I am in love with Hindu philosophy. I wish your classes were not just one semester, Professor Bolland. There is so much we can learn from all religions. We especially need that guidance and that enlightenment right now.

You got a fan on the other side (of the ocean);

Beautiful presentation of the Rig Veda! Even Carl Sagan ( Cosmos) was fascinated by that verse from the Rig Veda on creation. The celebrated 'Creation Hymn' (Nasadiya Sukta) is in the tenth chapter of the Rig Veda. The sages are speculating about the most fundamental question of philosophy - how did this universe originate? They are even willing to say that the gods came afterward and that even the all-pervading spirit may or may not know the answer. And, remember, this is roughly 1400 BCE. Contrary to what many believe, India in Vedic times had a robust tradition of philosophic speculation, skepticism, and rejection of dominant philosophies in favor of more liberal, inclusive thought; it is the birthplace of the world's first materialist philosophical system. It was only after the medieval ages that questioning was stifled by ritualism and canonical ideas.

Excellent channel. Peter, you’re a captivating speaker and your understanding of the all these historical philosophies and religions is on point. Look forward to working my way through your videos and continually learning and growing. Thank you for putting these out.

@PeterBolland

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind words Kray. 🙏🏼

The world we see is not reality itself but a projection onto our consciousness. The Isha Upanishad states, “the Brahman forms everything that is living or non-living … the wise man knows that all beings are identical with his self, and his self is the self of all beings.” Erwin Schrödinger ( Quantum Physics) was fascinated by this thought. According to Subhash Kak’s book The Wishing Tree (2008), Schrödinger named his dog Atman, and his conference talks would, by one account, often end with the statement ‘Atman=Brahman’, that he would call - somewhat self-aggrandizing - the second Schrödinger’s equation.

Very underrated channel man! Imma subscribe!

@PeterBolland

3 жыл бұрын

I appreciate that so much Ujjawal.

@esquire192

3 жыл бұрын

Very happy to have stumbled onto your channel. Love the passion and energy of your lectures. Thank you

@PeterBolland

3 жыл бұрын

@@esquire192 Thanks for watching, and for the kind words.

Appreciate the great effort in deciphering Hinduism to the wider audience around the globe.. I just beg to point out that your pronunciation of Sanatana Dharma is "Sanantana" in the place of "Sanatana" . Second, Sanatana means eternal 16:52 which has been there from the beginning of time and will remain till the end of time. The timeline of the Vedantic literature is speculated to be around 2,500 - 3,000 years. But this is said to be the period when it was put into some form of writing. However, the origin of the Vedas dates back much earlier. The vedic knowledge was passed on by word of mouth from Guru to disciples in a very scientific way called Krama paata, Pada paata, Samhita paata..

@PeterBolland

10 ай бұрын

Hi and thank you for watching and commenting. You're right, I've mistakenly added an extra "n" in Santatana Dharma. Good catch, and thanks for the correction. And thanks for all of the other information too! Much appreciated!

@nprakash1958

10 ай бұрын

@@PeterBolland Wow ! Thanks for such a prompt response !

Brilliant! Great explanation, thank you.

@PeterBolland

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I try! 🙏🏼

well, in my thinking I wonder how poignant and rewarding it would have been for me to have been your student 50 years ago when all life's questions came into my awareness. Oh well. it is fun now to fill in all of the missing pieces. At one point you read "desire is the primal seed" (that entered into the darkness). Is this the entrance of "maya"? Thank you for your clarity. It is helpful.

What is that dancing statue at the back?

@PeterBolland

3 жыл бұрын

That is Lord Rama, one of the avatars of Vishnu, (along with Krishna and many others). He is often depicted this way, bow in hand, ever the great warrior. The statue is a cherished gift from a student.

Thanks. Appreciate your videos. We have our country's actual name and that is Bharat. Republic of Bharat. But constitution allowed both name use officially. In all the Indian languages 'Bharat' is used. "It says Bharat that is India." Bharat comes from the name of great King Bhorat who ruled the whole continent once and he choose his Successor based on skills and not real sons. Now in several writings like Bhagavad Gita a person is called as Bharata or son of Bhorat.

@PeterBolland

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Sourav. I really appreciate all of the feedback (and viewership) I'm getting on this video from folks in India (Bharat).

Excellent talk as usual..You have correctly explained that Hinduism is an umbrella term for a variety of philosophies, practices and rituals from the lowest to the highest level..However I wanted to know your reaction to an extreme form of Hindu ritual as shown in this link kzread.info/dash/bejne/dpp-ltF8ctXWn7w.html. This is an extreme ritual from Tamilnadu a state in South India in honour of a folk God called Sudalai Madaswamy popular in the deep south of tamilnadu ..Many such gods (like Ayyanar) belonged to the non brahmin or lower caste communities in southern India (especially tamilnadu) who did not have access in earlier times to Brahminical Hindu gods or temple entry due to caste system..I am really interested in knowing your view/thoughts of this extreme high energy Hindu ritual (which is as hindu as any other practice)😊..

@PeterBolland

Жыл бұрын

Aj, there is such a wide variety in world religions, and so many paths. Nothing surprises me anymore.

@ajas7851

Жыл бұрын

@@PeterBolland I agree..I understand that you are an open minded person and have studied a number of religious and spiritual practices..However the world we live of more the 7 billion humans unfortunately doesn't have many persons of open minded disposition to diversity..That is why there are many unnecessary conflicts and wars on religion to this day and there is still very little or no understanding (forget about tolerance) among many to the religious beliefs which are different from theirs..Also i personally feel it is a good thing to be surprised or confounded at times to diversity or difference among people and cultures.. It shows that we still have some sense of wonder and curiosity at the world we live in..There should be some surprise and suspense in life..otherwise if that surprise is gone, the spice of life is gone and some may also develop an ego or "ahankara" that they know everything..I am sorry to say this but when I see western science I feel that there is a subtle arrogance about being in control of everything when man or human beings are only a speck in the creation and scheme of nature and the universe. PS: These are only my general random thoughts and are not meant at a personal level..

you did not understand the concept of "Gods" in the Rig Veda. The HE refers to the supreme being that is similar to the Almighty Abrahamic God. The "gods" in Hinduism are the Devas (sort of like Greek gods. My two cents.

@PeterBolland

5 ай бұрын

Yes, that's my understanding as well. Perhaps we are having a translation problem?

@dabasisdutta

13 күн бұрын

@PeterBolland That is a mistake. Avatars and Pantheon, let me explain In Abrahamic Religions, God is like a Greek Pantheon, each an Individual. If you study Islamic society, you will find the The Prophet Mohammed destroyed the Idols and therefore the GODS associated with them. Secondly, because of Original Sin, Man/ Humans are not part of GOD. In Hinduism, there is ONE GOD, & he has 3 main Avatars ie Creator Brahma, Destroyer Shiva & Preserver Vishnu. These GODs (actually the correct term is never used ie Avatars), in turn have Avatars like Krishna & Rama (2 very prominent Avatars of Vishnu). The Buddha is the 9th Avatar of Vishnu, and a Hindu God also. So God and Self are all ONE. Another popular misconception is about Idol worship, specially from Muslim Invaders & later Europeans into India. Idol worship is not mandatory in the religion, and every Hindu innately understands that. Infact Idols emerged due to the Influence of The Buddha. Lastly Gods are not important to a Hindu. Dharma or Duty is the most important aspect of being a Hindu, if you practice your Duty, you attain Salvation. Praying to God does not give you Moksha (salvation). An Atheist who follows his Duty is therefore also an Hindu, this is not possible in Abrahamic Religion

I heard from an Indian guy who is trying to interpret many hymns and translating them in English. He said most of the European translation were not good at all. They most of time could not understand the subtlety of Sanskrit words. Of course they are difficult to interpret because they were written in early Sanskrit language and many had changed their meaning. But it is told the European translation is too much focused on cows. 🐄 'Go' have several roots in Sanskrit but all the European translation consider it as cow and makes the whole translation nonsense.

@PeterBolland

3 жыл бұрын

Translation plagues us all. And any challenges at translation are compounded by the fact that even the text itself -- any text -- falls short of the truth it is trying to convey. As Alan Watts put it, "The menu is not the food."

@breandadavis3168

2 жыл бұрын

​@@PeterBolland the fact that you name dropped Alan Watts...can you adopt me? It's alright that I'm 30, yeah? lol thank you for everything you're doing. I need this content in my life as it's always been pretty devoid of wisdom and guidance or even deep philosophical discussions. not for lack of trying though.

Reality is something else from what you are explaining the hindu religion because people only knows what the one community wanted them to know from around last thousand years only, india is a big manipulated place where thoughts of the people are controlled for the specific community growth

@PeterBolland

2 жыл бұрын

What you describe is true everywhere isn't it. But we do our best to understand despite the impediments.

@devolishash3946

2 жыл бұрын

What is the proof for what you are saying ? Looks like you are a hinduphobe !! 🤔

Your TIMELINE IS TOTALLY BOTCHED UP. Western( Christian) timeline CANNOT COMPREHEND anything beyond 4000 years.😅😅

@PeterBolland

Жыл бұрын

Hi. My job is to teach these ideas to my American college students--that's the original purpose of these videos. Not being an expert myself, I rely on the academic consensus of scholars in the field--scholars from all over the world, inside India and out. Of course there are outliers who make different claims about the dating of this ancient timeline. When a global consensus among discipline experts changes as new evidence is upheld through a peer-reviewed process, I will the first to report that new consensus to my students, and to the viewers of my KZread channel. But thanks for taking the time to watch my video and comment!

PRIESTS? YOU have LOST THE PLOT.

@PeterBolland

Жыл бұрын

I'm using the term loosely, as in "religious officiant."