RELS 223 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Neuropathology, Vedic Period, Upanishads

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Religious Studies
• Course: RELS 223
• Professor: Ellen Goldberg

Document Summary

3000 bce indus valley civilization (disappeared for unknown reason) Vedic civilization: religious teachings of what have come to be hindus. Truth: buddhism is both modern and post-modern in that it has a truth and no truth. Truth, though we cant pinpoint what that is, is what the buddha awakened to. This is important, because one day siddartha gautama woke up and decided to be buddha. Its performative" as well the great departure, its been re-enacted by millions of people who want to become a buddha. He is not a saviour per say he can"t save anybody else, but his actions set in motion a paradigm that will help you save yourself. The non-attachment is scary at the heart of this is desire. The human mind is capable, it is possible, but it is not common. We become attached because we build neuropathways around repetitive behaviors. Attachment is not just emotional - it may also be biological.