Chapter 2: Asian Religions and Their Cultures

Question 1

Jainism

Answer 1

• Mahavira founded Jainism as an ascetic faith
• Reasserted the Hindu veneration of all living things
• Jains wear masks to avoid insects, worrying they’ll hurt them
• In modern age, many Jainism have gone into business
• Used the swastika symbols

Question 2

Daoism

Answer 2

Dao - “the Way”

• Refers to people’s obligations and their social roles
• Dao De Jing - chief text of Daoism (“Classic of the Way”)
• Their teachings focus on living life as it is and go with the flow
• Grew under the influence of Buddhism

Question 3

Shinto

Answer 3

“the way of the gods”

• Traditional Japanese animism or nature worship
• Inspired by the Buddhist example
• Cult oriented
• Believed that various bodily functions were “polluting” and had to be cleansed
• Shinto shrines are located in beautiful areas

Question 4

Shiva

Answer 4

“Near perfect God”

• Believed to be to pure to be approached
• Blue skinned deity
• Celebrated as the “lord of both death and life and the genius of procreation”

Question 5

Brahma

Answer 5

Creator of the universe

• First goddess of the trinity
• Four headed goddess
• Has a caste called the “Brahmins” which is known as the highest case
  
  • Present in various rituals of life

Question 6

Vishnu

Answer 6

Preserver and protector of the universe

• Second god of the Trinity
• Blue skinned god

Question 7

Agni

Answer 7

Hindu god of fire

• Aryan god
• Two-faced god
• Also known as the messenger of the gods

Question 8

Vedas

Answer 8

World’s oldest religious texts

• 1500-600 B.C.E
• Composed of hymns, spells, rituals, and poems
• Last of the Vedas talks about the nature of the universe and human’s role in it

Question 9

Upanishads

Answer 9

Last of the Vedas (chronologically)

• Talks about the universe and human’s role in it
• Talks of asceticism and mysticism
• Also deals with good and evil, morality, and human duty

Question 10

asceticism

Answer 10

• A lifestyle that denies the pleasures and luxuries of life
• Done to achieve spiritual wisdom

Question 11

Dharma

Answer 11

Selfless execution of one’s earthly duties

• Prince Arjuna is told by the god Krishna that physical death is not important and that duty and the proper execution of it is important

Question 12

karma

Answer 12

Consequence of one’s actions

• If one stays true to their dharma, they will have good karma

Question 13

ahimsa

Answer 13

Non-violence / reverence for all life

• May have originated in Jainist teachings
  
  • Would later spread to Hinduism and Buddhism

Question 14

samsara

Answer 14

Reincarnation

• Hindu belief that life is a never ending cycle
• What you reincarnate as is a result of your karma through life
• Most Hindus are vegetarians because of this

Question 15

Mahayana Buddhism

Answer 15

“The greater vehicle”

• Offered a new approach to Buddhism
  
  • For those who did not want to become monks or nuns
• Bodhisattva
  
  • Saintly beings who delayed their journey to nirvana to help others
• Stressed the power of good deeds and works

Question 16

Four Noble Truths

Answer 16

1. Life is filled with pain, sorrow, frustration, impermanence, and dissatisfaction (dukha)
2. Desire is the root of all this as well as the urge for existence
3. To end suffering, one must become desireless
4. Desirelessness can be gained by the eightfold path of “Right Conduct”

Question 17

varna

Answer 17

Roles in society

• Four varna
  
  • ​Brahmin (priests or teachers)
  • Kshatriya (noble warriors)
  • Vaishya (commoners)
  • Shudra (servants and laborers)

Question 18

jati

Answer 18

• Similar to roles in society, but is comprised of hundreds of groups
• Defined by their job
• People in their respective jati were expected to interact only with others in their jati

Question 19

Confucious

Answer 19

• Common man
  
  • No political power or powerful background
• Believed ideal social order was achieved during the Zhou Dynasty
• Was born during the Warring States Period which caused him to go into a philosophical occupation
• From Lu; an important state during the WSP

Question 20

Mencius

Answer 20

Confucious’ most famous follower and commentator

• Believed people are born naturally good but need education to keep the status
• Encouraged rebelling against those who did not live up to their roles or responsibilites

Question 21

Laozi

Answer 21

“the Old One”

• Contributed to the development of the Dao De Jing
• Supposedly disappeared and became an immortal

Question 22

Dao de Jing (Tao Te Ching)

Answer 22

Chief text of Daosim

• Contains text that is mystical in nature and purpose is unclear
• Although the text is mystic, the message of the Daoists is to relax and take things as it comes

Question 23

diaspora

Answer 23

• Dispersion of a small population of Jews abroad in India that resulted in intercultural mixing, spread of Judaism

Question 24

Sufism

Answer 24

“Mystic” version of Islam

• Taught that salvation could only be achieved through prayer and meditation
• Studied the Qur’an
• Grew in popularity in India

Question 25

Mahavira

Answer 25

Founder of Jainism

• The great solds one (?)
• Practiced non violence

Question 26

Theravada

Answer 26

“way of the elders”

• Was very traditionalistic and followed the original faith closely
• Slowly recognized good works as a soure of “merit”
• This form of Buddhism was the one that was spread more to Southeast Asia