A Justification Of The Caste System Bhagavad Gita Religion Essay

A Justification Of The Caste System Bhagavad Gita Religion Essay People in Hindu society are born into different castes with different qualities and their responsibility of fulfilling their dharma, which means scared duties, is inevitable. A passage In the Bhagavad Gita reveals that mankind is created into four classes: I created mamkind in four classes, / different in their qualities and actions; (The Bhagavad Gita 53). This indicates that born caste are not changeable, since they are set when individuals are created. The text then describes that each caste has its specific dharma and emphasize the restricted dharma on the idea that dharma is fixed by birth, as the text continues: The actions of priests, warriors, /commoners, and servants/ are appointed by the qualities/ born of their intrinsic being (The Bhagavad Gita 141). Such restricted social expectations are reflected in the caste system in Hindu society. Furthermore, we can see this restricted expectation when the Lord Krishna convinces Arjuna to perform his duty as a warrior: Look to your own duty; / do not tremble before it; / nothing is better for a warrior/ than a battle of sacred duty (The Bhagavad Gita 36). The lord Krishna wants Arjuna to perform his duties even if doing so is against his will. We can see that personal goals and emotions are suppressed when one performs dharma against ones will, and no matter what one is forced to perform caste duties. This strictness of caste duty is state clearly in the text: No one exists for even an instant / without performing action; / however unwilling, every being is forced / to act by the qualities of nature (The Bhagavad Gita 43). This describes the absoluteness of the caste system and that caste duties are the highest priority in ones actions. By creating such strict order, the Bhagavad Gita reinforces the hierarchy structure of the caste system. In addition, the Bhagavad Gita uses fear to further ensure that people follow their caste duties, by stating that failure to act accordingly to ones duties is considered sinful and will create disorder in family and society. Such idea is stated in the text: When the family is ruined, / the timeless laws of family duty / perish; and when duty is lost, / chaos overwhelms the family (The Bhagavad Gita 29). This creates a fear that is one does not follow than one will bring chaos to the family. More ove the text continues to describe the consequences of misbehavior. The text states:The sins of men who violate/ the family create disorder in society/ that undermines the constant laws/ of caste and family duty (The Bhagavad Gita 29). The text attach the word sin in order to attach the quilt to the wrong doings. This passage alsosets the definition of good and bad by warning not to violate the law of caste and by setting such definition the society is further restricted to confined social cl asses. Furthermore, since individual disobedience can bring disorder to the society as a whole, social pressure will be stressed on the individual who refuses the follow. This brings mutual responsibility in such a way that everyone needs to make sure everyone else follow the rule, so that the society as a whole can avoid disaster. The Bhagavad Gita creates great psychological pressure that concretes the caste system. According to the Bhagavad Gita, the ideal way to perform caste duties is by detachment: Always perform with detachment / any action you must do; performing action with detachment, / one achieves supreme good ( The Bhagavad Gita 45). By detaching from ones emotion, it is easier to endure the suffering of performing caste duties especially in the lay caste since their duties are the most miserable. We see this idea of detachment when the lord Krishna tells Aryuna to fight and not be influence by his own emotions. Moreover, this idea of detachment creates an indifference to the good and bad, poor and wealth. According to the text, when one views things with detachment, one will not see the materialistic inequality between them. We see this state of detachment in the passages: Self-reliant, impartial to suffering / and joy, to clay, stone, or gold, / the resolute man is the same / to foe and friend, to blame and praise ( The Bhagavad Gita 24). This reduces the anger of the lower caste pe ople who are not satisfied with the caste system. Therefore, this detachment promoted in the Bhagavad Gita strengthens the caste system by making each castes focus on their caste duties The idea of equality in all living beings is briefly discussed in the Bhagavad Gita, but one should not take it as indication of that social equality is promoted in Hindu society, since it does not reflects in the structure of Hindu society but only in a spiritual way. One may interprets certain passages in the Bhagavad Gita to argue against the caste system. For instance, the lord Krishna says to Arjuna: Learned men see with an equal eye / a scholarly and dignified priest, / a cow, an elephant, a dog/ and even an outcaste scavenger (The Bhagavad Gita 61). The word equal eye mentioned in this quote describes one of the key ideas in the Bhagavad Gita that every individual are originally in the brahmin caste and has the same spiritual quality. However, this spiritual equality does not reflects in the societal structure and it even reinforces the caste system by reducing the oppressiveness of the caste system because it makes the people in the lower caste feel that they are equal with t he people in the higher caste. This spiritual equality comes from the idea that every living thing is created from the Lord Braham. This oneness of all living beings is also mentioned in one of the passage: Arming himself with discipline, / seeing everything with equal eye, / he sees the self in all creatures/ and all creatue / see in the self (The Bhagavad Gita 69). Therefore, even the Bhagavad Gita mentions equality in some way, it only serves as a reinforcement of the caste system. In addition, another reinforcement of the caste system mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita is that by focusing on ones scared duties every individual can achieve the ultimate goal which is escaping from the cycle of rebirth. The state of being free from the cycle of death and rebirth is called moksha and can only be attained through fulfilling ones own caste duties (Bentley and Ziegler 184). This idea is conveyed when the Lord Krishna tells Arjuna to do what he must do in order to attain the everlasting peace. Moreover, the idea of devoting ones self to caste duties to attain moksha not only further defines the differentiation of each caste but also comforts the suffering of the lower caste by telling them that they will be able to achieve the final goal if they devote to their own caste: Each one achieves success / by focusing on his own action; / hear how one finds success / by focusing on his own action (The Bhagavad Gita 142). Furthermore, this quotes mentions own actions which indica tes the specific duties in each castes and that every castes has different paths toward attaining moksha. Such indication promotes greater separations of the classes in society. The idea of reincarnation in the Bhagavad Gita provides a promise for the people in lower caste that if they devote them self to their caste and endure sufferings from their lower social status, they will be able to attain a better next life. This idea of reincarnation rewards people who follow the caste and punish people who do not. According to the text, a person will continues to suffer until he is reborn to a higher caste:Fallen in discipline, he reaches / worlds made by his virtue, wherin he dwells / for endless years, until he is reborn / in a house of upright and noble men (The Bhagavad Gita 41). However the only way to be reborn into a higher caste is to accept the sufferings in the current life and devote to ones caste duties. As the text continues, it states that one needs to be purified his sins with effort and it is not a simple task: The man of discipline, striving / with effort, purified of his sins, / perfected through many births, / finds a higher way (The Bhagavad Gi ta 45). Therefore, this idea of reincarnation not only gives the people in the lower caste a purpose to endure their sufferings but also provides them psychological supports that comfort their inferiority in Hindu society. Through this, we can see how the Bhagavad Gita reinforces the caste system by providing spiritual supports that reduce the oppressiveness in the caste system. All the emphasis on duty, moksha , caste separation, and reincarnation in the Bhagavad Gita show the intension to justify the Hierarchically ordered caste system in Hindu society. Bhagavad Gita creates strict order that solidifies the caste rules, and set out a final goal, moksha to unite the castes but separates each castes path toward moksha to further differentiate each caste. While the Bhagavad Gita does mention equality, it does not apply in the materialistic sense. However, the equality is applied in a higher sense that does not contradict the caste system but reinforce it instead. The Bhagavad Gita with no doubt plays a key role in the Hindu society, since it is so closely related to their social structure and caste life. Through those previous discussions, we are able to see that the Bhagavad Gita not only creates strict rules and fears that endure the obedience within the system, but also uses religious goal and philosophy of detachment to further brain wash the people in th e Hindu society. It is clear that the ideas and philosophies presented in the Bhagavad Gita reinforces the caste system and justifies the inequality in the hierarchical social structure of the Hindu society.

Musicians have a responsibility to serve as role models to our youth :: Music

Musicians have a responsibility to serve as role models to our youth I strongly disagree with this statement because music artists have the right to express what ever subject they wish. Musicians do have to serve as role models to our youth through their actions, if that is their target market, but they do not have to take any responsibility what so ever for what teenagers choose to listen to or the actions they choose to take because of artists lyrics. The lyrics in many musicians? songs, especially ?rap? music should not be taken seriously, because a number of music artists have said that the lyrics in their songs are not meant to be taken seriously. Many rap artists use extremely exaggerated and profound lyrics (which are not to be taken seriously) to portray a message. There has been much debate over whether musicians should be banned from releasing music with explicit lyrics, especially by parents. Ozzie Osbourne has been taken to court on three occasions because of parents that accused him of influencing their sons? actions due to the explicit lyrics in his songs. Each of the boys had committed suicide, and on all three occasions parents believed that Ozzie Osbourn?s lyrics contributed to, or were the main cause of their sons? unfortunate deaths. But in all three court cases Ozzie Osbourne was not held accountable for the actions of the parents children, because music artists are allowed to express themselves freely. Even though all musicians have the right of ?freedom of speech? there is warning stickers on all CD?s such as ?Explicit content MA 15+? or ?High Course Language? etc. These labels help differentiate music with explicit lyrics/content from music that has no explicit content. The labels warn all parents that if their child or teenager is under the age of 16, that this music may not be suitable for them to listen to.

Poetry Essay Essay

In the poems ‘How to Eat a Poem’ by Eve Merriam and ‘Introduction to Poetry’ by Billy Collins, important ideas are presented about how poetry should be experienced and enjoyed. The poets used the techniques extended metaphor, repetition, metaphors and personification to show me how these ideas is important. In ‘How to Eat a Poem’ by Eve Merriam, the author describes how poetry is to be experienced. Poetry doesn’t need any manners and has no rules. â€Å"Don’t be polite / Bite in.† is an example of just jumping in to poetry because it’s got no manners and it’s for everyone. â€Å"It is ready and ripe now, whenever you are.† Shows us that poetry is for everyone. Poetry never goes away because it always written on paper. It’s not hard you don’t have to be clever to enjoy poetry because it’s always there to be read. Poetry is to be experienced and enjoyed by anyone. In the poem ‘How to Eat a Poem’, the techniques of Extended metaphor and repetition are used to show me the important idea. Extended metaphor us used in the lines â€Å" Pick it up with your fingers and lick the juice that. / May rush down your chin. / It is ready and ripe now, whenever you are.† To compare juicy fruit to poetry. Through doing this, the poet helps me understand that poetry is about experiencing poetry, and not holding back but in fact diving in. It also helps me understand that you can be messy and enjoy your poem. Repetition is used in the lines â€Å"or stem / or rind / or pit / or seed or skin.† To compare poetry to the inside of a fruit. Doing this has helped me understand that poems aren’t hard, that they are fun and don’t have the bad bit of a fruit. That it’s really tasty and anyone can do it. These two techniques help compare juicy fruit to poems. In the poem ‘Introduction to Poetry’ the poet shows me the important idea that poetry is about having fun. Poems are made to have fun for everybody not just cleverest people. It’s for people who like having fun. â€Å"I want them to waterski / across the surface of a poem / waiving at the authors name on the shore.† The author is also trying to tell you to not over  analyze things. In the poem it states that all we want to do is torture it and get a confession out of it. Poems are to be about having fun, not trying to find every possible meaning and to just skim across getting the ideas that the poet wants us too. Poems are about having fun and not over analyzing them. In the poem ‘Introduction to Poetry’, the techniques metaphor and personification are used to show me the important idea. Metaphor is used in the lines â€Å"I want them to waterski / across the surface of a poem / waving at the authors name on the surface.† Which compares waterskiing and having fun to a poem that is fun and relaxing. This helps me understand that poetry is fun and relaxing just like waterskiing. When you imagine yourself waterskiing you imagine a sunny day, speeding along bouncing up and down on waves while waving to your friends on the shore in the sand. Poems are the same you can enjoy yourself through rhyming or using alliteration. All the techniques that make a poem fun and enjoyable to write and read. Personification is used in the lines â€Å" But all they want to do / is tie the poem to a chair with a rope / and torture a confession out of it† to compare tying up a person to a chair and trying to get a confession out of it. Over analyzing a poem and taking meanings that aren’t meant to be instead of taking the idea that the poet tries to convey. Doing this the poet helps me understand that poetry is to be about the images or the meanings that the poet is telling you. That poetry doesn’t need to be â€Å" tied to a chair and tortured†, so it gives a confession that it doesn’t have to be an expert that needs to analyze it, anyone can do it. Poetry is intended to be enjoyed, anyone can do it, it doesn’t need to be over analyzed. Both of these poems have helped me understand more about poetry and what it’s about. That poetry is about having fun and to be experienced by everyone. Anyone and everyone can enjoy poems, they don’t have to be the cleverest or the smartest to understand poetry. I think these two poems represent what poems are about.

How to Write a Well-Structured Essay

How to Write a Well-Structured Essay Introduction, body, and conclusion make a standard essay structure. Read the article to know the details. Essay Structure Essay structure allows you to align your thoughts and ideas logically, making them readable and easy to understand. Basic essay logic starts out with the introduction of the essay’s main idea and then explains it further in the body paragraphs and ends by summing everything up in the last paragraph the conclusion. To better understand why essay format is so important, try to imagine an essay that starts out with body paragraphs, followed by a thesis and a conclusion. Such essay would be impossible to read because of its faulty logic.  Let’s take a closer look at each of the components and learn how to structure an essay. How to Write an Essay Introduction The introduction is the main component within the structure of an essay. This part contains the main thought of the essay and states the purpose of your writing. The introductory paragraph typically consists of a thesis statement (also called a topic sentence) and a few more sentences that explain or expand the main statement. The topic sentence together with these few sentences is referred to as the introduction. Body Paragraphs The two or three paragraphs that follow the introduction are called the body of the essay. They are called so because they make up the body or the main bulk of the paper. This part of the essay usually contains research data and information that supports your thesis. Each paragraph should contain one main idea and should provide supporting details for your topic and thesis. The topic (introductory) sentence of each paragraph should support the main idea. Even though there are no strict rules regarding the body paragraph length, a general rule of thumb prescribes that a paragraph should  be neither too long (over 8 sentences) nor too short (under 2 sentences). Body paragraph size varies depending on the essay style: for example, the average paragraph length in business writing is generally 4-5 sentences, while the average paragraph length in academic writing is around 8-10 sentences. Academic writing tends to be longer because the author has to state a point, back it up with research data, and come to a conclusion. Such kind of writing usually requires a greater amount of writing. To connect your thoughts and make them logical youll need to use some connecting words and phrases: List of Connecting Words and Phrases The final part of the basic essay structure is a conclusion. It ends the essay and summarizes all ideas and thoughts written. Going further, read how to end an essay correctly. Conclusion: How to End an Essay The final part of the basic essay structure is the conclusion. It summarizes the points made in the introduction and the body paragraphs of your paper. The core function of the conclusion is not only to summarize ideas stated in the introduction and the body but to show how they relate to the thesis. A good technique is to use the conclusion starters: as we can see, therefore, naturally, summing up etc. Such connecting phrases help you to tie the points made previously with the actual text of the conclusion that you are writing. Once again, a conclusion should review your thesis and give a summary of your main ideas. Depending on your instructor’s requirements, your conclusion can range from one paragraph to a page in length. Reviewing your writing or the post-writing phase takes place when you are done writing your paper. It’s always a good idea to put your essay aside for a couple of hours and then come back to it later. It is important to read through each paragraph to make sure your ideas make sense and convey your points clearly. Also, be sure that you have not strayed away from the main point. Each paragraph should be relevant to your thesis. If you have found that any of your body paragraphs strays from your thesis, a rewrite or omission may be necessary. Note that there different types of essay  and essay formatting styles, e.g. essay format MLA  which require proper logic and structure. Some students find the writing assignments to be a daunting task  and start looking for a writing help.  In case you need help with the structuring or writing your essay,  feel free to contact our essay writers or place an order. Besides, we have a lot of essay examples written by the professional writers: Expository Essay Example | Definition Essay Examples  and many others. Reading the essay examples facilitates the writing and essay structuring process.