Reading Options

For my Ramayana choice, I am going to read option two, the Public Domain Edition. My reasoning for this is mostly because it is free and readily available online. Due to the nature of this course, it is best to choose this version since I am able to access it at any time to carry out my assignments thus making it easier for myself. Although I liked that Nayaran's version of the book read more like a novel, I think that the recorded version by Dr. Gibbs will help make it more useful. That way, I can read the book with my eyes and my ears! :) Of course, the fact that the public domain edition uses old-fashioned language will make it harder for me to digest the stories. However, this will be a good challenge and I can eventually make it a skill to read old-fashioned language if I ever do need it in the future.

I have taken a class about epic literature throughout high school and college. In college, I have already taken Mythology and Folklore, sort of the 'sister' course of Indian Epics where I had the opportunity to read various literature from throughout the world. In high school, I have had experience with Greek epic poems such as the Odyssey and Iliad. I have even had the chance to read Beowulf in my first year of high school. I have to say, digesting Beowulf as a fourteen or fifteen-year-old is not an easy task, but looking back I would have to say that I enjoyed it. I do enjoy epic movies and TV shows such as Forrest Gump and The Great Gatsby (according to Wikipedia, these movie are categorized as 'romantic epics'). As a hopeless romantic, of course these would be the ones I enjoy the most!

I have not had any classes about religion before BUT I, myself, am a Buddhist (I was born into a family of Buddhists, but continue to practice it by choice). Recently, I delved a little further into Buddhism where I learned a little more about the teachings and the way of life that buddhists follow. I have meditated before and it was an interesting experience. Meditation is much easier said than done but with more practice, mindfulness will be mine to claim!

I am not quite familiar with Indian culture such as the music and the movies, although I have heard of the world of Bollywood. Bollywood definitely caught my eye because of the beautiful costumes that I have seen around the Internet, though. I hope that through this class, I can learn more about Indian culture and history.

The two characters I recognize the most among the images are Siddhartha and Ganesha. Prince Siddhartha, or otherwise known as Siddhartha Gautama the Great Buddha, was the figure whose teachings helped create the religion of Buddhism. In addition, Ganesha, although he is mainly a Hindu deity, is one of the religious figures that is also recognized in Buddhism as a bodhisattva. His main role as a bodhisattva is to protect buddhist practitioners in mainly the Mahayana tradition.

"Prince Siddhartha beneath the tree." 

R. Wilson, Indian Story Book, illustrated by Frank Pape, 1914.

"Ganesha Grafitti. Graffiti en el barrio del Raval de Barcelona"

Indian Epic Images: Link.