Ethan Kahn India Epics

Seven Secrets of the Goddess      Bibliography. Seven Sectrets of the Goddess by Devdutt Pattanaik.  Web Source      Notes:      * The theme of a mother deity overtaken by a father deity is prevalent in many worldwide mythologies.       * The Inuit tell of a goddess who is unhappy with her marriage to a seagull and asks her father take her back.       * Once in his boat, they're attacked by a flock of seagulls. To save himself, Sedna's father pushes her overboard. She continuously tries to climb back in but her father continuously mutilates her.       * Pedna's dismembered limbs sink to the bottom of the ocean and become the various sea mammals.       * The Inuits who hunt sea mammals bring comfort to Sedna through Shamans who speak soothing words to her.       * Tantric Hinduism has a story of Adya, a primordial mother, who lays three eggs that become the Trimurti. Adya wanted to be united with the three male deities. Brahma, thinking of

Brahman Brahman is a Hindu concept that denotes the ultimate essence of reality or the ultimate reality itself. This reality is usually referred to as a being or Being itself. This Being pervades infinitely throughout existence and unites all things no matter how diverse. I was drawn to this article because Hindu cosmic concepts have always fascinated me as do all types of cosmologies. Mysticism Mysticism is a practice focused on unity with the divine or Oneness with everything. You can see how this is closely related to Brahman. One could arguably experience Brahman through mysticism. New Age This is a religious movement that started anywhere from the '50s to the '70s and is rooted in certain mystical teachings. Such as those of Madame Blavatsky. This movement diverges from ancient mysticism with belief in UFOs, extraterrestrials, and Ascended Masters among other things. Consumerism This is where it drops off. Many New Agers in western nations adopted &q

The Power of Creative Constraints - TED Talks      Bibliography.  The Power of Creative Constraints - TED Talks - YouTube      I chose to watch the 8 TED Ed videos and this particular one was my favorite.       Notes:      * Creative Constraints are worldly factors that influence a person's direction and degree of creative thought.       * They must be recognized as limits and surpassed in order for progress to be realized.       * They don't need to be thought of as barriers in the way of progress. A positive way to look at them is that they are foundations for progress.       * This can be recognized in all fields of study and in all applications of everyday life.       

Krishna in Dwarka      Bibliography.  Shri Krishna of Dwarka  by C. A. Kincaid.  Web Source      Reading Notes:      *Balarama revisits Vrindavan.       *Krishna defeats Jambavan and marries Jambavati      *Krishna kills a King who falsely claims to be Vishnu incarnate.       *That King's son asks for a boon from Shiva.      *The boon summons a great flaming being who destroys who it is commanded to unless that person is righteous.      *Since it was summoned to kill Krishna, it spares Krishna and kills the man who asked the boon of Shiva. 

Krishna and Rukmini      Bibliography.  Shri Krishna of Dwarka by C. A. Kincaid.  Web Source      Reading Notes:      *Krishna defeats Aghasur and many other powerful demons including one that takes the form of a mountain-high bull with fiery red eyes.       *Krishna and Balarama travel to the kingdom of Mathura and slay King Kansa's wrestlers, boxers, and courtiers. Krishna kills Kansa in a single blow.       *Krishna tells his fellow villagers to stop worshipping Indra. Indra revolts and Krishna protects them.       *Krishna runs away with Rukmini. 

The Buddha as a Monkey      Bibliography. Eastern Stories and Legends by Marie Shedlock.  Web Source      Reading Notes:      *A Monkey King saves his herd of 80,000 from a water-ogre.      *A merchant strikes water and saves his carts in a desert.       *A Minister saves a King's old Elephant from being yolked.       *A Brahmin is reborn as a Golden Mallard.