Religion in Post Modernism

The present topic is based on insight and understanding from the project that I am doing which is about Religious conversion.
I would like to address the questions which I have come across about human mind, Indian developing society, post modern world and religion.

In a post modern discourses a new challenges and questions have raised in significant concerns in understanding uniqueness of Human being (mind, behavior, spirituality and consciousness). Encounters with Religious converts have made me to think about the religion in relation to Post modern technological predominant society. It is been extremely influential interviews with converts, it is subjective and mystical experiences which I have tried explore with objectives of understanding the self or identity in relation to their religion.

Based on the theories, scientific works and experience of interviews I have understood that religion is institution or system which is still very powerful and influential system on human belief. Religious practices, rituals, spiritual experience of religion and conversion to new religion are subjective experience. In a Sociological perspective Religion is institution which as influences family, community, economy and politics of society. In a Psychological perspective religion is human belief, practicing religion or conversion might be symbolic but it involves human thoughts, feelings, and emotions which are based on individual reasons.
few examples which I have observed for conversion are like emotional bonding with  new community which are lacking in family, overcoming personal problems through new religious practices, changes in identity through class, and finally rationality.

Few cases have provided an insight even in Post Modern society which is totally based on scientific Inquiry Human beings still try to be rational through Religion, The inquiries to understanding self, or understanding of life or understanding of nature and supernatural is based on religion.
The immediate question raises is Why religion? Mr.Jose Peter who as worked on Malayari tribal community replied to the question with example of his study that a tribal community which is having settled cultivation looks for main stream religion for conversion through education from Christianity  for further development of economy and society.
My question gets complicated further that what is the differences in main stream religion and oriental beliefs? how does religion facilitate in development of Post modern society? what is religion in Post modern world?

I am assuming that Religion in Post modern world as an institution which makes Human life closer to nature, the reason behind this is teaching of Islam says to be simple, Christianity says to be rationale, Hinduism and Buddhism says to be natural and hold to nature.
But there is contradiction in current scenario and the above assumption, post modernism is more technology oriented and religious ideologies are opposite to it.
I will be taking this question further and try to understand with proper studies and experiences.

WHY DO WE LIGHT A LAMP?

In almost every Indian Home a lamp is lit daily before the altar of the Lord. In some houses it is lit at dawn, in some twice a day - at dawn and dusk and in few it is maintained continuously (akhanda deepa). All auspicious functions and moments like daily worship, rituals and festivals and even many social occasions like inaugurations commence with the lighting of the lamp, which is often maintained right through the occasion.

• Why do we light a lamp?

     Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness ignorance. The lord is the "Knowledge Principle" (Chaitanya) who is the source, the enlivener and the illuminator of all knowledge. Hence light is worshiped as the Lord Himself.

    Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Also knowledge is a lasting inner wealth by which all outer achievement can be accomplished. Hence we light the lmp to bow down to knowledge as greatest of all forms of wealth. Knowledge backs all our actions whether good or bad. We therefore keep a lamp lit during all auspicious occasions as a witness to our thoughts and actions.

   Why not light a bulb or tube light? That too would remove darkness. But the traditional oil lamp has a further spiritual significance. The oil or ghee in the lamp symbolizes our vaasanas or negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, the vaasanas get slowly exhausted and the ego too finally perishes. The flame of lamp always burns upwards. similarly we should acquire such knowledge as to take us towards higher ideals.

   A single lamp can light hundreds more just as a man of knowledge can give it to many more. The brilliance of the light does not diminish despite its repeated use to light many more lamps. So too knowledge does not lessen when shared with or imparted to others. On the contrary it increases in clarity and conviction on giving. it benefits the receiver and the giver.

• While lighting the lamp we pray:

Deepam jyothi parabramham

deepam sarva tamopahaha

Deepena saadhyate sarvam 

Sandhyaa deepo namostute.

I prostrate to the dawn/dusk lamp, whose light is the knowledge principle (The supreme Lord), which removes the darkness of ignorance and by which all can be achieved in life. 

Thus this custom contains a wealth of intellectual and spiritual meaning.

This is by Swamini Vimalananda and Radhika Krishnakumar from the book "Why do we...?"

How do you guys look at it...? Do you know any other significance  of why we light a lamp..? Do you accept with this concept...?

I feel it is some how related too much to philosophical means. and lacks scientific reasoning. But again as there is a saying "Where the reason ends, there the faith begins". Just like how I feel that there is no significant reason behind it. but then the day the lamps are not lit at my home, it feels some what dull and there is no energy and elegance at my house.

"Which else shall beautify a home, but the flame of a lovely lamp?

Which else shall adorn the mind, But the light of wisdom deep?"

~Swami Chinmayananda

 BHASKAR 

Areas to critically analysis

Hi
I would working on few topics and updating on the blog:

1) Mental set up of Rural India : covering up on cultural and community values and morals, thinking, feeling and cognitive aspects of Indian village in current scenario. Most of them would be based on Literature existing on rural Indian minds, personal observation on folk culture, interpretation of folk customs and traditions (specially Karnataka)

2) Changing Indian society: focusing on development of society, post-modernism and mental health, technology and Indian society, impact of westernization and globalization.

GETTING STARTED & DIRECTIONS

I have confusion regarding where to "start"? how to understand Indian thoughts and minds in present scenario of post Modern society? in regard to answer the question of what is Indian psyche? 
Major difficult I am facing is getting clear idea of vast and diverse India.

There are good enough sufficient literature available providing perspectives and valuable points explaining the Indian thoughts, as Kumar's (2008) chapter on "Indian thought and tradition: A Psychohistorical perspective", which provides comprehensive idea and characteristics of Indian psyche from various perspectives. which as follows
        1)  Geographically Bharata Kanda, the aryans to dravidians, racial differences from north to south, east to west of India, consisting of various 2000 caste and communities, 40 native languages, rituals and cultures.
        2) Ramanujan's first question of "is there indian way of thinking" which is fundamental question on who are Indians,
        3) Lannoy (1971), he outstanding characteristic of a primitive society is its sense of the unity of all life, the sense of solidarity and emotional sympathy- hylozoistic thinking, George mathew- concept of holistic psychology or oriental psychology is based on the theory of guṇas (sattva, rajas, and tamas). 
        4) Swami Ajaya (1983), unitive thought is different from “unitive consciousness” also known as “pure consciousness” or Brahman/Ātman in Indian tradition.
     5) Kakar’s (1996) Indian Psyche from Freudian perspective is another instance of such an approach.
      6) Thomas, (2001)- the four Vedas; 108 principal Upaniṣads; the six orthodox systems--Pūrva-Mīmāṃsa, Uttara Mīmāṃsa (Vedānta),  Sāṁkhya, Yoga, Nyāya, and Vaiśeṣika; the two heterodox systems -- Jainism and Buddhism; Dharma Śāstra, Gṛhya Sūtras, Purāṇas, Rāmāyaṇa, Mahābhārata, Āyurveda  samhitās and others are the repertoire of indigenous knowledge and constitute indigenous psychologies. These are the Wundt’s “mental products”, created by our ancient seers and sages, which serve as valuable lenses to understand the Indian psyche.

Given the template of western psychology of folk or indigenous psychology which are very commonly used to describe Indian thought in recent days and also the above different socio-political and psychological perspectives which have explained the Indian thoughts and traditions in different frame works throwing light on various aspects of Indian mental set up, but the question which is needed to raised is does they provide a comprehensive picture in one single frame work. There are very less perspectives been developed considering the modern society of India, thus I have an issue where how to understand the modern Indian civilized man (thinking and traditions) in context of globalization and westernization.

Thus I try to get opinions from people through mail survey, get an opinions what they think about Indian psyche. and how to understand the Post modern Indian psyche with context of westernization and globalization where still few indian tradition and ritual exists and prevails.

I am providing Link below for providing your opinions for the understanding Indian psyche

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/gform?key=0AhdzQdDpi6BndFVnVHZRbnotZG9rU2lMSU5HaFFKSHc&hl=en#edit

Will be glad to have your opinions and support

regards

MY QUESTION of What is Indian Psychology?

 What do we call as Indian psychology? this was the question I asked to Dr.Anand C Paranjape, who spoke about vedic philosophy and psychology in National conference of clinical psychology in Pune.

He replied:-it is important and good question, but it is difficult question to answer (laughed)..

I asked- do we have to call vedic philosophies of indian society as indian psychology or folk, rural or indigenous culture as indian psychology?

He replied- it is difficult question to answer we cannot ignore both, as earlier said, Indian is diverse cultural country, we can define it in a macro level but the still your question remains in whole what is Indian psychology?

Most of the time I have got similar answer form different scholars and psychologist, but my curiosity to understand and define Indian psyche been existing.

I have briefly explored upon different Institutes, websites and organization  which tries to provide an perspective on Indian psyche. They all trace Indian  psyche from Vedic philosophies, religion, culture and  folk wisdom and described it as Indian psychology as oriental, indigenous, holism etc. The question still exists even with vast number of studies and scholarly works.

I would try to outline the existing literature which address Indian psychology. The special focus would be on the present situation of Post Modern Indian soceity and differences of Urban and rural Indian society.

INDIA= "COLLECTIVE MINDS"?

HI

Check this link
http://prezi.com/3z8ascrjnzzm/india-collective-minds/

After reading few articles and books, have to come to conclusion that labeling is the Indian minds in different terms is leading to misconception, causing to miss out the whole picture of india
The question here I am addressing is can we call it as Collective Indian minds?
In search of our identity, I have thought of beginning with name..