Test 3: Buddhism and Hinduism

Question 1

Caste system

Answer 1

Priests (Brahmins), rulers (Kshatriyas), merchants (Vaishyas),
Servants (shudras).
(H)

Question 2

Ritual practices and dietary rules of caste system

Answer 2

Differ between the different castes. (H)

Question 3

Dharma

Answer 3

Determined by the caste system, what is expected of you(duties) and whether or not certain actions are good or bad karma.

Question 4

Vedas

Answer 4

sacred Hindu texts that refer to the creation story and karma, samsara, and moksha.

Question 5

Veda (creation story)

Answer 5

The universe comes from nothing, the world is always being created and destroyed.

Question 6

Karma

Answer 6

Positive and/or negative consequences for every action the atman takes in life. Determines the rebirth of every life. Bad things happen to you because of something the atman did in a different life.

Question 7

Samsara

Answer 7

wheel of constant birth and death the atman goes through.

Question 8

Moksha

Answer 8

Exit from the samara circle. It’s the goal of the atman. The purpose is to be reunited with the Brahman (creator).

Question 9

Atman

Answer 9

Individual soul. Piece that survives each birth and death in the samsara cycle. Goes through different cycles.

Question 10

Brahman

Answer 10

Everything comes from the Brahman (supreme being). An indescribable force; unifying force underlying everything.

Question 11

330 million gods

Answer 11

Concept (aren’t actually 330 mil. gods). The number is either so big that everything is God. Or the number is to small because it represents each individual thing (everything has God in it). The 330 million gods are actually a manifestation of one Brahman entity that permeates everything.

Question 12

Monism

Answer 12

No separation between world and a supreme being. The supreme being is in everything.

Question 13

Use of figures in Hinduism

Answer 13

Used as something to pray to. Not idols because they know that the figure is not god, they are just using it as a tangible object tat helps them pray. Destroy the figures after the ceremony. Highly educated Hindu’s don’t use figures.

Question 14

Hindu Trinity (Brahman)

Answer 14

Brahma- creator
Vishnu- maintainer/ preserver
Shiva- Destroyer

Question 15

Life Cycle rituals (Hinduism)

Answer 15

There are more life cycle rituals in Hinduism than in any other practiced religion. This is because India has a high mortality rate making every step in life fragile and worth celebrating.

Question 16

Initiation Ritual (H)

Answer 16

Initiation rite as a spiritual rebirth. Upper class are “twice born”

Question 17

Sacred thread ceremony

Answer 17

Part of the initiation rituals for initiation into student hood. Bathing ritual, student is then given a sacred thread to wear over their shoulder to share a connection to their teacher.

Question 18

Death Ritual (H)

Answer 18

Body is cremated, boy is not important because it was just used by the soul. Ashes are usually put in a river to represent going back to god.

Question 19

Who is the founder of Hinduism?

Answer 19

There is no founder of Hinduism or story or dates back to when it started. Hinduism is a western term that is applied to a variety of traditions in India.

Question 20

Bindi

Answer 20

Forehead mark, or red dot traditionally worm by married women. Symbol of their role in society. Represents wisdom “third eye”

Question 21

Puja

Answer 21

Domestic worships/shrines in the household. Includes lighting oil lamps, reciting prayers, and offering food. Women usually make an extra prayer or ritual to provide for happiness in the family.

Question 22

Diwali

Answer 22

Hindu New year (necklace of lights)

Question 23

Hinduism in the west

Answer 23

Yoga has been westernized to not be religous.

Question 24

Buddhism

Answer 24

Does not have a god, can be considered an atheist religion.

Question 25

Founder of Buddhism

Answer 25

Siddharta Gautama. Born in India into royalty, wanted to go outside palace but his father wouldn't let him. He finally made it to the real world and made four discoveries.

Question 26

Four discoveries made by Siddharta

Answer 26

Old age Sickness Death/Impemanence (the idea that we all are going to die) Saw someone who devoted his life to religion--> thought him he is not stuck in the life he is given, he can choose a more meaningful life.

Question 27

Middle way

Answer 27

Discovered by Siddhartha, he experienced luxury his whole life, when he left the palace he renounced himself by not eating and by holding his breath, etc. He found that both of these are not the answer to enlightenment, rather the middle way is the best. One needs to understand luxury and renunciation to understand the middle way.

Question 28

Four Noble Truths

Answer 28

Suffering- no one can escape it. Origin of suffering: desire Cessation- suffering ceases when desire ceases. The eightfold path- it is possible to end desiring and suffering by following the eight principles of self-improvment.

Question 29

Difference between the eight-fold path and the 10 commandments

Answer 29

Eight-fold path= what you should do rather than what you shouldn't do (10 commandments). The eightfold path was not given by god and are not commandments, rather they are instructions on how to live life.

Question 30

Dependent Origination

Answer 30

All things are interconnected. Discovered by Buddha (plow, field, bird)

Question 31

"If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe"

Answer 31

Quote by Thich Nhat Hanh. Means that everything is connected (dependent origination) in order to make an apple pie you need dirt, an apple tree seed, etc.

Question 32

3 major branches of Buddhism

Answer 32

Theravada Mahayana Vajrayana

Question 33

Theravada

Answer 33

Original form of buddhism, focused on monastic (monks and nuns) views, ordained men and women. Lay community provided for monks. Triple refuge- vows of poverty, chastity, obedience. Meditation- focus on breathing.

Question 34

Mahayana

Answer 34

Second form of Buddhism, lay people can also reach enlightenment. Bodhisattva vow Koans are used for meditation (philosophical questions that are meant to bring your mind to a new level of consciousness.)

Question 35

Bodhisattva Vow

Answer 35

withhold entry into nirvana to help other beings reach enlightenment.

Question 36

Nirvana

Answer 36

Total understanding of the world and free from suffering.

Question 37

Vajrayana

Answer 37

Third and most advanced form of buddhism, located in Tibet, Mantras- words(syllables) chanted to focus mind for meditation.

Question 38

Mandala

Answer 38

Representation of the universe. Pictures(sometimes made of sand) by Buddhist monks. Destroyed after they make them to represent impermanence (Everything created gets destroyed). Destruction is just as important as creation. Creating a mandala gives positive karma.

Question 39

Tibetan Sky Burial

Answer 39

Practice of "non-attachment." Burrial process when someone dies. If the body is not able to be cremated, then it is cut up into pieces for the birds to eat and "bring up to god"

Question 40

Stupas

Answer 40

Dome shaped structures used as a Buddhist shrine. 9 total stupas, Buddha's seven portions, the urn and the cloth that were held with the remains are each placed in a stupa. Additional sacred objects are also enshrined in stupas. Popular ritual.

Question 41

Buddhism in the west

Answer 41

practice of zen