hiniduism Flashcards
(28 cards)
What is the oldest sacred text?
Rig Veda
What is the ultimate goal of Hindus?
salvation through liberation from the constraints of the human condition
For most, it is a distant goal not to be attained in this lifetime. It can be attained in many lifetimes.
What is Moksha?
Liberation or release of the individual self
Most Hindus believe in ______. What is this
Monoism and it means the doctrine that reality is ultimately made up of only one essence
Brahman is what?
The COMMON ENTERNAL ESSENCE of reality and the source of the universe, beyond the reach of human perception and thought)
Brahman is the ground of existence and the source of the universe; it is infinite and eternal.
Upanishads
A collection of over 200 texts composed between 900 and 200 BC
What does the Upanishads teach?
That ultimate reality can be understood through inward contemplation of the self. (Soul or self and identifies with Brahman)
What is samsara ?
Wheel of rebirth or reincarnation, the this wordly realm in which rebirth occurs
Bhagavad-Gita
A short section of the epic poem Mahab harata in which the god krishna teaces the great warrior Arjuna about Bhakti Marga and other ways to God. Hinduism’s most sacred text.
(sacred Hindu text that teaches valuable lessons about duty, self-control)
What type of gods are recreated what god is not?
Smaller gods are recarninated but Brahman is not recarninated
How are Karma and Dharma interlinked
Karma: is a moral law and it means that every action will count in your recarnated life.
Dharma: is connected by a person social order. For example women need to obey their husbands
Ethical duty based on the divine order of reality one of the four goals of life.
What are the four parts to the caste system
Brahmin = priest
Khatriya = warriors and administrators
Vaishya = farmers, merchants, and artisans
Shudra = lowest level of caste system, traditonally made up of servants and laborers.
What are the four stages of life
- Undergoining an initation ritual at the time of puberty (arranged marriages)
- Householder pursues a career and raising a family is a central idea
- First birth of the grandchild marks the forest dweller stage.
- Sannyasin or wandering ascetic
Sannyasin = A wandering ascetic who has advanced to the fourth and highest stage of life
Ascetic = One who renounces physical pleasures and wordly attachments for the sake of spiritual advancements.
Artha
A complementary yearning arises for artha, material success and the social power and prestige that accompany it
Hinduism celebrates the goal of artha
Karma Marga
“path of works” One of three hindu paths to salvation emphasizing preforming right actions according to dharma
Is marked by an attitude of unselfness
Karma Yoga
Jnana Marga
One of the three Hindu paths to salvation emphazing knowing the true nature of reality through learning and meditation.
Emphasizes attaining knowledge over ignorance–knowing the true nature of reality
Vedanta
is a school most faithful to the predominant monoism of hinduism. They teach within jana marga.
Maya
Cosmic illusion brought by divine creative power.
Bhakti Marga
The most popular of the 3 Hindu paths to salvation, emphasizing loving devotion to one’s chosen god or goddesses
Most suitable for those to whom emotional attachment comes naturally
Directs spiritual energy outward, in worship of the deity
Avatar
An incarnation or living embodiment of a deity, usually of Vishnu, who is sent to earth to accomplish a divine purpose; Krishna and Rama are the most popular avatars.
Sati
women being burned alive cus they hate women after husband dies
Sankhya
A system of Hindu philosophy and one approach within jnana marga, asserting that reality comprises two distinct categories: matter and eternal selves
Yoga
A system of Hindu philosophy and one approach within jnana marga, seeking to free the eternal self from the bondage of personhood, culminating in the experience of samadhi
