Religions of the East: from Hinduism to Islam - course 5925 rubles. from Level One, training, Date: November 29, 2023.

#1. History of Hinduism
November 24, 19:30, Friday
Hinduism is the oldest religion existing on the planet. Its study is the key to understanding all younger teachings. In addition, Hinduism is professed by more than a billion people, it is the third largest religion, and at the same time it is alive and relevant.

Let's talk about the Vedas and the first steps of Hinduism.
Let's get acquainted with the most important deities of antiquity and the Middle Ages.
Let's discuss the era of the Upanishads.
Let's look at the cults of Vishnu and Shiva.
Let's find out what bhaktism is.

#2. Modern Hinduism
November 26, 12:00, Sunday
Hinduism plays a paramount role in Southeast Asian culture, from ancient art to contemporary disputes among key Indian parties. Caste and the desire for the absolute, rebirth and avatars, food prohibitions and ancient poetry - let's delve into how Hinduism influences modern Indian life.

Let's see how Hinduism transformed during the Mughal era and the British Raj.
We will learn how new religious movements and ideas were formed.
Let's discuss the role of Hinduism in the political processes of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Let's look at the change in the caste system, which retained its influence.
Let's find out what Hinduism was like outside of India.

#3. Basic concepts of Buddhism
December 1, 19:30, Friday
The philosophical system of Buddhism is one of the most loaded and complex in the world. This lecture is a reason to rack your brains and think about familiar things and concepts from an unusual point of view.

Let's find out what we know about the personality of the historical Buddha.
Let's learn the key concepts of Buddhism: from karma to nirvana.
Let's discuss the ethics of Buddhism.
Let's understand the basics of Buddhist cosmology and philosophy.

#4. History of Buddhism
December 3, 12:00, Sunday
Let us study the paradoxes of early Buddhism or medieval Zen in order to gradually reach the modern problems of this religion. We will learn how Buddhism is influencing politics in Asia right now, we will see its role in violence (as a victim in Tibet, as an executioner in Myanmar), and we will trace its significance in economics and public life.

Let's discuss the most important branches of Buddhism - Mahayana and Theravada. Let's find out what their features and differences are.
Let's get acquainted with the history of Buddhism in the Middle Ages and Modern times.
Let's look at the key schools of the Far Eastern tradition and Tibet.
Let's find out what Buddhism is like in Russia.
Let's talk about modern problems of Buddhism.

#5. Zen Buddhism
6 December 19:30, Wednesday
Zen Buddhism is the most amazing, paradoxical and popular branch of Buddhism in the West.

Let us trace the history of Chan (Zen) Buddhism.
Let's find out what is paradoxical about Zen philosophy.
Let's discuss Zen art: from koans to rock gardens.
Let's find out what Zen is like in the West.

#6. Confucianism
15 December 19:30, Friday
Without Confucianism, neither medieval Chinese bureaucrats, nor Japanese samurai, nor Korean scientists can be understood. No other teaching has had such an impact on the political, bureaucratic, and social culture of the Far East. Although Confucianism as such has faded into the background these days, it still determines attitudes towards elders, table traditions and principles of raising children.

Let's learn the key ideas and values ​​of Confucianism.
Let's talk about the personality of Confucius.
Let's find out how Confucianism affected Chinese politics.
Let's discuss how Confucianism influenced the way of life of the Far East.

#7. Taoism
December 17 12:00 Sunday
Without Taoism, there would be no traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese cuisine, breathing exercises and martial arts; but at the same time there would be no great Chinese poetry and painting. Let us discuss the flexibility, variability, plasticity of Taoism, which is directly related to its basic philosophical principles.

Let's talk about the mystical foundations of Taoism.
Let's get acquainted with the figure of Lao Tzu and the myths about him.
Let's find out who the Taoists are and discuss the everyday culture of China.
Let's find out what the mysticism, magic and alchemy of Taoism is.

#8. Shintoism
December 20 19:30, Wednesday
Shintoism defines Japanese holidays, the attitude towards family, the Japanese home and the Japanese feast; sometimes it rises to religious heights, and sometimes it seems like just an everyday tradition, like our Olivier salad for the New Year. However, it is almost impossible to find areas of Japanese life in which Shintoism is not represented.

Let us trace the history of Shintoism from ancient origins to the reforms of modern times.
Let's find out what the basics of Shinto mythology are.
Let's find out how Shintoism affected Japanese history.
Let's see how Buddhism influenced Shintoism and how this affected both religions.

#9. History of Islam
December 22 19:30, Friday
Let's look at the amazing influence of Islam on law, art, philosophy, mysticism. We will see that Islam teaches not only everyday ethics, but also economic and political ones. From a historical perspective, we will see how adaptable Islam is and how strongly it influenced the cultures of various peoples, simultaneously accepting their best achievements.

Let's talk about the prophet Muhammad and the Koran.
Let's discuss the main schisms and divisions of Islam in the Middle Ages.
Let's understand the key concepts, provisions and ideas: from the five pillars to Sharia.

#10. Modern Islam
December 24 12:00, Sunday
It is the second largest religion on Earth, and at the same time truly global - the people who profess it are often no more similar to each other culturally than Russians are similar to Brazilians. In the West, it is now customary to treat Islamic culture with prejudice - but we will try to cope with these prejudices, without varnishing Islam, but also without painting it with black paint.

Let's discuss the transformations of modern Islam.
Let's find out what political, demographic and ideological changes have taken place in the Islamic world.
Let's talk about the formation of new Islamic movements.
Let's find out how realistic the fears associated with Islam are.