Ceremonies at Various Life-events (Culture)

These have two basic goals:

1. To develop our sanskar further from where we are now
2. To develop the commitment and competence for the roles we are about to play

With that, various sects have different rituals to transfer their way of thinking, their world-view to the next
generation.

Examples of various event-sanskars

1. Gestation ceremony
2. Birth ceremony
3. Naming ceremony
4. Birthday ceremony
5. Education ceremony
6. Initiation ceremony (after completion of education)
7. Profession ceremony (at start of work)
8. Marriage ceremony
9. Death ceremony

Helpful tools – Radio, TV, internet

 Introduction
Sanskar – Understanding or Assumptions

Culture – The collective thought

Civilisation – Expression in the form of behaviour

Over the ages, various cultures and civilisations have taken shape. At the core of the civilisation
is its culture; and the base of the culture is what has been understood or assumed (without
understanding) about the existential reality i.e. truth, love and compassion

A civilisation is the expression of a culture in the form of behaviour. In order to share our
understanding, feelings and thoughts, various means of communication has been used such as
– language, literature, song, dance, drama, painting, sculpture…
 The Expressions can be in Various Forms

Modes of communication
▪ Language
▪ Literature
▪ Dance
▪ Song
▪ Music
▪ Drama
▪ Painting
▪ Sculpture…

Life style
▪ Social life – cultural festivals…
▪ Work life –

Systems of Production
▪ Food
▪ Clothes – weaving…
▪ Buildings – architecture…
▪ Machinery for above
▪ Gadgets, instruments…
 Culture

The key goal of culture is the correction of the sanskars of each and every individual; correction
of the feeling and thought
The aim of every culture, every cultural program is the correction of the sanskar, the
acceptances, the feeling and thought of everyone
The basic efforts in any culture are:
1. They organise various events that have an impact on people’s feelings and thought
process. E.g. Events like musical programs, dance performances, skits, plays and dramas,
effective speeches and lectures play a significant role in influencing the feelings, thoughts
and acceptances of most people in any society. Such role models, incidents, programs
leave deep impressions on our sanskar
2. They also organise gatherings at various significant stages of life, life events to inculcate
acceptances that would be helpful toward self-realisation; for developing the competence
required in fulfilling roles to be taken up in future
 Collective Programs

3 Types
1. Verbal communication
2. Audio-visual (or multi-media) communication
3. Publication
 Relationship between Sanskar and
Communication & Publication
Sanskar – understanding or assumption based

Verbal, audio-visual communication, publication

These three play a major role in our sanskar – for good or for worse
▪ The sanskar can become better to the extent the impressions are about humanness, harmony
▪ If the impressions are about inhumanity, the sanskar can worsen
The feeling and thought is dependent on the state of sanskar

One important observation is that for an impression to be made on the sanskar, the
communication and publication has to be pleasing to the senses
So, is the content of these is related to justice, harmony and co-existence and it is served in a
pleasant manner, in a manner pleasing to the senses, then the impressions can be made for
developing human sanskars
 Civilisation
Sanskar individual level acceptances

Culture Related to way of thinking of individual human beings

Civilisation Related to behaviour of individual human beings

The decisions regarding behaviour, regarding what to do and what not to do are a matter of
thought, of culture. However, the precisely execution of these, can be seen in the behaviour, the
civilisation

In general the main part of civilisation is in the form of behaviour. Supporting this are the intake
(food etc.), routine, clothing, architecture

How these are planned or designed can be included when looking a bit more broadly
 Example: Design – indicator of civilisation
If production being done in the family, then the behaviour, interactions are a natural part of it.
However, if the design of the production system is such that family members have to go to
different places for work, then, separate time has to be found for behaviour, interaction amongst
each other.

Similarly, the design of homes may be conducive to interactions or may be otherwise, where the
possibility or opportunity is less

So, one civilisation may be family based – with families involved together in production, their
homes may be designed to promote interaction and common living

And another civilisation may be individual based – with individuals involved in production in
different places. Also their homes may be designed for individualistic or private living
 Impact of Civilisation
A civilization is vibrant, dynamic rather than being very rigid. There are Multiple ways of
expressing all that we have discussed in culture, including all the festivals and traditions

All the inputs from outside leave an impression on us; on our thought and therefore on our
actions.

e.g. when we watch a movie or documentary, it does have an impact on our thought; and also
may have an effect on our behavior – we may start speaking like the protagonist or get a pair of
jeans like our favourite character was shown wearing and so on

So, if the inputs are predominantly about indulgence, it impacts us; if the inputs are about living
meaningfully, that may also impact us
 Civilisation impacts Individuals
Culture

Civilisation
Verbal Communication Audio-visual Communication Publication

Behaviour, modalities, mannerism, language… of individuals

 Scope of Transmission of Sanskar from
Generation to Generation
Family
e.g. everyday living
Family functions
e.g. gathering for a meal, birthday celebration, family customs
Social functions
e.g. marriage, durga puja, deepawali, id, Christmas…
 Culture (thought) Civilisation
(behaviour)
Desired State
Resolution in thought Justice in behaviour
(thought of justice, harmony Work guided by natural laws
and co-existence) Participation for harmony
in larger order

Present State
Increasing problems Increasing strife in family,
Opposition, depression, suicide Conflict, divorce, terrorism, war

Root Cause
Wrong assumptions Wrong assumptions
Lack of right understanding Lack of right understanding
 Evaluation of Present State of the Society
and System
Desirable State
Resolution in thought (thought of justice, harmony and co-existence)
Human sanskar
Perspective of justice, harmony and co-existence
Truth, love and compassion

Present State
Mixed thought (thought of justice and opposition, harmony and disharmony, co-existence and
hatred)
Mixed sanskar
Mixed perspective
Disclarity in living
 Impact of Civilisation

1. On human-human interaction – on justice in behaviour

2. On health of Body and its utilisation
3. On human-rest of nature interaction – on utilisation of physical facility (right utilisation or
misuse)

We can keep point 2 as a subpoint of point 3 (as Body is a unit of the rest of nature)
 Introduction

A discussion is required for charting out the possible steps for transition

- Can transition start from within (one or more individuals)

or
- Can transition begin from the system (through rules, regulations etc.)
 Introduction
• In order that a system runs smoothly, it is essential to go into the details of that system or
Order.
• It is important to recognise all the dimensions which are essential to achieve the goals
(objectives)* of this system or order
• What is to be done at the level of each dimension, in order to meet these objectives
• It is therefore required to compile a guide book giving guidelines and necessary details for
ready reference

* All Human goals have been extensively discussed in Lecture No. 2 . Main points of the
discussion are summarised as a reference at the end of this lecture.
 Constitution

• A guidebook (Constitution) containing basic principles and guidelines relating to human living
and his participation in this existence, is required for the smooth running of human systems.
This includes directives or advice on how to lead one's life and how to participate in the system
• The constitution describes in detail how to lead a Humane life. Whether one's lifestyle
conforms to humanness and human order or not, is clearly brought out in the constitution.
• The Human Order or System and its underlying principles (harmony) is clearly explained in the
constitution. Adherence to this at every level (beginning from one's own family to the global
family) is an indicator of smooth running of the system
• We shall now try to find out all those dimensions (pertaining to individual, family, society and
nature) which are needed to achieve the goals, which we must ensure while we live as human
beings in human order.
 Dimensions of Human Order

1. Education
2. Health
3. Justice
4. Production, Service
5. Exchange, Distribution
6. Right Utilisation
7. Preservation
8. Administrative Service
 Dimension of Education and Health

• Dimension of Education- Education plays an important role in ensuring human order.

Education builds the ability, the competence for Right Understanding, Right Thought and Right
Behaviour in every person. It enables one to behave properly with others human being and
work with mutual fulfillment with rest of nature and thereby contribute to the human order or
system.
• Dimension of Health - The achievement of this dimension can be seen in terms of health of
Human body. When this dimension is functioning well, people lead a life which is conducive to
good health.
• Human Being is coexistence of Self and the Body. The satisfaction in Self is ensured by the
dimension of education whereas health of the body is taken care by the dimension of health.
• When these two dimensions of Education & Health are ensured, every individual is able to live
as a human being and live with fulfillment, with mutual fulfillment.
 Dimension of Justice

• Dimension of Justice- When a human being with a healthy self and healthy body is able to
ensure fulfillment in relationships with other human beings, justice is ensured.

• Justice is ensuring recognition of relationship among human beings, its fulfillment through
values leading to mutual happiness. Practice of comprehensively abiding by this is known as
system of Justice.

• When Justice is ensured, trust and fearlessness is established within interpersonal relation and
system.
 Dimension of Production & Service

• Dimension of Production & Service - Production ensures physical facility required for fulfillment
of our physical needs. What we obtain as outcome of labour on rest of nature is known as
Production

• In addition, we notice that there are certain activities which do not produce anything but are
concerned with protection/maintenance. (Washing of clothes is one such activity where there is
no production but preservation/maintenance of existing items)

• Repair-Maintenance of such kind is not directly associated with manufacture of any item but
with the protection/maintenance of existing items, because along with manufacturing of new
items there is also a need for protection/maintenance of items already produced. Activities of
such kind are known as service
 Dimension of Exchange and Distribution

• The Exchange Dimension - We do not produse every item that we use nor we can perform
every kind of service that we need. We can produce only some of the items. All other items are
produced by others. Through Exchange, all such items and services are made available to us
as per our needs.

• Right Utilisation - We need to elaborate on how to utilise rightly, the things that we have
obtained by virtue of production or exchange. What is meant by Right Utilisation also needs to
be understood. A programme needs to be made to ensure right utilisation in society.

• Preservation (Security) - We need to preserve (enrich & protect) the natural resources which
we utilise for production and exchange. We look at this as Preservation (Security).
 Dimension of Services- Administrative and
Social
• Administrative Service - In order that the system runs smoothly, it is essential to ensure the
dimensions of Human Order and to make sure they are working. This necessary function of
ensuring that systems are working properly is called as administrative service
• Social Service- Despite the efforts to ensure the different social dimensions, certain
shortcomings may remain. Taking care of them through relationships is called social service.
• Thus service can be of two types:
▪ One, which is being ensured by the system- Administrative Service
▪ The one which is being provided to each other by the society in relationship- Social
Service .
 Sources of Education

1. Mother-father, elders; family

2. Teachers; teaching institutions

3. Society, order (publicity, performance. publication)

•When the child is willing to learn and the teacher is willing to teach, then the process of
teaching and understanding becomes veru simple and natural.
•If the teacher has a feeling of guidance towards the child and the child has a feeling of
gratitude towards the teacher; a sense of glory for the teacher, then teaching and
understanding happens naturally. These feelings are ensured only if there is a feeling of
relationship.
•Education can be imparted only with the feeling of relationship.
•After discussing the process of education, we will discuss this point in further detail.
 Right Feelings for Education to take place
Student

1. Feeling of Trust, Respect,

Teacher Affection, Reverence, Glory
& Gratitude for the Teacher
1. Feeling of Trust, Respect, 2. Inspired by the Teacher
Affection, Care & Guidance for
the Student
3. Making effort for
2. Having Excellence / Excellence (explorer)
Making effort for Excellence
3. Is a co-explorer

Not by domination, fear, punishment

Where are we today?