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oral Tradition
Moral
Dilemmas
DASARTHA'S
CHOICE
"'You
have promised me the granting of two boons, and you have
sworn to it in the name of Rama -- your darling son Rama.
And now I'll speak out my mind. If you reject my demand,
you will be the first of the Ikshvahu race, proud descendents
of the sun god himself, to go back on a promise for the
sake of convenience.' She took breath and demanded..."
(from Valmiki, trans. R.K. Narayan)
Moral
Dilemmas
The
Role of Dharma
Definition
Dharma is defined as:
Dharma
is a major concept in Hindu culture. It is a complex idea
of cosmic moral order underlying all existence. Correct
actions reinforce this moral order, are acceptable to the
gods and bring auspicious consequences. Actions that are
not right violate dharma and bring personal, and sometimes
cosmic, suffering. Therefore, the moral choice for a Hindu
is doubly important. Bad actions (incorrect choices) can
not only harm those who make these decisions, but they can
actually trigger cosmic tragedies like floods and droughts.
Good actions bring cosmic harmony; bad actions bring cosmic
suffering.
Introduction
The following five lessons will give substance to the discussion
of moral dilemmas in the Ramayana. Each character faces
a distinct dilemma in which he must make choices most in
line with righteous behavior. The correct choice depends
on principles, circumstances, and individual personality.
It is not easy to act according to dharma; thus the dilemmas
the characters face present thought-provoking problems.
Dasaratha's
Choice
Dasaratha,
king of Ayodha and Rama's father, has to choose between
a promise he has made to his son or a promise made to his
wife.
>> go to this lesson
Lakshmana's
Loyalty
Lakshmana,
brother of Rama, must decide to stay and protect his sister-in-law
or to save his brother's life.
>> go to this lesson
Rama
Chooses Sides
Rama
has to decide whether to follow through on a hasty promise
to support the younger brother, Sugreeva, against his older
brother, Vali, in a battle to the death.
>> go to this lesson
Hanuman
Burns Lanka
Hanuman,
monkey general and devotee to Rama, is faced with the decision
to punish the city of Lanka, both the innocent and the guilty,
or to flee without harming anyone.
>> go to this lesson
Sita's
Ordeal by Fire
After
Sita returns from being held captive in the home of the
evil Ravana, Rama must decide whether to accept her back
or to put her through a trial by fire to prove her chastity.
>> go to this lesson
Full
lesson Plan
>> click here
VERSIONS
OF THE RAMAYANA
