Eastern Religions Test Flashcards
As if you were a faithful Hindu, explain the relationship between Karma, Samsara, Reincarnation, and Moksha.
Karma is your actions and the consequences of your actions, which comes over from previous lives, because Hindus believe in reincarnation. Reincarnation is where the soul comes back in a new body. This process is called samsara. A Hindu will continue to go through samsara until they reach their goal of returning to the Ultimate Reality. This goal is called Moksha
List the four caste (Varnas) groups and the male occupations associated with them: A. Brahmins B. Kshatriyas C. Vaishyas D. Shudras
Brahmin = priests and philosophers Kshatriyas = kings, warriors, and vessels Vaishyas = farmers and merchants Shudras = artisans and laborers
Describe the four types of Yoga listed below, which help achieve Dharma. A. Karma Yoga B. Jnana Yoga C. Raja Yoga D. Bhakti Yoga
Karma = focuses on service; you must do good actions to have good karma Jnana = focuses on knowledge; uses the rational mind to learn facts and seek knowledge Raja = focuses on meditation; uses meditation to make spiritual contact with the divine Bhakti = focuses on devotion; you will live your life devoted to Hinduism and rid yourself of worldly pleasures
Define Agni
Hindu god of fire
Define Artha
wealth by good means
Define Aryan
Noble person who speaks Sanskrit
Define Atman
The soul of God
Define Bhagavad Gita
Most prominent of Hindu texts
Define Brahmacharya
First stage of life: childhood
Define Brahman
Another word for God; creator
Define Brahmin
Priest who offers public sacrifices
Define Darsan
Visual contact with the divine
Define Dharma
religion/spiritual knowledge
Define Grihastha
Second stage of life: raising a family
Define Guru
Hindu spiritual teacher
Define Hanuman
The monkey chief
Define Kama
Physical/emotional pleasure
Define Karma
Action and consequences of action
Define Moksha
Infinite goal in one’s life
Define Nirvana
the soul free from the cycle of death
Define OM
the holy word spoken in Hindu prayer
Define Polytheism
the belief in many gods
Define Reincarnation
Soul moves from dead to new body
Define Samsara
cycle of life and death
Define Sanyasa
Final stage of life: prepare for Moksha
Define Shakti
The feminine aspect of God
Define Shiva
Destroying or redeeming god
Define Upanishad
teachings of spiritual masters
Define Vanaprastha
Third stage of life: semi-detachment
Define Varnas
color of one’s soul
Define Vedas
Religious texts/foundation of Hinduism
Define Visnu
Organizing or sustaining god
Define Vyasa
“collector” of the vedas
Define Yoga
spiritual disciplines that clear mind
T/F
Hindu philosophical systems include both dualistic and monistic viewpoints.
True
T/F
Hindu tradition teaches that the Vedas are not the work of humans.
True
T/F
The god Vishnu periodically appears in earthly incarnations.
True
T/F
Hindu worship may be carried out both in the home and in temples.
True
T/F
Mahatma Gandhi taught that it was wrong for Hindus to study other religions.
False
The Hindu festival of Holi may be understood as celebrating:
the end of winter, Prahlad’s surviving the fire in which Holika burned, Radha’s love for Krishna
Samkhya and Advaita are what?
two major Hindu philosophical systems?
What below best describes a Shiva?
lord of the yogis
spouse of Parvati
the destroyer
Food that has been sanctified by being offered to a deity is known as what….
Prasad
Lakshmi is the goddess of what?
wealth and beauty
The goddess often used generically to refer to the Divine Mother or the goddess in all her forms is…
Devi
In ancient Chinese belief, the greatest spiritual being and ruler of the universe was called what?
Shangdi
According to ancient Chinese tradition, the cosmos is a manifestation of an impersonal self-generating energy known as what?
qi
What text is used in divination?
yijing
When asked to define the essentials of strong government, Confucius stated what as the only true essential that the people needed to have?
have faith in rulers
Confucius focused his teachings very much on the here-and-now and consequently taught very little about what?
the supernatural
The follower of Confucius who added the belief in the goodness of human nature and his focus on the virtue of righteous conduct or yi was called what?
Mengzi
Who was the follower of Confucius who disagreed with the belief in the goodness of human nature?
Xunzi
What has Confucianism always advocated as the only means to social reform?
education
The practice which helps one determine the harmonious placement of a building or objects is known as what?
feng shui
Business conducted according to Confucian ethics is known as what?
capitalist confucianism
The two aspects of ch’i or qi representing dark and light or female and male are known as what?
yin and yang
The belief in practicing Confucianism because Buddhism and Daoism brought moral and political weakness to society is called what?
Neo-Confucianism
T/F
Ancestor veneration is an important feature of ancient Chinese religious traditions.
True
T/F
During the Cultural Revolution in China, Confucian tradition was denounced.
True
T/F
It is common for aspects of Daoism and Confucianism to be blended in practice.
True
T/F
Some scholars have questioned whether Laozi ever existed.
True
T/F
According to the Dao de jing, the Dao that can be told of is the Absolute Dao
False
T/F
The practice of Wu Wei involves careful observance of Confucian rituals of filial piety.
False
T/F
The many forms of Daoist practice are no longer undertaken.
False
T/F
Singapore’s annual courtesy campaign is influenced by Confucian values.
False
T/F
Confucian thought was rejected in Japan.
False
T/F
Divination is the practice of worshipping divine spirits.
False
Daoism and Confucianism flourished in which country?
China
Sacred rituals that are especially important to the veneration of ancestors are called what?
Li
The creative rhythm of the universe is called what?
Dao
What is a major theme of Daoism?
Harmony with nature
The philosophical basis of Daoism is expounded in which of the following?
Dao de Jing
Which of the following martial arts is associated with Daoism?
Taijiquan
Which of the following was the given name for the individual now known commonly as Confucius?
Kong Fuzi
Which one of the time periods below was a spiritual highpoint in many cultures and included the life of the Buddha, the Hebrew prophets, and the birth of Daoism and Confucianism?
Sixth century BC
Confucius’ work was….
known, but not considered very significant during his lifetime
What does the Confucian virtue ren basically mean?
Innate goodness
The deity who watches over the family’s activities is known as
The Kitchen God
Name and describe the Buddhist “Triple Gem”
The Buddha - the enlightened one
The Dharma - teachings
The Sangha - meditation, community
Name the four noble truths of Buddhism that form its core beliefs.
Life involves suffering
Suffering is caused by craving
Suffering ceases when craving ceases
The way to realize this is the Noble Eightfold Path
Buddhism purports an “Eightfold Path” that leads one to a peaceful and happy life by putting an end to all sufferings. Name FIVE “views” of this path.
Right Views Right Thought Right Action Right Work Right Progress Right Concentration
What four sights did Siddhartha witness?
old man
sick person
dead person
monk
T/F
Contemporary Buddhists do not think that Buddhism can provide answers for social problems
False
T/F
Buddhism is a theistic religion.
False
T/F
Buddhism was brought to the west through missionaries.
False
T/F
Tibetan Buddhism suffered persecution at the hands of communist China
True
T/F
Buddhism does not accept the Hindu caste system.
True
Who was the contemporary of the founder of Buddhism?
Mahavira
What does the term anatman mean?
No eternal soul
According to Mahayana Buddhism, how is the Buddha present?
an enlightened wisdom, which is formless
a celestial bliss body
a transformation body which can take human form
Which of the following is not one of the Three Root Afflictions?
Renunciation
Buddhist temples serve as what?
centers of community identity and integration
places to celebrate festivals
the location of ceremonies and blessing the deities
Define Bhikshus
Buddhist monks
Define Dukkha
Suffering
Define Jataka Tales
Stories of Buddha’s Past lives
Define Nirvana
the ultimate egoless state of bliss
Define Pali Canon
Buddhist ancient scriptures
Define Pure Land Buddhism
Offers faithful prayers to Amida Buddha
Define Stupa
memorial dome with relics of the Buddha
Define Sunyata
the doctrine of voidness, emptiness
Define Vesak
the most important Buddhist festival
Define Vipasana
Insight meditation
In Shinto, what is bringing one’s life into harmony with nature called?
Kannagara
Shinto has no ethical requirements, no sacred literature, and no what?
founder
What is the Shinto waterfall purification ritual called?
Misogi
In Shinto, the sacred is both immanent and what?
transcendent
Kami refers to a quality. It means that which evokes what?
wonder and awe
The earliest Shinto places of worship were probably located where?
sacred trees or groves
What is the cleansing ceremony, usually performed by a Shinto priest, which involves waving a piece of wood from a sacred tree?
Oharai
The major chronicles of Shinto are written down in what two parts?
Kojial and Nihongi
T/F
Shinto is an indigenous religion of Korea.
False
T/F
The Japanese had no word for nature until the seventh century AD.
False
T/F
The Oharai ceremony may be performed on new cars.
True
T/F
Japanese people often go to Shinto shrines for death rites.
False
T/F
State Shinto promoted the belief that the emperor was the offspring of Amaterasu.
True
T/F
Some Japanese scholars likened li to the way of the kami.
True
T/F
Today Shinto shrines can only be found in Japan.
False
Which most closely translates the Japanese word kami?
spirits
Amaterasu is the Goddess of the what?
Sun
Shinto priests and priestesses are traditionally not expected to meditate and it is common for them to be what?
Married
What is the quality of misfortune or impurity known as?
Tsumi
Seasonal festivals are reminders to the people that they are descendants of whom (what)?
kami
An infant of 32-33 days of age is taken by parents to a Shinto shrine for the purpose of doing what?
initiation by the deity
Outside of Japan, Shinto is a common faith only in Hawaii and where?
Brazil
What is the controversy surrounding the Yasukuni Shrine?
the inclusion of the names of fourteen class A war criminals at the shrine the visits of several Japanese prime ministers to the shrine
The tribe of priestly specialists in western Iran who performed magic and astrology were known as what?
Magi
In India, Zoroastrians are known as what?
Parsis (“Persians”)
What is the sacred cord tied around one’s mid-section in Zoroastrianism called?
kutsi
Zoroastrianism was named by western scholars after what prophet?
Zarathustra
Zoroastrianism introduced beliefs that are similar to those later found in Judaism, Christianity, and what?
Islam
T/F
Scholars have identified linguistic and thematic links between the Gathas and the Vedas.
True
T/F
The god of evil in Zoroastrianism is known as Ahura Mazda.
False
Zoroastrianism is a religion from where?
Ancient Iran
What are the Bountiful Immortals of Zoroastrianism called?
Ameshta Spenta
What below best reflects Zoroastrian belief?
Those who performed good deeds will have a wider bridge to cross to heaven than those who performed evil deeds.
What is the holy book of Sikhism now known as?
Guru Granth Sahib
When the Fifth Guru first compiled Sikh hymns and the poems of Hindu and Muslim saints, what was the text called?
Adi Granth
When initiated into the Khalsa, what surname do the men take? What surname do the women initiates take?
A. Singh
B. Kaur
What two beliefs does Sikhism share with Hinduism?
karma and reincarnation
The Sikh community is known as the what?
Panth
What is the name of the devotional practice of singing or chanting passages from the Sikh scriptures?
Kirtan
In what region of India did Sikhism arise?
Punjab
Khalsa initiates strive to vanquish what five evils?
1) Lust
2) Anger
3) Greed
4) Attachment
5) Ego
What do Sikh separatists demand that a Sikh state be called?
Khalistan
The Holy Name of God in Sikhism is referred to as what?
Nam
What are traditional stories about Guru Nanak’s life called?
Janam-Sakhis
T/F
Sikhism reveres ten human gurus.
True
T/F
Guru Nanak advocated strict asceticism as a means to knowing God.
False
T/F
The Sikh gurus refused to become involved in political and military conflicts.
False
T/F
In 1996, Sikh authorities issued a declaration that women should be allowed to read publicly from the Guru Granth Sahib.
True
T/F
The majority of the world’s Sikhs today live in Pakistan.
False
T/F
The leadership of Sikh Gurdwaras is hereditary.
False
T/F
Sikhs played an important role in India’s struggle for independence from the British.
True
T/F
In recent years there have been conflicts between Hindus and Sikhs.
True
T/F
Akhand Path is a continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib from start to finish.
True
T/F
Sikhism teaches that the ego is a major barrier to spiritual progress.
True
T/F
More than a quarter of the Indian population is Sikh.
False
Who founded Sikhism?
Guru Nanak
The word “Sikh” means what?
seeker of truth, student, disciple
The founder of Sikhism had an important religious experience best described as what?
immersion in a river
The egalitarian communal kitchen is known as what?
langar
The place where the Guru Granth Sahib is enshrined and where public worship takes place is known as what?
Gurdwara
What is the most holy city for Sikhs?
Amritsar
Which name below is one of the Sikh names for God?
Sat
Guru Gobind Singh….
advocated military action only under strict conditions
The sants….
included both Hindus and Muslims
What are the Five Beloved Ones?
The Sikhs who volunteered their heads to protect religious ideals
What is a kirpan?
a small sword worn by Khalsa initiates
