Midterm Exam

Question 1

What is Anatta?

Answer 1

the Buddhist concept of non-self; the belief that there is no permanent, unchanging self or soul in beings.

Question 2

What is Arhat/Arahant?

Answer 2

in Buddhism, a person who has attained enlightenment an liberation (Nirvana) and is free from the cycle of samsara.

Question 3

What is Ashrams?

Answer 3

the four stages of life in Hinduism: Student hood, House holder, Forest Dweller, and Ascetic.

Question 4

What is Atman?

Answer 4

the individual self or soul in Hindu philosophy, often equated with Brahman, which is ultimate reality.

Question 5

What is Avatara?

Answer 5

a form or incantation of a deity, particularly in Hinduism, used to describe the descent of a god to earth.

Question 6

What is Brahman?

Answer 6

What is Brahman~ the ultimate reality or sonic spirit in Hinduism, often a conceptual representation of the source of all existence.

Question 7

What is Brahmin?

Answer 7

the highest caste in Hindu society, traditionally priest and religious scholars.

Question 8

What is Buddha?

Answer 8

“ The Enlightened One”; a title given to Siddhartha Gautama after his attainment of enlightenment.

Question 9

What is Buddha Consciousness?

Answer 9

the state of awareness and understanding of reality, which allows one to experience enlightenment.

Question 10

What is Buddha-dharma?

Answer 10

the teachings and doctrines of the Buddha.

Question 11

What is Buddha nature?

Answer 11

the innate potential for enlightenment present in all beings, according to Mahayana Buddhism.

Question 12

What is Bodhisattva?

Answer 12

a being who has attained enlightenment but chooses to remain in samsara to help others achieve liberation.

Question 13

What is Darsana?

Answer 13

philosophical or spiritual vision, often linked to the experience of seeing a sacred object.

Question 14

What is Dharma?

Answer 14

moral and spiritual teachings governing conduct in both Hinduism and Buddhism.

Question 15

What is Dualism?

Answer 15

the belief that reality insists of two distant entities, often material and spiritual.

Question 16

What is Dukka?

Answer 16

the Buddhist term for suffering, stress, or dissatisfaction.

Question 17

What is enlightenment?

Answer 17

the realization of wisdom and understanding in Buddhism, leading to Nirvana.

Question 18

What is Indra’s Net?

Answer 18

a metaphor illustrating the interconnectedness of all beings and phenomena.

Question 19

What is Jati?

Answer 19

the sub-castes in the Hindu caste system determine in social status and occupation.

Question 20

What is Karma?

Answer 20

the law of moral causation. Whereby actions influence future circumstances and rebirth.

Question 21

What is manga?

Answer 21

the path leading to the cessation of suffering in Buddhism, particularly the Noble Eightfold Path.

Question 22

What is Mindfulness?

Answer 22

a mental state of present-moment awareness emphasize in Buddhist practice.

Question 23

What is Moksha?

Answer 23

liberation from the cycle of samsara in Hinduism, representing the ultimate goal of life.

Question 24

What is Nirodha?

Answer 24

the cessation of suffering, a key concept leading to Nirvana in Buddhism.

Question 25

What is Nirvana?

Answer 25

the ultimate goal of Buddhism, symbolizing liberation from samsara and the end of suffering.

Question 26

What is Niskama?

Answer 26

actions without attachment to the outcomes of one’s actions, emphasized in the Bhagavad Gita.

Question 27

What is Parinirvana?

Answer 27

the final nirvana attained by a person who has already achieved enlightenment during their lifetime, occurring upon their physical death.

Question 28

What is Samsara?

Answer 28

the cycle birth, death, and rebirth in both Hinduism and Buddhism; a continuous cycle of existence driven by karma and characterized by suffering.

Question 29

What is Samudaya?

Answer 29

one of Yerwa Four Noble Truths in Buddhism; it refers to the origin of suffering, which is identified as craving or desire (tanha).

Question 30

What is Sangha?

Answer 30

the community of monks, nuns, and laypeople who follow the teachings of the Buddha and support each other in their spiritual practice.

Question 31

What is Tanha?

Answer 31

the Buddhist term for craving or desire, which is identified as a primary cause of suffering (Dukka).

Question 32

What is The Buddha?

Answer 32

“The Enlightened One,” referring specifically to Siddhartha Gautama after he attained enlightenment and began teaching the path to liberation.

Question 33

What is Yoga?

Answer 33

a spiritual, mental, and physical discipline in Hinduism, which includes various practices to achieve union with the divine or realization of the self.

Question 34

What is the Trimurti?

Answer 34

the triad of principal deities in Hinduism: Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer).

Question 35

What is Varna?

Answer 35

the four main categories in the Hindu caste system: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (traders), and Shudras (laborers).

Question 36

What is Zen?

Answer 36

a school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes meditation, mindfulness, and direct experiential realization of reality, often through koans (paradoxical statements or questions).