Hinduism

Question 1

Hur stor är religionen?

Answer 1

tredje största, 1 miljon följare

Question 2

Main location?

Answer 2

South Asia

Question 3

Definied by?

Answer 3

India, 95% population

Question 4

important places?

Answer 4

Taj Mahal , start of the Ganges river

Question 5

One of the oldest humanitity

Answer 5

4000 years

Question 6

“hinduism”

Answer 6

not used until late 1800s

geografical reference or a way of life or a religion

Question 7

gave birth to other religions

Answer 7

Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism

Question 8

Many deites but a single impersonal reality called

Answer 8

Brahman

Question 9

Monist

Answer 9

All reality is one, no difference between the divine and the rest of the family

Question 10

dualistic

Answer 10

God is separate from the individual and so devotion to God is possible

Question 11

Monotheistic Aspects

Answer 11

One God with many representations

Question 12

Indus river valley civilization

Answer 12

5000 years ago

Question 13

Vedic tradition 3500 – 2600 years ago:

Answer 13

rituals and many gods (polytheism) —sacred texts (Vedas) —social stratification (caste system)

Question 14

Upanishads

Answer 14

(metaphysical philosophy) 2900 – 2600 years ago (Vendata or the End of the Veda)

Question 15

first findings

Answer 15

Indus Valley Civilization Proto Shiva Seal

Question 16

The vedas

Answer 16

Meaning – Knowledge or Wisdom —Not of Human Agency but Revealed (sruti – “what is heard”) —Vs. Other Texts (Smrti – “what is remembered” includes the epics such as the Ramayana & Mahabarata)

Question 17

The Vedas & Their Function

Answer 17

—For Ritual —Source of Philosophy —Recited /Sung & Sacred —Source of Human Creativity —Contemporary Relevance

Question 18

The Vedic Canon

Answer 18

The Vedas (1500 – 600 BCE) —Early Upanishads (900 – 600 BCE) or Vendata—…And then the Mahabarata - Bhagavad Gita (~400 BCE - 100 CE) —Vendanta: Renounced ritualism and re-interpreted the notion of “Veda” in purely philosophical terms.

Question 19

AUM

Answer 19

A: This Worldly (Rebirth & Prosperity) Awake/Conscious AU: Intermediate Realm (Human & Brahman) Unconscious AUM: The Highest Self that is Beyond The Highest Life

Question 20

Transition & Continuity: Changing Emphasis From The Vedic to the Upanishadic World View

Answer 20

Vedic This World, Spiritual Virtue & Success, Ritual, Community, Vedas

Uspandic Liberation (Moksa) & Karma, Knowledge Community Individual Upanishads or Vendata

Question 21

Brahman

Answer 21

Unity of Existence —Indescribable: —Neti, Neti (Not this not That)

Question 22

Brahman: The Before & After

Answer 22

Brahman —Beyond Physical Sacrifice —“Great Making Power” —Original: Prior to Existence/NonExistence—Solution to Suffering and Cycle of Rebirth

Question 23

Atman: The Self

Answer 23

Identical with the: Ground for All Existence

Question 24

Atman

Answer 24

How Does One Express the Self If.. the Self is… Identical with The Ground for All Existence

Question 25

From Atman to Brahman: The Quest

Answer 25

Yoga “Yoking or Uniting” – Uniting the self with Brahman —Karma Yoga – Discipline of Ritual action (sacrifice) —Jnana Yoga – Discipline of Wisdom - Upanishads —Bhakti Yoga – Discipline of Devotion —Goal for All is Moksha —Internalization of Ritual —Renunciation

Question 26

Socio-Religious Ideas for Upanishads

Answer 26

Samsara & Karma —Present Action Determines Future Life: Morality — Dharma & Moksha: The Four Purposes —Morality (Dharma), Goods/Wealth (Artha), Enjoyment (Kama) —Moksha: The Aim of All — Classes/Varnas (Priest, Warrior, Farmers, Servants) —Follow Dharma & Organize Society —Life Stages —Student —Householder —Forest Dweller —Sannyasa: Renunciation

Question 27

Classes or Castes

Answer 27

To Brahmanas (mouth) he assigned studying and teaching, rituals, giving and receiving donations, the Ksatriya (arms) to protect, perform yajna, study, the Vaisyas (legs) are to, farm, trade, lend money, yajna, study, the Shudras (feet) to serve the other three classes.

Question 28

hinduism

Answer 28

Cyclical view of life were the ultimate goal is for the self to realize an ultimate connection to the supreme unitary reality rather than this world

Question 29

Essential Teachings of Hinduism

Answer 29

God is one and many. The many gods are all manifestations of the supreme Brahman, which is pure consciousness and pervades all things. God is manifest in nature. Realization that the soul or atman is one with God is the basis of enlightenment.

Question 30

Brahma

Answer 30

Brahma is the Hindu God of Creation •Brahma is traditionally depicted with four heads and four faces and four arms.

Question 31

Shiva

Answer 31

Shiva is the Destroyer •Even though he represents destruction, Shiva is viewed as a positive force •Shiva is the supreme God in Shaivism

Question 32

Vishnu

Answer 32

Vishnu is the Preserver, he is most famously identified with his human and animal incarnations (AKA, avatars)•He manifested Himself as a living being in ten avatars. •They are (in order of avatar) •(Fish) •(Turtle) •(Pig/Boar) •(Lion man / from the torso upwards lion, below, human) •(First fully human form as a dwarf sage who has the ability to grow very, very tall) •(Fierce man / Hunter) •(Greatest Warrior/ Ideal man) •(Mentally advanced man) •(Sage who is completely still) •(Prophesied, yet to take place) •For Vaishnavas, he is the Ultimate Reality or God. The Brahman.

Question 33

Theistic Hinduism

Answer 33

Main Hindu Sects: Vaishnava: Worship of Vishnu Shaiva: Worship of Shiva Shakta: Worship of the Goddess (Shakti/Devi) - Female “counterpart” to Brahman ©

Question 34

And we too are manifest forms of God!

Answer 34

We are not human beings having spiritual experiences; We are spiritual beings having a human experience!”

Question 35

God as an Image

Answer 35

A Manifestation •An Embodiment •A Symbol •The Cow as Sacred & Monotheistic Views of Hinduism as Pagan (Mere Idol Worship)

Question 36

Karma

Answer 36

law of cause and effect . Karma, a force that determines the quality of each life, depending on how well one behaved in a past life.

Question 37

Samsara

Answer 37

endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth, reincarnation

Question 38

Moksha

Answer 38

liberation from samsara through realization that God is all things Moksha is when a soul finally escapes the karmic cycle, it becomes one with Brahman when the last bodily incarnation dies.

Question 39

Renunciation

Answer 39

giving up attachment purifies oneself and helps one realize the true relationship between the soul and God Reincarnation is the belief that the soul repeatedly goes through a cycle of being born into a body, dying, and being reborn again in a new body.