Hinduism

Question 1

What is Mahabharata? What’s included?

Answer 1

One of Hinduism sacred writing that also includes BHAGAVAD GITA
Bhagavad Gita is the story of Krishna and Arjuna. Arjuna is a prince who’s going into a battle. Krishna is AN incarnation of Vishnu. He is Arjuna’s charioteer.

Question 2

What’s the 4 Message of the story of BHAGAVAD GITA???? (EXAM)

Answer 2

1. Life does not last; neither does death
2. We create MEANING by giving SHAPE to EMPTINESS
3. WE create “RIGHT AND WRONG”
4. WE create “OUR OWN TRUTH AND LET IT DEFINE US”.

Question 3

**WHAT IS BRAHMAN????

Answer 3

Brahman is the infinite, unknowable, supreme reality.
1. ONLY KNOWN THROUGH OTHER GODS
2. All things are one with the universe.
3. Eternal, infinite, sexless, without a past or present or future.
4. “Universal divine consciousness”; Brahman is not a being/person. It has no form.
5. ATMAN IS ONE WITH BRAHMAN!!! (EXAM) . (atman is the individual divine entity/soul which keeps being reincarnated)

Question 4

What is Atman???

Answer 4

ATMAN IS ONE WITH BRAHMAN!!! (EXAM)
- Atman is the individual divine entity/soul which keeps being reincarnated.

Question 5

What is Maya?

Answer 5

means “ILLUSION”– We are not conscious (Aware) of the fact that we are one with Brahman.

Question 6

What is Samsara?

Answer 6

Means “TO WONDER ACROSS”!
- We all live in the cycle where the Atman wanders across/moves from one time or one body to the next and continues to live
- Birth –> death –> rebirth/reincarnation –> death and so on
- SAMSARA IS NOT A GOOD THING. IT’S A CURSE bc it’s an endless cycle where you have to repeat over and over.

Question 7

What is Moksha???

Answer 7

Escape or release from Samsara!!!!!

Question 8

What is Karma?

Answer 8

1. What determines your incarnation
2. “Law of Consequence” that has to do with this life and your next life
3. Cosmic law of cause and effects
4. DETERMINES NEXT INCARNATION

Question 9

What is ENLIGHTENMENT?

Answer 9

The process by which one ESCAPE MAYA AND DISCOVER one’s true “oneness and identity!!”

Question 10

Who is the supreme god of Hinduism???? (Easy)

Answer 10

BRAHMAN!!!

Question 11

WHAT ARE THE 3 PRIMARY GODS?

Answer 11

1. Brahma,
2. Vishnu,
3. Shiva !!

Question 12

What is BRAHMA???

Answer 12

THE CREATOR GOD!!!!!!! 4 faces and 4 arms!!!

Question 13

What is Vishnu???

Answer 13

1. The preserver god (the one who build on what Brahma, the creator, has done)
2. Solves human problems, bring joy; HE IS KNOWN AS THE GOD OF LOVE AND FORGIVENESS
3. ***He is playful and is knowN FOR HIS PRANKS!!!
4. Wife: Faithful Lakshmi**
5. God of LOVE!!!

Question 14

wHO IS GOD OF LOVE BETWEEN VISHNU, BRAHMA, AND SHIVA?

Answer 14

VISHNU

Question 15

Who is Shiva???***

Answer 15

1. God of “DESTRUCTION*****
2. Destroys and recreates life
3. Wife: Parvathi; consort is Kali

Question 16

What is Avatars???

Answer 16

10 Incarnations of Vishnu!!!!!!

Question 17

Who are the Goddesses????

Answer 17

1. Devi - Feminine divine
2. Parvati - Divine mother, wife of Shiva

Question 18

Who is Shakti???

Answer 18

The female divine force
- The mother goddess - the very popular source of eternal female energy
- Every god in Hinduism has his Shakti (Example - Parvati is the feminine energy of Shiva)

Question 19

Who is Lakshmi??

Answer 19

• Devoted wife of Vishnu
• GODDESS OF FERTILITY & GOOD FORTUNE!!!

Question 20

Who is KALI???**

Answer 20

**Goddess who uses her LOVE to TAKE AWAY:
- darkness, demonic forces, and impurities
- she is one of the consorts of Shiva

Question 21

Who is RAMA??

Answer 21

• The “ideal man”
• 7TH INCARNATION OF VISHNU
• **Rama fulfils his role according to Dharma.

Question 22

Who is Hanuman????

Answer 22

• Monkey deity
• Devoted to Rama in war with evil
• Worshipped on Tuesdays and Saturdays, by offerings and singing
• Ex of the power of devotion

Question 23

Who is GANESHA??? **

Answer 23

1. GOD OF SUCCESS
2. REMOVES OBSTACLES
3. SON OF SHIVA AND PARVATI
4. ** APPEARANCE: ELEPHANT HEAD!!
5. Has sense of humor, so worship in things he finds funny.

Ganesha’s mom (Parvati) told him to stay outside the room as she was taking her bath and should allow no one to enter. Shiva (the dad) has been gone for such a long time that Ganesha doesn’t recognize his dad. When Ganesha refuses Shiva to enter in, a fight starts and other deities join in, and Shiva cuts off the head of Ganesha. But, the mom or Parvati refused to allow Shiva to enter into her bedroom until Ganesha was returned to life. Then, she took the head of an elephant and restored Ganesha to life with its head.

Question 24

Who is Guru??

Answer 24

Spiritual teacher!!!!!

Question 25

How can a Hindu accumulate merit (good karma)??

Answer 25

4 Yogas = paths to liberation & union with the divine

1. KARMA yoga = ACTION THROUGH SELFLESS SERVICE
2. JNANA yoga = KNOWLEDGE (understanding true nature of reality & self)
3. RAJA yoga = MEDITATION
4. BHAKTI yoga = DEVOTION

Question 26

wHAT DOES “Bhakti”, “Puja”, and Prasada” mean??

Answer 26

Bhakti = devotion
Puja = actual worship or ritual (offerings, rituals, songs, chants, bowing, decorations)
Prasada = when you take the divine within your own being thru eating food you share with the deity.

Question 27

** WHAT IS DARSHAN????

Answer 27

Act of seeing the deity!!!
Interlocking gaze with the deity = great blessing!!!

Question 28

When someone dies, does Hindus burry or cremate the body??

Answer 28

They cremate the body!!!

Question 29

What is “Aum” or “OM”

Answer 29

• The sacred syllable of Brahman
• Most elemental expression
• More primal than speech
• The “divine oneness” syllable
• Essential part of meditation and yoga

Question 30

** WHAT ARE THE 3 MAJOR POLLUTANTS IN HINDUISM????** (EXAM)

Answer 30

1. Blood
2. Waste matters
3. Contact with the dead!

Question 31

USE RIGHT HAND FOR CLEAN TASKS
TRUE OR FALSE?

Answer 31

TRUE! (bc you use left is for wiping butts for ex).

Question 32

PURITY involves personal cleanliness (Avoiding these 3 major pollutants). You do this by doing ritual bathing. This affects ur social caste (class). Caste is lower if your work involves pollutant. Diet is affected (So Hindus tend to be Vegetarianism).
TRUE OR FALSE?

Answer 32

TRUEEE

Question 33

** What are the 4 MAJOR CASTES of Hinduism?? (EXAM)

Answer 33

1. Brahmins - PRIESTS
2. Kshatriyas - NOBILITY & warriors.
3. Vaishyas - FARMERS & Merchants
4. Shudras - Manual laborers & artisans

• DALIT = Untouchable, outcasts (lowest class)

Question 34

What are the 4 stages of Life????

Answer 34

1. Celibate student stage
2. Married householder stage
3. “Forest dweller” (Retirement)
4. Sannyas stage (“renouncer”; ascetic)
   (Homeless spiritual mystic, begging and meditating, seeking liberation)
   Most hindus only pass throught the first 3 stages

Question 35

What are the 8 POSITIVE insights from Hinduism???

Answer 35

1. Respect for life & nature
2. 3 Virtues: Restraints, Generosity, & compassion
3. Worth of the EXTENDED FAMILY
4. ## DEVOTION to Religious practice
5. Respect for diversity and complexity
6. Karma
7. Life is a journey seeking spiritual truth
8. Many HIGH ETHICAL standards and practices

Question 36

What are the 7 MAJOR DIFFERENCES BTWN HINDUISM AND CHRISTIANITY??

Answer 36

1. Pantheistic, not theistic
2. Emphasis on escape rather than fulfillment
3. Lacks grace or atonement; a religion of human works. DENIES SALVATION IS A GIFT FROM GOD THRU JESUS CHRIST

4. Claims that all religions are EQUAL
5. Syncretism
6. Totally different view in death/reincarnation
7. Christian faith: facts of sin, cross, resurrection, 2nd coming