I find it very interesting that the text discusses how Western culture has analyzed Hinduism. I think that in the United States, it is common that people assume that they know everything about a religion or belief that is not their own. I think this is shown in xenophobia as well. Many Americans don’t want to learn more about foreign religions because of their xenophobia. I have heard of dharma, but I’ve never known what it is. From the text I gathered that is can mean many things. Including health, wealth, and power (72). It is still a confusing concept to me because it is so new. I think in my life, dharma would be me becoming a nurse and staying in the middle class. I can’t sing, act, or I don’t think I’m smart enough to be a doctor so I’ll just stick to what I’m good at and not try to be “rich”. I think that the Ramayana focuses on it so much because these aspects are crucial to many Indians. Natural law, social welfare, and ethics seem to be reoccurring themes in what the Indian culture values. Also, with the caste system being so important in India, I can see why dharma would be stressed in the stories. Rama is for sure a part of the caste system and he’d be the warrior (Kshatriyas). I understand bhakti to be worship to a deity. Rama is a main deity that can be worshiped. “It opened spiritual expression to both shudras and women” (78). I thought that was interesting that before this shudras and women couldn’t worship. I think that it is probably part of one’s dharma to experience bhakti.