1. Discuss the changing understandings of the Self and the way to achieve the ultimate end (or goal) of a person from the Rig Veda, Upaniads, Jainism, Buddhism, and the Bhagavad-Gita.
2. Discuss the changing understandings of “sacrifice” in the Rig Veda, Upanisads, Jainism, Buddhism, and the Bhagavad-Gita.
Group 2 (choose one):
1. What is the evolution of “action” (karma) from the Vedas to the Bhagavad-Gita (and traditions in between), and how is Krishna’s position a critique or remodeling of previous ideas of action? Where does the concept of karma (or action) originate?
2. Describe the system of var?ashramadharma. What is the textual origin of var?a? How does sannyasa challenge this system? How do the Jains and Buddhists understand the importance of sannyasa? How does Krishna bring sannyasa and var?ashramadharma together in the Bhagavad-Gita?