Topic 2- The Origins of Hinduism and Buddhism Flashcards
What is the Hindu belief that everything in the universe is part of the unchanging, all powerful spiritual force called?
Brahman
Why do Hindus worship a variety of gods?
Because Brahman is too complex an idea for most people to understand. So Hindus worship a variety of gods who give concrete form to Brahman.
Which gods are the most widely worshipped ones in Hinduism?
Vishnu, the Preserver; Shiva, the Destroyer; and Shakti, the female divine, who is believed to be ruthless against evil.
Where were Hindu teachings recorded?
In the sacred texts of the Vedas.
Which section of the Vedas that addresses mystical questions related to Hinduism?
The Upanishads.
To Hindus, every person has an essential self. What is this called?
Atman
What is moksha?
The ultimate goal of existence, Hindus believe, is achieving moksha, or union with Brahman.
How do Hindus believe they will achieve moksha?
Hindus believe they must love and serve God unconditionally while others believe they must free themselves from selfish desires that separate them from Brahman.
What is reincarnation?
The rebirth of the soul in another bodily form.
Why do Hindus believe in reincarnation?
Because most people cannot achieve moksha in one lifetime. Reincarnation allows people to continue working towards moksha through several lifetimes.
What is Karma?
Karma refers to both action and result. Thus, someone’s good and moral actions leads to good results either in this lifetime or the next.
Why is karma important?
Hindus believe that a person can come closer to achieving moksha by obeying the law of karma.
To Hindus, all of existence is ranked by levels of consciousness. What does it mean when someone has high consciousness?
That there is a greater chance of understanding one’s relationship to Brahman and the ultimate goal in life, moksha.
In Indian are, the cycle of death and rebirth is symbolized with which image?
The wheel.
How can you earn good karma and be reborn with higher level of consciousness?
By living virtuously.
What is dharma?
The religious and moral duties of an individual.
According to Hinduism, how can you escape the cycle of birth and rebirth?
Dharma
What are the moral duties included in dharma?
It includes concepts such as truthfulness and living in moderation.
Dharma may cary according to one’s role in society, gender and age. True or False?
True.
What is ahimsa?
Another key moral principle of Hinduism, representing nonviolence.
Many Hindus follow the path of ahimsa because they believe that all people and thing are aspects of Brahman and deserve to be respected. True or False?
True.
Who founded the Jain community and when?
The teacher, Mahavira in about 500 B.C.
What is Jainism?
A religion that began in eastern India, and is still practiced today.
It rejected the idea that Brahmin priests alone could perform certain sacred rites. Jain teachings emphasize meditation, self-denial, and extreme form of ahimsa.
To avoid accidentally killing a living thing, even an insect, what do Jain monks carry with them?
A broom to sweep the ground in front of their feet.
