Hinduism

Question 1

Founder?

Answer 1

Always existed

Historically: came from Aryans and Dravidians 3500ish yrs ago

Question 2

dharma

Answer 2

The path;
Historically: name of Hindu religion
now: individual paths (live your dharma)

Question 3

Monism? Brahman?

Answer 3

Reality all one single transcendent whole (Brahmin); separate parts = illusion

Question 4

Is Hinduism polythestic?

Answer 4

Depends on the Hindu; can be monolatrous, polytheist, monotheist, atheist; gods are all manifestations of one Brahman

Question 5

Big 3 deities?

Answer 5

Brahma: creator, the absolute; not widely worshiped–aloof
Vishnu: the protector, benevolent; 10 avatars (9 past); universe began when he woke up and Brahma and Shiva emerged
Shiva: energy of the ultimate: destruction and creation; fertility

Question 6

Vishnu’s most popular avatars?

Answer 6

Krishna: extraordinary love; savior type

Rama; God incarnate, prince

Question 7

Shakti

Answer 7

wives of Shiva, determine power of the god, worshiped by some (sexuality)

Question 8

2-fold purpose of life?

Answer 8

overcome maya (illusion of separateness)--become one with brahman
obtain release (moksha) from cycle of rebirths (samsar)

Question 9

maya

Answer 9

illusion of separateness

Question 10

moksha

Answer 10

release from cycle of rebirths

Question 11

Reincarnation

Answer 11

calculate new being based on karma; not transmigration of permanent soul

Question 12

karma

Answer 12

negative points; law of moral cause and effect; good deeds burn up karma; try not to accumulate karma

Question 13

Castes

Answer 13

Brahmin: priest
Kshatriya: warrior/ruling
Vaisya: merchants/farmers
sudras: servants/slaves
untouchables: Gandhi called Harijan (children of God)
Result of karma; have to be Brahmin priest to get off wheel

Question 14

3 standard paths off wheel

Answer 14

Good works (burn up karma)
Knowledge (Jyana)--study, meditate; Brahmins; seen as higher; no grace involved
Devotion/bhakti: deity can short circuit karma

Question 15

Scripture

Answer 15

Shruti: most authoritative; heard/revealed; Vedic Sanksrit–lost language (memorize sounds and meaning); includes Rig Veda
Smirti: popular writings; oral tradition
Bhagavad Gita: bhakti; story of charioteer Krishna; excerpt of Mahabarata
Ramayana: love story/good and evil

Question 16

four stages of life

Answer 16

Student: young, celibate, learn from seeker)
Householder: duty to raise family
Seeker/hermit; detach from world
Ascetic/Holy man: anticipating getting off wheel

Question 17

puja

Answer 17

worship: many ways; individual/inner, public or private

Question 18

prasad

Answer 18

blessed food for deity, eaten by worshiper

Question 19

sacrifices to stautes/idols?

Answer 19

Just symbols for the deity

Question 20

importance of rivers

Answer 20

ritual washings–Ganges; between living and dead

Question 21

mantras

Answer 21

suppress bad inclinations, focus on divine reality (Aum0

Question 22

Rites

Answer 22

Infant welcome: choose object from tray
marriage: arranged, within caste
Funeral: cremation; death like changing clothes; interim state depends on emotion when you died

Question 23

Ahimsa

Answer 23

nonviolence–no beef; priests vegetarian

Question 24

Women in Hinduism

Answer 24

patriarchal culture; man needs wife/idea of shakti; women lower on hierarchy of reincarnation–all will be/have been at some point

Question 25

Numbers

Answer 25

800-900 million (many cultural Hindus)