Hinduism Quotes

Question 1

When a caterpillar has come to the end of a blade of grass, it reaches out to another blade, and draws itself over to it. In the same way the soul, having coming to the end of one life, reaches out to another body, and draws itself over to it.

Answer 1

Problem: Samsara ‘Cycle of rebirth’

We are continually reborn and suffer in this life because of bad actions in a past life (karma)

Question 2

As people act, so they become. If their actions are good, they become good; if their actions are bad, they become bad. Good deeds purify those who perform them; bad deeds pollute those who perform them.

We may conclude, therefore, that the state of our desires at the time of death determines our next life; we return to earth in order to satisfy those desires. -- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Answer 2

Problem: Samsara ‘Cycle of life’

We are continually reborn and suffer in this life because of bad actions in a past life (karma)

Question 3

Man’s essential nature is formless omnipresent Spirit. Compulsory or karmic embodiment is the result of avidya, ignorance.

Answer 3

Cause: Avidya (“Ignorance”) KARMA

• Ignorance about our true nature, our responsibilities and the gods leads to actions that result in bad karma
• Gives the person an idea that the body has its own entities to every body part when really the truth is that all beings are actually united to one entity

Question 4

Delusion divides, measures out, the Undefined Infinite into finite forms and forces. The working of cosmic delusion on these individualizations is called avidya, individual illusion or ignorance, which imparts a specious reality to their existence as separate from Spirit. – Paramahansa Yogananda

Answer 4

Cause: Avidya (“Ignorance”) KARMA

• Ignorance about our true nature, our responsibilities and the gods leads to actions that result in bad karma
• Gives the person an idea that the body has its own entities to every body part when really the truth is that all beings are actually united to one entity

Question 5

What is Moksha? That which teaches that even the happiness of this life is slavery […] Happiness, wherever it may be, being within the laws of nature, is subject to death and will not last forever. Therefore, man must aspire to Moksha, he must go beyond the bondage of the body; slavery will not do. – Swami Vikekananda

Answer 5

Goal: Moksha (“liberation”)

• One can escape samsara and achieve a state of communication with god or all reality
• The goal is escape

Question 6

¨Through sustained focus and meditation on our patterns, habits, and conditioning, we gain knowledge and understanding of our past and how we can change the patterns that aren’t serving us to live more freely and fully. – Patanjali

Answer 6

Solution: Yoga “Discipline”

• Through effort, knowledge, and devotion(different yoga), one eliminates the karma that traps one in samsara
• Through sustained focus and meditation on our patterns, habits, and conditioning, we gain knowledge and understanding of our past and how we can change the patterns that aren’t serving us to live more freely and fully.