Monday, February 4, 2013

Hinduism Review Questions

1. Moksha is an omniscient state of awareness. It is the ultimate bliss and final goal of life, and is the release from the cycle of samsara and the accompanying suffering.

2. Monism. All forms of reality have a common essence in the same way that ponds, lakes, rivers, and oceans all share the common essence of water.


3. Atman- The eternal self, which the Upanishads identify with Brahman; reincarnated with the body from one worldly life to the next until the soul exits samsara through Moksha.

Brahman- The eternal essence of reality and the source of the universe.
Atman is the individual soul and essence while Brahman is the universal soul.

4. The general function of the many Hindu deities is to provide access points for human beings to participate in the eternal reality and life force, Brahman.

5. Samsara is the worldly cycle of rebirth and reincarnation. It states that one's karma stays with the atman, the eternal soul that is reincarnated in this cycle until moksha, which breaks the cycle, is acheived. The cycle of samsara is one filled with struggle and suffering, but moksha is a separation from this suffering.

6. Bhagavad-Gita


7. Karma and Dharma. Karma is the belief that one's actions Build up positively or negatively and carry over from one life to the next.


8. Shudra-servants and laborers

Vaishya-Farmers and artisans
Kshatriyas-Soldiers and government officials
Brahman-priests

9. Because it is Arjuna's duty as a member of the caste system, or dharma.


10. Student-begins at puberty, And requires study of sacred literature

Householder-begins at marriage, concerns pursuing a career and accumulating wealth
Forest Dweller-begins at birth of first grandchild, and is preparation for the fourth stage
Acetic-begins when one is ready and consists of detachment from society and denial of pleasure

11. Sensual pleasure-pursuit of the pleasures of sensual love

Material success-accumulation of worldly wealth
Harmony with Darma-following one's ethical duties based on caste gender and stage of life
The bliss of moksha-the ultimate goal and unification with Brahman

12. 3 paths of liberation
     1. The path  of works - people who like physical activity and go by day to day task of raising a family
     2. The path of knowledge- is the shortest yet biggest path to liberation and and is for those with talent for philosophical reflection
    3. The path of devotion- is for those who have alot of emotion al attachment

13. 3 most important schools of philosphy - Vedanta, Sankhya and Yoga

14. 3 important god or goddess of Hinduism - Brahma the creator, Vishnu, the preserver, and Shiva, the destroyer

15. An avatar is an incarnation of a God, similar to demigods in Greek mythology. 

16. The Hindu text most closely associated with Bhakti Marga is The Bhagavad Gita

17. 3 aspects of  Hindu devotional life are household and village rituals, pilgrimages to holy places, and cow veneration.

18. Mahatma Gandhi changed India and Hinduism with his efforts to stand up to oppression by using non-violence and civil disobedience.

19. Significant changes in the caste system have tried to promote economic and social justice, especially concerning the Shudra caste and the untouchables.

20. Sati is the archaic practice of widow suicide, and is concerned with the idea that women aren't worth anything without a man. 

21. A significant development in India has been the split between Hindus and Muslims. The Muslims seceded, forming the nations of Bangladesh and Pakistan. 

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