Hinduism Review Questions - Blog Post 18

1. Explain the meaning of the term, moksha. 
• Liberation or release of the individual self, atman, from the bondage of samsara; salvation; one of the four goals of life. 
2. What doctrine says all reality is ultimately one? Give an analogy that describes it. 
• Monism. Like how monotheism in Western religions, God is the creator of the world and independent of it. 
3. Define brahman and atman. How are the two related?
• Brahman is the eternal essence of reality and the source of the universe, beyond the reach of human perception and thought. 
• Atman is the eternal self, which the Upanishads identify with Brahman; often lowercase: the eternal Self or soul of an individual that is reincarnated from one body to the next and is ultimately identified with Atman.
• Brahman is Atman; all reality is one. 
4. What is the general function of Hinduism's many deities?
• Hinduism generally regards its 330 million deities as extensions of one ultimate reality. Many names for one ocean, many "masks" for one God.
5. Give a brief explanation of the doctrine of samsara.
• The wheel of rebirth or reincarnation; the this-worldly realm of which rebirth occurs.
6. What is the name of Hinduism's most popular sacred text?
• Bhagavad-Gita
7. According to Hinduism, what are the two principles that connect the divine to this world? Briefly explain each. 
• Karma - the moral law of cause and effect of actions; determines the nature of one's reincarnation.
• Dharma - ethical duty based on the divine order of reality; one of the four goals of life.
8. Name the four classes of the caste system and describe the people who belong to each.
1. Brahmin - priests
2. Kshatriya - warriors and administrators 
3. vaishya - producers like farmers, merchants and artisans
4. shudra - servants and laborers
9. In the Bhagavad-Gita, why does Krishna encourage Arjuna to engage in war?
• Because it was the ultimate path to salvation.
10. Identify and briefly explain the four stages of life.
1. Student - instensive study of the vedas and other sacred literature. Lasts until marriage.
2. Householder - career and raising a family
3. Forest dweller (starts with birth of first grandchild) - a retreat from worldly bonds in order to engage fully in a spiritual quest.
4. ascetic - forest dwellers who are ready to return to society but remain detached from the normal attractions and distractions of social life.
11. Name and briefly describe the four goals of life.
1. Sensual pleasure - ultimate goal of liberation
2. Material success - kama and artha, material sucess and social power.
3. harmony with dharma - maintaining the general principles of ethical duty. 
4. bliss of moksha - infinite being and awareness
12. Identify the three paths to liberation. Which type of person is suited for each path?
1. Karma marga - those engaged in the day-to-day tasks of earning a living and raising a family. 
2. Jnana marga - those with talent for the philosophical reflection
3. Bhakti marga - those who have strong emotional attachments
13. What are the three most important schools of hindu philospohy? What is the basic task that concerns all three?
1. Vedanta
2. Sankhya
3. Yoga
• The attainment of knowledge over the igonrance that binds the self to samsara.
14. Identify three important gods or goddesses of Hinduism. 
1. Ganesh
2. Krisha
3. Vishnu
15. What is an avatar? Name two important Hindu figures identified as avatars.
• An avatar is an incarnation, or living embodiment, of a deity, commonly of Vishnu. Rama is another popular avatar.
16. What Hindu text is most closely associated with bhakti marga?
1. Bhagavad-Gita
17. Identify three aspects of Hindu devotional life.
1. Household and villages rituals.
2. Holy places.
3. Cow veneration.
18. How did Mahatma Gandhi influence Hinduism?
1. His steadfast efforts to stand up to oppression through nonviolence and civil disobedience forever changed the nature of India. 
19. What siginificant changes in the caste system took place in the 20th century?
1. It was starting to get rid of its social heirarchy and become equal. 
20. What is sati? What is its status today?
• The burning of a widow. It doesn't exist as strongly as before. 
21. What siginificant development occured in the relations between Hindus and Muslims in 1947?
1. The partitioning of India to form the divided nation of Pakistan.