Human Life

Question 1

Dharma

Answer 1

The religious and moral duty in relation to a persons status in Hindu society, ‘considered by many, but not all, to be linked to caste’

Question 2

The Four aims

Answer 2

Dharma - obedience to religious and moral laws
Artha - pursuit of economic well-being and honest prosperity
Kama - the enjoyment of social, physical and sexual pleasure
Moksha - to be free from the cycle of samsara and reunited with Brahman

Question 3

Two different types of Dharma

Answer 3

Sanatana Dharma - Those who adhere to this idea of ones eternal dharma or constitution, claim that it transcends other mundane dharmas - that is is the 'para dharma' or ultimate dharma of the self. It is often associated with Bhakti movements, who link an attitude of eternal service to a personal deity
Varnashrama-Dharma - the idea that dharma refers especially to a persons responsibility regarding class and stage of life. In hindu history the highest class, the Brahmins, adhered to this doctrine.

Question 4

What do Hindus think about freewill and suffering?

Answer 4

Hindus think that suffering happens partly because of the sum of all the bad things in peoples previous lives. Another type of suffering is due to ‘moral evil’, or the bad things humans do. Hindus try to break free from the suffering of this world and reach moksha where there is no suffering.
They believe inner peace is achieved by changing self rather than simply changing material circumstances. They also believe it is part of their dharma to relieve the suffering of others, They must never deliberately cause someone to suffer and most hindus extend this idea to animals as well as to other humans

Question 5

Ahimsa

Answer 5

Non-violence and showing love to all

Bhagavad Gita 13.8-12