say that everything exists for a reason as part of the perfect intelligence that is the universe. In the spiritual approach all the events of our lives are connected and are related to the next event. People come into our lives to fulfill our purpose, while at the same time we aid others in their purpose. The universe, according to the spiritual approach, is perfect and purposeful. Giving is more important than getting because it is aligned with our purpose. Tranquility comes to those using this approach because the concern is not about what is coming to them, but how they can help others. I write this book to help others to find peace and promote harmony. If I am aligned with my spirit, people will read this book.

The spiritual approach believes in a higher power, a power greater than us. For those who have difficulty with the concept God, think of it as good orderly direction. The spiritual approach believes since our lives are surrounded by eternity, the Creator of the universe made all things. God made us. He gave our spirits, our souls or minds, an earthly existence to improve it. We have a purpose to fulfill God’s reason for creating us. In short, our purpose is to do God’s Will. He wishes us to love one another and help each other in our life journey, also called our spiritual journey. Rick Warren, in his bestseller, The Purpose Driven Life writes, "His purpose for your life predates your conception. He planned it before you existed, without your input! You may choose your career, your spouse, your hobbies, and many parts of your life, but you don’t choose your purpose. The purpose of your life fits into a much larger, cosmic purpose that God has designed for eternity." 2 The Spiritual Approach also believes in the importance of conscience. We are to act responsibly and take actions according to the information we have. The Second Vatican Council in its Declaration of Religious Freedom declares,

We are bound to follow our conscience faithfully in all our activity, and that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to one’s conscience. Nor, on the other hand, is one to be restrained from acting in accordance with one’s conscience, especially in matters religious. 3

Our conscience is formed from our thoughts and information we have received during our lives. Our conscience reflects our soul’s purpose. The soul and mind are synonymous. Each person is given a soul or mind for our worldly faith journey. All souls are equal. They are our greatest spiritual gift from our Creator. Since I see all souls as equals, then I am not any better than anyone else. I have to listen to everyone because they are voicing their perspective according to their soul’s intent. If Gary Zukav is right, then we are all spiritual beings living a worldly journey to improve what our soul needs. We need to validate, not exclude, anyone’s opinions, ideas, and perspective, even if they are quite different from ours. Since all our bodies, cultures, and our life experiences vary, then our perspectives are going to be different from others’. Part of the Eternal Purpose for us, is to understand all perspectives even though they are different from ours. Each person’s soul is working out a different journey because their material body and its needs vary from all others’.

These two approaches are not mutually exclusive of one another. We may find ourselves acting out of ego on some issues, then change to a spiritual approach on other areas of our lives. Some of us have found that living for ego in any aspect of our lives is not living for our true purpose. We have attempted to transform our entire lives to live from a spiritual perspective.

Other Religions, Higher Power, and Purpose

Religion is one of the chief areas of our lives that either unite us or divide us in America. Religion is part of our culture and our history. Our belief systems were molded by our ancestors attempting to answer the deep questions of our existence, the creation of our world, our role in life, and our connection to all beings. History and culture played roles in the creation of our beliefs. We will look at them later to see how they affected our thinking towards others. Right now let’s just look at the major religions and philosophies that people hold as part of their belief systems.

To understand various perspectives about our purpose let us look what the major religions have to say about our purpose and a Higher Power. I am not a theologian. The information contained here is a short summary of different religions and philosophies from my research and experience. For the purpose of this book I am trying to point out the similarities of these various belief systems. This is not a complete list and I hope I do not over-simplify or misrepresent any of these religions or philosophies. I simply want to promote understanding and an appreciation of various religious and philosophical beliefs and dispel misunderstandings of some of these belief systems.

Atheists/Agnostics

Atheists are people who do not believe in God or a Higher Power. Agnostics are not sure if there is a Higher Power. Some of the most moral and caring people in my life are atheists or agnostics. They live ethical lives by following their conscience on moral issues. Their lives are lived with good orderly direction, even if they don’t believe in God or are not sure of such a supernatural being. They look to science and the orderliness of nature, the world, and the universe. Many atheists and agnostics are highly motivated by loving others. Faith is a gift; it is not acquired by everyone. I have worked with several people who can’t believe in a Higher Power because they have to see to believe. I know faith in a supernatural power is not logical for many individuals. They believe in natural phenomena. If their approach and purpose to life is to give unconditional love and to serve others instead of putting their needs ahead of others’ they are acting ethically, if not spiritually. If they are promoting peace, equality, and prosperity for all people, they have an ethical approach based on right and wrong formed by their conscience. Natural laws affect us and they are stronger than the ego. These people live according to their conscience. Atheists and agnostics can live ego driven lives if they put their concerns before others, if they see others not as equal to themselves, and outcome and status are more important to them than relationships.

The First Axial Age

Karl Jaspers was the first person to designate the axial age. Jaspers says that a set of circumstances for all men took place between 800 and 200 B.C.E. It was then that a spiritual process took place independently but simultaneously in China, India, and the West. The major religions of Hinduism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Jainism, and Judaism all arose during the First Axial Age. Karl Jaspers explains:

It was then that the man with whom we live today came into being. Let us designate this period as the axial age. Extraordinary events are crowded into this period. In China lived Confucius and Lao Tse, all the trends in Chinese philosophy arose…. In India it was the age of the Upanishads and of Buddha; as in China, all philosophical trends, including skepticism and materialism, sophistry and nihilism, were developed. In Iran Zarathustra put forward his challenging conception of the cosmic process as a struggle between good and evil; in Palestine prophets arose: Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Deutero-Isaiah; Greece produced Homer, the philosophers Parmenides, Heraclitus, Plato, the tragic poets, Thucydides and Archimedes. All the vast development of which these names are a mere intimation took place in those few centuries, independently and almost simultaneously in China, India, and the West…. 4

Karen Armstrong writes of the axial age and how all these cultures formed some form of the Golden Rule. Most of the great thinkers realized our concern must be for more than just one’s own people. They had to extend to the entire world:

…nearly all the Axial sages realized that you could not confine your benevolence to your own people: your concern must somehow extend to the entire world. In fact, when people started to limit their horizons and sympathies, it was another sign that the Axial Age was coming to a close…. As far as the Axial sages were concerned, respect for the sacred rights of all beings – not orthodox belief – was religion. If people behaved with kindness and generosity to their fellows, they could save the world. 5

The Golden Rule can be seen in all these religions. Judaism expresses it in Leviticus 19.18: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself. In Christianity Mathew, 7.12: "Whatever you wish others would do to you, do so to them." Islam expresses it in the Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 13: Not one of you is a believer until your love of others is what you love for yourself. Jainism in Sutrakritanga 1.11.33: One should wander about treating all creatures as you yourself would be treated. Confucianism in Mencius VII.A.4: Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to benevolence. Hinduism as said by Mahabharata in Anusasana Parva 113.8: "One should not behave toward others in a way which is disagreeable to oneself." Confucianism in Analects 15.23: Tsekung asked, ‘Is there one word that can serve as a principle of conduct for life?’ Confucius replied, ‘It is the word shu—reciprocity: Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you.’ Buddhism in Sutta Nipata 705: Just as I am so are they, just as they are so am I. In the African Traditional Religions they recite the Yoruba Proverb from Nigeria: "One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on themselves to feel how it hurts."

The Axial Age arose out of tribalism where tribal conscience was practiced. Love and concern for the group was supreme. Individualism evolved from this group conscience later. Armstrong says compassion is instinctive and it arises from our desire to be humane. Compassion comes from the two Latin words com which means with, and passio which is a deep commitment to people. The Axial Age arose out of a time with great trauma and war. Armstrong says that engaging trauma brings wisdom, but not justifying trauma. This great wisdom arose in the known world creating economic, social, and cultural evolution as well as the creation of new religions, philosophies, science, and democracy.

Taoism

Taoism is based on Tao which means path or way. The scriptures of this faith advise that the eternal Tao cannot actually be named. Tao is sublime Natural Order, one marked by effortless alternations of cycles (i.e. night and day or growth and decline) and an unconstrained, pervasive creativity that transcends impermanent expression. The Tao may best be described as The way the universe works. The Tao is sought only through the most yielding approach. To teach unity with it, one must put aside all that is artificial, strained, and unnatural. One must seek to develop a personal code from the naturally arising and spontaneous impulses of one’s nature. The ideal Taoist lifestyle is that of the farmer, seeking complete harmony with the patterns of nature. This approach is spiritual because the natural order of the world is stronger than one’s ego. Taoism’s nature-based teaching gave rise to a profound reverence for natural processes and a desire to retreat to the natural world. Taoism embraces life itself, expressed in health, long life, and even immortality. Thus, knowledge of the Tao was held to be a pathway to superior physical health and even transcendence of death. 6

Quotes from The Way of Lao-tzu:

I have three treasures. Guard and keep them.

The first is deep love,

The second is frugality,

And the third is not to dare to be ahead of the world.

Because of deep love, one is courageous.

Because of frugality, one is generous.

Because of not daring to be ahead of the world, one becomes the leader of the world.

The best [man] is like water.

Water is good; it benefits all things and does not compete with them

This is why it is so close to Tao. 7

Confucianism

Confucianism was first instituted by K’ung Fu-tse (Confucius). K’ung means master. His ideas have lasted two and a half millennia. Confucius was more interested in ethical and political matters than religious principles. The ideals of decorum and harmonious social interaction that he preached relied heavily on personal moral development and obedience to proper forms. He rejected the identification of himself as a sage. This did not prevent a cult of honor and ritual sacrifice from arising around his name and image some centuries after his death. Confucius has been called one of the most influential thinkers in human history.

Confucius identified five ethical relationships that transformed Chinese thought. He also profoundly influenced social systems in China and other Asian nations for centuries. In particular importance is the relationship between parents and children. Confucius taught the principle of jen, which states binding relationships are founded upon and made possible by a compassionate and humane approach that incorporates profound love. Confucius also taught li, the seamlessly proper conduct between parties. Jen expresses itself in Hsiao, attention to moral duties befitting a son or daughter. The fifth moral ideal in Confucianism is chun-tse, or moral purpose. Confucius’ six relationships are; 1) parent and child, 2) ruler and minister, 3) government officials, 4) husband and wife, 5) older siblings and younger siblings, and 6) friend and friend. Confucius never received prestigious appointments because he threatened the social order among the royalty. Confucianism has contributed in an important and distinctive way to moral and spiritual traditions of untold millions of people. Its emphasis on humaneness, tolerance, harmony, and duty are in keeping with the world’s great spiritual teaching.

Confucius taught five virtues a gentle man should practice for a healthy harmonious life:

Ren: the virtue of benevolence, charity, and humanity

Yi: honesty, uprightness, reciprocity, and considerate to others

Zhi: knowledge

Xin: faithfulness and integrity

Li: correct behavior, propriety, good manners, politeness, worship, ceremony 8

The superior man, when resting in safety, does not forget that danger may come. When in a state of security he does not forget the possibility of ruin. When all is orderly, he does not forget that disorder may come. Thus his person is not endangered and his States and all their clans are preserved. 9

Hinduism

Hinduism is not a uniformly organized system of philosophy or religion, but a rich and multi-faceted set of traditions from India, stretching back about 4,000 years. It is a diverse and complex amalgam of myths, mystical practices, exotic beliefs, spiritual disciplines, and ancient wisdom. Hindu philosophy is considered to be the oldest known philosophy. These ancient Vedic writings have spread throughout the globe. The Vedas consist of ancient hymns, ritual rules, and mystic teachings which have expanded, explained, revised, and reinterpreted across the ages. Hindu philosophy points consistently beyond struggles, to inner peace, and absolute consciousness. There is a blurry line between Hindu philosophy and Hindu religion. Hinduism has several central important points that give Hindu thought its distinctive character. Hindu philosophy puts an emphasis on renouncing the world in an attempt to achieve a transcendent state of being. This can be understood as a practical matter and as deeply spiritual, a way of understanding reality, and a mystical act of devotion. The point of this transcendent state is to gain knowledge and to experience a higher consciousness. In Hinduism the truth is literally a state of mind. Brahman is the name of transcendent, absolute reality in Hindu thought. Atman is the universal self, the absolute knower. Moksha is the freedom from human condition and cosmic unity, or we call it enlightenment. Maya is the illusory condition of everyday experience. Karma is the ongoing influence of past actions on the future. Early Vedas beliefs had conflicts of whether there was one god (monotheism), many gods (polytheism), or doubts about the existence of a god (agnosticism). The concept of Brahman went a long way to unify Hindu thought, both philosophically and religiously. The Upanishads, an important group of two hundred writings written about 900 B.C.E., developed ideas on Brahman. In these writings Brahman appears as a cosmic force containing all things, a unifying natural force that makes things what they are, and it is present everywhere and beyond all things. Brahman shifted emphasis away from gods, worship, and sacrifice, and toward ultimate reality, contemplation, and experience. To understand Brahman was to become immortal and free of all ordinary existence. That is Atman. The highest possible goal for a person was to break the barrier of maya and unite with Brahman and Atman. The idea of karma is that our past actions account for our present condition, and to a degree, our future situation as well. Our present actions will influence our future situation. The challenge to the Hindu is to live their current life; going to work and paying the bills, while also heading toward the cosmic absolute. They are aided by their ancient texts; Bhagavad-Gita and The Code of Manu.

A man in this world without learning is a beast in the field.

Dig your well before you are thirsty.

The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear