Justin leads a discussion about Dharma as it is presented in the Ramayana. The concept of Dharma has taken on a modernized definition in most western yogic circles. And while this definition is not entirely divorced from its original idea, it is a small section of a much larger picture.
Dharma is one of most important concepts in eastern spiritual traditions. In this discussion we will use the Ramayana, an Indian epic poem, to help us define what Dharma is in its ancient context.
In Part 1, Justin (1) defines the concepts of Karma, Samsara, and Adharma, (2) introduces the story of the Ramayana is introduced, including Rama’s exile; and (3) talks about how we are currently in an age (referencing Kali Yuga) where dharma is in decline.
*This was a live lecture originally held over zoom.
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Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:56 Introduction to Eastern Philosophy and Hinduism
03:51 The Concepts of Karma and Samsara
14:23 Yoga as alignment
16:35 Adharma
19:25 Super brief overview of the Ramayana
23:45 Rama becomes banished to the forest
32:03 “Every broken promise takes away a little dharma from the world”
34:57 Metaphor of the forest as the dark recesses of our minds
37:00 Digesting Hindu epics by seeing all of the characters as different aspects of your own personality
38:53 The lined blurred between good and evil
43:41 The inevitability of Dharma
46:34 We are living in the age where dharma is declining