2. The Upanisads

Question 1

What does Atato brahman jignasa mean?

Answer 1

After becoming fed up of the unsatisfactory and temporal fruits of reincarnation, then begins the inquiry into brahman (moksa).

Question 2

What is sacrificed in the karma and jnana kanda?

Answer 2

karma kanda = material things to the devas for better karmic fruits

jnana kanda = the atma to brahman for moksha

Question 3

What is the story of the Yaksha?

Answer 3

the yaksha (brahman) challenged the demigods to destroy a straw, and they couldn’t. Goddess Uma said it is brahman and all the demigods found that this being is the source of their strength.

Question 4

What are tattva, hita and purusartha?

Answer 4

T = nature of brahman, prakriti, atman and how they relate

H = the means of liberation

P = nature of liberated state

Question 5

What are Sankaracharya’s views on ethics?

Answer 5

1. required to develop discipline, detachment and the purity necessary for the enquiry into brahman
2. get the blessings of the saguna isvara

Question 6

What are Ramanujacharya’s views on ethics?

Answer 6

Needed for Moksha as you need God’s grace who is the well wisher of all beings (suhrdam sarva bhutanam).