Meetings
When: Every Tuesday starting Sept. 8
Our first meeting will be in MEZ 1.306!
Following meetings will be in GAR 1.126
Time: 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Our meetings consist of guest speakers, student-led discussions, and presentations on various topics of Hinduism, such as the caste system, dating, or yoga. During our character analysis meetings, we have in-depth presentations and discussions about famous characters from Hindu literature and question the commonly held opinions about these characters. All of these meetings are led by students so the level of complexity is determined by the participants.
Meeting Schedule
Click the meeting topic to read a description of what will be presented.
September 8 |
Introduction to HSC, Free Food! |
September 15 |
Was Ram Wrong? |
September 22 |
Gandhism and Hinduism |
September 29 |
Women in Hinduism |
October 6 |
Hinduism and Our Government |
October 13 |
Bhakti and Love |
October 20 |
Concerns with Hindu Philosophies |
October 27 |
The Art of Hindu Fortune Telling |
November 3 |
Hinduism Spreads West |
November 10 |
Philosophy of Attachment |
November 17 |
How Does Your Family Keep the Faith? |
December 1 |
Bhajans |
Description of Meeting Topics
September 8: Introduction to HSC.
Come learn about HSC!
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September 15: Was Ram Wrong?
For centuries, Ram has been regarded as the perfect man- the perfect son, the perfect brother, the perfect husband, the perfect king. But would the perfect king break all the rules of proper warfare to kill an enemy? Would the perfect husband banish his wife due to the gossip of others? Join HSC for a recap of the epic Ramayan and a discussion on how "perfect" Ram truly is.
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September 22: Gandhism and Hinduism
On the day India attained its independence, the BBC sought interviews from all of India’s political figures and succeeded in getting all but one: Mohandas Gandhi. He was recluse, and spoke very little, for this sort of independence was no independence at all. The sort that replaced British corruption with our own brand of it. The sort that divides a people in two. And the sort that sheds blood in the process. Gandhi never wanted all of that, and thus it becomes clear his journey to independence was different than everyone else’s. His vision of independence was different. In our meeting we will explore this unique vision from the perspective of Hinduism, and argue that it was his faith that drove him down this road.
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September 29: Women in Hinduism
Historically, in many parts of the world, women have had strict rules and less equality and freedom than the opposite gender. In ancient India, a woman’s role and duties in society were ruled by Holy Scriptures like the Vedas. What was it really like being a Hindu woman in ancient India—What were your roles and rights? How has being a Hindu women changed as society as drastically progressed, and how has Hinduism changed to accommodate a rising female figure? Last but not least, what can and should still be changed?
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October 6: Hinduism and Our Government
Whether we reside in the United States or India, we are subject to the irony of laws that are from supposedly secular governments yet ultimately based on moral concepts influenced by religion. How comparable are Hindu values to principles such as democracy and related notions like liberty and equality? Though a cursory glance at Hindu epics suggests that monarchy is favored, some have suggested that Hinduism naturally lends itself to democratical rule. Join us on October 6th for an indepth discussion about Hinduism and government.
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October 13: Bhakti and Love
Love may be something not-so-often discussed with your typical Indian parents, but there are many Hindu stories with secret love marriages, an entire book on love, and even a God of Love. Where do all of these things fit in Hindu society? Is love something different when looking at it from a Hindu perspective, or is it still the universal, indefinable concept that we hear about all the time? In this meeting, using the Triangular Theory of Love, we will look at love from all angles, and in the end, figure out where the Hindu concept of "bhakti" fits into the picture.
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October 20: Concerns with Hindu Philosophies
Guest speaker
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October 27: The Art of Hindu Fortune Telling
A basic hindu principle is karma, the actions that we do will affect us one way or another. With this in mind, is it possible to see how karma will affect us? Most of us had our horoscopes as children and many people see the hand as a way to unfold the future. This meeting explores the ties that hinduism has on numerology, astrology, and palmistry.
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November 3: Hinduism Spreads West
Dating back to the classical periods of Greece and Rome, Hindus have been in contact with Western Society for centuries. In this meeting we will discuss these origins, how Hinduism spread to the United States, and its influence in Western popular culture. For example, did you know George Lucas was a Hindu for part of his life? Find out other interesting tidbits and think about some other influences in the media and elsewhere in our meeting, Hinduism Spreads West.
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November 10: Philosophy of Attachment
One of the main teachings of Hinduism is detachment to the fruits of our actions and renunciation of our desires. However, don't our desires and the rewards for our actions motivate us? Without goals and payoffs for our actions, why would we even bother? Doesn't ambition in itself hinge on goals and therefore the fruits of our actions? Without desires and striving to exceed our limits to achieve those goals and desires, would society ever have progressed to our current level of technological success?
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November 17: How Does Your Family Keep the Faith?
Hinduism is the oldest religion that is still practiced today and has gradually developed over four thousand years. There are many various traditions and institutions of Hinduism that have come about over the ages. How do you practice your religion? Is it different from your parents? Has it changed over time? Do you think your familial practices change your perception of what good and evil is, or your view on the world as a whole?
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December 1: Bhajans
Come join us for Bhajans! Bring your favorite and we will all sing along!
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