Eastern Religions Test Flashcards
(168 cards)
1
Q
As if you were a faithful Hindu, explain the relationship between Karma, Samsara, Reincarnation, and Moksha.
A
Karma is your actions and the consequences of your actions, which comes over from previous lives, because Hindus believe in reincarnation. Reincarnation is where the soul comes back in a new body. This process is called samsara. A Hindu will continue to go through samsara until they reach their goal of returning to the Ultimate Reality. This goal is called Moksha
2
Q
List the four caste (Varnas) groups and the male occupations associated with them: A. Brahmins B. Kshatriyas C. Vaishyas D. Shudras
A
Brahmin = priests and philosophers Kshatriyas = kings, warriors, and vessels Vaishyas = farmers and merchants Shudras = artisans and laborers
3
Q
Describe the four types of Yoga listed below, which help achieve Dharma. A. Karma Yoga B. Jnana Yoga C. Raja Yoga D. Bhakti Yoga
A
Karma = focuses on service; you must do good actions to have good karma Jnana = focuses on knowledge; uses the rational mind to learn facts and seek knowledge Raja = focuses on meditation; uses meditation to make spiritual contact with the divine Bhakti = focuses on devotion; you will live your life devoted to Hinduism and rid yourself of worldly pleasures
4
Q
Define Agni
A
Hindu god of fire
5
Q
Define Artha
A
wealth by good means
6
Q
Define Aryan
A
Noble person who speaks Sanskrit
7
Q
Define Atman
A
The soul of God
8
Q
Define Bhagavad Gita
A
Most prominent of Hindu texts
9
Q
Define Brahmacharya
A
First stage of life: childhood
10
Q
Define Brahman
A
Another word for God; creator
11
Q
Define Brahmin
A
Priest who offers public sacrifices
12
Q
Define Darsan
A
Visual contact with the divine
13
Q
Define Dharma
A
religion/spiritual knowledge
14
Q
Define Grihastha
A
Second stage of life: raising a family
15
Q
Define Guru
A
Hindu spiritual teacher
16
Q
Define Hanuman
A
The monkey chief
17
Q
Define Kama
A
Physical/emotional pleasure
18
Q
Define Karma
A
Action and consequences of action
19
Q
Define Moksha
A
Infinite goal in one’s life
20
Q
Define Nirvana
A
the soul free from the cycle of death
21
Q
Define OM
A
the holy word spoken in Hindu prayer
22
Q
Define Polytheism
A
the belief in many gods
23
Q
Define Reincarnation
A
Soul moves from dead to new body
24
Q
Define Samsara
A
cycle of life and death
25
Define Sanyasa
Final stage of life: prepare for Moksha
26
Define Shakti
The feminine aspect of God
27
Define Shiva
Destroying or redeeming god
28
Define Upanishad
teachings of spiritual masters
29
Define Vanaprastha
Third stage of life: semi-detachment
30
Define Varnas
color of one's soul
31
Define Vedas
Religious texts/foundation of Hinduism
32
Define Visnu
Organizing or sustaining god
33
Define Vyasa
"collector" of the vedas
34
Define Yoga
spiritual disciplines that clear mind
35
T/F
| Hindu philosophical systems include both dualistic and monistic viewpoints.
True
36
T/F
| Hindu tradition teaches that the Vedas are not the work of humans.
True
37
T/F
| The god Vishnu periodically appears in earthly incarnations.
True
38
T/F
| Hindu worship may be carried out both in the home and in temples.
True
39
T/F
| Mahatma Gandhi taught that it was wrong for Hindus to study other religions.
False
40
The Hindu festival of Holi may be understood as celebrating:
the end of winter, Prahlad's surviving the fire in which Holika burned, Radha's love for Krishna
41
Samkhya and Advaita are what?
two major Hindu philosophical systems?
42
What below best describes a Shiva?
lord of the yogis
spouse of Parvati
the destroyer
43
Food that has been sanctified by being offered to a deity is known as what....
Prasad
44
Lakshmi is the goddess of what?
wealth and beauty
45
The goddess often used generically to refer to the Divine Mother or the goddess in all her forms is...
Devi
46
In ancient Chinese belief, the greatest spiritual being and ruler of the universe was called what?
Shangdi
47
According to ancient Chinese tradition, the cosmos is a manifestation of an impersonal self-generating energy known as what?
qi
48
What text is used in divination?
yijing
49
When asked to define the essentials of strong government, Confucius stated what as the only true essential that the people needed to have?
have faith in rulers
50
Confucius focused his teachings very much on the here-and-now and consequently taught very little about what?
the supernatural
51
The follower of Confucius who added the belief in the goodness of human nature and his focus on the virtue of righteous conduct or yi was called what?
Mengzi
52
Who was the follower of Confucius who disagreed with the belief in the goodness of human nature?
Xunzi
53
What has Confucianism always advocated as the only means to social reform?
education
54
The practice which helps one determine the harmonious placement of a building or objects is known as what?
feng shui
55
Business conducted according to Confucian ethics is known as what?
capitalist confucianism
56
The two aspects of ch'i or qi representing dark and light or female and male are known as what?
yin and yang
57
The belief in practicing Confucianism because Buddhism and Daoism brought moral and political weakness to society is called what?
Neo-Confucianism
58
T/F
| Ancestor veneration is an important feature of ancient Chinese religious traditions.
True
59
T/F
| During the Cultural Revolution in China, Confucian tradition was denounced.
True
60
T/F
| It is common for aspects of Daoism and Confucianism to be blended in practice.
True
61
T/F
| Some scholars have questioned whether Laozi ever existed.
True
62
T/F
| According to the Dao de jing, the Dao that can be told of is the Absolute Dao
False
63
T/F
| The practice of Wu Wei involves careful observance of Confucian rituals of filial piety.
False
64
T/F
| The many forms of Daoist practice are no longer undertaken.
False
65
T/F
| Singapore's annual courtesy campaign is influenced by Confucian values.
False
66
T/F
| Confucian thought was rejected in Japan.
False
67
T/F
| Divination is the practice of worshipping divine spirits.
False
68
Daoism and Confucianism flourished in which country?
China
69
Sacred rituals that are especially important to the veneration of ancestors are called what?
Li
70
The creative rhythm of the universe is called what?
Dao
71
What is a major theme of Daoism?
Harmony with nature
72
The philosophical basis of Daoism is expounded in which of the following?
Dao de Jing
73
Which of the following martial arts is associated with Daoism?
Taijiquan
74
Which of the following was the given name for the individual now known commonly as Confucius?
Kong Fuzi
75
Which one of the time periods below was a spiritual highpoint in many cultures and included the life of the Buddha, the Hebrew prophets, and the birth of Daoism and Confucianism?
Sixth century BC
76
Confucius' work was....
known, but not considered very significant during his lifetime
77
What does the Confucian virtue ren basically mean?
Innate goodness
78
The deity who watches over the family's activities is known as
The Kitchen God
79
Name and describe the Buddhist "Triple Gem"
The Buddha - the enlightened one
The Dharma - teachings
The Sangha - meditation, community
80
Name the four noble truths of Buddhism that form its core beliefs.
Life involves suffering
Suffering is caused by craving
Suffering ceases when craving ceases
The way to realize this is the Noble Eightfold Path
81
Buddhism purports an "Eightfold Path" that leads one to a peaceful and happy life by putting an end to all sufferings. Name FIVE "views" of this path.
```
Right Views
Right Thought
Right Action
Right Work
Right Progress
Right Concentration
```
82
What four sights did Siddhartha witness?
old man
sick person
dead person
monk
83
T/F
| Contemporary Buddhists do not think that Buddhism can provide answers for social problems
False
84
T/F
| Buddhism is a theistic religion.
False
85
T/F
| Buddhism was brought to the west through missionaries.
False
86
T/F
| Tibetan Buddhism suffered persecution at the hands of communist China
True
87
T/F
| Buddhism does not accept the Hindu caste system.
True
88
Who was the contemporary of the founder of Buddhism?
Mahavira
89
What does the term anatman mean?
No eternal soul
90
According to Mahayana Buddhism, how is the Buddha present?
an enlightened wisdom, which is formless
a celestial bliss body
a transformation body which can take human form
91
Which of the following is not one of the Three Root Afflictions?
Renunciation
92
Buddhist temples serve as what?
centers of community identity and integration
places to celebrate festivals
the location of ceremonies and blessing the deities
93
Define Bhikshus
Buddhist monks
94
Define Dukkha
Suffering
95
Define Jataka Tales
Stories of Buddha's Past lives
96
Define Nirvana
the ultimate egoless state of bliss
97
Define Pali Canon
Buddhist ancient scriptures
98
Define Pure Land Buddhism
Offers faithful prayers to Amida Buddha
99
Define Stupa
memorial dome with relics of the Buddha
100
Define Sunyata
the doctrine of voidness, emptiness
101
Define Vesak
the most important Buddhist festival
102
Define Vipasana
Insight meditation
103
In Shinto, what is bringing one's life into harmony with nature called?
Kannagara
104
Shinto has no ethical requirements, no sacred literature, and no what?
founder
105
What is the Shinto waterfall purification ritual called?
Misogi
106
In Shinto, the sacred is both immanent and what?
transcendent
107
Kami refers to a quality. It means that which evokes what?
wonder and awe
108
The earliest Shinto places of worship were probably located where?
sacred trees or groves
109
What is the cleansing ceremony, usually performed by a Shinto priest, which involves waving a piece of wood from a sacred tree?
Oharai
110
The major chronicles of Shinto are written down in what two parts?
Kojial and Nihongi
111
T/F
| Shinto is an indigenous religion of Korea.
False
112
T/F
| The Japanese had no word for nature until the seventh century AD.
False
113
T/F
| The Oharai ceremony may be performed on new cars.
True
114
T/F
| Japanese people often go to Shinto shrines for death rites.
False
115
T/F
| State Shinto promoted the belief that the emperor was the offspring of Amaterasu.
True
116
T/F
| Some Japanese scholars likened li to the way of the kami.
True
117
T/F
| Today Shinto shrines can only be found in Japan.
False
118
Which most closely translates the Japanese word kami?
spirits
119
Amaterasu is the Goddess of the what?
Sun
120
Shinto priests and priestesses are traditionally not expected to meditate and it is common for them to be what?
Married
121
What is the quality of misfortune or impurity known as?
Tsumi
122
Seasonal festivals are reminders to the people that they are descendants of whom (what)?
kami
123
An infant of 32-33 days of age is taken by parents to a Shinto shrine for the purpose of doing what?
initiation by the deity
124
Outside of Japan, Shinto is a common faith only in Hawaii and where?
Brazil
125
What is the controversy surrounding the Yasukuni Shrine?
```
the inclusion of the names of fourteen class A war criminals at the shrine
the visits of several Japanese prime ministers to the shrine
```
126
The tribe of priestly specialists in western Iran who performed magic and astrology were known as what?
Magi
127
In India, Zoroastrians are known as what?
Parsis ("Persians")
128
What is the sacred cord tied around one's mid-section in Zoroastrianism called?
kutsi
129
Zoroastrianism was named by western scholars after what prophet?
Zarathustra
130
Zoroastrianism introduced beliefs that are similar to those later found in Judaism, Christianity, and what?
Islam
131
T/F
| Scholars have identified linguistic and thematic links between the Gathas and the Vedas.
True
132
T/F
| The god of evil in Zoroastrianism is known as Ahura Mazda.
False
133
Zoroastrianism is a religion from where?
Ancient Iran
134
What are the Bountiful Immortals of Zoroastrianism called?
Ameshta Spenta
135
What below best reflects Zoroastrian belief?
Those who performed good deeds will have a wider bridge to cross to heaven than those who performed evil deeds.
136
What is the holy book of Sikhism now known as?
Guru Granth Sahib
137
When the Fifth Guru first compiled Sikh hymns and the poems of Hindu and Muslim saints, what was the text called?
Adi Granth
138
When initiated into the Khalsa, what surname do the men take? What surname do the women initiates take?
A. Singh
| B. Kaur
139
What two beliefs does Sikhism share with Hinduism?
karma and reincarnation
140
The Sikh community is known as the what?
Panth
141
What is the name of the devotional practice of singing or chanting passages from the Sikh scriptures?
Kirtan
142
In what region of India did Sikhism arise?
Punjab
143
Khalsa initiates strive to vanquish what five evils?
1) Lust
2) Anger
3) Greed
4) Attachment
5) Ego
144
What do Sikh separatists demand that a Sikh state be called?
Khalistan
145
The Holy Name of God in Sikhism is referred to as what?
Nam
146
What are traditional stories about Guru Nanak's life called?
Janam-Sakhis
147
T/F
| Sikhism reveres ten human gurus.
True
148
T/F
| Guru Nanak advocated strict asceticism as a means to knowing God.
False
149
T/F
| The Sikh gurus refused to become involved in political and military conflicts.
False
150
T/F
| In 1996, Sikh authorities issued a declaration that women should be allowed to read publicly from the Guru Granth Sahib.
True
151
T/F
| The majority of the world's Sikhs today live in Pakistan.
False
152
T/F
| The leadership of Sikh Gurdwaras is hereditary.
False
153
T/F
| Sikhs played an important role in India's struggle for independence from the British.
True
154
T/F
| In recent years there have been conflicts between Hindus and Sikhs.
True
155
T/F
| Akhand Path is a continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib from start to finish.
True
156
T/F
| Sikhism teaches that the ego is a major barrier to spiritual progress.
True
157
T/F
| More than a quarter of the Indian population is Sikh.
False
158
Who founded Sikhism?
Guru Nanak
159
The word "Sikh" means what?
seeker of truth, student, disciple
160
The founder of Sikhism had an important religious experience best described as what?
immersion in a river
161
The egalitarian communal kitchen is known as what?
langar
162
The place where the Guru Granth Sahib is enshrined and where public worship takes place is known as what?
Gurdwara
163
What is the most holy city for Sikhs?
Amritsar
164
Which name below is one of the Sikh names for God?
Sat
165
Guru Gobind Singh....
advocated military action only under strict conditions
166
The sants....
included both Hindus and Muslims
167
What are the Five Beloved Ones?
The Sikhs who volunteered their heads to protect religious ideals
168
What is a kirpan?
a small sword worn by Khalsa initiates
