Hinduism

Question 1

What is Atman? /6

Answer 1

The portion of Brahman(source) inside each being

Universal self

Living multiple lives in order to attain Moksha
|->Once reached Moksha; Atman returns to
Brahman

Can be understood through inward contemplation of the inner self

Underlies all the activities/actions of a person

Stays with the individual regardless of reincarnation

Question 2

What is the Rig Veda? /4

Answer 2

Nearly four-thousand year old text

Is Hinduism’s oldest sacred text

Was referenced by Ghandi

Declares that: “God is one, but men call him by many names”

Question 3

What is Moksha? /4

Answer 3

The ultimate release/liberation for Hindus
|-> release from the INFINITE MATERIAL
WORLD/ REALM in the form of a PHYSICAL BODY

Return to the ultimate essence/source — BRAHMAN

Unite with the infinite ocean of the devine/Devine realm

Marks the end of the CYCLE OF REBIRTH—SAMSARA

Question 4

What is Brahman? /5

Answer 4

The ultimate essence from which all reality and emanate from
|-> the SOURCE

Discoverable through profound observation and contemplation of the universe

Pure spirit (not a material object)

Beyond the reach of logical explanations

Similar to God

Question 5

What is Reincarnation? /5

Answer 5

A long of lifetimes from one life-form to another

Occurs on different levels of existence (animals/plants/human)

Individuals usually can not remember their past lives

Associated with the cycle of rebirth — SAMSARA

Dying without achieving Moksha BUT denies death;likely to be reincarnated again

Question 6

What is Samsara? /4

Answer 6

A.k.a the WHEEL OF REBIRTH (reincarnation)

Is broken by attaining Moksha
|-> individual Atman returns to Brahman (the source)

Can go as long as possible until Moksha is attained

A doctrine

Question 7

What is Karma? /6

Answer 7

Moral law of Cause and Effect
|-> morality of actions determines the morality of effects

Good Hindu actions = Good Hindu OUTCOMES

Creating GOOD KARMA attains Moksha

GOOD Karma is attained by Dharma

Determines the nature of each reincarnation

Only humans have the will to affect the status of their karma

Question 8

What is Karma like in NORTH AMERICA? /4

Answer 8

BAD KARMA: what goes around come back around

Consequential

Karma has a personality/dehumanized: “Karma is a Bitch”

Disservice to Hinduism, women, female dogs

Question 9

What is Dharma? /4

Answer 9

Moral RULES followed to live a good Hindu life
|-> decrease time in Samsara

Dharma = Moksha (less time in Samsara)

Follow dharma because it’s based on the law of KARMA (MORAL LAW)

Ethical duties: gender (m/f)/ stage of life/caste

Question 10

What is the Dharma of women? /4

Answer 10

Subservient: full obedience to men (father/husband/son)

Bare children

Household duties/chores

Marriage

Question 11

Is Hinduism polyesthetic? /3

Answer 11

Yes. Believing in many gods and goddesses

View deities as extensions of Moksha

Hindus believe up to 330 million deities

Question 12

What is Monism? /4

Answer 12

Describes that all reality is ultimately one

A doctrine

Most believed thought in Hinduism

Only-one-ism

Question 13

What is Upanishads? /2

Answer 13

Ancient philosophical text

Forms the basis of most Hindu doctrines

Question 14

What is Caste? /4

Answer 14

The division of society into four distinct classes:

• Brahmin
• Kshatriyas
• Vaishya
• Shudra

Question 15

What is Brahmin? /2

Answer 15

Top caste

Members are priests

Question 16

What is Kshatriyas? /3

Answer 16

Second caste

Members are warriors and administrators

Question 17

What is Vaishya? /2(4)

Answer 17

Third caste

Members are:

• farmers
• merchants
• artisans

Question 18

What is Shudra? /2

Answer 18

Fourth caste

Members are servants and labourers

Question 19

What are the Outcastes? /3(8)

Answer 19

A.k.a the untouchables

Not considered a class/caste

Members are:

• criminals
• prostitutes
• unmarried and/of female barring women
• disabled people
• poor
• animals

Question 20

What are the four stages of life? /4

Answer 20

1. Student
2. Householder
3. Forest Dweller
4. Sannyasin/Wandering Ascetic

Question 21

What is the Student stage of life? /3

Answer 21

Intensive studying of sacred text—Vedas

The stage lasts until the individual is married

Celibate

Question 22

What is the Householder stage of life? /4

Answer 22

Pursuing a career

Raising a family

Starts once married

Women must find a husband

Question 23

What is the Forest Dweller stage of life? /5

Answer 23

Starts at the birth of the first grandchild

Detach oneself from society

Engage fully in spiritual quest

Man may choose to ask wife to accompany during this stage

Celibate

Question 24

What is the Sannyasin/ Wandering Ascetic stage of life? /4

Answer 24

Forest dwellers who are ready to return to society

Remain detached from social life BUT…

ENGAGE IN SOCIETY by not giving into desire sand helping one another

The husband and wife must life detached from one another IF ENTERED THIS STAGE TOGETHER

Question 25

What are the four goals of life? /4

Answer 25

1. Sensual pleasure (commonly sex) 2. Material success (wealth and material possessions) 3. Harmony with Dharma 4. Bliss of Moksha (real peace is achieved)

Question 26

What are the three paths to Moksha(liberation)? /3

Answer 26

1. Path of Works: Karma Martha 2. Path of Knowledge: Juana Marga 3. Path of Devotion: Bhakti Marga

Question 27

What is the Path of Works? /7

Answer 27

Earning a living Raising a family For those of whose physical activities come naturally Everything in line with dharma Observing traditional aspects of Hinduism Having an ongoing concern for the world Attitude of unselfishness

Question 28

What is the Path of Knowledge? /3

Answer 28

Attaining full awareness of what is stated of being true For those who devote their time to learning and meditation |-> emphasizes having knowledge over ignorance The 3 schools, - Vedanta - Sankhya - Yoga

Question 29

What is the Path of Devotion? /4

Answer 29

For those who can become easily emotionally attached Directing one's spiritual energy towards a deity in forms of worship Focusing on the divine and away from selfish concerns Reduce the possibility of going through Samsara

Question 30

What are the aspects of daily devotion? /2(4)

Answer 30

Individual practices: - prayer - visiting temples/shrines Household and community rituals: - pilgrimages in holy places - generation of sacred cows

Question 31

What are household/village rituals? /4

Answer 31

Maintain shrines to honour deities Contain an image or symbol of that deity Tending a sacred fire/ritual bathing/ daily devotional rites before shrines May be seen as idolatry BUT ISNT! |-> Hindus are worshipping the god represented by the figure

Question 32

What are holy places in Hinduism? /3

Answer 32

Temples Natural entities (ex. River) Site of a great festival

Question 33

What is cow veneration? /4

Answer 33

The protection of cows; worshipping them like deities (are holy) Cows are decorated with garlands and anointing their heads with oil Killing cows is seen as a capital offence Abstain from eating cows

Question 34

Who is Ghandi? /4

Answer 34

Religious reformer Opposed oppression through non-violence and civil disobedience Helped gain India independence from Britain Assassinated by Hindu extremist in 1948

Question 35

What is Sati? /3

Answer 35

The burning of a widow Abolished in 1829 Old Hinduism practice

Question 36

Who is Swami Vivekananda? /4

Answer 36

A follower of Ramakrishna Established the Ramakrishna Mission The first Hindu missionary Famous for his teaching of Vendanta in NYC and San Francisco

Question 37

What is the purpose of deities? /3(5)

Answer 37

Uphold/represent Hinduism expectations For WOMEN: Sometimes represent model wives/mothers (ex. Lakshmi & Parvati) ``` Sometimes NOT: -disobeying men -do not want children -are seen as stronger and more powerful than some gods (Ex. Durga and Kali) ```