Hinduism

Question 1

Western Religions

Answer 1

Western: Emphasis on INDIVIDUAL, Continuation of life as ideal, resurrection, historicity, singleness of God, Uniqueness of path leading to salvation

Question 2

Eastern Religions

Answer 2

COMMUNAL Identity
Extinction of individual life as ideal
REINCARNATION
Little focus on HISTORICITY
Divine manifestations embodied in DIFFERENT beings
VARIOUS saving paths

Question 3

How do they view time?

Answer 3

Eastern as one big circle, while Western as a line

Question 4

Hindu belief in divine being expressed?

Answer 4

Can be expressed in many different ways - like religions have different responsibilities. Almost complementary!

Question 5

Define Hinduism

Answer 5

Not a single founder or creed

A set of religious beliefs sharing a common core!

Question 6

Is Hinduism a Western or Eastern Term?

Answer 6

Western

Question 7

How large and how old of a world religion?

Answer 7

Third largest, oldest

Question 8

Earliest roots were seen in?

Answer 8

Agriculturist Dravidians (2000 BCE) with the pastoralist INDOARYANS( in the Indus Valley

Question 9

Earliest roots were seen in?

Answer 9

Agriculturist Dravidians (2000 BCE) with the pastoralist INDOARYANS (1800-1500 BCE) in the Indus Valley

Question 10

Ancient religion of?

Answer 10

Nature worship and fertility goddesses!

Question 11

The different historical periods?

Answer 11

The Vedic Period
The Upanishad Period (6th Century BCE)
The Bhakti Period (since 6th Century BCE)

Question 12

The Vedic Period

Answer 12

AKA The Way of Works

• Four Vedas: hymns, magic spells, epic stories
• Devas: gods of earth, air, heaven,
• Preeminance of priests (Brahmins)
• Sacrifices on fire alters with proper formulas

Question 13

The Unpanishad Period

Answer 13

AKA The Way of Knowledge
-Challenge to the priestly religion of ritual
-Interiorization: asceticism and meditation
-Philosophical questions: Universal Monism
-Tolerance for different forms of religious devotion

Question 14

The Bhakti Period

Answer 14

AKA The Way of Devotion

• Loving and grateful devotion to one deity
• Open to everyone, regardless of class
• Temples and domestic shrines

Question 15

What happened in the 19th century?

Answer 15

Revival of Hinduism!

Question 16

YOGA

Answer 16

The different ways Hinduism is manifested!

Question 17

Raja Yoga

Answer 17

Meditation and concentration

Question 18

Juana Yoga

Answer 18

Spiritual/Intellectual, the path of rational inquiry

Question 19

Karma Yoga

Answer 19

Active, the path of right action/service

Question 20

Bhakti Yoga

Answer 20

emotional, the path of devotion

Question 21

Shruti

Answer 21

Revealed: Vedas, Brahmanas (commentaries), Upanishads: philosophical writings before Christ

Question 22

Smriti

Answer 22

The open/human side of the canon

• Beloved by all the people
• Epics: Major stories.
• Hundreds of other stories, etc.

Question 23

Epics:

Answer 23

Mahabharata: (Bhagavad-Gita): Krishna
Ramayana: Rama

Question 24

Brahman

Answer 24

The impersonal source of all objective reality, a universal force of all that is

Question 25

Atman

Answer 25

The subjective manifestation of that reality in our inward world of reason, feeling, will and self-conciousness. (A spirit/soul of sort) (Like a single drop of water in an ocean.)

Question 26

Maya

Answer 26

Illusion, failure to recognize that we are not individuals but only a small part of Brahman

Question 27

Karma

Answer 27

The external law that words, thoughts, and deeds fix our destiny through unavoidable consequences.

Question 28

The Caste System has been explained in both

Answer 28

Dharma and Karma

Question 29

Samsara

Answer 29

The cycle of reincarnation - up or down on the spectrum until MOKSHA (Salvation is achieved.)

Question 30

Three main "Liberated" Dieties

Answer 30

- Brahma - Shiva - Vishnu

Question 31

Shakti

Answer 31

Feminine divine power - A female wife next to the male deity

Question 32

Devi

Answer 32

Goddess in all her forms and personifications

Question 33

Another part of Devi

Answer 33

Consort of Males Gods where female represents the active energetic force in the union.

Question 34

Shiva

Answer 34

God of life and death - Shakti: Parvati - Son: Ganesh (remover of obstacles)

Question 35

Shiva

Answer 35

God of life and death - Shakti: Parvati - Son: Ganesh (remover of obstacles)

Question 36

Vishnu

Answer 36

Loving God of preservation Shakti: Lakshmi (beauty and generosity) -Most popular deity -Descends on earth as Krishna and Rama

Question 37

Student has:

Answer 37

Dharma

Question 38

Householder has:

Answer 38

Kama and Artha

Question 39

Retired has:

Answer 39

Moksha

Question 40

Ascetic has:

Answer 40

Moksha

Question 41

Dharma:

Answer 41

Righteousness

Question 42

Kama

Answer 42

Pleasure

Question 43

Artha

Answer 43

Success

Question 44

Moksha

Answer 44

Liberation

Question 45

The four castes

Answer 45

Brahmins - Priests and philosophers Kshatriyas - Rulers Vaishyas - The common people Shudras - The servants Dalits (Outcasts)

Question 46

Puja

Answer 46

In the home or mandira (temple) Centrality of murti (Hindu icons)

Question 47

Pilgrimages

Answer 47

The River Ganga - High spiritual leaders have had experiences here

Question 48

Festivals

Answer 48

Have an element of thanfulness and appreciation | -Holi-Colors, Diwali-Lights

Question 49

Henotheists

Answer 49

Worship of any one god, but usually the same one