Hinduism Flashcards

Question

Krishna quote about fighting without attachment to results

Answer 1

‘Fight with a calm mind, free from desire and attachment. This is the path to peace and liberation’

Answer 2

• doing your duty without worrying about result or reward • Krishna says, ‘You have a right to perform your duty, but not to the fruits of your actions’ • should focus on doing good work without reward, and you will free yourself from the chains of selfishness to eventually reach moksha

Answer 3

• love and devotion to God, by dedicating yourself to him you can achieve liberation • ‘Those who worship Me with devotion, they are truly dear to Me’ - Krishna • close to the divine

Answer 4

• wisdom and understanding about the true nature of the soul to achieve liberation • ‘The wise see that the self is eternal and unaffected by the physical body’ • can overcome ignorance and maya (illusion) to reach moksha

Answer 5

• mind and body control through meditation • Krishna explains the importance of controlling the mind in order to become detached from physical desires and attachments • ‘For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends, but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain his greatest enemy’ • practise self discipline and self control to achieve moksha

Answer 6

The Gita teaches that wealth must be earned in line with one’s dharma, and attachment to it should be avoided

Answer 7

Krishna explains that harmlessness is a divine quality but reminds Arjuna that as a Kshatriya, he may need to fight in certain situations. Ahmisa also involves rejecting anger and hatred

Answer 8

Desires are natural but they should be controlled otherwise we become too attached to earthly desires and we will not achieve moksha

Answer 9

Arjuna respects Krishna by seeking his advice and listening carefully. Krishna teaches Arjuna to respect all living beings, as they have the atman (soul)

Answer 10

Arjuna is instructed by Krishna to fight as it is his duty as a Kshatriya. Fulfilling one’s duty is essential

Answer 11

Krishna empathises with Arjuna’s fears about fighting and offers guidance. He teaches that detachment from desires leads to greater understanding and compassion for others

Answer 12

Ultimate goal of life, signifying union with the Divine. It can be achieved through knowledge (Jnana Yoga) or devotion (Bhakti Yoga)

Answer 13

Krishna teaches Arjuna that controlling the mind and senses is essential for achieving moksha. Meditation and a disciplined lifestyle help with this

Answer 14

Krishna says that true wisdom begins with being humble which Arjuna shows by seeking guidance from Krishna

Answer 15

Krishna teaches that loving devotion (Bhakti) to God is a path to moksha. He also advises Arjuna to show love to all living beings, as they have the atman.

Answer 16

Rama and Sita exemplify love and loyalty to one another. Demon Ravana’s lust for Sita becomes destructive, showing that desires must be controlled. Ravana’s sister tries to seduce Rama, but he resists out of loyalty to Sita.

Answer 17

The King’s wealth can bring stability to society. Rama gives up his wealth when he goes into exile. Ravana’s obsession with wealth leads to his downfall.

Answer 18

Ravana’s brother rejects the violence of the demons. Rama is motivated by justice, not anger.

Answer 19

Rama respects his father by obeying his command. Ravana shows disrespect toward Sita. Rama honours the sages and elders he meets.

Answer 20

The entire Ramayana centre around doing what is right with a core theme being triumph of good over evil. Rama does his duty by obeying his father’s command. Sita does her duty as a loyal wife by joining Rama in exile. On the other hand, Ravana is a cautionary example of someone who fails to uphold righteousness.

Answer 21

Though not a main focus, the importance of dharma as a path to moksha is evident. Hanuman models devotion as a path to moksha through his love for Rama. Ravana’s failure to control his desires and ego prevents his moksha.

Answer 22

Rama understands his father’s difficult position, accepting his exile without protest.

Answer 23

Hanuman shows compassion toward Sita by reassuring her and risking his life to help her.

Answer 24

• can take place at a shrine • food is offered, blessed and eaten • incense used to enter a spiritual state • bell is rung to announce a presence • draw lines on forehead to show which deity they worship

Answer 25

• access and travelling can be an issue • brings you closer to God • helps your spiritual growth and journey

Answer 26

A practise/ritual which brings you closer to God

Answer 27

• water is sprinkled on hands to purify • shoes are taken off • bell is rung to announce presence • fruit offered to deities and eaten • circumambulate the deity • usually made for a specific deity

Answer 28

• story of Rama and Sita • triumph of victory over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance • first day = celebrate Lakshmi, goddess of prosperity, whose was born from the churning of the ocean on this day • second day - Lord Krishna and Goddess Kali are believed to have destroyed the demon Narakasura and freed 16,000 captive princesses on this day • day four = Lord Krishna’s defeat of Indra (the rain God) • awareness of inner light - biggest spiritual meaning

Answer 29

• shops and public places are decorated with divas - kept lit through the night • spring clean of the home - ready to welcome Lakshmi • wear new clothes • draw Rangoli near the main doorway to the house to ward off evil spirits • fireworks and sweets • play cards and gamble - auspicious, brings wealth • demon effigies are burnt

Answer 30

• divas = climax of the Diwali legend when Rama and Sita return to the kingdom after fourteen years of exile • light the way for Goddess Lakshmi in the hope she will bless them with prosperity • Awareness of inner light = central to Hindu belief is the the understanding of atman beyond the physical body • celebration of victory of good refers to light of higher knowledge, remembering the ultimate reality

Answer 31

• A journey to a place of religious significance in order to gain spiritual benefit.

Answer 32

• to make amends for wrongdoing • to become closer to God • to demonstrate commitment to God or deity • offer pilgrimage on someone’s behalf • part of dharma • family tradition • find out about a holy place • offer thanks • ask for help/healing

Answer 33

• lead them to moksha and strengthen faith • healing and cleansing of sins • offering of thanks

Answer 34

• one of the oldest and most respected cities • shiva founded Varanasi and lived there • river Ganges runs through - Hindus bathe here and hope to wash sins away • scatter ashes here to become closer to Moksha • ghats - two of these are dedicated to funeral rituals where bodies and washed before cremation • 23,000 temples for Shiva • at night Hindus worship together • Maha Shivarati - commemorating a time when Shiva saved the world from destruction and day Shiva married Pavarti, so single people will pray

Answer 35

• Krishna is believed to have spent his life here as a child • 1000 temples for Krishna and his consort • Hindus visit places Krishna went/lived • go to river Yamuna and mark foreheads with yellow clay as a sign of Krishna’s protection • walk around the city 12km clockwise to show devotion • ritual - do not ring the bell in the morning • Hindus entertain/tell stories • hope to achieve moksha

Answer 36

‘If one offers to me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or even water.’ I delightfully partake of that article offered with love’

Answer 37

‘by working without being attached to the fruits, one attains the supreme’

Answer 38

•Protection and tie • festival of love and loyalty • traditionally between a brother and sister, could be between friends • tilak- mark on forehead • dress up in traditional clothes • Rakhi for brother - promise if loyalty to protect sister • sister says prayer to keep him happy and healthy • younger one has to touch feet as a sign of respect • Lakshmi, Vishnu’s wife, missed her husband because he was guarding Bali’s door. She went to Bali in disguise asking to stay in the palace. Bali agrees and treats her like a sister. Eventually, allows Vishnu to go back with Lakshmi

Answer 39

• festival of colour • spring festival - end of Winter and time for renewal • live music and dancing - ‘colour runs’ for charity too • throw paint - can hit anyone, originates from Krishna • burn popcorn and chick-peas • effigies of Holika are burnt the night before • Holika was destroyed by flames when she tried to trick her brother, but Vishnu saved him because Prince Prahlad was a devoted follower • celebrate good overcoming evil • each colour represent virtues of the soul - green is love, red is power • should mend friendships and forgive past offences

Answer 40

• presenting an offering and making it into a sacred fire • while kindling the fire, prayers are said and a deity is invoked to purify • happens on a special occasion , e.g. naming of a child or wedding q

Answer 41

• offerings to God - humility and devotion • objects representing the five elements, eg water in a conch shell and incense • incense offered to show pure mind

Answer 42

• standing before an image or murti • means ‘sight’ • devotion flows from worshipper and divine blessings are received in return

Answer 43

• ‘sharing’ • singing and playing music to show devotion • devotional poem as a song with a chorus

Answer 44

• ‘telling’ • singing and playing music • call and response - mantra is chanted and audience chants back • major part of Vasihnavism

Answer 45

• repetition of the name of a God or a mantra • use mala to aid • mala are prayer beads, count the number of mantras • mantra can be mental or spoken aloud

Answer 46

Some Hindus suggest Brahman's nature is Nirguna This is the idea that Brahman is impersonal, beyond, description and without form. Other Hindus suggest Brahman's nature is saguna. This is the idea Brahman is personal, with form and can be worshipped personally pervading - everywhere and everything the Upanishads, 'He is the one present everywhere' nature is enlightening - helps us understand the world upanishads suggests - 'It is only because of His light that other things are seen and understood

Answer 47

represent Brahman in human form Hindus can worship Brahman saguna - personal and comprehensible manifestation of God passed on messages/teachings to devotees fight evil - exemplary figures and role models for Hindus teaching them how to respond to injustice protect good people - this means that Hindus can rely on avatars during times

Answer 48

female principle represents that active part of the deity creative energy of the Shakti which enables the male consort to exert their power, eg the Shiva Lingum gender equality - don't discriminate as both are worshipped offers Hindu women a range of role models highlights power of female principles - e.g. kindness, beauty and maternal instincts

Answer 49

blue - infinity of his divine nature depicted in yellow cloth - he is really God in earthly form popularity of kRISHNA MEANS HE IS WORSHIPPED AS A gOD IN HIS OWN RIGHT may not just be an avatar - ISKCON (Hare Krishna movement) see Krishna as the Supreme Lord perfect child, student, lover, husband, warrior, hero, teacher and king held in high regard due to the importance of Vishnu in the Trimurti (maintainer and preserver) seen as an exemplary figure, for example he teaches about Bhakti Yoga - where Hindus will devote their life to God importance of forgiveness when he defeats Kaliya but shows him mercy rather than killing him mythology is popular - many stories are used as entertainment, eg childrens books and the epic the Mahabharata is a popular TV show Little Krishna - popular cartoon of Krishna's life, including when he saved the people of Vrindavan by lifting Govardhan hill with his little finger

Answer 50

form of an elephant - considered the remover of obstacles due to a legend which suggests his head was removed and replaced by Shiva, his father Hindus often offer puja to Ganesha if they are encountering a problem doorkeeper of the Universe - means he is often found at city gates, guarding temples, doorways and homes source of luck numerous books/cartoons about how he received his elephant head worshipped at the beginning of all important enterprises - luck and good fortune one of the sons of Lord Shiva - Ganesha is held in high regard becuase of the position of Shiva in the Hindu pantheon

Answer 51

some see the soul as one with God in everyway all the Gods and Goddesses are just appearances, representing aspects of Brahman, which is impersonal Brahman is nirguna - Hindus adopt a monist view of the Atman-Brahman relationship - united

Answer 52

dualists separation between atman and Brahman Hindus see aspects of the Ultimate Reality in various Gods and Goddesses Brahman is saguna - dualist view of atman- brahman relationship - although Brahman is the source from which the atman derives, there is an individuality

Answer 53

Hindus believe the physical body is not the real 'self' any more than clothes are 'As a person sheds worn-out garments and wears new ones, likewise, at the time of death, the soul casts off its worn-out body and enters a new one' - Gita

Answer 54

Acts as a motivational force to improve life if they have been reincarnated into challenging circumstances Source of comfort in times of bereavement - gives Hindus hope and support when an individual has died - describes life as cyclical, therefore death is not the end of life Encourages Hindus to carry out their dharma to ensure favourable reincarnation (because they are positively contributing to society) Allows karmic and spiritual efforts to be rewarded - all actions will be reviewed and hopefully rewarded

Answer 55

underpins the Hindu understanding of good and bad actions in Gita, Krishna declares an individual's caste as 'the result of their actions' basis of Hindu ethics, for example ahimsa helps attain moksha, e.g. yoga basis of sanatana dharma - the eternal religion

Answer 56

qualities of goodness, passion and ignorance sattva - a state of harmony rajas - a state of energy, action, change and movement tamas - darkness help guide Hindu behaviour born with all three but have a dominant characteristic eschatological implications , e.g. living a life of sattva = more likely moksha

Answer 57

Satya yuga - golden age - first yuga, perfection and 100% goodness Treta yuga - silver age 75/25 Dvapara - bronze age 50/50 Kali

Answer 58

Bathing in the Ganges encourages favourable rebirth Hindu teachings encourage bathing, drinking and praying and using the water of the Ganges in worship - eg Rama and Sita promised moksha to those Hindus who use water from the Ganges during puja considered a deity - personified as the Goddess Ganga Bathing in the river leads to purification - Kumbh Mela is an event which is dedicated to this ritual action

Answer 59

worshipped via avatars and consorts importance of the personal aspects of God experience eternal life in devotion to Vishnu in Vaikuntha Hare Krishna, ISCKON rituals can include darshan, aarti, bhajan, havan, japa and kirtan God and the soul are different highest path to moksha is bhakti most important scriptures are the Vedas and Bhagavad Gita

Answer 60

belief that Shiva is the supreme God of the Trimurti worshipped in two forms - linga and in human form Pavarti and sons are also worshipped natural linga shaped stones, flowers and food used during worship use of sacred ashes during worship as well as sacred syllable, 'Ohm' holiest of shrines is Nataraja temple in Tamilnadu

Answer 61

read/teach/interpret sacred texts - pass messages to contemporary Hindus help perform rites of passage - eg preside over a wedding or funeral help run and maintain the community mandir lead festival celebrations, eg during Holi they organise the throwing of colours event

Answer 62

give spiritual guidance, read sacred texts, exemplars for others to follow Gita exemplifies the importance of a guru in Hinduism - in the story, Arjuna seeks guidance from Krishna and in essence seeks Krishna as his guru students are expected to be loyal to their guru and trust their knowledge and methods humility - humble before their guru (e.g. Arjuna and Krishna)

Answer 63

practise charity and live out good karma ahimsa - many Hindus are vegetarian and care for all living things many Hindus see life as one (monism) and Brahman can be seen in the atman of all creatures, practising kindness is important charity = dana or sewa - charity is not done so something can be given back, but to live out pure goodness ISKON - Kare Krishna food for life movement - world's largest vegetarian food charity founder of program in 1972 stated that no one within 10 miles of an ISKON temple should go hungry ISKON devotees now run a global network of free food restaurants in many of the largest cities around the world, serving millions of meals every day involved in over 210 projects which feed up to 2 million meals a day Food for Life projects span the globe and all have unique local aims and objectives revive ancient Vedic culture of spiritual hospitality, to teach their is spiritual equality among all beings teach value of plant-based meals

Answer 64

aims to protect India's sacred forests, saving trees and educating people about environmental protection Hindu scriptures tell story of the life of Vishnu in the Vrindavan forest, so Hindus believe it should be protected

Answer 65

Hindu scripture sees cows as, 'mother of all things' Krishna was a cow herd goshalas (places which care for cows) found in India and the UK service and protection of the Mother Cow is the greatest solution for mankind's suffering, the path to real peace milk is offered to a deity (Krishna) in the temple daily

Answer 66

Vedas holds women in high esteem and address them as dharma Patni men and women have equal worth (shakti) championed by Kindu reformers - Sewa international works for women's rights and empowerment by enabling them to earn money and provide for their families also challenges the lack of fairness and opportunities for women

Answer 67

teachings of Advaita Vedanta Philosophy suggest Brahman is within every living being, so every living being should be respected encouraged by many great Hindu leaders - Gandhi's Satyagraha Movement which fought for Indian Independence sacred texts teach that ahimsa is the dharma of all four castes principle which makes up Sanatana dharma - concept is integral to a Hindu's moral conduct affects eating habits (vegetarianism) ethical outlook - eg source of authority when dealing with abortion and euthanasia consumption habits - eg buying ahimsa milk

Hinduism Flashcards

(91 cards)