Hinduism

Question 0

ascetic

Answer 0

one who renounces physical pleasures & worldly attachments for the sake of spiritual advancement;
common in Hinduism & many other religious traditions, most notably Jainism

Question 1

artha

Answer 1

material success & social prestige;

1/4 goals of life

Question 2

Atman

Answer 2

the eternal Self, which the Upanishads identify w/ the Brahman;
often lowercase, the eternal self or soul of an individual that is reincarnated from one body to the next & is ultimately identified w/ Atman

Question 3

avatar

Answer 3

an incarnation, or living embodiment, of a diety, usually of Vishnu, who is sent to earth to accomplish a divine purpose; Krishna & Rama are the most popular avatars

Question 4

Bhagavad-Gita

Answer 4

a short section of the epic poem Mahabharata in which the god Krishna teaches the great warrior Arjuna about bhakti marga & other ways to God;
Hinduism’s most popular sacred text

Question 5

bhakti marga

Answer 5

th most popular of the 3 Hindu paths to salvation, emphasizing loving devotion to one’s chosen god or goddess

Question 6

Brahman

Answer 6

the eternal essence of reality & the source of the universe, beyond the reach of human perception & thought

Question 7

brahmin

Answer 7

the highest of the 4 classes of the caste system, made up of priests

Question 8

caste system

Answer 8

traditional division of Hindu society into various categories; 
4 main varnas (classes): brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya, & shudra; each class contains numerous subgroups, resulting in more than 3,000 categories

Question 9

dharma

Answer 9

ethical duty based on the divine order of reality; 1/4 goals in life

Question 10

jnana marga

Answer 10

1/3 Hindu paths to salvation, emphasizing knowing the true nature of reality through learning & meditation

Question 11

kama

Answer 11

pleasure, especially of sensual love; 1/4 goals of life

Question 12

karma

Answer 12

the moral law of cause & effect of actions; determines the nature of one’s reincarnation

Question 13

karma marga

Answer 13

1/3 Hindu paths to salvation, emphasizing performing right actions according to dharma

Question 14

kshatriya

Answer 14

the 2/4 classes of the caste system, made up of warriors & administrators

Question 15

maya

Answer 15

cosmic illusion brought about by divine creative power

Question 16

moksha

Answer 16

liberation or release of the individual self, atman, from the bondage of samsara; salvation; 1/4 goals of life

Question 17

monism

Answer 17

the doctrine that reality is ultimately made up of only one essence

Question 18

Rig Veda

Answer 18

a collection of 1,017 Sanskirt hymns composed about 1500 B.C. r earlier; Hinduism’s oldest sacred text

Question 19

samadhi

Answer 19

a trancelike state in which self-consciousness is lost, & the mind is absorbed into the ultimate reality; the culmination of the 8 steps of Yoga

Question 20

samsara

Answer 20

the wheel of rebirth or reincarnation; the this-worldly realm in which rebirth occurs

Question 21

Sankhya

Answer 21

a system of Hindu philosophy & one approach within jnana marga, “the path of knowledge,” asserting that reality comprises 2 distinct categories: matter & eternal selves

Question 22

sannyasin

Answer 22

a wandering ascetic who has advanced to the 4th & highest stage of life

Question 23

sati

Answer 23

the traditional practice of burning a widow on her husband’s funeral pyre; outlawed in 1829, though it still occurs rarely

Question 24

shudra

Answer 24

the lowest of the 4 classes of the caste system, made up of servants & laborers

Question 25

Upanishads

Answer 25

a collection of over 200 texts composed btwn 900 & 200 B.C. that provide philosophical commentary on the Vedas

Question 26

vaishya

Answer 26

the 3/4 classes of the caste system, made up of producers such as farmers, merchants, & artisans

Question 27

Vedanta

Answer 27

a system of Hindu philosophy & 1 approach within jnana marga, "the path of knowledge," holding that al reality is essentially Brahman; most notable advocate is the medieval Hindu philosopher Shankara

Question 28

Yoga

Answer 28

a system of Hindu philosophy & 1 approach within jnana marga, "the path of knowledge," seeking to free the eternal self from the bondage of personhood, culminating in the experience of samhadi; lowercase: physical & psychological techniques for spiritual advancement

Question 29

1. Explain the meaning of the term moksha.

Answer 29

Liberation (moksha) = the ultimate goal for Hindus | - Moksha = characterized by infinite being, awareness, & bliss

Question 30

2. What doctrine says all reality is ultimately one? Give an analogy that describes it.

Answer 30

monism = the doctrine that all reality is one

Question 31

3. Define Brahman & Atmans. How are the 2 related?

Answer 31

``` Brahman = the essence of reality (the universe) Atman = the ultimate reality within human beings; the eternal self (humans) ```

Question 32

5. Give a brief explanation of the doctrine of samsara.

Answer 32

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Question 33

6. What is the name of Hinduism's most popular sacred text?

Answer 33

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Question 34

7. According to Hinduism, what are the 2 principles that connect the divine to this world? Briefly explain each.

Answer 34

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Question 35

4. What is the general function of Hinduism's many deities?

Answer 35

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Question 36

8. Name the 4 classes of the caste system & describe the people who belong to each.

Answer 36

- Brahmin = priests - Kshatriya = the warriors, administrators - Vaishya = merchants, farmers, artisans, peasants, producers - Shudra = servants, laborers

Question 37

9. In the Bhagavad-Gita, why does Krishna encourage Arjuna to engage in war?

Answer 37

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Question 38

10. Identify & briefly explain the 4 stages of life.

Answer 38

- Student - Householder - -

Question 39

11. Name & describe the 4 goals of life.

Answer 39

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Question 40

12. Identify the 3 paths to liberation. Which type of person is best suited for each path?

Answer 40

- active life, karma marga, the path of works - philosophical ones, jnana marga, the path of knowledge, - found amongst the brahmans - emotional attachment, bhakti marga, the path of devotion,

Question 41

13. What are the 3 most important schools of Hindu philosophy? What is the basic task that concerns all 3?

Answer 41

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Question 42

14. Identify 3 important gods or goddesses of Hinduism.

Answer 42

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Question 43

15. What is an avatar? Name 2 important Hindu figures identified as avatars.

Answer 43

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Question 44

16. What Hindu text is most closely associated with the bhakti marga?

Answer 44

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Question 45

17. Identify 3 aspects of Hindu devotional life.

Answer 45

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Question 46

18. How did Mahatma Gandhi influence Hinduism?

Answer 46

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Question 47

19. What significant changes in the caste system took place in the 20th century?

Answer 47

discrimination against outcastes = now officially forbidden

Question 48

20. What is sati? What is its status today?

Answer 48

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Question 49

21. What significant development occured in relations btwn Hindus & Muslims in 1947?

Answer 49

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