Hinduism Flashcards

1
Q

Hindu Goals for Living

A

• moksha (liberation)
• dharma (righteousness)
• kama (pleasure/desire)
• artha (wealth)

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2
Q

Moksha - goal for living

A

• liberation - freeing the soul
• no more return to the cycle of rebirth, bliss
• highest objective of human-life/ highest aim, but comes from following the others

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3
Q

dharma - goals for living

A

• doing your duties as a son, daughter, parent, employee
• choosing right and good things
• upholds society
• most important in life
• universal balance
• regulates artha and kama (so they are not misused)

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4
Q

Kama (desire/pleasure)

A

• pleasure of life
• food
• sexuality
• sport
• bodily enjoyment

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5
Q

Artha (wealth)

A

• successes of life
• working efficiently, achieving, promotion, making money morally
• using wealth to help others
• moral and social success

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6
Q

Dharma definition

A

Translated to duty or righteousness, the meaning of the term is to ‘behave appropriately for your essential nature’

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7
Q

Dharma facts

A

• living and non-living should fulfil their dharma
• always results in victories
• ‘to hold or support’ scripture
• ecological balance, food chain, planet alignment
• important we fulfil our dharma
• humans have special traits

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8
Q

Adharma

A

• opposite of dharma (not doing your dharma)
• force of evil - causes imbalance

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9
Q

Sanatana dharma meaning

A

Universal order

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10
Q

Four goals of life in Hinduism (translated)

A

• purushartha

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11
Q

Vanashramadharma broken down

A

Varna = the Hindu community or group that someone is born into.
Ashrama - the stage of life that the Hindu is in, e.g. student or retirement
• dharma - your duties

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12
Q

What are the four ashramas?

A

• student
• householder
• retirement
• renunciation

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13
Q

Student ashrama

A

• a time of education in preparation for family life, a profession, for religious duties or other responsibilities
• they can get good karma by:
• celibacy
• studying
• respect
• develop skills to earn a living
• leaving family home - traditionally only boys, live with a guru
• yoga
• study scriptures
• science
• art

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14
Q

Householder ashrama

A

• marked by wedding ceremony
• Hindu will marry and raise a family, earn a living and contribute to the community
• acquire wealth
• fulfill desires
• under guidance of dharma
• start family
• provide financial support

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15
Q

Retirement ashrama

A

• Hindu will begin to withdraw from buisness and household responsibilities to spend more time in meditation and prayer
• detachment from traditional life
• focus on making spiritual progress
• give up job
• give up household responsibilities
• advisory role with family
• mediation, contemplation, pilgrimage

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16
Q

Renunciation ashrama

A

• Hindu turns away from the world completely to become as close as possible to God.
• break all ties with family and friends and renounce all property/wealth
• how to get good karma:
• giving up all worldly ties and possessions
• giving up money
• pilgrimage in prayer
• meditation
• studying holy texts
• commit themselves to being at service to mankind
• teach other about sacred texts, teach life lessons

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17
Q

What does the Rig Veda say about society?

A

• described as if a human body
• teachers and priests are like the head
• warriors and leaders are like the upper body
• merchants, traders and farmers are like the legs
• manual workers and labourers are like the feet

Could be interpreted as showing that all humans depend on each other in one body. However, it has sometimes been used to justify unequal treatment or deny the rights of the ‘lower castes’

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18
Q

Brahmins

A

• thinkers - the head
• priests, teachers, doctors
• must understand the scriptures
• set a moral example to others
• considered the purest

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19
Q

Kshatriyas

A

• leaders - the upper body
• craftsmen, workers and servants
• duty to protect society
• royal family, prime ministers, members of the government
• rulers and military forces
• responsible for leadership, ruling society

20
Q

Vaishyas

A

• deal with money and commercial activities
• responsible for providing material goods and the wealth of a society
• buisness people
• bankers, directors of companies, financial advisors, shop owners traders

21
Q

Shudras

A

• worker bees - the feet
• craftsmen, workers and servants
• serve the needs of other castes
• support the rest of society
• farm labourers, factory workers, builders, manual workers

22
Q

Dalits (untouchables)

A

• not part of the caste system
• must do ‘unclean jobs’ e.g. dealing with dead animals or rubbish
• untouchables
• renamed by Ghandi as Harijans (‘children of God’)

23
Q

Krishna quote about the soul

A

‘The soul is eternal, it is never born, nor does it die. It is not slain when the body is slain’

24
Q

Krishna quote for dharma

A

‘It is better to do one’s own duty imperfectly than to do another’s duty perfectly. If you abandon your duty as a warrior, you will be failing in your responsibility and dishonouring yourself’

25
Q

Krishna quote about fighting without attachment to results

A

‘Fight with a calm mind, free from desire and attachment. This is the path to peace and liberation’

26
Q

Karma Yoga (The Path of Selfless Action)

A

• doing your duty without worrying about result or reward
• Krishna says, ‘You have a right to perform your duty, but not to the fruits of your actions’
• should focus on doing good work without reward, and you will free yourself from the chains of selfishness to eventually reach moksha

27
Q

Bhakti Yoga (Path of Devotion)

A

• love and devotion to God, by dedicating yourself to him you can achieve liberation
• ‘Those who worship Me with devotion, they are truly dear to Me’ - Krishna
• close to the divine

28
Q

Jnana Yoga (Path of Knowledge)

A

• wisdom and understanding about the true nature of the soul to achieve liberation
• ‘The wise see that the self is eternal and unaffected by the physical body’
• can overcome ignorance and maya (illusion) to reach moksha

29
Q

Raja Yoga (Path of Meditation)

A

• mind and body control through meditation
• Krishna explains the importance of controlling the mind in order to become detached from physical desires and attachments
• ‘For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends, but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain his greatest enemy’
• practise self discipline and self control to achieve moksha

30
Q

Gita/Krishna teaching about artha

A

The Gita teaches that wealth must be earned in line with one’s dharma, and attachment to it should be avoided

31
Q

Ahmisa (Gita teaching)

A

Krishna explains that harmlessness is a divine quality but reminds Arjuna that as a Kshatriya, he may need to fight in certain situations. Ahmisa also involves rejecting anger and hatred

32
Q

Gita teaching about Kama

A

Desires are natural but they should be controlled otherwise we become too attached to earthly desires and we will not achieve moksha

33
Q

Gita teaching about respect

A

Arjuna respects Krishna by seeking his advice and listening carefully. Krishna teaches Arjuna to respect all living beings, as they have the atman (soul)

34
Q

Gita on Dharma

A

Arjuna is instructed by Krishna to fight as it is his duty as a Kshatriya. Fulfilling one’s duty is essential

35
Q

Gita on Empathy

A

Krishna empathises with Arjuna’s fears about fighting and offers guidance. He teaches that detachment from desires leads to greater understanding and compassion for others

36
Q

Gita on Moksha

A

Ultimate goal of life, signifying union with the Divine. It can be achieved through knowledge (Jnana Yoga) or devotion (Bhakti Yoga)

37
Q

Gita on Mind/sense control

A

Krishna teaches Arjuna that controlling the mind and senses is essential for achieving moksha. Meditation and a disciplined lifestyle help with this

38
Q

Gita teaching about humility

A

Krishna says that true wisdom begins with being humble which Arjuna shows by seeking guidance from Krishna

39
Q

Gita on love

A

Krishna teaches that loving devotion (Bhakti) to God is a path to moksha. He also advises Arjuna to show love to all living beings, as they have the atman.

40
Q

Ramayana on Kama

A

Rama and Sita exemplify love and loyalty to one another.

Demon Ravana’s lust for Sita becomes destructive, showing that desires must be controlled. Ravana’s sister tries to seduce Rama, but he resists out of loyalty to Sita.

41
Q

Ramayana on artha

A

The King’s wealth can bring stability to society. Rama gives up his wealth when he goes into exile. Ravana’s obsession with wealth leads to his downfall.

42
Q

Ramayana on ahimsa

A

Ravana’s brother rejects the violence of the demons. Rama is motivated by justice, not anger.

43
Q

Ramayana on respect

A

Rama respects his father by obeying his command. Ravana shows disrespect toward Sita. Rama honours the sages and elders he meets.

44
Q

Ramayana on dharma

A

The entire Ramayana centre around doing what is right with a core theme being triumph of good over evil. Rama does his duty by obeying his father’s command. Sita does her duty as a loyal wife by joining Rama in exile.

On the other hand, Ravana is a cautionary example of someone who fails to uphold righteousness.

45
Q

Ramayana on moksha

A

Though not a main focus, the importance of dharma as a path to moksha is evident. Hanuman models devotion as a path to moksha through his love for Rama.
Ravana’s failure to control his desires and ego prevents his moksha.

46
Q

Ramayana on empathy

A

Rama understands his father’s difficult position, accepting his exile without protest.

47
Q

Ramayana on compassion

A

Hanuman shows compassion toward Sita by reassuring her and risking his life to help her.