Hinduism Flashcards
What is unique about Hinduism?
There is no one founder or set of ideas- instead a combination of beliefs of the Indus and Aryan people.
What are Hindus 4 goals in life?
Kama (pleasure), Artha (stuff), Dharma (responsibility) and Moksha (liberation)
What is a Hindus ultimate concern?
To reach a state of moksha
What is Brahman?
The world soul
What are Brahmans 3 personalities?
Brahma: the creator
Vishnu: the protector
Shiva: the destroyer
What is monism
One collective soul: Hindus believe that everything is connected
What are the 2 realities?
What we create b/c of desire; they are illusions; “Maya”
True Reality that everything is Brahman
What is reincarnation?
The soul is reborn until moksha is acheived
What determines how fast you achieve moksha?
How much good karma vs bad karma you have
What is karma?
All your good and bad acts
-everything (good and bad) has a consequence
How does karma affect a persons caste?
The lower their caste, the worse their karma from their last life was
What happens once moksha is achieved?
The soul becomes Brahman and is liberated from human suffering and desire
What specific activities help one achieve moksha?
Fulfilling your Dharma
Meditation and yoga
Seeking advice from a guru
What is dharma?
Ones duties/ responsibilities
What are the 4 stages of life?
Student: learning; under control of father
Householder: pleasure, gain, righteousness
First three aims of life are in this stage
-Majority of life
Hermit or forest dweller: ready to take quest to moksha
-Upper castes
Renunciant: liberation
-Upper castes
What is at the center of Hindu worship?
The household:
Household deities and routines
Who are the Aryan’s?
An Indo-European people who, about 1500 BCE began to migrate to the Indian subcontinent
What are the Vedas?
4 collections of sacred writing produced by the Aryan’s during an early stage of their settlement in India
What is a Brahmin?
A member of the social class made up of priests
What is Mahabharata?
A Hindu epic poem about the struggles of the Aryans as they moved into India
Who were the dasas?
The Aryan’s enemies
Who were the shudras?
The people who did the work the higher castes didn’t want to, the “untouchables”
Who were the untouchables?
Those considered impure, outside of the caste system.
Ex: grave diggers, trash collectors
Who are the Kshatriyas?
Rulers and warriors
Who are the vaishyas?
Peasants and traders
What are the Upanishads?
Hindu teachers’ interpretation of the hymns in the Vedas
What is atman?
The individual soul of a living being
