The Hindu/Buddhist Worldview

Question 1

What is atman?

Answer 1

• The Divine Self
• The portion of god that is within each person
• Is impersonal and eternal

Question 2

What characterizes the atman?

Answer 2

Our bodies are known to end, but the embodied self is enduring, indestructible, and immeasurable

Question 3

Whats the characteristic of the western worldview ?

Answer 3

God is separate from man

Question 4

What is dharma?

Answer 4

• Is a sacred Duty
• The duty of every being to fulfill their divine purpose
• Dharma is determined by one’s place in the caste

Question 5

What is caste?

Answer 5

• Strict social division based On birth
• Progression from most to least intellectual
• it goes from the intellectual to the physicial

Question 6

What are the 4 types of castes?

Answer 6

Brahmin
Kashatriua
Vaishya
Shudra

Question 7

What is Brahmin caste?

Answer 7

Spiritual and most honorable level (abstract and philosophical)

Question 8

What is Kashatriya caste?

Answer 8

Warriors and rulers of society

Question 9

What is Vaishya?

Answer 9

Merchants and agricultural members

Question 10

What is shudra caste?

Answer 10

Common labores (dumb)

Question 11

What is karma?

Answer 11

• Deeds and actions (cause and effect)
• The Dharma of your caste determines one’s karma
• It is better to do your dharma poorly than to do another’s well

Question 12

What is samsara?

Answer 12

• Cycle of births and deaths (reencarnation)
• The atman is manifest in a continuous cycle of re-births
• Place in the caste is determined by karma

Question 13

What is Avatar?

Answer 13

• Human manifestation of God

- Krishna is one of many avatars of Vishnu

Question 14

Who is Vishnu?

Answer 14

The sustainer