Section 2: Practices Flashcards

1
Q

Yoga

A
  • type of worship (puja)
  • way of relating to and reuniting either God
  • way of conquering the Gunas
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2
Q

Definition of yoga

A
  • ‘discipline’
  • control mind and body so a person can become free of selfishness, anxiety and greed
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3
Q

Example of karma yoga

A

Gandhi

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4
Q

Karma yoga

A
  • path of selfless good deeds
  • duties (dharma) for your caste
  • no demand for reward
  • fulfilling your own potential for the good of society
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5
Q

Bhakti yoga

A
  • path of loving devotion for God
  • expressed in loving relationship with personal deity
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6
Q

Jnana yoga

A
  • path of knowledge
  • knowledge and understanding of scripture
  • leads devotee to realise how temporary life is
  • mediation and oneness with Brahman
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7
Q

Raja yoga

A
  • highest form of yoga and fulfils the other 3 ways
  • self control over the senses and mind
  • deeper contemplation of Brahman
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8
Q

State 3 reasons why Hindus practice yoga

A
  • to achieve moksha
  • to escape the Gunas
  • to be united with God/escape the Samsara Cycle
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9
Q

Outline 3 beliefs about Jnana Yoga

A
  • it involves knowledge and understanding of scriptures
  • it results in the realisation of maya
  • it is oneness with Brahman
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10
Q

Explain how yoga may help a Hindu conquer the Gunas

A
  • through it detaching them from the material world -> karma yoga seeks no reward for good actions (can escape the influence of Rajas)
  • through it creating oneness with God -> allows them to fulfil their dharma as a Hindu and escape the influence of the Gunas leading to liberation
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11
Q

‘Its better to worship Brahman alone than many deities’

A

AGREE
- focusing on just one will help achieve moksha faster
- can be confusing and less focused with many
- it’s better to distribute all your Bhakti to one instead of splitting it up
- Brahman is in everything so worshipping him also worships everything else

BUT there are many paths to the truth

DISAGREE
- worshipping many can enhance their faith -> create better understanding (Jnana Yoga)
- each deity has different purposes and help in different ways
- Brahman is without form and so it’s harder to relate to him whereas the deities are personable
- vaishnatives

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12
Q

Gurus

A
  • help you focus
  • teachers of scripture (high caste)
  • offer wisdom and understanding
  • spending time with a Guru is a form of worship
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13
Q

Hindus different views on the divine

A
  • causes them to worship differently
  • God (Brahman or deities)
  • Soecial places
  • sacred river
  • mountains (Himalayas)
  • animals (elephant)
  • sacred plants (soma)
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14
Q

Explain 2 Hindu beliefs about worship (5)

A
  • it is rewarded with moksha -> Bhagavad Gita says the yogi whose mind is calm will achieve ‘great transcendental happiness’
    -> worship will lead to a oneness with Brahman and will liberate you from the samsara cycle
  • it can all take place at home -> a shrine allows them to worship their focused deity solely without distractions
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15
Q

Why would someone go to a temple

A
  • feel the presence of God
  • focus on the religion
  • feel a sense of community
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16
Q

Temples and shrines

A
  • associated with gods/miracles/religious events
  • temple -> most prominent building in town (near to river)
  • place of learning/socialising
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17
Q

Design

A
  • helps produce a religious state of mind
  • looks like places therefore reminder of gods special nature
  • divine realm
  • symbol of the universe
  • scenes of sacred stories
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18
Q

Worship in the mandir

A
  • remove shoes
  • ring bell to alert deities
  • prostration -> touch steps
  • circumambulation -> symbolic of pilgrimage (God at the centre)
  • arti -> light is offered to deity
  • darshan -> beholding of the holy
  • prasad -> food offered to deity
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19
Q

Why is the mandir important

A
  • brings the community together
  • instructs young people
  • involves the wider community
  • focus and strengthens social cultural and religious bonds (dharma)
  • preserves traditions
  • visiting it creates good karma

Gandhi -> ‘to reject the necessity of Mandirs, is to reject the necessity of God’

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20
Q

Explain how worship in the mandir encourages Hindus to use their senses

A
  • through the use of mala beads -> use their sense of touch and merge it with their holy number and prayers -> important as it allows them to associate everyday things like sense of touch remind them of worship
  • through the use of the puja tray -> involves all senses (like ringing a bell) -> helps them show that their whole being is dedicated to God
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21
Q

Explain the significance of 2 features of a mandir

A
  • Garbha Griha -> situated in the centre and symbolises the heart as it gives life to the temple -> circumambulation (God is at the centre of their lives - fulfill their dharma)
  • Puja tray -> involve all senses and therefore show their bhakti towards Brahman and how it uses the whole body
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22
Q

Explain why worship in the mandir is importante for some Hindus (5)

A
  • a form of pilgrimage -> circumambulation allows them to show their dedication to Brahman in turn allowing them to fulfill their dharma
  • it is a necessity in Hinduism -> Gandhi -> without them it is easier to stray from the truth
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23
Q

Prayer

A
  • can be formal alongside rituals
  • involves making offering
  • murti is used as a way of accessing God
  • devotees acknowledge greatness and compassion of God
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24
Q

Gayatri Mantra

A
  • god is the most powerful, gives life to everyone, may it keep darkness away from us and guide us to you
  • expresses the importance of prayers to Hindus -> states how it helps connect with God more
  • the mantra adores god fulfilling the purpose of puja + helps focus your mind on god
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25
Q

Facts about Holi

A
  • two day festival
  • end of winter
  • festival of colours
  • caste rules are forgotten
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26
Q

Facts about Navrati Dusserha

A
  • celebrated for 9 nights
  • durga, lakshmi + saraswati are worshipped
  • god is adored as a mother
  • honours the divine feminine
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27
Q

Facts about Ram Navami

A
  • celebrates the birth of Rama
  • a holiday for government employees of India
  • time of moral reflection
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28
Q

Facts about Janmashtami

A
  • commemorates the birth of Krishna
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29
Q

Facts about Ratha-Yatra

A
  • Krishna is carried on a massive chariot
  • this word ‘juggernaut’ came from the chariot
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30
Q

Facts about Raksha Bandhan

A
  • celebrates brotherhood and love
  • ‘Raksha’ means protection
  • ‘Bandhan’ means to tie
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31
Q

Beliefs about Holi

A
  • symbolises good overcoming evil
  • bonfires purify the air -> so they can worship, represents lights, and an aspect of God we can see
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32
Q

Beliefs about Navrati Dusserha

A
  • symbolises the triumph of good over evil
  • flames symbolises everlasting divine power
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33
Q

Beliefs about Ram Navami

A
  • Rama is viewed as an ideal king + human
  • victory of dharma
34
Q

Beliefs about Janmashtami

A
  • whatever you worship Krishna will reciprocate on a unique level
  • believed all deities of manifestations of Krishna
35
Q

Beliefs about Ratha Yatra

A
  • signifies the lords love for his devotees and he personally comes to see them
36
Q

Beliefs about Raksha Bhandan

A
  • when a woman ties a rakhi around the man’s hand it is compulsory for him to honour his duty and protect her
  • believe the rakhi removes sin from one hand and provides safety for the other
37
Q

Holi traditions

A
  • gather around a bonfire
  • gulal powder is thrown
    -> red is love, blue is Krishna, green is spring
38
Q

Navrati traditions

A
  • women plant 9 kinds of feed seeds + offer the saplings to the Goddesses
  • image of durga carried in a procession
39
Q

Ram Navami traditions

A
  • recite from the Ramayana
  • worship Rama as an infant by putting an image of him in a cradle
  • many take a dip in a sacred river
40
Q

Janmashtami traditions

A
  • last dawn till midnight
  • kirtan (sing the lords name)
  • clothe and decorate Krishna deity
41
Q

Ratha-Yatra traditions

A
  • meet up with old friends
  • usually in a park
42
Q

Raksha Bandhan traditions

A
  • rakhis tied around people’s wrists
  • after tying a mantra is changed in Sanskrit
  • brother gives a gift of monetary appreciation to sister
43
Q

Holi stories

A
  • Holika + Hiranyakashipu
    -> defeated by Vishnu
44
Q

Navrati stories

A
  • Shiva gave permission to Durga to see her mother for 9 days in the year
  • Durga fought for 9 days and nights
45
Q

Ram Navami stories

A
  • Ramayana -> Ayodhya
46
Q

Diwali facts

A
  • festival of lights
  • most important for many Hindus
  • Hindu New year
  • Ankot marks the start of the new year
47
Q

Beliefs about Diwali

A
  • helps your fulfil your dharma
  • the diva is a symbol of removing darkness
  • thanksgiving
  • bhakti
  • ankot: ahimsa, good karma, reincarnation
    -> by harming animals you are harming the Atman and God
48
Q

Diwali traditions

A
  • diva -> Rama and sita used them to guide them home
  • offer account books to thank God for past fortune
  • lotus -> purity
  • decorated with rangoli patterns -> shows bhakti
  • roll hand over flame to symbolise taking a blessing -> arti
  • fireworks -> dispelling darkness
  • offerings to Ganesha for good luck
  • Ankot: offer food that is vegetarian -> AHIMSA
49
Q

Stories for Diwali

A
  • Ramayana
  • Stories of Vishnu
  • Lakshmi
50
Q

State 3 facts about Diwali

A
  • celebrated for 3-5 days
  • the festival of lights
  • celebrated in October or November
51
Q

Explain 2 Hindu beliefs about Diwali

A
  • is is a symbol of ahimsa -> Ankot -> ahimsa links to the fact everything has Brahman in it and so if we treat everything with respect we will achieve good karma
  • it represents light overcoming darkness -> arti, fireworks, divas -> helps a Hindu fulfil their dharma in order to be liberated from the Samsara Cycle
52
Q

Give 2 reasons why the Ramayana is significant for Hindus (5)

A
  • a big part of Diwali and a source of its existence -> Rama and Sita use lights to guide them home in the Ramayana -> celebrating it leads to fulfilled dharma and bhakti yoga
  • it is a guide on how to live their life right -> Rama is a leader and role model who reminds Hindus to do their duty to schive good karma
53
Q

‘Diwali is a time for presents and parties’

A

AGREE
- it’s a celebration so of course there will be parties
- it’s new year

DISAGREE
- worship privately
- dharma + reincarnation
- bhakti (Ramayana)
- ahimsa -> Brahman is in everything (Ankot)

54
Q

Explain 2 reasons why Ratha Yatra is importsnt for Hindus

A
  • reminds them of the love God holds for them -> they believe Krishna personally comes to visit giving them a sense of reunion and closeness with their faith -> encourages their faith as Krishna will always return the love
  • a time of devotion -> allows them to exert bhakti yoga leading to fulfilling dharma -> the festival allows them to fulfil their duty
55
Q

Explain 2 reasons why Holi is importsnt for Hindus (5)

A
  • symbolises good overcoming evil -> the story of Holika being defeated by Vishnu is the basis of the festival -> encouraged a Hindu to stray away from darkness and instead fulfil their dharma
  • it is a symbol of purity and God himself -> act of lighting bonfires purified the air for worship as well as displaying a quality of God that we can physically see -> helps a Hindu worship and create a closer bond with their God
56
Q

‘Hindu festivals are just an excuse for a party’

A

YES
- you can worship in private
- it is a party of victory + celebration -> still has meaning (Holi)
- don’t need all the materialistic events (maya)

NO
- form of dharma -> good karma, moksha (Diwali)
- act on ahimsa (Ankot) -> Brahman is in everything
- involves worship (Navrati)
- show Bhakti and thanksgiving (yogas)
- helps enhance faith

57
Q

Why do Hindus go on pilgrimages

A
  • penance to atone for bad behaviour (prayaschitta)
  • punya
  • to purify the mind, body and soul
58
Q

River Ganges

A

Where: Himalayas

Why?: regarded as the centre of the universe -> a river that came down from the heavens to cool the earth

What they do: bathe in the water
Impact: allows them and their ancestors to leave their body

-> associated with Shiva, Vishnu and Rama

59
Q

Varanasi

A

Where: city of Varanasi on the bank of the Ganges

Why: believe waters will wash away bad karma and the deceased will attain moksha

What they do: Ganga aarti to show respect for the waters + ashes spread to wash away bad karma

Impact: purification + renewal

60
Q

Kumbh Mela

A

Where: 4 sacred locations in India

Why: the locations mark the spot of sacred nectar dropped during a battle with the Gods and demons

What they do: millions gather and meet at each location

Impact: more potent help from the river

61
Q

Kanvad Yatra

A

Where: along the Ganges

Why: to achieve darhsan

What they do: travel on foot to sacred sites along the Ganges to bring its water back home

Impact: strengthens bond with the deity (Shiva) and allows them to experience closeness to him

62
Q

Mountains

A
  • where earth meets sky
  • closeness to God
63
Q

Rivers

A
  • wash away bad karma
  • rivers are sacred
  • Ganges: living goddess
64
Q

Vrindavan

A
  • where Krishna is said to have grown up
  • considered sacred by Vaishnavism
  • monkeys and cows are sacred there
65
Q

SOA for the rivers

A

Rig Veda- has a hymn about rivers and praises them -> affirms their believe that pilgrimage to rivers are sacred

66
Q

‘Pilgrimage is not the same as a holiday’

A

AGREE
- it is a time for devotion -> bhakti yoga (kanvad yatra)
- it allows for spiritual enlightenment + punya (Rig Veda + Ganges)
- promotes liberation from the samsara cycle -> Mahabharata
- religious obligations (Varnashramadharma)
- obligations to ancestors (shraddha rites)
- focus on deity
- go specifically to celebrate events + people’s (dharma)

DISAGREE
- it’s supposed to be a holiday -> reflection + peace (mediation)
- can take place in the mandir (circumambulation) -> Gandhi
- it is a privilege and not accessible to all so it has to be a holiday
- can’t still get good karma and meet other Hindus

67
Q

Importance of environmental projects for Hindus

A
  • Brahman is in everything -> Atman, ahimsa is apart of SanatanDharma
  • teaches harmony with nature
  • important not to upset the natural balance of creation
    -> yogas are always moving
  • as more resources are used the scarcer they become (karma)
68
Q

Sun

A
  • referred to as the ‘eye of God’
  • colour saffron represents the suns life giving glow as a reminder of Gods power
  • Bhagavad Gita: ‘anyone who enjoys these gifts without offering selfless acts in return is a thief’
69
Q

The Chipko Movement

A
  • aims to prevent further deforestation in Himalayas
  • uses non-violence
  • link hands around trees
  • ‘tree give me your strength to protect you’
70
Q

Sacred Plants

A
  • tulsi (basil plant) sacred to Vishnu
  • bilva plant sacred to Shiva
    -> cultivated and used in worship as murtis
  • peepul sacred fig tree
  • banyan tree -> where Buddha sat and became enlightened
71
Q

Sacred Animals

A
  • many are vehicles (vahana) associated with deities
  • tigers, peacocks, and elephants are protected
  • monkeys because of Hanuman
  • snakes are protectors (found on Shiva)
72
Q

Sacred cow

A
  • cow is a source of nourishment and giver of life
  • attain so many things from it

Law of Manu: ‘taking what has not been given injuring creatures without the sanctity of the law… are declared to be wicked actions’

  • Goshalas -> cow retirement homes
  • Gandhi -> ‘cow-slaughter and man-slaughter are in my opinion two sides of the same coin’
73
Q

Vegetarianism

A

ISKCON say
- meat is unhealthy
- meat arouses passions (Gunas)
- if you quote the Vedas (the word of God) your mouth shouldn’t be contaminated by meat
- a devotee will only eat what Krishna ate (fruit + veg in Gita)
- karma -> we will be killed and eaten in the next life

74
Q

State 3 Hindu beliefs about the natural world

A
  • it all came from God
  • everything in it is temporary
  • harming the natural world is like harming Brahman
75
Q

Explain 2 Hindu beliefs about the cow

A
  • protecting it means to protect every living thing -> Gandhi said that cow protection means the protection of every living creature -> by looking after cows we also keep Brahman safe as he is in everything
  • it is a giver of life -> cows provide nourishment through their milk and manure for crops -> they help us to live lives like Krishna and attain a healthy sustainable lifestyle
76
Q

Explain 2 reasons why Hindus protect the environment

A
  • because it’s their duty -> Bhagavad Gita says those who cannot repay for their gifts from God are a thief -> ahimsa is apart of our sanatandharma and is necessary in order to fulfil their dharma
  • through acts like deforestation resources become scarcer and impact us in our next life -> the belief of Sanchita tells us karma is carried into our next life and so by destroying what we have now we will receive fewer gifts from God in the next life
77
Q

Explain 2 reasons why Hindus protect the environment

A
  • it is duty -> Bhagavad Gita says those who cannot repay for their gifts from God are a thief -> ahimsa is apart of our sanatandharma and is necessary in order to fulfil their dharma
  • through acts like deforestation resources become scarcer and impact us in our next life -> the belief of Sanchita tells us karma is carried into our next life and so by destroying what we have now we will receive fewer gifts from God in the next life
78
Q

‘Animals are just as important as humans in Hinduism’

A
79
Q

SOA about charity

A

Veda: ‘one may amass wealth with hundreds of hands but one should also distribute it with thousands of hands’

80
Q

State 3 Hindu beliefs about giving

A
  • it should be selfless
  • it is rewarded with good karma
  • it is part of our dharma
81
Q

Explain 2 Hindu beliefs about charity

A
  • it is the same as helping Brahman -> Brahman is in everything and so by helping living things we will be in turn helping God -> this fulfils dharma
  • it should be a selfless act without need for reciprocation -> the motive behind giving shouldn’t be to receive as this can keep tamas attached to our soul and keep us trapped on earth instead of achieving moksha
82
Q

Explain 2 reasons why Hindus help others (5)

A
  • because it’s more beneficial that just helping yourself -> the Veda says we should give out more than we receive -> Hindus believe in maya so helping ourselves would do no good anyway whereas caring for others can help them live life as a devout Hindu
  • it is part of their dharma -> a Hindu who carries out a selfless act will be fulfilling their karma yoga which then allows them to fulfil their dharma and achieve liberation