Ethics Workbook I: World History Chapter 6 Ancient India

Ethics Workbook I: 

World History Chapter 6 

Ancient India

 This idea that harmony can only be maintained in a society where everyone carries out his or her duty was also basic to ancient India. Remember, eastern cultures stress that life is interrelated, and that people are not superior to other living things. This blending of people, animals and gods into a single coexistence is typical of Indian culture. If a person acts in a way that is contrary to his or her rightful role in life, the delicate balance of nature would be affected. A good way of thinking of this is to imagine life to be like a band playing a song. When every musician plays the right notes at the right time, beautiful music results. But this only works if everyone cooperates and coordinates. Playing your notes at the right time is your dharma. In fact, in the case of important people, like princes and kings, great national catastrophes such as floods or droughts might occur if they don't do their dharma. This duty to play your part is very important in India. Indian people like to tell the story of a prince named Rama who lived even before Confucius. This tale is called the Ramayana, and it provided lessons for Indian children. Rama was the model for boys to follow, and his beautiful bride, Sita, was the model for girls. Like Aesop’s fables, the Ramayana was told and retold countless times and exists in many versions. We're going to retell some of the story. Your job will be to figure out from it what some of the duties of the characters were by analyzing their actions. In other words, what was their dharma, and would you have acted the same way. As you read or listen to the Ramayana make some notes on the following key characters. Each of them does his or her dharma all of the time. See if you can describe in your own words what each one’s dharma is. Also think about your opinion of their decisions. Students need the greatest amount of work on the concept of duty and obligation. This study should be expanded and enriched with as much contemporary and personal example as possible.

Ramayana Rewritten segment 

Long ago there was a peaceful and happy Kingdom named Kosala. The people of Kosala always did their dharma. Kosala , which was ruled by a wise king named Dasaratha, was protected by walls and moats, and was not threatened by the demons that ravaged the countryside around them. The ruler of these demons was Ravana, the vicious king of Lanka, who had magic powers which made it impossible for any human to kill him. The god Vishnu, who protected the universe, got tired of Ravana’s evil ways and decided to destroy him. To do this, he needed to take on a human form, and was reborn as Dasaratha’s this eldest son, Rama. Acting through Rama, Vishnu planned to end the murderous career of the evil king. Rama was strong and handsome with all of the qualities of a great prince. He and his brother Lakshmana often ventured into the lawless land around Kosala to fight Ravana’s demons and protect the people. One day the two brave brothers went deep into the forest until they reached of the land of King Janaka, whose daughter, Sita, was known far and wide for her beauty and grace. “You have heard,” said King Janaka, “that the man who marries my daughter must be a prince of the perfect virtue? I believe you might be that prince.” Rama smiled thinking of the beautiful Sita and the honor of having her as his bride. “The test is this,” challenged Janaka. “Only the strongest and most righteous young man can lift and string the mighty bow of Shiva. This test will tell if you are to marry Sita.” Sita watched from her throne as Rama waited in a huge assembly hall while a thousand warriors dragged the huge bow forward. She loved the handsome prince at first sight, and when their eyes met she knew he loved her too. Every one but Sita was stunned as Rama easily lifted the bow and strung it. She knew that the gods had brought them together. The people chanted, “Rama, Rama, Rama,” and the wedding ceremony was held immediately. The same chant echoed everywhere when Rama returned to Kosala with his bride. Rama and Sita were deeply in love, and they were incredibly happy. Old king Darsaratha saw this and decided to retire. “I will leave my crown and my kingdom to you Rama and your bride Sita,” he told his son. But when he told this to his third wife, who was Rama’s stepmother, she was not pleased. “Why are you angry,” asked Dasaratha, “Is it not my duty to retire when my eldest son is ready to became king?” The queen, who wanted her own son to possess the throne said: “do you remember a solemn oath you swore to me when I saved your life many years ago? You said you would grant me any two wishes. Do you remember?” “Yes,” the king answered. “Well here are my wishes. First you will declare my son, Bharata, to be king, even though he is the youngest, and then you will banish Rama into the forest for fourteen years.” “Please don't hold me to this” the King pleaded. But the queen did not listen. The sad king could not go back on his word, and so he told Rama that he had changed his mind; Rama would not be king, and he must leave Kosala at once. Rama looked into his father's eyes and said, “yes father.” As he turned to leave, his brother Lakshmana said: “I will stand by your side, and we will take this throne by force. “No,” answered Rama, “I must do as father said.” “I will go with you then,” said Lakshmana, “but Sita must remain here where it's safe.” “Yes,” said Rama. “No!” cried Sita, her eyes filled with tears, “I will go wherever you go, forever and always!” “Stop,” cried Bharata. “I should not be king, you are the true king, come back.” “I cannot,” said Rama “I will keep my word, I am banished for fourteen years.” “I will set your sandals on the throne so the people will know that you are the true king, and I will rule only in your name until you return. “ said Bharata. And so Rama and Sita and Lakshmana walked sadly into the forest. Now, the evil king knew that the three were in the forest and he used his magic to lure Rama and his brother away while he kidnapped Sita, and brought her to his castle. He tried every trick he knew to fool Sita into thinking Rama was dead. He wanted the beautiful princess to fall in love with him and be his bride. But she did not fall for his tricks and remained true to her beloved Rama. Meanwhile Rama and his brother made a plan to attack Ravana’s stronghold to free Sita. Rama knew that Ravana and his demons were protected by the gods, and could not be killed by humans, so he made an alliance with the monkey king, Hanuman, and invaded Ravana’s kingdom with an army of monkeys. Rama and Lakshmana and the monkey army fought many bloody battles with the ferocious demons. Ravana used all of his magic spells to defeat Rama, but in the end Rama was invincible, and using a magic arrow he killed Ravana. Standing over the dead body of his evil enemy he said “I order an honorable burial for Ravana, for though he was evil, he is now dead and death erases all enemies. He is now my brother, and deserves an honorable funeral. “ Sita, dressed in a silken gown, and looking more beautiful than ever, ran into Rama’s arms; the two lovers cried with joy. They were together again at last and the long years of exile had passed. But when they returned to Kosala, Rama sensed that something was wrong. “Why aren’t the people happy?” he asked his brother. “The people believe that Sita is bringing disgrace to Kosala,” said Lakshmana “But why?” asked Rama. “They believe that she has lost her virtue because she lived with Ravana. No one understands how you can take her back after she lived with another man.” “But she was faithful” Rama replied “These are lies, all lies.” “Yes, but everyone believes them, and you know you can't allow this to go on,” said the prince’s brother. Rama thought for a long time before he made his decision. “Take Sita into the forest and leave her.” “But she will surely die” protested Lakshmana. Rama only nodded and said “do as I say.” The following day it rained, and fog covered the land. Lakshmana brought Sita into the forest. 

Ethics Workbook I ©Anthony Tiatorio 1999