Duties And Aims

Question 0

What is Varnashrama-dharma?

Answer 0

Personal duties, according to one’s caste. These are duties according to your nature and stage in life

Question 1

What is Sanatana-dharma?

Answer 1

Spiritual duties. These are the same for everyone, and includes ahimsa - acting in a non-violent way, being truthful, honest and pure, and controlling the senses

Question 2

What are the 4 basic aims of life?

Answer 2

Dharma, arta, kama, moksha

Question 3

What is dharma?

Answer 3

Practising right conduct in religious and social duties. Like a moral law that guides you. Rules for fulfilling one’s dharma are found in The Laws of Manu

Question 4

What is arta?

Answer 4

Earning material wealth by honest and providing for family and society

Question 5

What is kama?

Answer 5

Enjoying the pleasures and beauties of life

Question 6

What is moksha? How is it achieved?

Answer 6

Aiming for the final goal of release from the round of rebirth and attaining liberation. The act of the Atman joining the Brahman. This is achieved by good karma, bhakti (devotion) and mukti (religious studies)

Question 7

What is Karma?

Answer 7

An ‘action’ which refers to the law of cause & effect - every action has a consequence
All the misfortune, bad luck + tragedy is the result of actions, thoughts + deeds from the previous life - if you perform bad deeds, you will live your next life full of suffering

Question 8

What is Samsara?

Answer 8

The continuous process of birth, death + rebirth, controlled by karma. Once moksha (the point of release from rebirth), the atman has become one with Brahman, and is liberated.
Good karma moves you forward in the cycle;
Bad karma moves you backward in the cycle