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World Religions Part II > Hinduism - Teachings and Practices > Flashcards

Hinduism - Teachings and Practices Flashcards

1
Q

What is Brahman? Explain the meaning.

A

The term Hindus use for “ultimate reality.” Brahman manifests itself in the world, in all its particular forms.

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2
Q

How do Monistic Hindus view Brahman?

A

They believe that Brahman is the supreme, unitary
reality, the ground of all Being.

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3
Q

How do Dualistic (Devotional) Hindus view Brahman?

A

Ultimate reality is typically understood to be fully embodied in a deity, such as Vishnu or Shiva.

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4
Q

What is Monistic vs Dualistic (Devotional) Hinduism?

A

Devotional Hinduism is based on Bhakti, or being devoted to one specific deity. Monistic Hinduism is the emphasis on the oneness of God, it is non-dualistic.

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5
Q

What is Bhakti?

A

Being devoted to one specific deity. It is from Advaita Vedanta.

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6
Q

Who are the four Pan-Hindu Gods? What is each deity’s “job”?

A

Devi (The Goddess)
Brahma (the creator)
Vishnu (the preserver)
Shiva (the destroyer)

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7
Q

What is the Hindu trinity? Who is included in it?

A

Brahma (the creator)
Vishnu (the preserver)
Shiva (the destroyer)

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8
Q

What is an avatar?

A

An avatar is a specific incarnation of a deity.

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9
Q

What is the samsaric cycle? Who does it apply to?

A

Hindus believe that we (our Atman) are going through a process of being born, living, dying, and being reborn again. It is also known as reincarnation. It applies to all non-deities.

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10
Q

What are the most important avatars of Vishnu?

A

Rama – the prince from Ramayana
Krishna – from the Bhagavad Gita
Buddha – sometimes replaced or omitted
Kalki – will happen, but hasn’t yet

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11
Q

What does Devi manifest into? What are some examples of these?

A

Devi (the Goddess) manifests in both peaceful and fierce forms.
Example of a Peaceful form: Parvati (consort of Shiva)
Examples of Fierce forms: Kali and Durga

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12
Q

What are three important minor Gods?

A
  • Ganesha (the elephant God)
  • Hanuman (the monkey God, main character in Ramayana)
  • Muruga (the God of war)
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13
Q

What are the “selves” in Hinduism?

A

Hindus believe you have a higher and lower self.

Your lower self is your current physical manifestation on Earth. Your body, thoughts, feelings, and memories. It will die.

However, you also have a higher self that persists through all time. This is called the Atman.

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14
Q

What is Atman in Hinduism?

A

Our higher self, which persists through all time.

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15
Q

How are Atman and Brahman related?

A

Think of the ocean as Brahman, and now take a glass and fill it with some of the ocean’s water. This is Atman. You are a part of ultimate reality but individualized from it. Atman and Brahman are the same yet different.

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16
Q

How are Samsara and Karma related?

A

The samsaric realm is dominated by Karma.

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17
Q

What is Karma?

A

The understanding that the consequences of all your
actions will eventually come back to you, either in this life or another.

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18
Q

How does Karmic debt or surplus affect you?

A

Karmic debt or surplus at your lower self’s death will help to determine who you will be born as in your next life.

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19
Q

How do Hindus view the samsaric cycle?

A

Hindus believe that going through the samsaric cycle is a bad thing and one should want to end the cycle (gain liberation/Moksha).

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20
Q

What is Moksha? How is it described?

A

One of the four aims of life. Liberation from samsara, the experience of moksha is said to be one of infinite awareness and eternal bliss.

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21
Q

How do Monistic Hindus view Moksha?

A

For monistic Hindus, moksha involves the full realization of the identity of the self with Brahman rather than with this world.

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22
Q

How do Dualistic Hindus view Moksha?

A

For dualistic (or devotional) Hindus, moksha is the complete realization of the soul’s perpetual and deep loving relationship with a God (like Western mysticism).

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23
Q

What are the paths that lead to Moksha?

A

karma (action)
jnana (knowledge)
bhakti (devotion)

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24
Q

In the “action” or Karma path, a Hindu will…

A

focus on improving their karma through good deeds.

  • The hope is to come back in the next life in a higher caste.
  • If a Brahmin (highest caste) has a karmic surplus they can gain Moksha.
25
Q

In the “knowledge” or Jnana path, a Hindu…

A

hopes to learn the deep connection of Atman to Brahman and through this knowledge liberate themselves from the cycle.

This is achieved through mental and ascetic discipline usually with the help of a guru (a teacher).

26
Q

In the “devotion” or bhakti path, a Hindu will…

A

lovingly devote themselves to one supreme deity in the hope that the deity will forgive their karmic debt and reward them for devotion.

This is the most popular path.

27
Q

What is Dharma?

A

One of the four aims of life. Dharma involves behaviors that are considered to be in accord with the order that makes life and the universe possible.

It includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and ‘‘right way of living

28
Q

Correctly following Dharma will…

A

help one to build a karmic surplus. Ignoring your obligations in Dharma will build a karmic debt.

29
Q

What are the four classes in the Hindu caste system?

A

▪ Brahmin (the priests and highest caste)
▪ Kshatriya (the military and ruling caste)
▪ Vaishya (the merchants and farmers)
▪ Shudra (workers)

Untouchables and outcasts are outside the caste system and work “undesirable” jobs.

30
Q

What are the rules of the Hindu caste system?

A
  • You are born into your caste and must stay there through this life.
  • If you marry a member of a lower caste, then you fall into that caste. (There is no moving up in this life).
  • You can move up a caste level in the next life if you gain the favor of a deity or have a karmic surplus.
31
Q

What are the four stages of life in Hinduism?

A

Student, Householder, Forest-dwelling Hermit, Renouncer

32
Q

What is the “student” stage?

A

The first stage: A child, you learn of life and your religion before marriage.

33
Q

What is the “householder” stage?

A

The second stage: You raise your own family and have an occupation to care for them.

34
Q

What is the “forest-dwelling hermit” stage?

A

The third stage: You have retired and dedicated yourself to spiritual pursuits.

35
Q

What is the “renouncer” stage?

A

Last stage of life. You become a wandering ascetic. Some skip stages 2 and 3 and go straight to this stage.

36
Q

What are the four aims of life?

A

Dharma – Hindu law
Kama – desire and longing
Artha – your career or profession
Moksha – liberation from samsara

37
Q

What is Kama?

A

One of the four aims of life. It is desire and longing, aesthetic enjoyment with family.

38
Q

What is Artha?

A

One of the four aims of life. It is your career or profession.

39
Q

What are the Hindu sacred texts?

A

▪ Vedas
▪ Upanishads
▪ Ramayana
▪ Mahabharata
▪ Puranas

40
Q

What is Shruti? What is included?

A

What is heard.

Includes the Vedas and Upanishads.

41
Q

What is Smriti? What is included?

A

Recollection (what is recalled).

Includes the Ramayana, Mahabharata (with Bhagavad Gita), and Puranas.

42
Q

What are the Puranas?

A

They are a part of Smriti. They are narrative stories that often contain advice about Dharma/law.

43
Q

What is Vaishnavism?

A

The most popular sect within Hinduism, which worships Vishnu (the preserver god of the Hindu Trinity) and his many incarnations.

The adherents of this sect are generally non-ascetic (don’t skip life stages), monastic, and devoted to meditative practice and ecstatic chanting.

44
Q

What is Shaivism?

A

Adherents believe that the god Shiva, the destroyer god of the Hindu Trinity, is the supreme being. Shaivists are more attracted to asceticism (skipping life stages) than adherents of other Hindu sects.

45
Q

What is Shaktism?

A

Followers of Shaktism believe that the Goddess is the power (Shakti) that underlies the female principle and that Devi is the supreme being.

46
Q

Is Brahma worshipped in Hinduism?

A

No, because he is considered impersonal.

47
Q

What is Arati?

A

A form of worship. It is the offering of light (flame) to a deity. Often songs are sung during this process

48
Q

What are Mantras?

A

A form of worship. A mantra is a sacred utterance, like the word OM. Often used as part of meditative practice by ascetics.

49
Q

What is a sacrifice in Hinduism?

A

Giving of an offering to a god (often it is food or money). Animal sacrifices are often used in Shaktism

50
Q

What is yoga?

A

A set of physical and meditative practices intended to bring people closer to a God (Brahman). To help people achieve union with a God or Brahman (ultimate reality).

51
Q

What is Navaratri / Dussehra?

A

It is a Hindu festival that spans nine nights and is celebrated every year in the autumn. Connected to the goddess Durga.

52
Q

What is Diwali?

A

Hindu festival of lights, usually lasting five days and celebrated during the Hindu month of Kartika. Celebrates good/light conquering of evil/darkness.

53
Q

What is Holi?

A

Popularly known as the Indian “festival of spring”, the “festival of colors”, or the “festival of love“. Celebrates the end of winter and the coming of spring.

54
Q

What is Ram Lila?

A

A performance tradition. A reenactment of the life of Rama (from Ramayana).

55
Q

What is Bhajan?

A

A performance tradition that involves group singing.

56
Q

What is Kirtan?

A

A performance tradition that involves storytelling.

57
Q

Is there such a thing as one Hinduism?

A

No, there are many Hinduisms.

58
Q

What is Puja?

A

A worship ritual, including Arati, Mantras, and sacrifice.

World Religions Part II (7 decks)

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