History of Indian Civilization - Indian Civilization [Lec 05]

History of Indian Civilization; UCLA, Lecture of 20 January 2012. Aryan Society; Later Vedic period; idea of Varsnasrama Dharma; theory of Moksha. Brief comments on the political and social organization of the Aryans:tribes, clans, rajahs, sabha, and samiti. The Aryans were illiterate; contrariwise, the importance of the oral tradition. Transition from Vedas to the Upanishads; social context of the Upanishads, and theory of moksha (liberation) and knowledge. The story of Svetaketu in the Upanishads; the meaning of the word 'Brahmin'. Worldview of the Upanishads; problems in using European categories to understand Indian texts and philosophical traditions; the Upanishads as dialogic texts. Shankaracharya's interpretation of the Upanishads; avidya (ignorance) and vidya (knowledge). The affinity of the atman and the Brahman, the individual and universal Soul; distinction between the real and the unreal, the permanent and the transient. The story of the Buddha: his birth, childhood, enlightenment, teachings, disciples, and death. Buddhism gives us the first concrete details in India. The Buddha's conception of suffering and freedom from the trappings of life; his idea of the four noble truths and the eightfold path. See the full playlist for “History of Indian Civilization”: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy3KRgc0HE8B4neta_B8LPM0G9UWy-Cqe Subscribe for more lectures on Indian Civilization, World History, Bollywood, Gandhi, and much else... Blog: https://vinaylal.wordpress.com/ MANAS (a pedagogical website on Indian history, culture, religions, politics, and so on): http://southasia.ucla.edu/ UCLA Faculty Page: https://history.ucla.edu/faculty/vinay-lal Books: https://vinaylal.wordpress.com/books-by-vinay-lal/